The last time that Everton and Sunderland locked horns was almost ten years ago. Since then, both teams have had a turbulent period where Everton fought off relegation too frequently and Sunderland dropped
to League One and have clawed their way back to the Premier League this year.
After spending more than 150M pounds this summer, the Black Cats have had a great start to the season and with a win over the Toffees they would sit in second place! The match was a return home for Jordan Pickford who started his career on Wearside and made the move to Everton in 2017. It was going to be an emotional day for the England number one.
Team News
After the disappointing loss against Spurs there was a lot of chatter about changing things to improve the team’s play. In the end, the rotation of strikers was the only change as Thierno Barry replaced Beto up top.
Sunderland were unchanged from the side who beat Chelsea 2-1 last week.
Match Report
Jordan Pickford walked out with his son at his side wearing a shirt that was half Everton and half Sunderland. What a great touch! This was the first time that Pickford would face his childhood club in a competitive match. Tom Bramall was the man in the middle as Everton kicked off wearing their Mersey River inspired all black kits.
A quick ball forward from Pickford was headed down by Barry to Garner who blazed the ball just wide of the Mackem’s goal. Everton were pressing high and that pressure was causing the Black Cats some trouble. Once again, the left side of the Everton attack was again very effective and an early chance fell to Barry but his shot was blocked.
Sunderland’s first attempt was too high from Traore after they went long for a second time. Everton were fighting for every ball and when Ndiaye broke up a Sunderland move and then went on a jinking run through four Sunderland players and slammed the ball into the top corner of the net. What a start for the Blues after fifteen minutes.
The Sunderland fans were upset when Sadaki was not given a call for a challenge on him by Ndiaye. Sadiki then decided to wipe out Garner and was given a yellow for his efforts. For some reason, Mukuele was also given a card for dissent. The crowd was irate and the Blues just needed to continue their push for a second.
Everton almost doubled the lead when Jack Grealish clattered the post after some nice buildup. The Sunderland fans were frustrated as their team were giving the ball away too easily. A long throw from Makuele from forty yards was incredible by a foul in the box by Sunderland snuffed out the chance.
Another interception by Everton saw Barry cut the ball back nicely and then head to the goal as Grealish crossed the ball. Somehow, Barry couldn’t get the ball into the back of the net from 3 yards. Sunderland’s first chance fell to Traore but he fluffed his lines and missed the ball completely.
Everton were capitalizing on the Sunderland frailties. A late challenge by Barry was rewarded with a yellow. Reinoldo then tried to draw a yellow for O’Brien in the corner but the referee correctly waved it away. Sunderland were starting to get the ball in more forward areas and when O’Brien struggled to clear the ball, the shot from Traore was well over the goal.
Sunderland were starting to press the Everton goal and it took a great defensive play from Michael Keane to deny a goal. Traore was causing trouble and his weaving move needed another good block from Keane. Everton were labouring and Sunderland had three chances but the Blues repelled the chance.
David Moyes was discussing his options with Alan Irvine as two minutes of time was added to the half. Neither team could muster any chances so the ref blew the whistle and the Toffees were one up at the half.
Sunderland came out on the front foot and when Everton could not clear the ball, Granit Xhaka pounced on a loose ball and drove the ball goalward. Incredibly, James Tarkowski stuck out his foot and the ball deflected into the net. If he would have left it alone, Pickford would have easily handled it.
It would have been two if not for Pickford after a second deflected shot caused him real trouble. Pickford was absolutely apoplectic as he tried to organize his back line. Grealish was taken down and Hume was given a yellow for the harsh tackle. As that was being sorted out, Moyes prepared Beto to come in for Barry. Moments later, Iliman Ndiaye went down after a small challenge and it looked like a twisted knee or ankle. Dwight McNeil was brought on to finish the match.
Everton tried to get back on the front foot but they were giving the ball away too easily. VAR looked at a handball by Michael Keane which was some justice for once. Sunderland continued to press and Ididore should have done better when he miskicked a great chance. Everton were starting to get on the ball with Beto holding up the pay. Everton’s first corner in the 79th minute was delivered by McNeil and a good one but a foul was called.
Another poor touch from McNeil led to Pickford scrambling the ball wide of his net when Hume headed the ball goalward. Xhaka delivered another cross and Myukiele went down and pathetically tried to get a penalty. Iroegbunam and Alcaraz were introduced with Dewsbury-Hall and Jake O’Brien. For Sunderland, Isidor and Traore were withdrawn for Brobbery and Talibi.
Immediately, Everton were on the front foot and when Mykolenko intercepted a pass, he blasted the ball goalward and force a great save from Roefs. Another long throw from Sunderland was repelled by Everton as six minutes of extra time was announced. An encouraging opportunity fell to Alcaraz who just dithered with the ball and did noteven get a shot away. Alcaraz then passed the ball out of play when he could have sent Grealish on his way.
Everton’s Man of the Match
Iliman Ndiaye: The winger continues to astound and his goal today was really the only moment that Everton produced in the match. His withdrawl with an injury has to be a huge worry for the team. He can single handedly change a match and when he left, Everton were impotent.
Instant Reaction
The 12 points that Everton have gained this season is the most in the past four years so there is something to be taken from the match and the season so far. However, after the first fifteen minutes and the excellent goal from Ndiaye, we were nothing compared to the Sunderland team who grew as the match went on. Sunderland could have gone second with a win but that was denied by a defensive display that was solid barring a couple of moments of mayhem when Sunderland scored their goal.
When Barry was taken out of the match at 56 minutes he looked absolutely gutted. In the match he missed the one chance in the first half and the rest of the time he was holding up play, spreading the ball around and not really putting a foot wrong. To take him out so early was so unfair on the lad. If Moyes is trying to get a goal to go in then you have to build up confidence. This was confidence killing.
I am not sure what is going on with Tyler Dibling but something is up. When Ndiaye went down in the second half, this would have been a perfect chance for him to give the young lad a runout but on came Dwight McNeil. We needed to get our offensive game back on track and Dibling can do that with aplomb. McNeil is the opposite outside of his set piece ability. McNeil delivered nothing in his 35 minutes. Mr. Moyes, please help us understand what is going on?
This past summer, Everton were required to rebuild the team because of the number of out of contract players. Sunderland, who made it back into the Premier League signed a large number of players because they wanted to compete. Tonight, eight of those signings were in the starting lineup. Sunderland have given the new signings the chance to grow, Everton bought players and Moyes sits them on the bench. The calls for Harrison Armstrong to return in January should only be done if Moyes intends on using him.
When Sunderland were out of possession they moved to a back five which was then leaving only two in the middle against three Everton players. This was the reason why Everton piled on the pressure up to the first goal. Once Sunderland sorted this out there were fewer chances for Everton. LeBris made the change and Moyes struggled to make his own adjustments and the last 30 minutes of the first half saw Sunderland control the play. That continued in the second half as Everton struggled to get any control. The late changes with five minutes to go showed some promise but just not enough time to make a difference.
