Sky Sports pundit worried for Everton, expects attack changes for Bournemouth from Frank Lampard
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Frank Lampard has to address the attacking problems at Everton says Kevin Campbell, who is “worried” about what he has seen recently.
The Toffees were excellent in the 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on 22 October, but that is their only win in the last seven in all competitions, where they have scored just twice in the other six matches, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin is now ruled out with another injury.
Sky Sports pundit and former Everton captain Campbell is concerned about the lack of firepower and notwithstanding the entire XI being changed for the Carabao Cup defeat in midweek, he expects the league line-up to see at least Neal Maupay and Anthony Gordon start against Bournemouth.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News he said: “Change is forced. It’s forced because of Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury.
“Again, these are some of the problems that Everton have had, we’ve discussed it previously. Everton need firepower.
“Against Crystal Palace, they won 3-0, everything looks hunky-dory. But that still doesn’t address the real issue.
“They lack firepower, and against Leicester it showed. Leicester looked to be the aggressive team, they looked to have more players on the pitch who could do something.
“Up until the last third Everton seem ok, but as soon as they get there it just isn’t happening for them.
“That’s something that Frank Lampard’s got to address.
“[Gordon in for Gray] could happen, it’s up to the manager what he chooses to do. We know what Gordon can bring to the table.
“But again he’s a young player learning his trade, so I think there could be changes, Maupay’s obviously going to come in up top.
“You could see Gray being on the bench and Gordon coming in. 100% you could see that.
“I’m worried for Everton in the sense that they need to get their offence going.
“Defensively they’re always going to be ok because you’ve got two good lads at the back and two good lads in midfield who can protect.
“But you’ve got to win games and if you don’t take your chances it’s going to be a struggle.”
Unless Lampard reverts to the false-nine system he was using at the start of the season it seems a certainty that Maupay starts in attack with Calvert-Lewin ruled out.
Gray scored the only Everton goal in the cup defeat, but started the home loss to Leicester and didn’t produce so Gordon, who starred early in the campaign but has gone off the boil recently, could be relied upon to rediscover his quality.
Lampard has a problem in that none of his attacking options are in particularly good form, and while his usual preferred line-up has not been creating chances in the league he was particularly disappointed with his fringe players in midweek.
The World Cup break can’t come soon enough, and whoever the manager opts for needs to produce an improved performance on Saturday (12 November) to prevent concerns ramping up into December.