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This was always the fear. Everton could be compact thanks to the selection of a crop of central midfielders (five against Fulham). Sean Dyche could organise the defence. Everton might even create chances with quick transitions. But if there isn’t a striker likely to finish those chances, they will let themselves down.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin wasn’t even fit enough to make the bench. Arnaut Danjuma is still improving his fitness and was a substitute (and he missed a late chance anyway, albeit subsequently flagged for offside). Youssef Chermiti is not quite ready yet and will need a double dose of patience: he’s 19 and has scored three senior career goals.
That left Neal Maupay, who has now scored one goal from 36 shots in the Premier League since joining Everton and whose relationship with supporters has reached a new low (see below). Dyche admits that he needs to look within his current squad for the answers. Several Hail Marys about the fitness of Calvert-Lewin might be his best option.
This is an extract of The Score. Sign up here to receive the newsletter every Monday morning this season for Daniel Storey’s verdict on all 20 Premier League clubs
Maupay targeted after missed chances
Everton have promised to find the people who subjected striker Neal Maupay to social media abuse following Saturday’s Premier League defeat by Fulham at Goodison Park.
Maupay missed several chances in the loss and later posted a screenshot of the abuse he received on Instagram, which included people wishing his mother dead.
“This is what I get for not scoring. No one should ever deal with this,” he wrote.
“We stand firmly against such behaviour and are investigating the accounts that have targeted Neal,” said Everton.
Speaking before the abuse came to light, manager Sean Dyche said he was hopeful that Everton would solve their goalscoring problems.
Central to the issue is the continuing unavailability of injury-plagued Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose lack of minutes in pre-season means he is still possibly a couple of weeks short of being ready.
Dyche said: “Dominic will get some football this week, amongst others.
“He is at the end of his rehab period, so, in the next week or two, we’re going to be stronger, just by our own group and let’s see if we can get something in to help us as well. I am confident we have to rely [on players] within the squad because this is what we are at the moment. If we can affect it, we will do.”
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