Everton's James Tarkowski 'knows' Dominic Calvert-Lewin's goals will come

Heinrich Griessel
15 January 2024

Everton defender James Tarkowski has backed team-mate Dominic Calvert-Lewin to rediscover his goal-scoring form.

The England international has now gone more than 16 hours without a goal, a run of 13 matches stretching back to late October, after missing the best chance in the goalless draw at home to Aston Villa in a one-on-one with Emiliano Martinez.

In the period since his last goal, Calvert-Lewin has had 20 shots - 10 on target - and recorded an xG of 4.78 which is the top-flight's fifth-highest for that spell behind only Dominic Solanke, Mohamed Salah, Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer.

For the whole season the striker's three goals represent an under-performance on his xG of 4.58, the biggest difference by any player in the competition so far.

Afterwards his manager Sean Dyche spoke positively of having the 26-year-old available on a regular basis - his 21 appearances already more than he has managed in either of the previous two seasons - and Tarkowski believes that will allow him to rediscover his touch in front of goal.

"He wants to score more than anyone else and we all know that. He is a really important player for us and he understands that," said the centre-back.

"The goals will come and I know they will. I have told him that already - and he knows that.

"Maybe once he misses everyone is like ‘He looks a little low on confidence'. He is working ever so hard and does a lot of work that maybe goes unnoticed.

"It is just about getting back out on that pitch and getting a goal. Hopefully a scruffy one goes in off him at some point and he'll get on a roll."

While the draw against Villa offered little from an attacking point of view, Everton had two shots on target, a seventh clean sheet of the season put Jordan Pickford ahead in the race for the Golden Glove with more shut-outs than Liverpool's Alisson Becker and Manchester United's Andre Onana (both six).

"It is nice to take a point away from the game when we have defended well," added Tarkowski.

"Ideally we take three points but if you don't score then hopefully you keep a clean sheet and get that point on the board."