Everton suffered a humbling 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park on the opening day of the Premier League season, dampening expectations and signaling what could be another challenging season for the Toffees.
Last season, under Sean Dyche’s leadership, Everton boasted the fourth-best defensive record in the league, only behind Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool. Dyche transformed Everton into a formidable defensive unit, but their 15th-place finish, following a points deduction, highlighted their attacking struggles. Scoring just 40 goals in 38 matches, they had the second-worst offensive record in the league, ahead of only Sheffield United, who finished last.
One of the club’s persistent issues has been their recruitment in forward positions, relying heavily on striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Calvert-Lewin had a standout 2020/21 season with 21 goals in all competitions and appeared to be a promising talent. However, he has since struggled to regain that form.
The 27-year-old has shown flashes of quality—he’s strong, battles well with defenders, and possesses an impressive leap reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo in his prime. Yet, injuries have severely hampered his progress. After breaking his toe, which sidelined him for 125 days, Calvert-Lewin has endured multiple setbacks, including four hamstring injuries, a knee injury, and a broken cheekbone, all contributing to significant absences.
On talkSPORT, former Premier League striker and England international Darren Bent expressed his concerns about Calvert-Lewin, stating: “I am torn on Dominic Calvert-Lewin because, on the one hand, when you look at his numbers, you go, no. On his day, when he is fit and firing, he is unplayable. He is big; he is strong. He is good in the air. When he is at it, no one is outjumping him. He is one of the best in the air. Unfortunately, he can’t stay fit. Whatever that is, you can’t rely on him.”
Another significant issue for Calvert-Lewin has been his lack of clinical finishing, reflected not only in his low goal tallies but also in the high number of big chances missed and his underwhelming expected goals (xG) ratio. Over the past three years, he has scored just 15 goals in 74 appearances, a stark contrast to the 21 goals he scored in 39 matches the season before. Last season, he underperformed his xG by 5.9 goals, scoring 7 goals from an xG of 12.9, and missed 16 big chances with a shot conversion rate of 9.6%.
Given Calvert-Lewin’s recent poor form and his £100,000-a-week salary, Everton may need to reconsider their forward options ahead of the new season. However, with the transfer window nearing its close, finding a replacement could be challenging. One potential option is Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran, who was close to joining West Ham United this window.
Duran has shown promise at Aston Villa, making an impact off the bench last season and emerging as a player ready for more regular Premier League starts, though he remains behind Ollie Watkins in the pecking order. The 20-year-old scored in Villa’s opening game against West Ham and, despite his rawness, is a tenacious player who likes to get involved in the play and is clinical in and around the box, netting eight goals for Villa last term. For Everton, who have had little to cheer about in recent seasons, signing a forward with Duran’s work rate, aggression, and goal threat could be a perfect fit at Goodison Park.
