Premier League: Benitez has backed Calvert-Lewin to make Everton’s revival shine.© AFP
Everton manager Rafael Benitez has put his trust in Dominic Calvert-Lewin and new signings in January as the Merseysiders try to turn their season around. The England striker made his comeback after more than four months with a thigh injury in a 3-2 home defeat to Brighton on Sunday, where he missed a penalty. Before the game at Goodison Park, Ukrainian left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko met the fans, who signed for 17 million euros.
British newspaper reports have also linked Benitez with a move to Glasgow Rangers right-back Nathan Patterson as he looks to bolster the defense of an Everton side languishing in 15th place in the 20-man Premier League.
Sunday’s game marked only the eighth time this season that Everton have scored more than once in a league game, with five of those occasions in their first six games and 24-year-old Calvert-Lewin scoring in the first three before his injury.
“Hopefully Dominic’s return gives everyone a little more hope,” said Spanish boss Benitez after Everton’s eighth loss in 12 league games.
“And if we bring players back and bring in new players, it will bring the desire that everyone expects.”
Prior to kick-off, Brighton had only won once in 13 games, but the win lifted the Seagulls to eighth place.
It was difficult to score goals for the south coast, but a double from midfielder Alexis Mac Allister at Goodison Park was an encouraging sign for Brighton manager Graham Potter.
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“He has the quality. He can contribute to the scoring phase for us,” said Potter of Mac Allister. “Others can too. That’s something we’re trying to improve on, because it’s too easy to blame the attackers.”
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