Sean Dyche had just finished speaking to the assembled media in the Anfield press room when Gary Neville told those connected to Everton what to do next.
“They’ve got to stop talking about Dominic Calvert-Lewin, it’s as if they’re waiting for something to sort of save them - it might never come,” he said.
“They’ve got to get Maupay playing, the boy tonight I think it might have been beneficial for him to have a partner up there with him - it’s tough playing on your own, it’s the toughest position to play up front, on your own, other than goalkeeper I think.
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“For me, this idea that they always mention, ‘when we get Calvert-Lewin back we’ll be okay,’ no you won’t. You can’t wait for him. You’ll be relegated if you’re waiting for him.”
The problem for Everton - and Neville - is that Calvert-Lewin is the name on the lips of every supporter at the minute, regardless of whether he plays or not.
The England international has been plagued by injury problems for the past 18 months. He missed much of last season with a fractured toe and a thigh problem, then sustained a knee injury on the eve of this season that ruled him out for two months.
So far this season, he has only managed 12 appearances in all competitions and has only completed the full 90 minutes on three occasions. However, on his day, the England international is one of the best forwards in the Premier League.
And that is why he is the name on the lips of Blues supporters. They know he is crucial to their side avoiding relegation to the Championship.
Everton, without a doubt, are a different side with Calvert-Lewin leading the line, and that is in no way a dig at Neal Maupay or Ellis Simms.
Maupay, who joined the club from Brighton in the summer, was never the right person to come in and replace Calvert-Lewin when he is not available. His strengths are not the same as Calvert-Lewin’s.
When it comes to Simms, you can’t help but feel sorry for the 22-year-old. He should still be on loan at Sunderland, let alone starting in a Merseyside derby.
He is the victim of yet more poor transfer planning by the Goodison Park club. Despite promises from the owner, Farhad Moshiri, that Everton would secure a much-needed striker in January, the club ended the window with a weaker squad than when it opened.
That meant the inevitable happened on Monday night as Simms was selected over Maupay to lead the line against Liverpool in the absence of Calvert-Lewin.
“Without a striker we won’t get [out] of this,” was the way one supporter described Everton’s situation. The Blues have three senior forwards in their current squad, but the problem is that the gap between their first choice and the others is just too big.
Which is why in the eyes of some he is the club’s best hope of avoiding the drop. A fit and firing Calvert-Lewin instantly improves this Everton team.
For others, the fact the forward is not available for selection only further strengthens their argument that they are right to protest at the board’s mismanagement. More peaceful protests are planned ahead of Saturday’s game against Leeds United.
Not surprisingly Dyche was asked about the forward during Thursday’s press conference to preview his side’s clash with Leeds United. What the Everton boss said left fans fearing the worst.
“The root of the problem is pretty easy for the medical side of things and now it is just time and make sure his body is well,” Dyche revealed.
“We have other good players here and it is more important to focus on them at this stage because facts are facts and Dom’s not available. So until he is, my focus will be on who is available and the team unit which is always more important.”
Unfortunately for Everton supporters, it appears that Neville was right. They could be waiting a while for the forward to return.
What the future holds for Everton and Calvert-Lewin is anybody’s guess, but one thing is for certain, supporters are not going to stop talking about the forward anytime soon. He will continue to be the name on every fans' lips.
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