Dominic Calvert-Lewin David Moyes
(Credit: Imago)
Dan Godfrey
Tue 1 April 2025 21:12, UK
Everton will soon look forward to bringing back Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has barely had a chance to impress David Moyes so far.
Calvert-Lewin is working his way back from an injury which has ruled him out since January, the same month Moyes came in and steered the ship back in the right direction to secure Premier League football at Bramley-Moore Dock next term.
The striker may not be a Toffees player by that point, but if these are to be his final months in blue, he will want to finish his nine-year stay with a flourish.
Calvert-Lewin is eager to produce for Everton as he approaches the end of his contract, but a recent announcement from the Premier League could hamper his chances.
Moyes is keen to get Calvert-Lewin back in the fold (Credit: Imago)
Premier League announce drastic change
Calvert-Lewin has scored just three Premier League goals this season, despite having featured 22 times before his injury – starting 19 of those games.
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The one-time England frontman was heavily favoured by Sean Dyche, but has been injured for much of Moyes’ reign which has led Beto to steal in and double Calvert-Lewin’s league season total.
The Premier League announced on Tuesday (1 April) that semi-automated offside technology would be introduced in the competition from 12 April onwards, which is due to be before Calvert-Lewin’s return.
Everton’s number nine has been flagged offside 27 times this Premier League season, which is comfortably ahead of any other player despite his absence. Chris Wood (21) and Jamie Vardy (19) have been caught offside the next-highest number of times in the top flight.
Semi-automated technology has been used in the FA Cup this season, and will soon be brought into league action in England – and it could actually play to Calvert-Lewin’s advantage after previous incidents this season.
Semi-automated offside technology will be introduced by the Premier League for Matchweek 32, commencing on Saturday 12 April
Read more about the introduction 👇
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 1, 2025
Calvert-Lewin and Everton could benefit from offside news
Technology is more accurate than human officials – that much has been confirmed true, though questions have been raised in English football across the past few years on how well it has been executed.
Like VAR, offside technology will at least give officials more clarity on real-time decisions, and players like Calvert-Lewin – who have regularly fallen foul of the assistant’s flag – will at least have the peace of mind they will not be harshly ruled against.
Whether the subconscious mind plays into officiating at the top level or not, Calvert-Lewin is a player of whom officials will be aware regarding his offside habit. When he does hopefully soon return to Moyes‘ Everton side, he could benefit from the knowledge that this consideration will not inadvertently brush through an official’s mind in a split-second.
Premier League offsides – 2024-25 Offsides
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) 27
Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest) 21
Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) 19
Calvert-Lewin tops the offside chart despite not playing since January (Premier League, as of 1 April before fixtures)
The opposite side of the coin could be assessed, too, with Calvert-Lewin and his fellow forwards seemingly less likely to get the benefit of the doubt from a tight offside shout, but VAR was performing this anyway. Gone are the days players are scoring from clearly offside positions, so the new introduction can’t make things any worse for strikers.
It is extremely marginal, but Calvert-Lewin is certainly an example of a player for whom any changes to the offside system is relevant, and this could give him that key peace of mind. If he’s flagged offside, he is – accurately – offside.
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