Everton are back at Goodison Park where they’ve lost just once in their last ten game and have won six of their last eight games in all competitions.
They’ll also be taking on a Sunderland side which they haven’t lost to since a 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light back in December of 2001.
That’s a ten year period which has seen the two sides play seventeen times. Everton have won 12 of those clashes with the other five ending in a draw. It’s little wonder that David Moyes’ side are the odds-on favourites of 5/6 with Paddy Power.
Everton’s good run over the Mackems extends back even further at home, where they’re unbeaten in 12 games over a 15-year period. Sunderland have also failed to win in their last five games away from home. The stats keep stacking up in the home side’s favour.
Sunderland will be far from a pushover though with Martin O’Neill developing a steelier spine than had been present under previous managers. The two sides did share a couple of 1-1 draws in the league and FA Cup this season before Everton won the cup replay 2-0 at the Stadium of Light. Paddy Power has priced a repeat of the 1-1 scoreline at 9/2 with a 2-0 Everton win at the more profitable price of 15/2
A win in this game would give Everton as sides jostle for position in the Premier League. If history is anything to go by then the points and the advantage will go to the players in blue.