Everton: ‘Grim’ outlook shared ahead of Bournemouth match as Dominic Calvert-Lewin singled out
Journalist Will Urwin says Everton are facing a “grim” final two months of the season if they continue to struggle in front of goal.
The Toffees return to Premier League action after a three-week break with a trip to Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon (30 March).
Everton are on an 11-game winless streak and are just four points above the relegation zone with the threat of another points deduction.
Writing for The Guardian [29 March], Urwin said: “The players know they can better their opponents, but their main problem is a lack of goal threat.
“They have scored just seven times in their past 11 matches and Dominic Calvert-Lewin has not beaten a goalkeeper since late October, while his competition for the lone striker role, Beto, has two goals all season in the league.
“If they are to get back to winning ways, they will need one of their strikers to find form soon. Otherwise it could be a grim final two months in the Premier League.”
Everton among Premier League’s lowest-scoring teams
Everton have scored 29 goals across their 28 matches. You do not need to be good at maths to work out that is a tad over one goal a game on average.
That compares to 70 goals for league leaders Arsenal, for context, while Luton Town in 17th have 42 goals to their name.
Indeed, only Sheffield United with 24 have scored fewer goals than Everton among all Premier League teams in 2023-24.
Sean Dyche has made Everton defensively solid – in most games, anyway – but it is a lack of goals that is truly hurting the club.
Only once in 11 matches have the Toffees scored multiple goals in a single game, with that coming in a 2-2 draw against Tottenham.
Dyche has tried something different by leaving out Calvert-Lewin, but hopefully the two-week break now acts as a reset of sorts.
As the old saying goes, should one go in off any part of Calvert-Lewin’s body against Bournemouth, hopefully they will then start to flow.
In other Everton news, the Everton Fans’ Forum has slammed the response it received from Howard Webb.
For more Everton news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.