Dominic Calvert-Lewin hailed his late winner against Crystal Palace as the greatest goal of his career but stressed the struggles experienced by Everton this season 'can't happen again'.
Frank Lampard's side are now safe from relegation after beating Palace 3-2 at Goodison Park, though many have argued the club should not have been in this position in the first place given the talent within the ranks. It's a sentiment Calvert-Lewin agrees with, despite the sheer euphoria attached with his decisive diving header.
In what has been a challenging season for the 25-year-old due to constant injury issues, scoring the goal to keep the Blues in the division trumps any other moment he has delivered as a professional footballer.
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Asked after the full-time whistle if this was the biggest goal of his life, Calvert-Lewin told beIN SPORTS : "I think it is, yeah, without a shadow of a doubt. The amount of importance on that game and three points was beyond belief. With the way we started the first half, you're thinking we need to produce something that we've not before. To score three goals in the second half, and to score the winner, was an incredible feeling. It's all a bit of a blur, the way it has gone.
"I don't think we have come from two goals behind, that's the stat. If there's ever going to be a time, tonight was the time to do it. It was an incredible atmosphere and an incredible feeling. It has been a difficult season collectively and for myself, so to get that goal tonight is special.
"It's the best feeling in the world. As a striker, I crave that feeling. When you go a while without getting it, it feels further and further away - so that is the hardest part. That goal today is the best goal I have ever scored in terms of the atmosphere and the celebration after. It's just a big, big relief.
"I just kept thinking to myself 'one more chance', 'one more chance'. I've scored from wide free kicks a fair few times in my career and I just thought I had to pick up the position I usually do, hope the ball is on the money and make sure I was there to put it in."
After being provided another warm welcome by supporters prior to kick-off, the England international explained how the players felt a sense of responsibility to match this level of commitment with a performance to be proud of on the pitch.
"The way we got welcomed into the stadium, we could sense the kind of emotion. In the back of your mind, you're thinking how special it would be to get the three points and you'd know what's coming. As soon as that third goal went in, it was like 'stay calm' more than anything and 'don't lose your head'. I couldn't breathe, there were so many people around me [after the full-time whistle]," said Calvert-Lewin.
Pointing to the fact that Everton can't afford a repeat of the 2021/22 campaign, the forward continued: "Absolutely not. You look at the players we've got and we've said it time and time again. This season has been a crazy season and we've taken it right to the wire. We know in ourselves, in the dressing room, this can't happen again. We are capable of producing much better than this and the fans deserve more."
