[ad_1]
Carlo Ancelotti admitted that even he is surprised by Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s consistency after the Everton forward scored twice in a 3-2 win at Fulham.
The 23-year-old took the opener at Craven Cottage after just 42 seconds and followed it with another effort in the first half to reach double digits in the Premier League this season.
The double put Calvert-Lewin, who has recently established himself as Harry Kane’s backup with England, topping the scoring list and up to 13 overall for the Toffees this season, and his Italian coach is delighted.
“Right now, right now, he’s really focused on the area,” Ancelotti said. “Every ball that comes from crosses, he is ready and he is there.
“He’s doing very well, honestly, I didn’t expect him to have the consistency he has in this period.”
When asked if the former Sheffield United youth could continue his form and challenge for the golden boot, Ancelotti did not downplay his chances.
He added: “I hope for him because it would be good for us! Winning the golden boot would mean that he is scoring a lot of goals and good for the club too, but I don’t know.
2:56
FREE TO SEE: Highlights of Everton’s victory at Fulham in the Premier League
“The objective is not this for him, the objective is to score goals to help the team to be at the top of the table.”
After three consecutive defeats, the five-goal thriller at Craven Cottage sent Everton back on track to win and put them back in the top six. But Ancelotti insisted: “Right now we don’t have to look at the table.
“We started very well and we had a difficult period, now the difficult period is gone and we need to have consistency in our results. Each game will be a test, but our goal is to fight for the top of the table, not for the bottom.”
Fulham manager Scott Parker was left with mixed emotions after goals by Bobby Decordova-Reid and Ruben Loftus-Cheek did not earn them any reward.
1:28
Scott Parker says Fulham will take the positives from their second-half performance against Everton as they lost 3-2 on Sunday.
He also saw his team again fail to convert a penalty shot, with Ivan Cavaleiro the latest player to blow a shot from 12 yards after Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ademola Lookman both had saved penalties earlier this period.
“You couldn’t have written it,” Parker said. “All I can say is that for the last 10 days we have put things in place and have worked tirelessly in terms of preparation and understanding of the process.
“Iván is an exceptional penalty taker and the last time I was in this situation with Ade’s he was angry and disappointed by the way we lost him, but today these things can happen. Of course disappointed, but he slipped, it was one of those things. “
Fulham have missed five of their last eight Premier League penalties, including the last three, all taken by different players (Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ademola Lookman and Ivan Cavaleiro)
Cavaleiro slipped and could only shoot over the crossbar in the 68th minute with Everton already up 3-1 and although Loftus-Cheek shot one two minutes later, Fulham suffered a seventh loss of the season.
Parker was disappointed in the lack of fighting displayed during the first 45 despite an improvement after the break.
“In the second half there was a reaction, but it shouldn’t come from rejoicing at halftime,” he added. “This team can produce what we lacked in the first half. We have shown it.
“We can be successful this year, I know. We are a very good team, but at the same time we have some shortcomings.”
[ad_2]