Embarrassing stat involving £67m Liverpool man shows why Dwight McNeil isn’t what Everton need

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Earlier today, Everton announced the signing of Dwight McNeil from Burnley in a deal worth £20m.

The 22-year-old was available after Burnley suffered relegation from the Premier League last season, but the Toffees needed to fend off interest from Crystal Palace and West Ham to secure his signature.

Despite his obvious talent, we do not believe McNeil is what Frank Lampard needs right now, and an embarrassing statistic involving Liverpool glovesman Alisson proves it.

What’s the story?

Well, to put it simply, Everton need goals. The Toffees scored 43 goals in 38 Premier League games last season, a tally bettered by 12 teams in England’s top-flight.

Richarlison scored ten of those, so Lampard really needed to replace the Brazilian with a goalscorer.

With all due respect, McNeil is not one of those, nor does he create much either.

As you can see above, Liverpool £67m shot-stopper Alisson equalled McNeil’s tally of goal involvements last season from in between the sticks, and did so in two fewer appearances.

Hilariously, the Brazilian glovesman has also scored a Premier League goal more recently than Everton’s new No.7 has.

Alisson netted a later winner against West Brom back in May 2021, whereas McNeil’s last Premier League goal coincidentally came against Everton in March 2021.

Of course, the England Under-21 international will bring other qualities to Goodison Park, such as a strong work rate and impressive dead-ball ability.

However – as aforesaid – Lampard needs an injection of goals, and he is unlikely to get that from McNeil based on the evidence.

Frank Lampard can prove his coaching credentials at Everton

Fortunately for McNeil, he is set to work under one of the best goalscoring midfielders of all time.

Now, it is up to Lampard to prove himself as a coach, and implement some of his best goalscoring traits from his playing days into his new £20m signing.

It will be a test for the 44-year-old, who remarkably scored 267 goals from midfield throughout his career.

If McNeil starts to get on the scoresheet more frequently, it would suggest Lampard is having an impact on the squad at Finch Farm, but if he doesn’t, many will question what the Everton boss is actually doing.

Only time will tell if McNeil shines, but as things stand, we do not think he is what Everton need at the moment.