Sunderland made a strong statement in their Premier League comeback, securing a notable 1-1 draw against Everton at the Stadium of Light on Monday. Iliman Ndiaye netted a goal in the first half, but unfortunately left the match injured in the second half, just as Granit Xhaka’s deflected shot helped the Black Cats equalize.
WATCH – Full match replay of Sunderland v Everton
Both former Sunderland players, David Moyes and Jordan Pickford, likely hoped to take all three points back to Everton but might settle for a draw by the end of the match.
With this result, Sunderland now sits fourth with 18 points after 10 matches, while Everton stands 14th with 12 points in a tightly-packed Premier League table.
Regis Le Bris: The Tactician
In the realm of coaching, there are effective strategists and uninspired ones, with some managing to excel in multiple areas. Sunderland’s manager Regis Le Bris appears to belong to a rare breed, possibly earning the title of a tactician extraordinaire. The 49-year-old has oscillated between various formations, including a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1, but against Everton, he surprised everyone with a 3-4-3 setup. As the game progressed, his team grew in confidence. Sunderland has made some astute signings, but Le Bris is maximizing their potential impressively. The availability of key players like Granit Xhaka, Robin Roefs, and Nordi Mukiele has certainly helped, but injuries to Habib Diarra and Simon Adingra have posed challenges. Despite not clinching a win against Everton, Xhaka’s disappointment reflects the team’s confidence. While reaching the top half seems ambitious, Sunderland is on track for survival and Le Bris is a strong contender for Coach of the Year.
Upcoming Matches
Everton will host Fulham at 10 AM ET on Saturday, shortly before Sunderland welcomes Arsenal at 12:30 PM.
How to Watch Sunderland vs Everton – Live Stream Info
Kick-off Time: 3 PM ET on Monday (November 3)
Venue: Stadium of Light — Sunderland
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Sunderland vs Everton Final Score: 1-1
Iliman Ndiaye 14′, Granit Xhaka 46′
Sunderland vs Everton Live Updates — by Nick Mendola
Substitutions
Everton brought on Tim Iroegbunam and Carlos Alvarez for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jake O’Brien.
Sunderland introduced Brian Brobbey and Chemsdine Talbi in place of Wilson Isidor and Bertrand Traore.
Wilson Isidor’s Missed Chance
Sunderland played well on the right, but the in-form French striker Wilson Isidor squandered a near-post opportunity due to a lapse in focus.
Iliman Ndiaye Injury Update
Iliman Ndiaye exited the match with a leg injury but was able to walk off without noticeable difficulty, making way for Dwight McNeil—a solid substitute option!
Everton Substitution
Beto stepped in for Barry, shortly creating a long-ball opportunity that Barry could have capitalized on.
Current score: 1-1, 61′
Spectacular Save!
A well-placed shot from Le Fee, assisted by Xhaka, deflected off Wilson Isidor, but Jordan Pickford made a remarkable save while lying on the ground to keep the score level.
Granit Xhaka Equalizes — Sunderland 1-1 Everton
The Black Cats struck back thanks to a mistake from James Tarkowski. Enzo Le Fee retrieved a loose ball and laid it off to Granit Xhaka outside the box. Xhaka executed a low strike that deflected off Tarkowski, catching Pickford off-guard and finding the back of the net.
Xhaka equalizes for Sunderland against Everton
Granit Xhaka’s low, deflected shot finds the goal, leveling the score for Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Halftime — Sunderland 0-1 Everton
Jordan Pickford and the Toffees managed to keep Sunderland from scoring in the first half, while Sunderland has yet to register a shot on target.
In Pickford’s first Premier League match against his old team, he made four recoveries and recorded a 0.01 xA.
How Did It Not End 2-0?
Jack Grealish served a pinpoint cross from the left that should have led to his fifth assist of the season, but Thierno Barry, posting up the goal, volleyed over the crossbar. A major miss, especially given the ongoing issues with the center-forward position.
Iliman Ndiaye Scores — Everton 1-0 Sunderland
After a turnover induced by Thierno Barry, Iliman Ndiaye showcased his skills, weaving through defenders Granit Xhaka and Dan Ballard. He skillfully cut to his left and placed a precise shot past the goalkeeper from 18 yards out, tallying his fourth goal of the Premier League season.
Ndiaye dazzles to give Everton the lead against Sunderland
A brilliant individual effort from Iliman Ndiaye, quieting the Stadium of Light and giving Everton an early lead.
Everton Strong Start
While Everton hasn’t threatened Sunderland’s goalkeeper Robin Roefs much, they have showcased smooth gameplay early on. The score remains 0-0 after the first 13 minutes.
Sunderland Starting XI
Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida, Reinildo, Xhaka, Sadiki, Traore, Le Fee, Isidor
Everton Starting XI
Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Gana Gueye, Garner, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Barry
Match Preview — by Joe Prince-Wright
A win for Sunderland could elevate them to second place in the Premier League, with almost a third of the season completed. Regis Le Bris’ newly-promoted squad has been impressive, achieving the best start for any promoted team since the 2008-09 season. They recently pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory over Chelsea and blend youth and experience skillfully.
For Everton, manager David Moyes and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, both formerly of Sunderland, are keen to turn things around after back-to-back losses against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. Moyes expressed disappointment over their recent performance, especially their set-piece defending.
Sunderland Team News
Sunderland will be missing Habib Diarra, Dennis Cirkin, Leo Hjelde, Romaine Mundle, and Aji Alese due to injury. They have shown remarkable adaptability in their strategies, particularly with Granit Xhaka’s leadership and calming presence in midfield. Isidor, Le Fee, and Traore present a formidable attacking front, with Roefs shining in goal.
Everton Team News
Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson are sidelined with injuries, but Moyes has settled on a consistent lineup. He aims to maximize the creativity of talents like Ndiaye, Grealish, and Dewsbury-Hall while managing competition for the forward spot between Beto and Barry, both of whom are yet to find their scoring touch this season.
Match Prediction
This matchup seems poised to end in a draw. Sunderland is known for its resilient defense and solid home performances, while Everton will be trying to seize the opportunity for a win with their key players performing at their best. Final Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Everton.