On the latest episode of the Gwlad Tidings podcast for The Athletic, Greg O’Keeffe and Paddy Boyland have been discussing the latest goings-on at the Merseyside club ahead of Sunday’s game against Liverpool, including a discussion of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side face the Reds in their first game back after the enforced break on Sunday evening, in the knowledge that a win for the away side will put them on the brink of winning the Premier League title. The Toffees, meanwhile, will be hoping to secure a positive result in their own, perhaps distant, hopes of securing a European spot ahead of next season.
The Athletic duo were quick to discuss the influence of Calvert-Lewin, and whether or not they think he can cause problems for a Liverpool backline that has conceded just 21 goals in the top flight so far this season.
Here’s what O’Keeffe said about the former Sheffield United striker:
“The thing for me is just going to be who gets out of the traps first, who can maintain top levels, or something akin to top levels, for 90 minutes. Out of the players that have come back, there will be differences in terms of fitness between all players on the pitch. Can Liverpool get somebody like a Sadio Mane fit and firing quickly? Can Everton get Richarlison or Calvert-Lewin to do the same?
“I have to say, I’ve seen a few quotes from David Unsworth about this and I’ve seen it with my own eyes as well. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s come back and looks to be in fantastic shape. In the training game that we saw, [he was] really putting himself about, not only did he look lean and sharp, but he was attempting shots from all angles. He was scoring goals, all that kind of stuff.
“I think Unsworth touched on it in another interview he did last week. He was just saying he walked past Dominic and had a double-take. He said, ‘how’s he come back like this?’ Maybe some of these players will have almost improved fitness levels.”
TIF Thoughts…
Calvert-Lewin was in excellent form before the enforced break, with the 23-year-old having scored five goals in his last seven Premier League appearances (per WhoScored). In total, the forward has hit 13 goals in the top flight across 27 appearances so far this season, which has earned him a solid average rating of 6.94/10 (per WhoScored).
Do you think Calvert-Lewin can reach 20 goals for the season?
Yes
No
The Toffees signed the Englishman from Sheffield United in 2016 and in the four years since, he has contributed 32 goals and 11 assists in 125 appearances (per Transfermarkt). Therefore, you could certainly argue that this has been a breakthrough season for the forward in terms of reaching double digits in the top flight, and he will no doubt want to improve on his current tally even further in the remaining fixtures. Based on the quotes from O’Keeffe about the 23-year-old looking very sharp, it certainly seems as if he could pick up where he left off before the season’s suspension, although it could be a tricky re-opening game against the champions-elect on Sunday.