The battle for England's number one jersey is heating up, and it's a showdown that goes beyond club loyalties. While Crystal Palace may have seen their Premier League title ambitions fade—their focus now shifts to the Conference League—there's still plenty of drama unfolding on the pitch. This Sunday's clash against Everton wasn't just about points; it was a head-to-head audition for Thomas Tuchel's England squad come summer.

There's little debate that Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson are the top two goalkeeping options for the Three Lions. In fact, some argue they might be the only credible choices. Both keepers share striking similarities: unshakeable self-belief, commanding leadership, and a knack for pulling off jaw-dropping saves. They're the rallying points for their respective fan bases, inspiring confidence even in the toughest moments.

Clean sheets can be overrated in football—how often do we see a goalkeeper go unchallenged for 90 minutes and get all the credit? But when the action heats up, these two deliver. Despite conceding three goals in his last two outings, Henderson saved nine shots on target, with crucial stops against Pedrinho and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall that changed the game's momentum. On the other side, Pickford was instrumental in earning Everton a vital point on Sunday, showcasing his shot-stopping prowess under pressure.

According to Opta's goals-prevented metric, both keepers rank among the Premier League's elite this season. Henderson sits at +4.4, while Pickford edges ahead at +5.6, placing them both in the top five. The numbers don't lie—these are world-class performers.

Palace fans may have aimed their chants at Pickford, but come June, he's still likely to be England's first-choice goalkeeper. However, if anything changes, Tuchel can rest easy knowing his team is in safe hands with Henderson. Whether it's Pickford's experience or Henderson's rising form, England's goalkeeping future looks bright—and that's a win for fans of the beautiful game.