Jermaine Jenas pulled no punches when delivering his verdict on Everton's goalscoring troubles following Saturday's defeat at West Ham United.
Frank Lampard's side left the London Stadium empty-handed after a disappointing display that has stretched the club's winless run to ten games in all competitions. The Blues have managed only six goals during this wretched run, which has left Lampard on the brink as pressure continues to mount.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has led the line for Everton in the last two Premier League games, but has struggled to hit the heights of his stunning 2020/21 campaign as he continues to battle with repeated injury setbacks. Matters have only been made worse in the final third by the fact summer signing Neal Maupay has struggled to make his mark.
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Offering his honest assessment on Everton's inability to create and take chances during games, Jenas said on Match of the Day: "I've had a look at the whole squad, and when you look at it, only five players have managed to score ten or more Premier League goals - and this is in their whole careers. You're looking at it and thinking 'where are those goals actually going to be coming from'?
"They haven't even got a player in there who has got more than one goal every two games so, from Frank's point of view, I feel sorry for him. He is putting a team out there and is probably conflicted as to whether he sits tight and tries to keep clean sheets because he has got no goalscorers in the team. What chance has he got?"
Danny Murphy shared an alternative view when assessing the Blues' biggest issue, pointing to a lack of drive and risk-tasking in midfield as his greatest concern at present.
"When you play upfront, you need someone to provide the passes and have some courage in the way they play. Both full-backs need to get higher, Gray is a winger playing as a forward and needs to threaten the backline more because the West Ham backline was comfortable and everything was in front of them. They [Everton] don't take any risks, they don't play any balls in behind and end up going backwards," said the 45-year-old.
Murphy continued: "If you're going to play three in midfield, at least one of them has to break some lines and try to run behind the strikers. Everton had lots more possession but didn't have any runners. It was too static, too fearful. I just feel they have too many players in the team who are defensive-minded, playing safe.
"Can they play a ball over the top? They don't. If you don't play a few passes forward and take that risk, the centre-forward stops making those runs. Conor Coady is capable of that and Calvert-Lewin knows he is; he doesn't get it and is fuming. If you play that safe, with that many defensive-minded players, you will struggle. I really fear for them now."
Everton's afternoon in the capital ended with Farhad Moshiri telling Sky Sports Lampard's future at the club is not his decision to make, a statement Jenas believes is indicative of the club's sorry state. "If he is not making the decisions, then who is?" Questioned the former Tottenham Hotspur star.
"He is definitely passing the buck. I think it sums up the disconnect at the club, what is happening there and why there is so much upheaval and frustration within the fanbase."
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