Evertonians have become used to seeing Dominic Calvert-Lewin score goals this season. And Evertonians have become used to seeing Dominic Calvert-Lewin score a particular type of goal this season.
The England striker has become so adept at finding space in the penalty area and steering in chances first-time. The man himself recently joked that he’s a “tap-in merchant.”
Against West Ham United on Sunday in the Premier League, Calvert-Lewin scored a different type of goal, making a brilliant run in-behind the defence, taking a couple of touches and then slotting past Lukas Fabianski.
🤐🦋 4 to go. pic.twitter.com/kfyJBvje4M
— Dominic Calvert-Lewin (@CalvertLewin14) May 9, 2021
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When he’s had time to think with his opportunities in 2021 Calvert-Lewin has tended to miss them. In matches against Leeds, Manchester United, West Brom and Crystal Palace he’s been played in to similar positions with the goalkeeper advancing towards him and has snatched at the opportunities.
Perhaps then it was no surprise to hear manager Carlo Ancelotti speak especially highly of the goal Calvert-Lewin scored at the London Stadium.
“I think the goal he scored today is one of a top striker,” the Italian said after the game, per the Everton website.
“When a striker prepares their movement, moves at the right time with speed and is cold in front of the goalkeeper. It was a fantastic goal in this sense. Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison did fantastic work defensively, and I asked them to play vertical to attack at the back [of West Ham] and they did that a lot of the time.”
That Dominic Calvert-Lewin monsterclass by the way – a post away from getting that first assist too.
Just a bloody good player and you're an idiot if you think otherwise
— Michael (@greenallefc) May 9, 2021
Calvert-Lewin has made massive strides this season and is among the top marksmen in the division. Only his England team-mate Harry Kane has more non-penalty goals than him this term, while only Romelu Lukaku has had better individual goalscoring seasons for Everton in the Premier League,
Even so, the 24-year-old will be looking to continue developing and if he wants to go up another level next term, it’s in these moments where he needs to become more clinical more often.
The run, the touch and the goal against West Ham represented a positive step forward in that sense. A few more in the final four games of the campaign would represent more substantial progress and give the Toffees’ reignited European hopes a big boost.