Everton host Sunderland at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday afternoon in Round 37 of the Premier League, with both sides arriving in similar but slightly different moods after a run of tight, often unpredictable results.
It is a meeting that feels more about momentum and identity than table mathematics alone, with Everton trying to turn draws into something more decisive and Sunderland looking to steady themselves after a mixed spell that has included both a heavy setback and a notable win.
Look at our Data and Stats for Everton vs Sunderland
Why it matters
For Everton, this is another chance to show that their recent competitiveness against stronger opposition can be turned into control and, ultimately, points. They have been hard to beat in patches, but too many matches have drifted into stalemates or narrow defeats, leaving the sense of a side that is competing without quite landing the decisive blow.
Sunderland’s wider significance lies in how they respond to the extremes of their recent form. A goalless draw with Manchester United and a win over Tottenham Hotspur sit alongside the damaging loss to Nottingham Forest and the chaotic defeat at Aston Villa, so this trip is as much about restoring balance as it is about the result itself.
The fixture also carries a tactical edge because both teams have settled into a 4-2-3-1 shape. That should create a familiar midfield battle and place a premium on who can impose rhythm in the central areas rather than simply survive the other side’s pressure.
Form picture
Everton’s recent league form has been defined by draws that have felt both encouraging and frustrating. They have shared points with Crystal Palace, Manchester City and Brentford, while narrow defeats to West Ham United and Liverpool suggest they have remained competitive even when results have not gone their way.
That pattern points to a side with enough structure to stay in games, but not always enough incision to finish them. The 3-3 draw with Manchester City in particular underlined their ability to trouble elite opposition, yet the run also shows how often they have been forced to settle for partial rewards.
Sunderland’s recent sequence has been more uneven. The clean sheet against Manchester United and the win over Tottenham Hotspur stand out, but they have also suffered a 0-5 defeat to Nottingham Forest and a 3-4 loss at Aston Villa, which exposed how quickly their shape can unravel when the game becomes stretched.
Even so, the draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers suggests they are capable of managing away from home when the contest stays controlled. Their form reads as a side with a clear ceiling on good days, but also a vulnerability when they are dragged into a more open, transitional match.
Key storyline
The main story is whether Everton can turn their recent habit of staying in matches into a more authoritative home performance. Their results suggest a team that is organised enough to frustrate opponents, but still searching for the sharper attacking edge that would make those performances count more consistently.
Sunderland, by contrast, arrive with a profile that is more volatile but also more dangerous if the game becomes stretched. Their best results have come when they have kept the contest compact, and their worst when they have been pulled into end-to-end football, which makes the opening stages especially important.
Team news
Everton are without Jarrad Branthwaite because of a hamstring injury, which removes an important defensive option and leaves the back line looking likely to remain built around James Tarkowski and Michael Keane. The expected 4-2-3-1 keeps the shape familiar, with Jordan Pickford behind a defence that has been used repeatedly in recent matches.
The midfield and attacking structure also looks settled, with Iliman Ndiaye, James Garner, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Merlin Röhl and Tim Iroegbunam expected to support Beto. That suggests Everton will again rely on a compact base, quick support from midfield and enough movement around the striker to create chances without overcommitting numbers.
Sunderland’s only listed absentee is Simon Moore with a broken hand, so the bigger question is selection rather than availability. Their recent line-ups point to a 4-2-3-1 built around Robin Roefs in goal, a back four of Lutsharel Geertruida, Nordi Mukiele, Omar Alderete and Reinildo Mandava, and a midfield anchored by Granit Xhaka.
In attack, Brian Brobbey is expected to lead the line with Chemsdine Talbi, Enzo Le Fée, Noah Sadiki and Trai Hume providing support. That shape suggests Sunderland will try to keep their distances short, protect the centre and look for moments rather than sustained pressure.
Tactical battle
The key area is likely to be the middle of the pitch, where Everton’s energy and Sunderland’s control-oriented midfield will meet. If Everton can disrupt Granit Xhaka and stop Sunderland settling into a passing rhythm, they may force the visitors into a more direct game.
At the other end, Sunderland will look to test Everton’s defensive line without Branthwaite by moving the ball quickly into Brobbey and the runners around him. That makes the first pass after regaining possession especially important, because both sides have shown they are more comfortable when the game is structured than when it becomes chaotic.
Recent meetings
The recent head-to-head record is mixed but slightly tilted towards Everton, who won 2-0 in the most recent meeting at Goodison Park in February 2017, while the sides drew 1-1 in Sunderland in November 2025; earlier meetings included a 3-0 Sunderland win and two emphatic Everton victories.
Reporter’s view
This has the feel of a match that may be decided less by sustained dominance and more by which side handles the key moments better. Everton’s recent run suggests they are difficult to break down, but Sunderland have already shown they can produce disciplined, high-quality performances when the structure is right.
The most likely pattern is Everton having more of the ball at home, with Sunderland prepared to sit in a compact block and break when space opens. If the game stays tight, it may follow the same theme as several of Everton’s recent fixtures: competitive, tense and settled by a narrow margin or a shared result.
Prediction
A close contest looks likely, with Everton and Sunderland both capable of leaving with a point in a game that may be decided by fine margins.
