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A rare image of Danny Graham celebrating a goal at Everton last season (image:Getty)
Sunderland have a first chance to develop some momentum this season and start putting points on the board. The Black Cats will carry some confidence into Sunday's clash having displayed an organised and clinical performance over North East rivals Newc6astle. But it's important to not get carried away as difficulties in retaining possession were still abundantly clear.
With this in mind I think we can expect another counter attacking philosophy to be installed at Goodison Park this weekend. Big Sam has plenty of work still to do solving many of our on field problems that it stands to reason that in an away fixture against tough opposition that little will change in the way we set up. There's always a worry when allowing opponents possession, especially as Big Sam will be facing a defensive headache following injuries in the derby clash.
Match Appointments
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistants: S Ledger & R West
Fourth Official: M Jones
Team news
Everton
Phil Jagielka could miss the rest of the year after picking up a bad knee injury.
Steven Pienaar, Leighton Baines, Muhamed Besic and Tony Hibbert are all struggling to be fit for Sunday.
Sunderland
John O'Shea and Younis Kaboul are both likely to miss this weekend's after picking up injuries last Sunday, though Big Sam has confirmed he does not expect lengthy lay offs. Ola Toivonen suffered recurrence of a knee injury after being rushed back.
Fabio Borini is expected to be available following his derby day absence.
Last 10 League Meetings
09 May 2015
Everton 0-2 Sunderland
09 Nov 2014
Sunderland 1-1 Everton
12 Apr 2014
Sunderland 0-1 Everton
26 Dec 2013
Everton 0-1 Sunderland
20 Apr 2013
Sunderland 1-0 Everton
10 Nov 2012
Everton 2-1 Sunderland
09 Apr 2012
Everton 4-0 Sunderland
26 Dec 2011
Sunderland 1-1 Everton
26 Feb 2011
Everton 2-0 Sunderland
22 Nov 2010
Sunderland 2-2 Everton
Form
Everton
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Sat 24th Oct
Arsenal 2-1 Everton
Sat 17th Oct
Everton 0-3 Man Utd
Sun 4th Oct
Everton 1-1 Liverpool
Mon 28th Sep
West Brom 2-3 Everton
Sat 19th Sep
Swansea 0-0 Everton
Sat 12th Sep
Everton 3-1 Chelsea
Sunderland
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Sun 25th Oct
Sunderland 3-0 New6astle
Sat 17th Oct
West Brom 1-0 Sunderland
Sat 3rd Oct
Sunderland 2-2 West Ham
Sat 26th Sep
Man Utd 3-0 Sunderland
Sat 19th Sep
Bournemouth 2-0 Sunderland
Sun 13th Sep
Sunderland 0-1 Tottenham
Last Corresponding Fixture
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Facts 'n' Stats
- Everton have enjoyed just one victory in their last five Barclays Premier League games against Sunderland, drawing one and losing three.
- Yann M'Vila has assisted three goals in his last three games for Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League.
- The last five top-tier meetings between these two sides have produced a total of just seven goals (two for Everton, five for Sunderland).
- At Goodison Park, the Toffees have lost their last two Barclays Premier League clashes with Sunderland after going unbeaten in the previous 11 (W9 D2).
- Everton have lost two consecutive top-flight games; they last lost three in a row back in January 2015.
- The Toffees are the only side in the top division yet to score a goal from a set-piece situation, with all 13 goals so far coming from open-play.
- With three goals and three assists this season, Ross Barkley has already equalled his best-ever haul of goal involvements in a single Barclays Premier League campaign (also six in 2013/14).