It might be too late for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to force his way back into the England fold for the World Cup but there remains plenty of time for the striker to shape Everton’s season. Gareth Southgate was looking on as the fit-again forward helped engineer an emphatic victory over a strangely subdued Crystal Palace.
The England international scored his first goal of an injury-plagued campaign and was involved in the second for Anthony Gordon as Everton halted a three-match losing run with their biggest win of the season. Dwight McNeil’s excellent third sealed an impressive display by Frank Lampard’s team that left Patrick Vieira simmering with barely concealed anger. Asked to explain the Palace performance, Vieira replied: “It wasn’t a performance from us. We didn’t play, we didn’t compete and we made it easy for Everton.” What went wrong? “Everything.”
