After an impressive 2-1 away win at Chelsea, Sunderland welcomes a struggling Everton side to the Stadium of Light on Monday evening, with the Toffees waiting for a win after five games without a victory. The hosts sit sixth in the table with 17 points, while the Toffees have slipped to 15th with just 11 points. The head-to-head record clearly favors Everton, who have won four of the last five meetings, but the last game was over eight years ago. Under coach Régis Le Bris, Sunderland have developed remarkable defensive stability, while Everton continue to search for solutions in attack since Romelu Lukaku left the club in 2017. With Xhaka as the new leader in midfield and despite having the second-highest number of player days lost to injury in the league, Sunderland appear tactically solid, while Beto and Barry have contributed just one goal in 16 appearances for the visitors.
- Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland
- Date and time: 03.11.2025, 21:00
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 10)
The statistics point to a defensive game: 80% of Sunderland’s recent games have ended with less than 2.5 goals, with the hosts particularly harmless in the second half. Their defensive efficiency is evident in the league’s third-best expected goals against per shot. Everton’s offensive weakness, exacerbated by the absence of Merlin Röhl, who weakens their creative streak, makes under 2.5 goals a logical betting recommendation with relatively low risk. The balanced market odds of 2.7 for both teams suggest value approaches to defensive markets. Both teams to score: No carries a higher risk, as Sunderland have scored in four of their last five games, but could be interesting at attractive odds. The double chance on Sunderland (1X) is based on their strong home record and Everton’s finishing problems, with David Moyes’ frequent changes of center forward creating additional uncertainty. Everton have conceded at least one goal in each of their last five competitive games, highlighting their defensive vulnerability. A conservative approach would be to bet on under 2.5 goals with a small stake, while value seekers should consider a combination of under 2.5 and double chance.
Sunderland Form & Record Check
Sunderland’s impressive start to the season under Régis Le Bris is reflected in their current league position and recent form. The French coach has brought tactical stability to the team, which is particularly evident in their defensive organization. With Xhaka as an experienced anchor in midfield, Sunderland have managed to perform consistently despite the high number of injury-related absences this season. Their home strength at the Stadium of Light will be a decisive factor, especially as the team can take to the field with confidence after their prestigious win at Chelsea.
Coach Régis Le Bris is expected to field a five-man defense: Patterson in goal, Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida, and Mandava in defense. In midfield, Xhaka could play as an experienced anchor alongside Traoré, Sadiki, and Le Fée. Brobbey will play as the lone striker. According to Opta, the club currently has no injuries, although 454 days have been lost to injuries so far this season, giving Le Bris a full selection for the starting lineup. The signing of Xhaka has apparently been well received, with David Moyes recently praising him as the “second coach” on the pitch. Rigg, Neil, Adingra, and Isidor are expected to be on the bench, among others.
Everton Form & Record Check
Everton travels to the Stadium of Light with only 11 points and in 15th place in the table, a precarious situation reflected in their recent record: only one win in their last five competitive games. Particularly worrying is the defense, which has conceded at least one goal in each of these games and shows weaknesses especially after the break, as evidenced by four goals conceded in the second half. The recent 3-0 defeat to Tottenham ruthlessly exposed the problems, with Van de Ven scoring twice from set pieces and Sarr sealing the deal shortly before the end. The offense remains the biggest cause for concern: Thierno Barry and Beto have scored only one league goal between them in 16 appearances. Since Lukaku’s departure in 2017, the club has invested around £160 million in 17 different strikers without finding a long-term solution. While Barry is considered a development project, Beto’s performances have been inconsistent. At least David Moyes can rely on Jordan Pickford, who often keeps clean sheets despite the defensive problems, and apart from Merlin Röhl, who has a hip injury, all players are available.
David Moyes is expected to stick to his tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1 formation and not take any risks. No new injury concerns have been reported, with only Merlin Röhl still out with a hip injury and his return uncertain. Jordan Pickford is expected to start in goal. The back four is likely to consist of Patterson, James Tarkowski, Michael Branthwaite, and Vitaliy Mykolenko. Idrissa Gueye and Josh Garner will form the defensive midfield duo. The attacking trio will consist of Saja Ndiaye, Harry Dewsbury-Hall, and Jack Grealish. Beto will start as the lone striker, with 22-year-old Barry available as an alternative, but he still needs time to adapt. The lineup will only be officially confirmed shortly before kickoff.
Sunderland – Everton Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The head-to-head record clearly favors Everton: the Toffees have won four of the last five meetings, with Sunderland winning only once. However, the most recent match dates back to September 2017, when Everton won 3-0 in the League Cup. The goal tally in these matches is remarkable, as all five games were high-scoring with at least three goals, and four of the five games even saw more than 2.5 goals. The most spectacular result was a 6-2 win for Everton at Goodison Park in November 2015. Sunderland’s only home win in this series came in May 2016, when they won 3-0 at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland often failed to score, and many games were already decided by halftime. There has not been a single draw in this series.
