‘Interesting’… Chris Sutton thinks Sean Dyche has ran out of patience with 26-year-old Everton player

‘Interesting’… Chris Sutton thinks Sean Dyche

Everton must wait a little longer for their first three points of 2024 after West Ham United’s snatch-and-grab win on Saturday.

Once again, Sean Dyche’s side were left to rue missed chances, which should have seen the Toffees out of sight.

Ahead of the clash, the Everton boss opted to drop Dominic Calvert-Lewin and offer Beto a chance from the outset.

The Portuguese striker missed a first-half penalty but did give Everton the lead with a 56th-minute header.

And Chris Sutton has claimed Dyche has now lost patience with Calvert-Lewin after his weekend snub.

Chris Sutton on Dominic Calvert-Lewin form
Talking on BBC Sport’s Monday Night Club, Sutton believes the 26-year-old has played his way out of Dyche’s plans.

“It was interesting at the weekend he was left out; Beto started and missed a penalty,” he said.

“I actually thought at the start of the season Everton’s hopes of staying in the Premier League were all on Calvert-Lewin and finding rhythm and a run of games.

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“He has proven in the past that not only is he a decent goalscorer, but he can lead the line well.”

The former Celtic striker claimed that Dyche’s patience has now run dry in relation to Calvert-Lewin’s goalscoring form.

Everton FC v Crystal Palace – Premier League
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
“He started the season well, but he has just fallen away, he has hesitated, he’ll maybe say that he is not getting the service,” he added.

“He’s just lost his way the longer the season has gone on, and it looks at this moment in time like Sean Dyche has run out of patience with him; he has sort of played his way out of the team.”

Everton lack cutting edge
The Everton striker is being let down by his finishing ability.

Per Sofascore, his xG (expected goals) is 9.21. At present, he has netted just three times. It’s clear that Calvert-Lewin is getting into the right areas but cannot produce the end product required.

It’s an issue that has plagued Dyche’s team throughout the campaign. According to FotMob, Everton’s overall xG is 41.6. If the Toffees had scored the expected chances, they would have had 12 more goals to their name.

Of course, the scrutiny over their obvious goalscoring issues isn’t going to help; the pressure will only increase.

Yet, something must change quickly to avoid an extremely tense end of the season.