It was a moment of stupidity in an even contest, and one that Everton star Richarlison will hopefully learn from.
Goaded into butting heads with Bournemouth right-back Adam Smith after 41 minutes of the 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, the Brazilian forward pushed his forehead into his opponents’.
https://twitter.com/Everton/status/1033363669403488257
Whatever your viewpoint is on the sending off, Richarlison was sent for an early bath and will now miss the next three matches for the Toffees.
His ineligibility for those trio of clashes, however, means that a spot has opened up in Marco Silva’s side for a fringe player to impress and stake a serious claim for a starting berth. Here, we run down the most likely candidates to fill in for Richarlison:
Ademola Lookman
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way first off. Lookman’s interest in departing Goodison for RB Leipzig – the team he spent half of last term on loan at – is known but the Toffees have no desire to sell him.
His head, then, hasn’t been in the game since really, but could he be the man to step in and give Everton a like-for-like replacement while Richarlison misses out?
Like his teammate, Lookman likes to play the inside forward role on the left wing – cutting infield onto his right foot to set up chances or take pop shots at goal.
His pace and trickery are also akin to those possessed by Richarlison, and going forward he would offer Everton as much impetus as the ex-Watford man does.
Lookman’s inconsistency, work rate and mental state could all count against his inclusion though. He drifts in and out of matches, may not track back as much – a key component of Silva’s tactics – and his head may still not yet be right due to Leipzig’s relentless pursuit of him. It’ll be interesting to see if he’s given the nod against Rotherham United in Wednesday’s Capital One Cup tie.
Bernard
Another diminutive winger who may get much needed minutes. Richarlison’s fellow Brazilian needs game time to increase his match sharpness after joining the Blues for free in the summer.
The 25-year-old briefly appeared from the bench for his Toffees’ bow in the draw with Bournemouth on Saturday, and showed off a couple of nice touches and interchanges with his fellow attackers.
He has the pace, skill and end product to be a menace on the left but his lack of fitness could count against him starting. Indeed, it may be best for Bernard to keep coming off the bench for the foreseeable before he is unleashed from the start once his mini pre-season is complete.
Sandro Ramirez
Handed six starts in seven of Everton’s pre-season games, the out-of-favour Spaniard hasn’t been seen once in Everton’s three Premier League matchday squads.
With the possibility of a loan move still on the cards before August is out, he’s unlikely to feature from the start against Rotherham in midweek. If he’s still around after August 31, however, Sandro may be utilised by Silva.
He has the pace and physicality to get up and down the line and, as a natural right footer, can cut in from the flank and make things happen. Whether, much like Lookman, he’s in the right frame of mind or confident to do so remains to be seen though.
Kieran Dowell
Another who impressed in pre-season but is yet to get minutes on the pitch this term, academy product Dowell could be handed a chance to stake his claim.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a productive spell on loan at Nottingham Forest last season, and was in the squad for the Bournemouth stalemate on the south coast.
He should be afforded time on the field on Wednesday and, if he offers something different for Silva, he could work his way into the side against Huddersfield Town on September 1.
He’s not pacy by any means, but he’d work hard, link up with Everton’s fellow front men and, as a natural left footer, would offer balance down that flank alongside left-back Leighton Baines. Could be the surprise of the bunch to be handed a start.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
He’s played on the right wing before now, so would Calvert-Lewin be a good foil for the likes of Baines and Gylfi Sigurdsson on the opposite flank?
His strength, pace and ability in the air would certainly help Cenk Tosun, who has had to deal with much of the hold-up play this season, and the 21-year-old would be an additional danger at set pieces – something Silva’s team has been great at this term.
If he could track back to cover Baines and help out defensively then he’d be a surefire inclusion. Chances are that he’ll be utilised as an impact sub to replace Tosun for the time being though. That said, he could start as a lone striker against Rotherham to give the Turk a rest, so his inclusion would mean someone else would have to play on the left anyway.