Everton could be tempted by ‘lucrative’ offer as Dominic Calvert-Lewin struggles against Liverpool
Everton will be keen to forget this season’s first Merseyside derby rather quickly after the Toffees were on the wrong side of several decisions in defeat.
While Ashley Young was sent off in Saturday’s (21 October) 2-0 defeat, Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate managed to dodge an almost certain red card as he hauled down Beto on the halfway line but somehow didn’t receive a second yellow.
The Toffees defended excellently with 10 men but failed to produce too much going forward themselves, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin struggled to get involved in proceedings, failing to produce the attacking threat he showed before the October international break.
Before he was substituted just after the hour mark, the 26-year-old forward only registered 18 touches of the ball and struggled to link well with his teammates, completing only two of his nine attempted passes, leaving him with a poor completion rate of only 22 per cent [Fotmob].
Despite his lack of involvement, the Toffees striker did manage to register one shot on goal, coming in the opening minute of the contest and creating a single opportunity for his teammates, before he was replaced by Portuguese forward Beto.
Aerially Calvert-Lewin faced the thankless task of battling against Konate and Virgil Van Dijk and more often than not, Jurgen Klopp’s defenders came out on top, with the England international only winning five of his 18 aerial duels in the game.
While it was always going to be a tough ask for the forward to lead the line against the Reds at Anfield, especially when the Blues were reduced to 10 men, the striker’s display may have left Sean Dyche and those above him questioning their options in attack.
Reports have emerged that Saudi Pro League side, Al-Ettifaq, could potentially offer the Toffees a “lucrative” offer for Calvert-Lewin this January, with Steven Gerrard’s side admirers of the Everton striker [Alan Nixon, 22 October].
Most would encourage the Toffees to keep their star forward as they have struggled to find the net regularly when he’s been ruled out with injury in the last few seasons, but after he was anonymous at Anfield, a big offer may allow Dyche to strengthen his frontline.
Beto hasn’t hit the ground running as hoped at Goodison Park and should the fee received for Calvert-Lewin be big enough that it would fund a move for a 20-goal-a-season centre-forward, with a better injury record, a move would make sense.
However, should the 26-year-old rediscover that goal-scoring touch against West Ham United on Sunday (29 October), it’s hard to see how Everton would allow their only real goal threat to depart in January, no matter what fee is paid.
In other Everton news, Jarrad Branthwaite has hit out at referees following the Toffees defeat to Liverpool