Sunderland v Everton
Monday 12 September
Stadium of Light
8pm
Everton
Goalkeepers: Summer signing Maarten Stekelenburg will feature between the posts when Everton travel to the Stadium of Light. The stopper has started all four of the Toffees’ games so far following a move from Southampton, ousting last season’s number one Joel Robles who has been forced to settle for a place on the bench. Stekelenburg, 33, played under Ronald Koeman at St Mary’s and boasts a wealth of experience having made over 200 appearances for Ajax while also featuring for Roma. His first taste of English football came in 2013 when he moved to Fulham and he spent three years at Craven Cottage, which included a season-long loan with Monaco. Capped 54 times by the Netherlands, the ‘keeper started the 2010 World Cup final as Spain sealed an extra-time win to deny the Dutch.
Defence: Despite losing defensive mainstay John Stones during the summer transfer window, Everton have made a solid start to the season. The Toffees are currently unbeaten in all competitions and have kept two clean sheets in their last two games. Summer signing Ashley Williams has made an assured start to life at Goodison Park featuring in the last two games, with veteran defender Phil Jagielka seemingly competing with Ramiro Funes Mori for the second centre back spot. Leighton Baines is likely line up at left back with 19-year-old Mason Holgate featuring in each of Everton’s first four games of the season. Seamus Coleman could make his first domestic appearance of the campaign after returning from injury in Republic of Ireland’s 2-2 draw with Serbia.
Midfield: When Everton boss Koeman arrived at Goodison Park he urged Ross Barkley to add consistency to his undeniable talent, and the 22-year-old has so far heeded the Dutchman’s words scoring two goals in four appearances. The England international will pose a constant threat for the Toffees when they line up on Wearside with Gareth Barry expected to anchor an attacking midfield which also boasts the likes of Kevin Mirallas and Gerard Deulofeu. New signings Idrissa Gueye and Yannick Bolasie have also added further talent to the Everton ranks, with both players making bright starts to their time on Merseyside. The Toffees do however have a number of injury concerns with James McCarthy, Tom Cleverley, Darren Gibson and Muhamed Besic sidelined.
Attack: With Mirallas, Deulofeu and Bolasie operating on the wings, Everton will direct their talented supply line towards Belgium international Romelu Lukaku. Just 23, Lukaku is already a proven Premier League striker having netted 28 times in 54 appearances last season to bring his Toffees tally to 61 goals in 127 appearances. With a minimum of 16 goals in each of his last four seasons, the powerful striker will be hoping to get off the domestic mark when Everton travel to Wearside, but despite failing to net in his first three games this season he was handed a boost earlier this week when he netted twice on international duty. Arouna Kone, who scored a hat-trick against Sunderland last season, could feature from the bench.
Manager: Ronald Koeman arrived on Merseyside with an impressive CV having excelled on the south coast with Southampton. A well-renowned footballer during the ‘80s and ‘90s, Koeman enjoyed a glittering career as he won the European Cup with PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona, as well as league titles in the Eredivisie and La Liga. Success as a player then paved the way for a bright managerial career at Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Valencia, AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord before Southampton offered him his first taste of English football ahead of the 2014-15 campaign. Koeman settled into life in England’s top-flight like a duck to water and spent two years at St Mary's in which time he recorded a seventh place finish before bettering it last term as he guided the Saints to their highest-ever finish in the Premier League, sixth.
Team news
Everton
James McCarthy, Tom Cleverley, Darren Gibson and Muhamed Besic are currently injured.
Seamus Coleman could make his first domestic appearance of the season.
Sunderland
Jan Kirchhoff returned to action against Rochdale in the Checkatrade Trophy with Jason Denayer making his debut at the Crown Oil Arena.
Vito Mannone, Seb Larsson and Fabio Borini are unavailable.
A further update will be available following the manager’s pre-match press conference on Friday.
Last time out
Southampton 1-1 Sunderland
Sunderland once again suffered south-coast heartbreak as Southampton struck late on to deny David Moyes a first Premier League win.
The Black Cats banished a slow start at St Mary’s and went on to control the opening 45 minutes, with a chorus of boos greeting the half-time whistle as the stunted Saints failed to make an impact.
A pattern had been established and the second period followed suit as the Black Cats bided their time and waited for an opportunity to pounce, and pounce they did as Jermain Defoe scored from the penalty spot after being fouled by Jose Fonte.
Without a win in August since 2010, Sunderland looked like ending their early-season hoodoo as time ticked away, but for the second time in successive seasons there was a late twist on the south coast as Jay Rodriguez snatched a point for Saints.
Stoke City 0-1 Everton (BBC Sport)
Ronald Koeman maintained his unbeaten start as Everton manager as his team defeated a Stoke side that remain without a league win this season.
Everton had efforts from Romelu Lukaku and Ashley Williams cleared off the line before they got a penalty when Williams was tripped by Phil Bardsley.
Shay Given pushed Leighton Baines' spot-kick on to a post but the ball then rebounded off Given's head and in.
Stoke's Marko Arnautovic hit the crossbar, but Everton held on to win.
Form
Sunderland: LLWD
Everton: DWWD
