Everton vs Sunderland Preview: Can Sunderland Cause a Final-Day Shock at Goodison?
Connor Maguire ·
Last updated: Sunday 17 May 2026, match day. Everton host Sunderland at Goodison Park this afternoon, kick-off at 2pm. Two teams. Two very different seasons. One football match. That is all it ever comes down to.
The Situation in the Table
Everton sit 11th in the Premier League after 36 games. Forty-eight points from 14 wins, six draws and 16 defeats. Goals for: 44. Goals against: 50. The thing is, that goal difference of minus six tells you something. They have not been clinical enough. They have been good enough to avoid trouble but not consistent enough to push higher. That is a mid-table attitude, and mid-table is exactly where they are.
Sunderland are 16th. Forty-three points. Eleven wins, ten draws, fifteen defeats. Goals for: 45. Goals against: 47. They are safe, just about. The gap between them and the bottom three is significant enough now that this game carries no relegation weight for them. Listen, a team with nothing to fear and nothing to lose is either dangerous or completely flat. We will find out which Sunderland shows up today.
What Everton Need to Do
The standards at Goodison have to be maintained regardless of the occasion. End of. I do not want to see a half-speed performance because the season is effectively done for both clubs. The crowd will be there. The accountability should be there too.
Everton's defensive numbers concern me. Fifty goals conceded in a season where you won 14 games is not acceptable. Clean sheets have been hard to come by. The basics at the back have let them down too often, and this afternoon is an opportunity to finish the campaign on the right side of a clean sheet. Whether they have the desire to see that out is another question entirely.
Going forward, Everton's 44 goals from 36 games is a poor return. They have not scored enough for a home side with genuine top-half ambitions. The attitude in the final third has been too tentative too often. I do not need to see anything complicated today. Work rate. Competition for second balls. Get in behind early and test the Sunderland backline. Simple.
What Sunderland Are Capable Of
People will underestimate Sunderland today. That is a mistake. They have scored 45 goals this season. They can hurt you. Their goal difference is minus two, which means they have been broadly competitive in most games even when losing. They are not the sort of side that rolls over.
The thing is, a team playing without pressure can play with freedom. Their players are not carrying the weight of a relegation fight. There is no desperation in them today. That can make them awkward to play against. Everton will need to impose themselves early and not allow Sunderland to settle into anything comfortable.
The Bet
I back one selection. That is it. No accumulators. No hedging. I back what I believe and I stand by it.
Neither side has been prolific this season. Everton have scored 44 goals in 36 games. Sunderland have scored 45. You are averaging around 1.2 goals per game from each team across the campaign. In a fixture with no pressure, no stakes, and two sides that have been inconsistent in front of goal, I am not convinced we see a goal feast. Low-scoring games are what late-season dead rubbers often produce. Players switch off. Intensity drops. The basics suffer. Under 2.5 goals is my selection. One bet. Backed with conviction.
The BTTS signal is negative. The model gives it 50.7% and the market implies 53.5%. No edge. No interest. I am not backing that.
Final Thoughts
This is a game that could very easily produce one goal, a tight 1-0 either way, and 90 minutes of cautious, disjointed football. Both managers will know their season is over. The danger is the players know it too.
I want to see Everton show some standards today. Send the fans home with something to feel good about. Finish the season with a clean sheet and three points. Do the basics right. Do them properly. That is not asking a lot. That is the minimum. End of.