Everton 4 Brentford 1: Three key takeaways from Toffees win over Bees

2. Richarlison can thrive in fluid front three

Before yesterday’s match as Lampard prepared for his first game as Everton boss he lost Dominic Calvert-Lewin to injury.

The England man has been hardly seen this season in an Everton shirt and his injury absences have become a consistent issue for the team.

This season the Toffees have largely had to do without Calvert-Lewin. But, the way that Benitez in particular had set up his team to play was designed to maximise the strengths of his number nine by focussing on traditional wing play and longer balls forward quickly, especially on the break.

As I’ve said before this worked well for a period early on when everyone was fit and in solid form. Once injuries hit (most of all DCL’s) and the form of certain key players declined, it came undone.

Richarlison has had to operate as the leading forward in the team without Calvert-Lewin and while it’s perhaps not his main strength he has previously offered some glimpses of effective, dynamic leading of the line despite being asked to play as a more tradition number nine.

Yesterday, he again gave a good example of hard work and provided a good focul point for Everton’s attacks.

Playing in a more fluid and interchangable front three as he did yesterday does seem to suit Richarlison’s qualities. He is naturally willing to press and win the ball early and his pace, power and direct running was all seen. Plus he scored, taking his goal with skill and aplomb.

In addition, he benefitted from the front line operating in a tighter and more narrow way with both Gordon and Gray playing more centrally than they tended to under Benitez, when they were operating in more orthodox winger-type positions.

Furthermore, the Brazilian likes balls threaded to him which he can run onto rather than getting in the box to get on the end of crosses. Allan and Gomes got a lot more possession and were able to direct and conduct much of the teams’ football.

This could well offer a real opportunity for Lampard to create a fluid, interchangable front three that can press high up, offer pace, creativity and goals.

Again, it’s early days and next comes those two crucial Premier League matches against Newcastle United and Leeds, so let’s see if the team can sustain and build on all these positives.