Calvert-Lewin revives his bid for Qatar place
DOMINIC CalvertLewin prepared for his first home start since May by watching his winning goal against Crystal Palace that kept Everton in the Premier League.
It worked. Though the stakes at Goodison Park were not as high on Saturday, Calvert-Lewin found the net against Palace again.
‘That (last season) was a surreal moment, one of the most emotional I’ve had,’ said the striker. ‘It gives me goosebumps every time. Funnily enough, I actually watched it before the game. For whatever reason I chose to do that, you could say that it benefitted me.’
Benefitted him indeed. With Gareth Southgate in the stands at Goodison Park, this was a classic centre-forward performance from the 25- year- old, who has not played for England since last summer’s Euros.
Recurring injuries meant Calvert-Lewin featured in fewer than half of Everton’s league games last term and he played here like a man hell- bent on making up for lost time.
His manager Frank Lampard said Calvert-Lewin had given his side a ‘different dimension’ on an afternoon where the Goodison crowd were treated to an Everton performance full of positivity, energy and aggression.
‘I don’t think you can look away from what a £60million striker can do for you. That’s a fact,’ said Lampard.
It was Calvert-Lewin’s pressure on Palace skipper Luka Milivojevic that saw Everton regain possession in the build-up for the first goal after a relentless start from the home side.
Alex Iwobi played in CalvertLewin delightfully and his first touch was devastating, taking him past a falling Marc Guehi. His second was even better, as he finished with aplomb at the Gwladys Street end, and the Everton No 9 knows he may still have an outside chance of making the squad for Qatar.
‘It’s always a bonus to score in front of the England manager,’ said Calvert-Lewin. ‘I can’t run before I can walk — it’s every boy’s dream to play at a World Cup but the main focus for me has been getting back to peak physicality and putting in good performances for Everton.’
Calvert-Lewin was involved in the second, too, as he dropped into the Everton half to link up with Iwobi as the hosts moved the ball from defence to attack with every player bar Idrissa Gueye touching the ball before Anthony Gordon tapped in.
Dwight McNeil wrapped up the points off the bench after a backheel from man-of-the-match Iwobi teed up the winger to finish from close range. Following a run of three defeats, this was exactly what Lampard needed and no less than his side deserved.
Everton’s three goals were as many as they’d managed in their previous five at Goodison and after two games without a shot on target, this was the kind of display that showed a glimpse of the style that Lampard is trying to implement.
‘The next stage is consistency,’ said Lampard. ‘I’d like to think the fans can come to Goodison and expect aggression and an attacking nature to our game.’