Sunderland AFC vs Everton: Preview and Prediction
Sunderland will hope to keep their good start to the season going when they take on Everton on Monday.
Two clubs at opposite ends of expectation meet at the Stadium of Light on Monday night, as high-flying Sunderland continue their remarkable Premier League return against struggling visitors Everton. It’s a fixture rich in subplots, from the Black Cats’ unlikely surge toward the top four to the Toffees’ ongoing fight for stability under David Moyes.
For Sunderland, this season has already defied belief. Under the stewardship of Régis Le Bris, the newly-promoted side have combined youthful energy, fearless attacking play, and strong tactical cohesion to stunning effect. Their most recent triumph, a 2–1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, may be their most defining yet. After conceding inside four minutes to Alejandro Garnacho, the visitors roared back with goals from Wilson Isidor and Chemsdine Talbi, the latter striking deep into stoppage time to secure all three points.
That result lifted Sunderland to 17 points from their opening nine fixtures, the best tally for a promoted side at this stage since Hull City in 2008–09. Despite dropping to sixth following Liverpool and Chelsea’s weekend wins, the Black Cats remain one of the Premier League’s most inspiring stories. Their resilience is particularly notable, they have recovered seven points from losing positions, the highest total in the league so far.
By contrast, Everton arrive in the North East at a crossroads. Moyes’ men were dismantled 3–0 by Tottenham Hotspur in their last outing, following a 2–0 loss to Manchester City. Both defeats exposed familiar issues, a lack of cutting edge going forward and persistent vulnerabilities when defending set pieces and aerial balls. Spurs’ trio of headed goals highlighted a tactical weakness that Sunderland’s dynamic wingers and aerial presence will be keen to exploit.
Sitting 15th in the table, Everton are five points clear of the relegation zone but have lost three consecutive away matches across all competitions, conceding two or more goals in each. A new unwanted record looms large; they have not lost three straight league games without scoring under Moyes since October 2005, a run that ended in six successive defeats.
Their recent record against Sunderland, however, offers a glimmer of encouragement. The Toffees have won their last three meetings against the Black Cats by an aggregate score of 8–0, though the most recent of those came over eight years ago, in February 2017. In an ironic twist, Sunderland’s goalkeeper that day was a young Jordan Pickford, now Everton’s first-choice shot-stopper and captain.
While history leans toward Everton, momentum firmly belongs to Sunderland. With belief surging, tactical clarity under Le Bris, and a crowd hungry for continued success, the Black Cats will see this fixture as another opportunity to prove their Premier League credentials and perhaps cement themselves as the season’s most compelling underdog story. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Sunderland AFC
Sunderland enter this clash with a few key fitness concerns but also some welcome returns to the fold. Paraguayan defender Omar Alderete, who missed the Chelsea game due to concussion protocols, has resumed full training and is in contention to start on Monday. Simon Adingra is also expected to return after sitting out the Stamford Bridge victory with a minor hamstring issue. Midfielder Dan Neil should likewise be available despite suffering a mild concussion last week.
However, Aji Alese (shoulder), Dennis Cirkin (wrist), Romain Mundle (thigh), Leo Fuhr Hjelde (Achilles), and Habib Diarra (groin) remain sidelined and are not expected to feature. Their continued absence limits the squad’s depth in both defensive and midfield rotations, meaning manager Régis Le Bris will likely need to manage minutes carefully.
Le Bris experimented with a back five against Chelsea, adopting a compact 5-4-1 formation that delivered an excellent defensive display and a late victory. However, in front of the home supporters, he may revert to a more proactive 4-3-3 setup to regain attacking fluency and control possession.
In this shape, Robin Roefs will retain his place in goal, shielded by a back four comprising Trai Hume at right-back, Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete in central defence, and Reinildo Mandava on the left. The midfield trio is expected to consist of Granit Xhaka anchoring the centre with his composure and passing range, supported by Lutsharel Geertruida and Noah Sadiki, who will provide energy and balance on either side.
Further forward, Chemsdine Talbi and Wilson Isidor will occupy the flanks, offering width and counterattacking pace, while Enzo Le Fée is expected to operate as the creative hub in a free-attacking role through the middle. This system gives Sunderland flexibility to press high when in possession and quickly shift into a solid defensive block when off the ball, a hallmark of Le Bris’s tactical discipline.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Reinildo; Xhaka, Geertruida, Sadiki; Talbi, Isidor, Le Fee
Everton
Everton arrive on Wearside with a relatively healthy squad, though there are still a couple of notable absentees in defence. Jarrad Branthwaite remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury, while fellow full-back Nathan Patterson is still dealing with lingering foot and groin issues. Both players are expected to return after the international break but will not feature on Monday night.
Aside from that, manager David Moyes has reported a clean bill of health for the remainder of his squad, giving him a few tactical choices to make. In particular, the question of who leads the line remains open, Beto started against Tottenham Hotspur last week but was replaced by Thierno Barry midway through the second half. With Barry showing greater sharpness and energy off the bench, Moyes may lean toward starting the young striker this time.
Monday night will also mark an emotional return for Jordan Pickford, who faces his boyhood club Sunderland for the first time since leaving the Black Cats in 2017. Now the England number one, Pickford will be tasked with marshalling a backline that has been under scrutiny in recent weeks due to aerial frailties and lapses in defensive coordination.
Everton are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to provide defensive stability while maintaining width and creativity in attack. Jordan Pickford will start in goal, behind a back four comprising Jake O’Brien at right-back, Michael Keane and James Tarkowski as the central defensive pairing, and Vitaliy Mykolenko operating on the left flank.
In midfield, the double pivot of James Garner and Idrissa Gueye will anchor the centre of the pitch, providing ball recovery and transitional support. Further ahead, Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish are expected to take up wide attacking roles, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will serve as the creative link between midfield and attack in the number 10 position. Up front, Thierno Barry is likely to spearhead the attack, aiming to stretch Sunderland’s backline with his pace and pressing ability.
This setup will allow Everton to maintain compact defensive spacing while looking to break quickly on the counter, a tactical hallmark of Moyes’s sides, particularly exploiting transitions and set pieces where Sunderland may be vulnerable.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry
Key Stats
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Everton have dominated recent meetings between the two sides, winning each of their last three encounters by an aggregate score of 8–0. However, this will be the first Premier League meeting since 2017, when both teams were under very different circumstances.
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Sunderland are unbeaten in their last seven home league matches, winning five and drawing two. Under Régis Le Bris, they have averaged 2.14 points per game at the Stadium of Light this season, one of the best home records in the Premier League.
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The Black Cats have earned seven points from losing positions so far this campaign, more than any other side in the Premier League, showcasing their resilience and tactical adaptability in pressure moments.
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The Toffees have lost their last three away matches in all competitions, conceding two or more goals in each. They are also yet to keep a clean sheet on the road this season, underlining a major defensive weakness.
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Sunderland have had eight different goal scorers across their first nine league fixtures, compared to Everton’s five.
Player to Watch
Enzo Le Fee
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If there is one player capable of dictating the tempo and unlocking Everton’s rigid defensive structure, it is Enzo Le Fée. The French playmaker has been at the heart of Sunderland’s meteoric rise this season, seamlessly blending creativity with tactical intelligence.
Operating primarily as a central attacking midfielder, Le Fée excels at linking midfield and attack, often dropping deep to orchestrate possession before driving forward to carve open defences. His vision and passing range have been instrumental in transitioning Sunderland from defence to attack, particularly when facing teams that press aggressively, a scenario Everton are likely to replicate under David Moyes.
Beyond his technical proficiency, Le Fée’s work rate and spatial awareness stand out. He consistently finds pockets between the lines, drawing defenders out of position to create space for the wide forwards. His set-piece delivery and composure in tight areas further make him a pivotal figure in Le Bris’s tactical framework.
Suppose Sunderland are to overcome Everton’s physical approach and capitalize on their defensive lapses. In that case, Enzo Le Fée will need to be at his inventive best, orchestrating play, dictating rhythm, and potentially delivering the decisive pass or goal that defines the contest.
Prediction
Sunderland AFC 2–1 Everton
Sunderland’s fearless start to life back in the Premier League shows no signs of slowing down, and with the home crowd behind them at the Stadium of Light, they will enter this fixture brimming with confidence. Their ability to recover from setbacks, combined with Enzo Le Fée’s creative influence and the likely return of Omar Alderete in defence, gives them both balance and belief.
Everton, meanwhile, remain a work in progress under David Moyes. Their away record is deeply concerning, no wins, no clean sheets, and frequent defensive lapses from crosses and set pieces. While their experience and Jordan Pickford’s familiarity with the venue could give them a psychological edge, the Toffees often struggle against high-energy, technically sharp teams like Sunderland.
Given the momentum, tactical organization, and attacking diversity Sunderland have shown, the hosts look better equipped to seize control of this encounter. Expect a competitive start, but the Black Cats’ intensity and creativity should wear Everton down over time.
