Ancelotti impressed by Calvert-Lewin, sets lofty goal for striker

Where would Everton be without Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s finishing this season? The striker continues to find the back of the goal this season with unerring accuracy, bagging his ninth and tenth in the Premier League in just eight games, coming from a total of 29 shots.

The youngster has blossomed in the attacking formations Carlo Ancelotti has set out this season, and has been the recipient of the excellent service from Lucas Digne, James Rodriguez and his striking partner Richarlison in racing to the top of the scoring charts.

Speaking after the game, the veteran Italian manager, who has previously set his striker a target of 20 goals this season and compared him to legendary poacher Filippo Inzaghi, is impressed by his consistency.

“Now in this moment he is really focused in the box. Every ball that arrives from crosses, he is ready and is there.

“He is doing really well, honestly I didn’t expect him to have the consistency he has in this period.”

Everton are very dependent on Calvert-Lewin’s goals right now while Richarlison has been out, with 53% of the Toffees Premier Leage goals coming from the Englishman, compared to Heung-Min Son 43%, Mohamed Salah 44%, Jamie Vardy 44%, Harry Kane 33% and Patrick Bamford 50%.

Is winning the Golden Boot a realistic possibility for the 23-year-old? Ancelotti certainly thinks so, but even more so what that would mean for the team.

“I hope for him because it would be good for us! To win the golden boot it would mean he is scoring lots of goals and good also for the club, but I don’t know.

“The target is not this for him, the target is to score goals to help the team be at the top of the table.”

Ancelotti will be very relieved to leave London with three points, but more importantly to have halted the three-game losing streak the Blues were on.

“In this moment we don’t have to look at the table.

“We started really well and had a difficult period, now the difficult period is gone, and we need to have consistency in our results. Every game will be a test, but our target is to fight for the top of the table, not the bottom.”

Calvert-Lewin agreed with his manager that there was room for improvement, though getting the win at Fulham was vital after such a poor recent run:

“Pleased, but I think the most important thing today was the three points. It sounds cliche but in the second half we didn’t have much of the ball and on another day we might be punished for not playing well in the second half.

“The first half was a representation of me benefitting from a new system and with lots of crosses coming into the box which I like.

“Second half was more about digging in and it was more of a lonely role for me, but we got the win.”