Marco Silva has said Richarlison remains an effective striking option for Everton but he wants to improve the hold-up play of the Brazil international, Cenk Tosun and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The Everton manager is still searching for the right balance in attack and said Ademola Lookman is “pushing Theo Walcott and Bernard” for a starting role against Brighton on Saturday.
Silva has deployed Richarlison as the focal point of Everton’s attack in recent weeks but, having scored three goals in his first two games from the left wing, the £40m summer signing has scored only once in six appearances since being sent off at Bournemouth in August.
“You can lose some things but you can also gain things as well,” said Silva on switching Richarlison from the wing. “He is a player who always arrives in the box. It is normal you can win some things and lose some things in this situation because it is two completely different positions. He gives us good things as a striker and as a winger. Yes in the first matches he scored three times as a winger but after that he had games as a winger and didn’t score. When he plays as a striker it is not just about scoring.”
Richarlison struggled with his back to goal in the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United last Sunday but Silva admits that problem is not confined to the Brazilian. He said: “It is something we are working on with him but not just with him, even with Cenk and Dominic. It is not that they are the type of players who are really strong in this moment of the match as well, so it is something we are working on with them.”
The Everton manager has stood by his claim that Anthony Martial dived to win a penalty at Old Trafford despite an FA panel ruling out retrospective action against the United striker for deceiving the referee.
“I accept their decision,” he said. “They are there to decide. I gave my thoughts after the match, what my feeling was about that moment and how important it was for the match. For me it is clear that it wasn’t a penalty.”
