With the 2024-25 season coming to a close, we are intoour season review serieswith a look at the strikers and how they did this season.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Appearances - 26, Goals - 3, Assists - 2, Yellow Cards - 2, Red Cards - 0, PL xG+xA/90 - .52
There was a time when DCL was being courted by Arsenal, or so the papers noted. There were also times - not as long ago - when Newcastle was trying to get something done with the Toffee from Sheffield. Those times are no more, and I would be surprised if Dominic Calvert-Lewin has a prominent role in the Premier League anymore.
The player didn’t miss a terrible amount of time this season, playing in 26 matches, but whether he started or came off the bench, he could tally only three goals and two assists. While the memories of DCL are brilliant bits that this author and many others will cherish, things are different, the player is different, and the scene is different as well.
The player still has time at only 28; perhaps Italy or Portugal could suit him. But David Moyes would likely keep Beto over the soon-to-be-out-of-contract Calvert-Lewin at this point one would think.
Calvert-Lewin, however, should be thanked and given proper praise for his time on Merseyside, playing wonderfully under Carlo Ancelotti, saving the side with his remarkable dive in that match against Palace at Goodison. With all that said, the player didn’t play great this season, and the side is perhaps weakest at this position, so a poor grade is given.
Grade: D
Everton FC v Manchester United FC - Premier League Beto of Everton scores the opening goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Manchester United FC
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Beto
Appearances - 30, Goals - 8, Assists - 0, Yellow Cards - 2, Red Cards - 0, PL xG+xA/90 - .63
Beto really looked a different player with David Moyes as his boss than with Sean Dyche. That was good, because removing Beto’s eight goals from the number nine position leaves Everton with only three goals from a striker across all of 2024-25 - a paltry sum that is hardly much better including that which the Portuguese international provided the team with.
While many pundits and supporters alike were discouraged from the previous season of terrible misses and poor ball control, it shows the class of David Moyes and his coaching staff that, reasonably quickly, the player was able to finally find his footing; he was signed by Everton once upon a time for a reason, after all.
The player is a massive man, who can run with great pace and shrug off smaller or weaker defenders. David Moyes is a coaches-coach, and is a man who can squeeze every ounce from a side and their composite individuals. While Moyes and Co. will likely bring in depth for the striker room, this author suspects that Beto will remain on Merseyside to battle for time leading the attack in the Premier League next season.
Grade: B
Chelsea FC v Everton FC - Premier League Youssef Chermiti of Everton battles for possession with Moises Caicedo of Chelsea
Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images
Youssef Chermiti
Appearances - 4, Goals - 0, Assists - 0, Yellow Cards - 0, Red Cards - 0, PL xG+xA/90 - .47
While there have been glimpses of the player, last year featured very few. Four appearances and less than a half of game play indicates how the coaching staff has so far viewed him; whether he will have chances to show his quality on the first team next season, or whether he will be loaned out or even sold remains to be seen.
His grade reflects the uncertainty around him currently.
Grade: INC
Future
The future for the striker room at Everton will already look different with DCL gone and Thierno Barry coming in.
Whether Chermiti goes out on loan for further development and another striker is brought in (likely on loan), remains to be seen.