Many Everton supporters questioned Marco Silva’s decision to start Dominic Calvert-Lewin against AFC Bournemouth on Sunday, as the Blues boss overlooked Moise Kean and Cenk Tosun for the Toffees’ trip to the Vitality Stadium.
Calvert-Lewin went into the Premier League away day without a top-flight goal since March 9, when the 22-year-old found the back of the net at St. James’ Park as Everton fell to a 3-2 defeat on the road to Newcastle United (TransferMarkt).
Everton last won a game with the Sheffield-born forward on the scoresheet in February, when the Blues beat Cardiff City away from home 3-0, in a fixture which sparked a ten-game run with Calvert-Lewin in the starting eleven.
Silva had benched the former England U21 international for Everton’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers before the international break after the striker failed to score against Crystal Palace, Watford or Aston Villa, and many Blues fans expected the Portuguese head coach to continue with Kean in the starting line-up against Bournemouth.
The Italian signed from Juventus in the summer was only named on the bench away to the Cherries, however, while there was no place in the 18-man squad for Tosun, despite the Wetzlar, Germany-born striker netting a brace for Turkey during the recent international break (TransferMarkt).
Silva’s faith in Calvert-Lewin appeared well placed initially, though, as the 6 ft 1 centre-forward fired a header beyond Aaron Ramsdale in the 44th minute to pull Everton back level going into the break.
Calvert-Lewin had missed two of his three shots before finding the back of the net, and failed to register any shots on goal after half time, per data collected by WhoScored.
The forward also misplaced 36% of his eleven attempted passes, lost 60% of his ten aerial duels and failed his only attempted dribble before being hauled off in the 71st minute for Kean, as the Blues fell to a 3-1 defeat on the road.
Here are a few of the messages shared by the Everton fans surprised by Calvert-Lewin’s inclusion in the starting line-up…
Tosun is better than DCL. I don’t understand this at all
— Adam (@adxmEFC) September 15, 2019
So much disrespect to Tosun. DCL couldn’t lace Tosun’s boots and yet he’s not even on the bench.
— Al-Rayyis (@YungRiff) September 15, 2019
Why Calvert-Lewin man are we trying to score or not?
— Tom Corney (@TomCorney27) September 15, 2019
DCL? Has he not done enough already to lose his starting place? In the few minutes Kean has been on the pitch he’s done more than DCL!! We need goals!!
— Martin Fell (@TheOtherTrigger) September 15, 2019
Calvert Lewin
— Joseph (@Joemcf1878) September 15, 2019
Why go back with DCL up front?
— Richie (@RichieRich0209) September 15, 2019
Should’ve started Tosun or Kean like
— Dara Kavanagh (@OfficalDaraKav) September 15, 2019
Kean > Tosun > DCL .. if DCL under-performs again then he can’t start again for a few weeks imo #EFC
— adam sirett (@adamsirett1) September 15, 2019
