One remarkable statistic has now shown where Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has struggled this season.
For many years, Everton have lacked a top-quality striker who can reach the 20-goal mark in one campaign.
Despite splashing the cash on several forward players in recent years, including Sandro Ramirez, Moise Kean and most recently Beto, the Toffees haven’t seen those hefty price tags get repaid with goals.
While Ramirez departed the club in 2020 after scoring just once in 16 appearances, Kean returned to Juventus last year and Beto has only netted three times this season.
It’s an issue that has plagued the Toffees for a long time and while Sean Dyche has done everything in his power to fix the problem, his strikers are still goal-shy and midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure remains their top scorer with six.
One reason why the Toffees have been criticised for their lack of goals, scoring just 24 in 21 matches this term, is because they notoriously don’t get service into their forward players.
This season, however, that has changed with Dominic Calvert-Lewin proving that the service is there, he just hasn’t been clinical enough.
The Englishman has only netted four goals in 22 appearances but should have added far more to that total.
The statistics that show Dominic Calvert-Lewin should have scored more goals for Everton
Once known for his clinical edge in front of goal, Calvert-Lewin scored 21 goals in the 2020/21 campaign but multiple injury problems have somewhat seen his powers wane.
Unfortunately, the 26-year-old isn’t the striker he once was and that is emphasized by the number of guilt-edged opportunities he’s missed this season.
According to DataMB, a website that measures various footballing metrics, the £100k-a-week marksman is statistically one of the most wasteful finishers in the league.
Calvert-Lewin has underperformed his expected goals (xG) by -3.39 and only Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson – who recorded -3.74 for that statistic – is more wasteful in front of goal than the Everton striker.
He has also missed 10 big chances, which places him in sixth across the entire division while his goal conversion stands at a meagre 9%, as per Sofascore.
In the past, Everton’s forwards have been right to criticise the service provided to them, but Calvert-Lewin can have no complaints this season.
The former Sheffield United man simply hasn’t been ruthless enough in front of goal and Dyche will need him to change his tune to ensure the Toffees tread above water come May.
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