Sigurdsson double fails to mask Everton’s need for potent striker

Former Everton manager David Moyes recently made the claim his Goodison side was a top-class striker away from being title contenders. Times have changed at Goodison. Marco Silva is unlikely to challenge the top six until he signs one.

Cenk Tosun ended his recent drought to help seal victory over Fulham, coming off the bench to double Everton’s lead after a vastly improved second half. But judgment will not be clouded. The broader issue was apparent prior to his introduction.

Everton’s goal threat comes from deep, demonstrated by Gylfi Sigurdsson’s two goals in this 3-0 win. He would have had a hat-trick but for a missed penalty.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin had taken the No 9 role from Tosun, just as at Arsenal last weekend, but lasted 55 minutes. He earned the spot-kick after Denis Odoi’s shove, but could not assert himself overall.

His early substitution was a symptom of the lack of cutting edge from an assortment of Everton target men for the past 16 months.

Even though Tosun should take confidence from his close-range headed goal – created after 66 minutes by excellent work by Theo Walcott – none of the main strikers look like the longterm solution.

Given Richarlison, Sigurdsson and Walcott can create and score from where they are, a more dynamic No9 would be transformative. Sigurdsson immediately made amends for his penalty error. “He showed fantastic character and personality. He missed the penalty, but he kept working hard,” said Silva.

Sigurdsson’s opening goal was drilled low, hard and precise into Marcus Bettinelli’s bottom corner, in stark contract to the wayward penalty struck against the crossbar four minutes earlier. He picked his spot for Everton’s third a minute before the end.

Fulham’s Timothy Fosu-Mensah left after eight minutes with what looked like a serious shoulder injury. His replacement, Cyrus Christie, was booked 20 minutes later for one trip too many on Richarlison.

The visitors were close to leading before before half-time, Ryan Sessegnon given too much space on the left but hitting the bar. Unlucky, perhaps, but he should have forced a save.

Slavisa Jokanovic pointed to a wasted counter-attack when Luciano Vietto miscontrolled with only Jordan Pickford to beat.

“After they scored the first we had a clear chance to equalise and they scored an easy three goals,” said Jokanovic. “We were sleeping in an important moment. You pay an expensive price if you do not adapt.”

Fulham could not find the attacking midfielders to support striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Silva knows the next stage of his side’s development is finding the striker to support his attacking midfielders.