Overview
Everton will enter the final home match of their first season at Hill Dickinson with a slim hope of entering the top 7 of the Premier League, although the recent form of David Moyes' team is causing much disappointment.
The Merseyside team has only won 33% of their home matches in the Premier League season 2025-2026, showing that Hill Dickinson has not really become a fortress as expected. Everton is currently ranked 10th and 4 points behind the European Cup group after a 5-match winless streak - their worst record this season.
In the most recent round, Everton twice took the lead against Crystal Palace but were eventually held to a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park. Notably, Everton's matches under Moyes recently no longer have the familiar pragmatic color but have become much more open.
At least 3 goals have appeared in Everton's last 6 matches, while a total of 20 goals have been scored in just the last 5 matches. However, the big problem lies in the defense when they conceded at least 2 goals in all 5 matches of the current winless streak.
Meanwhile, Sunderland is one of the teams with the most stable defense in the league. Regis Le Bris's team just kept a clean sheet against Manchester United in the most recent round, thereby increasing the total number of clean sheets this season to 11 - only behind Arsenal, Manchester City and Crystal Palace.
However, Sunderland is also showing signs of losing momentum when they have only won 2 points in the last 4 rounds. After 36 matches, the Northeast team has an absolute balanced record with 12 wins, 12 draws and 12 defeats, currently ranked 12th in the rankings.
Sunderland's away form is also not too impressive as they have only won 4 away matches in the Premier League this season. However, Le Bris' team had a positive experience at Hill Dickinson when they defeated Everton on penalties in the third round of the FA Cup, after a 1-1 draw in official time.
This confrontation is therefore predicted to be open, as both Everton and Sunderland are no longer under much pressure but still nurture hopes of competing for a position in the European Cup group.
Personnel situation
Everton has not recorded any new injuries after the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace, but Idrissa Gueye has not yet been able to return due to a minor injury that made him absent from the previous round.
Besides, Jack Grealish is still being treated for a leg injury, and Jarrad Branthwaite has a thigh problem and is likely to continue to be sidelined. However, Grealish's absence does not greatly affect Everton's attack as Beto is in impressive scoring form.
On the other side, Sunderland continues to be without Daniel Ballard. This center-back is suspended after appealing for a red card unsuccessfully and will be out for the rest of the season.
Regis Le Bris confirmed that Ballard and Romaine Mundle are two cases that are definitely missing against Everton. Meanwhile, Bertrand Traore has recovered from a knee injury after missing the match against Man United.
Expected lineup:
Everton: Pickford, O'Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Garner, Iroegbunam, Rohl, Dewsbury-Ball, Ndiaye, Beto.
Sunderland: Roefs, Geertruida, Mukiele, Alderete, Reinildo, Xhaka, Sadiki, Hume, Le Fee, Talbi, Brobbey.
The match between Everton and Sunderland takes place at 9:00 p.m. on May 17 (Vietnam time).
