Everton manager Rafael Benitez has put his faith in England forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin to revive the Merseyside season.
The forward came back from injury in the 3-2 defeat after been out for four months with thigh injury against Brighton.
According to report the Everton boss has been linked with Rangers right-back Nathan Patterson in other to fix his defence.
Monday’s match was only the eighth time this season that have Everton scored more than once in a league fixture, with five of those occasions coming in their opening six games and the 24-year-old Calvert-Lewin scoring in the first three before his injury.
“Hopefully Dominic coming back will give a little bit more hope to everyone,” said Spanish boss Benitez after Everton’s eighth defeat in 12 league games.
“And if we are bringing players back, and signing new players, it will bring this desire that everyone is expecting.”
Prior to kick-off, Brighton had won just once in 13 matches but victory saw the Seagulls soar into eighth place.
Goals have been hard to come by for the south coast side, but a double from midfielder Alexis Mac Allister at Goodison Park was an encouraging sign for Brighton manager Graham Potter.
“He has the quality. He can contribute to the scoring phase for us,” said Potter of Mac Allister. “So can others. That is something we are trying to improve as it’s too easy to blame the strikers.”
Speaking about the defeat to Brighton Benitez stated that the mistakes have been making it difficult for them.
“To concede the way we are is making it very difficult for us,” said Benitez.
“It gives us a big mountain to climb and is not easy later in the game.
“We missed a penalty, which is more complicated for the confidence.
“We reacted and were pushing – but then made another mistake and conceded the third.
“I don’t like to make excuses [concerning going in cold after so long without a game].
“The goals we conceded were more about lack of focus and concentration in the first minutes.
“We conceded these goals and after played under more pressure, so it is more difficult
“You can see the reaction is there but it is not enough, because we continued making mistakes
“It is something we have been talking about and practising.
“We worked on that [defending various situations] but were not capable of doing it. We have to focus and start the games with the intensity everyone is expecting.
“We have to improve, especially in defence, you can see the team push and work hard and try but we are missing a bit of quality in our decision-making in the final third and the kind of goals we conceded.”
Gordon’s strike to make it 2-1 came with the aid of a generous deflection off Adam Lallana.
Academy graduate’s second goal was entirely of his own making, however, Gordon starting a move then sprinting into the box to convert Jonjoe Kenny’s eventual low delivery.
Gordon was fractionally wide with a hat-trick attempt in the closing minutes.
“He has the right mentality,” said Benitez.
“He was a talented player who, maybe, needed to work harder and he is doing that.
“I am really pleased because he is growing.
“But I like to talk about the team and as a team we need to support each other and be stronger.
“We are reacting in a lot of games but we cannot concede these types of goals. If they are great and in the top corner, fine, but we are conceding because of a lack of focus and intensity in our defending.
“I like to remember the things we do well and remember the things we don’t do right. We have shown character in a lot of games but we’re not capable of avoiding mistakes that are costing us games.”
Benitez had hoped to use Calvert-Lewin sparingly, as the striker begins his comeback from thigh and toe problems.
The circumstances of the game, however, dictated the 24-year-old stayed on the field from start to finish.
“That was not the idea… it was maybe too demanding for him but we were losing and had to do it,” added Benitez, whose side go to Hull City for an FA Cup third-round tie on Saturday.
“Obviously, we didn’t want to keep him on the pitch as we felt, physically, he wouldn’t have the match fitness. Maybe he has the strength but not the stamina.
“But at least he’s fine and, hopefully, he can recover quickly for the next one.”
Source: Everton
