Everton will be without talisman Dominic Calvert-Lewin for their relegation decider against Bournemouth. With three clubs left fighting for their places in the top division, the battle for Premier League survival has reached its culmination. On what is expected to be an exciting last day of the season, two of Everton, Leicester, and Leeds will join already-relegated Southampton in the Sky Bet Championship. For the Toffees, the solution is straightforward: defeat Bournemouth, and their worries will be allayed, regardless of what transpires elsewhere. If they drew, Leicester could overtake them on goal differential with a win, while Leeds could overtake them on goals scored with a win of three or more.
In the event that both the Foxes and Leeds lose, Everton will still be secure. However, with Nathan Patterson and Calvert-Lewin expected to be out for the Cherries’ visit, manager Sean Dyche will need to devise a strategy to avoid the club’s first relegation since 1951. In keeping with Everton’s recruitment strategy throughout their ascent from comfortable mediocrity, Dyche will need to fill some gaps this Sunday across the board. Conor Coady is back available after being ineligible to play against his parent club. Ben Godfrey and Vitalii Mykolenko have both been dealing with ailments and are not sure to be fit.
Calvert-Lewin’s season has been one to forget. Due to a number of injuries, the 26-year-old has only been able to make 18 appearances for the team this season, scoring twice. In February, Dyche’s first game as manager against Arsenal ended barely after the hour mark due to a hamstring injury. He didn’t make his long-awaited comeback to Crystal Palace until 11 weeks had passed. The striker was subsequently substituted at halftime of Manchester City’s 3-0 victory due to a tight groin, but after starting against Wolves the previous weekend, he was unable to survive until halftime after pulling up holding his hamstring.
Forward Nobody at Neal Maupay’s former club Brighton, where he was viewed as surplus to needs, is surprised by the fact that he has only scored one goal in 29 games. When Calvert-Lewin stumbled off, Dyche did not immediately turn to the Frenchman for assistance. After facing City alone, the Everton manager went to Demarai Grey this time. He then used Michael Keane, a defender, as a temporary target man as his desperation increased until Maupay was handed his opportunity in the 81st minute. It is a hint that Maupay has moved up the food chain after earlier being passed up in favor of Ellis Simms, an academy graduate.
Simms’ physical characteristics and height may make him a feasible choice even if Everton talisman Dominic Calvert-Lewin has a lot more experience playing the target man without Everton needing to make significant systemic changes. In actuality, the sample size is insufficient to qualify this claim. During his first few seasons at the club, when Ronald Koeman even deployed Calvert-Lewin as a wing-back at times, the same was said of him. Since his last start at Manchester United on April 8, Dyche has relied less on the 22-year-old, giving him just two late cameos in defeats to Fulham and Newcastle.
It would be a lot to expect of a man who spent the first half of the season on loan at Sunderland to try to lead Everton to safety, but Dyche has already displayed his confidence by starting him against both Liverpool and Old Trafford. He possesses a good eye for goal and an attitude, as seen by the skillful finish he used to steal a late point against Chelsea.
The most likely scenario is for Grey to be utilized through the center, with Abdoulaye Doucoure advancing from midfield in support and Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi providing the width. Gray’s performances have been sluggish, which is understandable given that Dyche has played fewer minutes since taking over for Frank Lampard in January. Everton gave a good example of how they might win just their sixth home game of the year without Calvert-Lewin back in early March when they defeated Brentford 1-0 thanks to a quick start. The previous week, Grey scored in a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest to start a four-game winning streak.
For more football news, click here
