Southampton v Everton: 5 takeaways as Away Day Blues Strike Again

No shots on target means microscope now on Everton’s strikeforce

4. DCL body language and input a worry for Lampard

Last week against Leeds there was a barrage of shots on goal and attacking intent, at Southampton on Saturday it was the opposite as the Everton players failed to register a single shot on target.

As I discussed in our match preview one of the key’s to getting Everton firing more consistently is to get Calvert-Lewin back amongst the goals. This did not happen at Southampton and apart from finishing a move that was quickly ruled out for offside, he did not have much impact on the game at all except for picking up a booking for a needless foul.

The most worrying aspect from the match on Saturday was the lack of desire and negative body language through the whole game from Calvert-Lewin. While Richarlison was running around and harassing the Saints backline in the first half especially, his strike partner seemed less motivated to do so.

Of course Calvert-Lewin has been out for 4 months and his fitness will take time to fully return, but now after a couple of starts we should see that coming back. Worryingly he didn’t win many headers either and was well marshalled by the Southampton centre halves in the main.

As a team it is like Jekyll and Hyde at the moment with a clear difference between home and away performances especially going forward. A look at xG stats for Everton since Lampard took over clearly backs this up, as this tweet neatly sums up:

The first twenty minutes witnessed the intense high press seen at home at Southampton but when Everton had the ball the final third movement and passing was way off the previous week’s play against Leeds.

Many good opportunities were there in those early stages, but Anthony Gordon, Richarlison and Iwobi were guilty of producing mediocrity and this would not help Calvert-Lewin’s state of mind.

As the game went on and Southampton dominated more and more of course the lack of forward play was limited to sporadic hopeful balls up to the front two.

Everton and Lampard will need more from Calvert-Lewin, it was one of his worst games I’ve seen in a blue shirt as his control and heading ability lacked any sharpness either.

This will be a big worry going forward as you would think Lampard has to play Calvert-Lewin at every opportunity, probably aside from the upcoming FA Cup game against Boreham Wood, although the return of Demarai Gray will offer more options.

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