Everton have struggled to find consistency over the course of the past six weeks, suffering a woeful sequence of results during December and only just starting to return to form after back-to-back victories over Lincoln City and Bournemouth.
The recent struggles have come at a time where Richarlison has ended a mini goalless streak, failing to score in his last four appearances and reigniting the discussions around the club’s need for a recognised centre-forward.
With Cenk Tosun and Oumar Niasse linked with exits, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison are the two leading options to lead the line against Southampton this weekend and, despite the former scoring in last week’s win, Marco Silva suggested Richarlison could continue in his role.
Quoted by The Liverpool Echo, the Portuguese side said:
“My role as a manager is to put the best XI on the pitch, the best XI for the match. Richarlison can play out wide and as a striker. I know every three or four matches he doesn’t score the conversation will come again.
“He’s a possibility to play for us as a striker. Cenk and Dominic also. We have the three and Oumar if Oumar doesn’t leave and I will decide who is the best solution for to play in that position. Richarlison feels confident playing in that position as he does out wide. It’s the same to him.”
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