Everton Match-Winner Calvert-Lewin On Key To Spurs Success

Dominic Calvert-Lewin says Everton reaped maximum reward for a complete performance after the striker’s bullet header clinched the Blues’ first victory at Tottenham Hotspur in 12 years.

Everton had created the majority of openings and begun the second half in control when Calvert-Lewin met Lucas Digne’s 55th-minute free-kick to crash his finish into the top corner of Hugo Lloris’s goal.

The win for Carlo Ancelotti's team maintained a detectable sense of optimism gathering around the Club following the headline arrivals last week of James Rodriguez, Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure.

All three new signings had influential roles in Everton starting the Premier League campaign on a successful note and winning in this corner of north London for the first time since November 2008.

“I’m always happy to get on the scoresheet but to get the three points is an even better feeling,” said Calvert-Lewin.

“With the new lads who have come in, it was important we got off to a good start.

“We’ve not had a long time to gel but I think we clicked.

“Everyone to a man won their individual battles and played well.

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02:49

ANCELOTTI ON WHY EVERTON CAN GET BETTER

Boss delighted with winning start at Spurs.


“I thought they [the three debutants] were fantastic. The two new lads in the middle [Doucoure and Allan] have got legs and it’s important against teams like Spurs, on a big pitch, that we get about the field and work hard.

“That allows the creative players to get on the ball and play and slip me in.

“I couldn’t wait to play today. Not only with it being the first game of the season but because of the quality we’ve brought in.

“These boys have played at a very good level, Champions League – that’s where we aspire to be.

"I was itching to get on the pitch and to get the goal was a great feeling.”

Everton swarmed all over Spurs with and without the ball from kick-off and the alert Richarlison could have broken the deadlock on 16 minutes when he pounced on Ben Davies’s loose ball to round goalkeeper Lloris but shoot over.

Brazilian Richarlison twice came close with right-foot drives beyond the far post following the break and James was inches from hitting the target after being set up by Doucoure shortly before half-time.

Jordan Pickford applied a crucial touch to tip over from Dele Alli and the Everton keeper was sharp again to save with his leg when Matt Doherty was through on goal.

Everton asked more of the questions, though, aiming 15 shots to the hosts’ nine, with Calvert-Lewin flanked by Richarlison and James in a new-look front three.

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02:01

SPURS 0-1 EVERTON: MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Calvert-Lewin header gets Blues' 2020/21 season off to a flier in north London.

 

“I thoroughly enjoyed it today, because we had runners," said Calvert-Lewin.

"We had legs up the pitch.

“When we’re keeping the ball and playing, it allows me to get into positions and get the wingers in and get them [defenders] turning... it creates more chances.

“Because we worked hard and won our individual battles, it allowed us to play and then we could create chances.

“I thought I could’ve done better with a couple of chances. When you’ve got a team like Spurs with the quality they have, as a centre-forward you’ve got to be cute sometimes, win free-kicks when you have to and stretch the play when you have to.”

Calvert-Lewin got the run on Eric Dier to leap above the defender and give France number one Lloris precious little chance for the decisive goal.

The 23-year-old, who netted 15 times last term, has attributed an enormous amount of credit to Assistant Manager Duncan Ferguson for the improvement in his game over the past 12 months.

It was no different here, with Calvert-Lewin identifying one of his predecessors in Everton’s number 9 shirt as a significant influence on his refined heading technique.

“For the goal, it was great ball from Lucas and, with the quality he has, I’ve just got to be in the area and be ready to nod it in,” added Calvert-Lewin.

“We [Calvert-Lewin and Ferguson] work on my heading.

"He's been top-drawer with me, Big Dunc.

"From when I joined the First Team he's someone I've been able to bounce my questions off with no worries.

"He's always had my best interests at heart. If I've got anything to ask him, he's always there and when the going gets tough he's there to pick me up again, so I've got a lot to thank him for.

“He recognises it [heading] is a natural strength of mine. I like heading the ball.

“With the quality we have out wide, when they’re putting in the deliveries, it’s important for me to be in the areas.

“That’s more the kind of stuff we work on – getting in the right areas. The rest takes care of itself.”