Everton vs Sunderland: Premier League Clash on May 17, 2026

Hill Dickinson Stadium hosts a quietly high‑stakes Premier League meeting on 17 May 2026 as Everton welcome Sunderland in the penultimate round of the season. Just one point separates the sides in the table: Everton sit 10th on 49 points, Sunderland 12th on 48. European football is out of reach and relegation is not a concern, but a top‑half finish, prize money and momentum going into next season are all on the line.

With only two games left, this is effectively a mini play‑off for mid‑table supremacy between two sides whose seasons have followed very different paths.

Form and context

In the league, Everton’s trajectory has dipped. They arrive with a five‑match form line of “DDLLD”, only three points from the last 15 available. Across all phases they are perfectly balanced: 13 wins, 10 draws and 13 defeats, 46 goals scored and 46 conceded. That symmetry underlines their inconsistency – capable of strong runs but unable to sustain them.

At home, Everton’s record is modest: 6 wins, 5 draws and 7 defeats from 18, with 25 scored and 24 conceded. They average 1.4 goals for and 1.3 against per game at Hill Dickinson Stadium, numbers that point to tight contests rather than routs.

Sunderland’s recent league form is similar but slightly more positive: “DDLLW” in their last five, four points from 15, capped by a much‑needed win last time out. Across all phases they are 12‑12‑12 with a –9 goal difference (37 for, 46 against). They have been harder to beat than to back to win.

Their away record is the weak spot: only 4 wins in 18, alongside 6 draws and 8 defeats. Sunderland score just 14 away goals (0.8 per game) and concede 27 (1.5 per game). That blunt attack on the road contrasts sharply with Everton’s relative home solidity.

Tactical outlook: shapes and key zones

Both sides lean heavily on a 4‑2‑3‑1 base. Everton have used it in 21 league matches; Sunderland even more frequently, 19 times. That symmetry suggests a game decided in the double‑pivot battles and by which side’s wide attackers can stretch the opposition full‑backs.

Everton’s 4‑2‑3‑1 at home typically looks to build through the central pair, then feed an advanced No.10 and wide forwards. The numbers suggest they are reasonably efficient in front of goal: 25 home goals from 18 games, with only 4 home matches where they failed to score. However, they also leave space: 24 conceded and only 6 home clean sheets.

Sunderland’s away 4‑2‑3‑1 is more conservative. With just 14 away goals and 8 games without scoring on the road, they often prioritise compactness and transitions over sustained pressure. Their defensive record away (27 conceded) shows that the plan has not always held, but 4 away clean sheets indicate that when the structure works, it can frustrate.

Set‑pieces and discipline could be decisive. Everton collect a high share of yellow cards late in games (notably between minutes 46‑90), and their red card distribution shows dismissals in early and late phases. Sunderland likewise see a spike in yellows just after half‑time and have had red cards in the 16‑45 and 91‑105 ranges. A tight contest could easily be tilted by a rash challenge.

Injuries and suspensions

Both managers are forced into significant changes.

For Everton:

• Jarrad Branthwaite is out with a hamstring injury.
• Jack Grealish misses out with a foot injury.
• Idrissa Gueye is unavailable through injury.

Branthwaite’s absence weakens the left side of Everton’s central defence, potentially affecting their ability to defend crosses and high balls. Without Gueye, Everton lose an experienced ball‑winner in the double pivot, which may reduce their capacity to control second balls and transitions. Grealish’s injury removes a creative and ball‑carrying option between the lines and from the left half‑space, likely forcing Everton into a more functional rather than expressive attacking setup.

For Sunderland:

• Dan Ballard is suspended due to a red card.
• Romaine Mundle is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Ballard’s suspension is a major blow for Sunderland’s back line, particularly given their already fragile away record. Any reshuffle at centre‑back could disrupt their defensive cohesion and aerial presence. Mundle’s absence trims their options in wide attacking roles, where pace and 1v1 ability are crucial for counter‑attacks.

Head‑to‑head: recent competitive meetings

Looking at the last five competitive meetings (excluding friendlies), Everton have the edge.

• In the FA Cup Round of 64 on 10 January 2026 at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the match finished 1‑1 after 90 minutes (Everton 1‑1 Sunderland), with Sunderland winning 3‑0 on penalties.
• In the Premier League on 3 November 2025 at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland 1‑1 Everton ended level.
• In the League Cup 3rd Round on 20 September 2017 at Goodison Park, Everton beat Sunderland 3‑0.
• In the Premier League on 25 February 2017 at Goodison Park, Everton beat Sunderland 2‑0.
• In the Premier League on 12 September 2016 at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland 0‑3 Everton saw the visitors win.

Across these five, Everton have 3 wins, Sunderland 0, with 2 draws in regular time. Sunderland’s only “success” in that run came via the penalty shootout in January 2026; in 90‑minute terms, they have not beaten Everton in this sequence.

The two 2025‑26 meetings at Hill Dickinson Stadium and the Stadium of Light both finished 1‑1 in normal time, hinting that the current incarnations of these sides are more evenly matched than the older data suggests.

Statistical contrasts

In the league:

• Everton: 46 scored, 46 conceded (1.3 for, 1.3 against per game).
• Sunderland: 37 scored, 46 conceded (1.0 for, 1.3 against per game).

Everton are the more potent attacking side, particularly at home, while both concede at a similar rate overall. Sunderland’s negative goal difference is driven largely by their away performances.

Clean sheets are identical across all phases (11 each), but the distribution matters: Everton’s 6 home shut‑outs versus Sunderland’s 4 away suggest a slight defensive edge for the hosts in this specific setting.

From the spot, both sides have been reliable this season: Everton have scored 2 penalties from 2; Sunderland 4 from 4. With referee J. Brooks in charge and both teams having shown composure from 12 yards, any penalty awarded is statistically more likely to be converted.

The verdict

This fixture shapes up as a finely balanced, tactical contest between two 4‑2‑3‑1 systems, but the underlying numbers tilt subtly towards Everton.

• The hosts: score more and concede slightly fewer at home than Sunderland do away.
• Have a stronger recent head‑to‑head record in regular time.
• Enjoy the familiar surroundings of Hill Dickinson Stadium, where their goal output is consistent.

However, injuries to Branthwaite, Gueye and Grealish remove three spine‑and‑creativity pieces, which could blunt Everton’s control and attacking variety. Sunderland, for their part, lose Ballard at the back, which may undermine an already shaky away defence, and Mundle, reducing counter‑attacking threat.

Given Everton’s home scoring record, Sunderland’s low away goal output, and the pattern of recent meetings (two straight 1‑1s this season in normal time), a tight game with limited margin for error is likely. Everton have just enough structural and statistical advantage to be considered slight favourites, but Sunderland’s resilience and capacity to draw – 12 in the league, 6 away – mean another share of the points cannot be ruled out.

On balance, a narrow Everton win or a low‑scoring draw looks the most logical outcome.