Everton v Sunderland: Black Cats to struggle at Goodison
Published:Everton’s traditional strong finish to the season shows no sign of slowing down against Sunderland.
David Moyes’ men are now above local rivals Liverpool in the league and, having spent much of the first half of the season in the bottom of the table, they are now eyeing a top seven finish.
Sunderland have also been rejuvenated under the leadership of Martin O’Neill and, with the Black Cats drawing against Manchester City and Spurs in their last two games, everything is poised for a close encounter…
Match odds
Everton head into this match as the 1/1 favourites and have been impressive at Goodison in recent months.
The Toffees have lost just one of their last ten games in all competitions on home soil and haven’t lost against Sunderland since 2001 – a run of 17 games without defeat.
However, Sunderland shouldn’t be written off and, under O’Neill, the Black Cats have become a tough proposition holding both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks.
The North East side have lost just three of their last eight on the road and are a decent 11/4 to pick up the three points that would see them go above Everton in the table.
A more tempting proposition may be to back the draw at 23/10 – especially as two of the last three meetings between these teams have ended level.
Goal markets
Everton have the fourth best home defence in the division and only one of the last eight encounters between these sides has seen three or more goals scored.
Backing under 2.5 goals to be scored at 4/6 looks like the bet to take on in the goal markets.
Finally, two of the last three meetings between these two have ended 1-1 and that score can be backed at 11/2.
