Everton 6-2 Sunderland
Everton produced a counter-attacking masterclass to condemn Sunderland to a 6-2 defeat at Goodison Park.
The Black Cats’ new-look formation seemed to be working wonders as a promising start saw Patrick van Aantholt strike the woodwork, but two goals in 12 first-half minutes saw the Toffees take firm control on Merseyside.
Former Barcelona winger Gerard Deulofeu grabbed the first after Sunderland’s defence failed to hold their line, with Arouna Kone adding a second on 31 minutes after Garth Barry escaped punishment following a handball in the box.
A moment of magic from Jermain Defoe on the stroke of half-time reduced the arrears and Sunderland levelled following the restart through Steven Fletcher, but the floodgates soon opened and hopes of a point were dashed as a Seb Coates own goal made it 3-2 before Lukaku struck and Kone completed his hat-trick.
Sunderland 0-1 Southampton
Dusan Tadic’s second-half penalty provided the difference as Southampton edged past Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
A combative opening period saw the defences come out on top as limited chances ensured it was goalless at the break, but a flurry of opportunities following the restart set the tone for a rip-roaring second period.
Last-ditch heroics from DeAndre Yedlin and Seb Coates frustrated Saints as multiple efforts were cleared off the line, but with 21 minutes remaining Wearside breathed a collective sigh as Yann M’Vila sent Ryan Bertrand tumbling in the box.
Tadic stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick and the Serbian struck a decisive blow, sending Costel Pantilimon sprawling in vein and Ronald Koeman’s side back to St Mary’s with three points.
Crystal Palace 0-1 Sunderland
Selhurst Park proved to be a happy hunting ground for Sunderland for the second consecutive season as Jermain Defoe’s second-half strike sealed a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Both sides created a raft of half-chances during an engrossing opening 45 minutes but the defences came out on top, with second-half substitutions ultimately opening up the contest and creating an all-action attacking affair.
England U21 international Duncan Watmore provided the catalyst weaving in and out to test the Palace defence time after time, before tireless work from the excellent Billy Jones forced a game-changing error from Scott Dann.
The Palace defender had the simple task of tracking down a hopeful through ball from Jones, but he failed to do so despite having all the time in the world allowing the opportunistic Defoe to steal in and convert into the empty net.
It proved to be decisive and Defoe was the match-winner as Sam Allardyce’s side weathered the storm to return to Wearside with three precious points in the Barclays Premier League.
Sunderland 2-0 Stoke City
Two superb late goals powered Sunderland past Stoke as the Black Cats banked their second successive victory.
A cut-and-thrust first half proved tight before Ryan Shawcross was dismissed for the visitors just two minutes into the second half.Faced with a Potters side who had gone more than four away games without conceding a goal, Sunderland stuck to their task, stayed patient and were rewarded with nine minutes to go.
Patrick van Aanholt’s first goal in the Barclays Premier League was a spectacular one – a crisp drive from a short free-kick – before substitute Duncan Watmore continued his rapid ascent by wrapping up the points with five minutes left.