Former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland believes Everton should have signed Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster during the summer.

Speaking to talkSPORT 2, the once-capped England international claimed Foster is a ‘brilliant’ and ‘superb’ glovesman, despite ending last season by being relegated to the Championship.

Jordan Pickford is Everton’s current No.1 and he’s been backed up by Jonas Lossl this term, though the latter is expected to be replaced as number two keeper by deadline day signing Robin Olsen.

Olsen arrives on loan from Roma with something of a mixed reputation, as he was highly-rated while playing for Copenhagen but struggled when he moved to Serie A in 2018.

He spent last season with Cagliari and restored some of his reputation, but there’s no denying Everton bringing Olsen in is a risk as there is no guarantee he will be good enough to realistically challenge Pickford.

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And competition is just what Pickford needs, Kirkland believes, after his error-prone start to the season which has seen further pressure piled on the Toffees glovesman.

“I think [Foster] is a superb goalkeeper,” Kirkland told talkSPORT 2. “Yes, he got relegated with Watford but I’ve worked with Ben and he’s a great lad and a brilliant goalkeeper.

“I actually thought Everton should have signed him in the summer to give Jordan some competition, which I think he needs because he hasn’t really got that at Everton.

“No disrespect to the other keepers there, but he knows he’s No.1 and probably not going to get dropped, so I think Everton should have probably gone for Foster.”