Everton face Leeds United on Monday – and it will be a first return to Merseyside to face the Toffees for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
David Moyes wants to see the win over Aston Villa backed up, but Leeds will pose a stern challenge.
Daniel Farke’s side have much improved recently after changing system, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin has certainly been in the goals.
Everton fans, let’s hear your score predictions for the Leeds United game!
Can the Toffees build on that brilliant win vs Aston Villa? 🤔
The striker is currently the top English marksman in the Premier League having scored nine goals so far. Eight of those have come in his last 10 appearances.
It is certainly a purple patch for Calvert-Lewin, and many eyes will be on him in particular during Monday night’s game.
Ahead of the clash, Calvert-Lewin has shared his thoughts about facing his old club at a stadium he missed out on the chance to play at regularly.
- READ MORE: Three bold predictions for Everton vs Leeds, Jack Grealish replaced and Dominic Calvert-Lewin misery
Dominic Calvert-Lewin admits he’ll have a ‘strange feeling’ playing against Everton
Calvert-Lewin didn’t play in the reverse fixture between Everton and Leeds back in August because he’d only just completed his move to Elland Road.
This will therefore be the first time Calvert-Lewin has played against Everton after leaving on a free, and he will need keeping quiet.
James Tarkowski and Jake O’Brien were both immense against Villa, so more of the same against Leeds and DCL would be most welcome.
Pundit Chris Sutton reckons Calvert-Lewin is bound to score against Everton though, and plenty of others will believe in that particular script.
Calvert-Lewin is playing down the game, but does admit it will be ‘strange’ lining up against Everton rather than leading the line for them.
What kind of reception does Calvert-Lewin deserve on his Everton return? 🫣
He said (via leedsunited.com): “It will be a strange feeling, you know, having been there for so long and then going up against them and familiar faces that I played with for a long time.
“But for me, it is just another game. It is another opportunity for me to keep thriving, to keep my good run of form going. I would love to score in every game.
“It will be a difficult away game, Monday night away at the new stadium, which I saw get built for a long period of time. So, it will be nice to play there and I am looking forward to it.
“I imagine not many people have changed in seven months, so it will be nice to obviously see familiar faces, but I will be greeting them after the game, not before.”
Calvert-Lewin form uncomfortable viewing for Everton
Calvert-Lewin has really hit his stride at Leeds after a bit of a slow start.
Potentially, there will have been an uncomfortable feeling for some executives recently at Everton given what he’s been doing.
Ultimately though, Everton weren’t after keeping Calvert-Lewin, with Moyes saying back in August (via Liverpool Echo): “We just found the financials to be too much at the time and we chose to move on. It might have been the right time for Dom as well and I’m really pleased that he has sorted himself out. He has gone to a really good club.”
There wasn’t really much Everton could do to keep him around in the end, so there probably aren’t too many regrets.
Thankfully now, Thierno Barry is starting to look the part for Everton.
He still has a lot of developing to do, but three goals in four Premier League games is promising, and hopefully he will upstage Calvert-Lewin at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night.
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