£100k-a-week Everton star was left ‘chasing shadows’ in Man United defeat

Add as preferred source on Google

The story of Everton’s season has ultimately boiled down to their persisting profligacy in front of goal, unsurprisingly.

Whilst that issue remained throughout the last two years in which their star striker has been absent, his return was expected to help sharpen their cutting edge and expel results like the home losses to Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the start of the season.

So often Sean Dyche’s men have dominated without reaping the rewards, and whilst yesterday saw that occur to a slightly lesser extent, it was still never a game in which Manchester United deserved to come away 3-0 winners.

After all, and whilst it is a notion that Evertonians must be sick of hearing, the home side did record 2.47 expected goals to the visitors’ 2.22.

To amass such a lofty figure without finding the net has become a cruel common occurrence on Merseyside, but one that many thought would lessen with the return of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Yesterday, he arguably contributed to the problem more than most.

How did Dominic Calvert-Lewin play vs Manchester United?

Having enjoyed previous campaigns in which he notched 13 and 16 respectively in the Premier League, before injuries curtailed his rise to prominence, the way in which the 26-year-old has been nurtured back to full fitness is admirable.

The physical platform his mere presence offers is imperative for Dyche and his philosophy, with the £100k-per-week marksman offering far more than just goals.

However, as their number nine, there is a certain degree of reliance on his finishing capabilities.

Against the Red Devils, it was a weakness was perhaps exacerbated.

Calvert-Lewin would rack up a personal expected goals tally of 0.59, having fired three shots on target, one more off target and seen another blocked, via Sofascore.

Clearly finding it hard to bypass the imperious Andre Onana, who earned the highest Sofascore rating of anyone on the pitch, Everton’s hulking finisher was thwarted on every occasion.

To make matters worse, having only managed 31 touches of the ball whilst losing possession 15 times, the former Sheffield United man was actually dispossessed every 2.2 touches he enjoyed, as if to further emphasise his anonymity.

As such, journalist Chris Beesley would highlight this despite praising his untiring work ethic which did remain: ‘Led the line well when the game was still close, carving out a clutch of opportunities but all of his efforts were too close and two soft to seriously concern Onana in the United goal and he was left chasing shadows in the second half before making way.’

A disappointing afternoon where his lack of proficiency perhaps cost his side.