Sunderland v Everton Live Commentary & Result, 9/12/16, Premier League

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	CHE Chelsea	38	30	3	5	85	33	+52	93	W W W W W
2	TOT Tottenham Hotspur	38	26	8	4	86	26	+60	86	W W W L W
3	MCI Manchester City	38	23	9	6	80	39	+41	78	W W W W D
4	LIV Liverpool	38	22	10	6	78	42	+36	76	W W D W L
5	ARS Arsenal	38	23	6	9	77	44	+33	75	W W W W W
6	MUN Manchester United	38	18	15	5	54	29	+25	69	W D L L D
7	EVE Everton	38	17	10	11	62	44	+18	61	L W L L D
8	SOU Southampton	38	12	10	16	41	48	-7	46	L D W L D
9	BOU AFC Bournemouth	38	12	10	16	55	67	-12	46	D W D W W
10	WBA West Bromwich Albion	38	12	9	17	43	51	-8	45	L L L D L
11	WHU West Ham United	38	12	9	17	47	64	-17	45	W L W D D
12	LEI Leicester City	38	12	8	18	48	63	-15	44	D L L W W
13	STO Stoke City	38	11	11	16	41	56	-15	44	W L D D L
14	CRY Crystal Palace	38	12	5	21	50	63	-13	41	L W L L L
15	SWA Swansea City	38	12	5	21	45	70	-25	41	W W W D W
16	BRN Burnley	38	11	7	20	39	55	-16	40	L L D W L
17	WAT Watford	38	11	7	20	40	68	-28	40	L L L L L
18	HUL Hull City	38	9	7	22	37	80	-43	34	L L L D W
19	MID Middlesbrough	38	5	13	20	27	53	-26	28	L L L D W
20	SUN Sunderland	38	6	6	26	29	69	-40	24	L L L W L

Well, that’s all from me for now. Until next time, thank you and goodbye!

Everton did go close to a fourth late on as they looked to move into second in the table, but instead have had to settle for a place in third, though they are level on points with Chelsea. Sunderland, meanwhile, stay in 19th, after a dreadful night for David Moyes against his former club.

The Belgium striker was at it again moments later, heading home from close-range after a splendid cross from the superb Yannick Bolasie before, with just under 20 minutes remaining, Kevin Mirallas teed up Lukaku, who duly netted his third.

It was a somewhat sluggish display from the visitors, but they came out strong after the interval when Gerard Deulofeu was brought on in place of the lacklustre Ross Barkley. And that change paid dividends when the Spaniard was heavily involved in Lukaku’s opener.

FULL TIME! It’s all over at the Stadium of Light, where Romelu Lukaku’s fantastic second-half hat-trick has downed Sunderland this evening, and continued Everton’s brilliant start under Ronald Koeman.

A final save for Pickford to make, as Kone tests him with a low strike down to his right. The Sunderland goalkeeper has performed admirably tonight, despite the scoreline. As I write, Everton almost get in again, but Deulofeu’s loose touch is pounced upon by Sunderland defender Kone.

The Stadium of Light is at least half-empty now, with Sunderland fans having seen enough. Their side played well for the opening hour, but well and truly capitulated once Lukaku netted his opener...

Van Aanholt has hobbled back onto the pitch now, as we enter the first minute of three add on...

A. Koné

R. Lukaku

A final switch now for Everton, as Everton’s hat-trick hero makes way. Arouna Kone is his replacement. Meanwhile, Van Aanholt is receiving extensive treatment on the pitch for what appears to be a nasty knock.

STAT FLASH - Lukaku's hat-trick was scored in 11 minutes and 37 seconds – the 12th quickest in Premier League history. As I type, the Belgian almost gets in again, but Djilobodji just beats him to Deulofeu's low cross.

GREAT EFFORT! Lukaku has looked a different player since the interval, and he shows all of his qualities there with a lovely turn to get away from Ndong, proceeding to curl a strike towards the top-left corner which stings the palms of Pickford.

SO CLOSE! One more goal for Everton would see them move into second-place on goal difference this evening, but Deulofeu - who has been excellent since coming on - just can’t find the bottom corner after he had run in behind Sunderland’s defence.

Everton are sitting deeper now, allowing Sunderland to have the ball and looking content to play on the counter. That looks to be a risky tactic as Khazri manages to weave his way through a host of defenders, only for the attack to be halted when he is deemed to have fouled Jagielka.

Steady, patient play from Sunderland, but it comes to nothing as Rodwell - who came through the ranks at Goodison Park during Moyes’ tenure on Merseyside - loops a pass straight into the gloves of Stekelenburg.

STAT FLASH - Lukaku’s stunning 11-minute hat-trick has ended a run of 1139 competitive minutes without a goal for Everton.

J. Denayer

J. Kirchhoff

A third and final change now for the hosts, as Jan Kirchhoff makes way for Jason Denayer.

T. Davies

Y. Bolasie

Yannick Bolasie’s night is over now. The 27-year-old appears to be struggling with cramp, and Koeman is taking no risks. Young midfielder Tom Davies comes on in his place.

Breathtaking from Bolasie! First, the winger beats his marker all-ends-up with a wonderful piece of skill, driving forward at speed before powering a venomous drive at goal, which Pickford does excellently to parry away. Moments later, he turns in the centre-cricle and threads a perfectly-weighted pass through to Lukaku, but the Belgian, who also had Mirallas alongside him, cannot find the net with his strike.

D. Ndong

D. Watmore

A second change for Sunderland, as Didier Ndong comes on to make his Premier League debut. He has replaced Duncan Watmore.

Kevin Mirallas

Assist

Everton have looked like a different side since Deulofeu’s introduction, and once again he was heavily involved as he combined smartly with Mirallas, who duly turned provider for his compatriot Lukaku.

R. Lukaku

Goal

GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!! IT’S A HAT-TRICK FOR LUKAKU! Stunning from Everton, who have simply blown Sunderland away in the last 10 minutes. Great combination play between Deulofeu and Mirallas results in the latter drilling through a brilliant throughball which Lukaku, who had beat the offside trap, powers onto before slipping a precise finish into the bottom-left corner.

A worry for Everton now, as Bolasie has stayed down on the touchline. He eventually gets back to his feet, though he doesn’t appear to be moving freely.

Y. Bolasie

Assist

Bolasie has taken his time in hitting his form since joining Everton, but the DR Congo winger has been in fine form this evening, and that run and cross displayed his quality.

R. Lukaku

Goal

GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!! OUTSTANDING PLAY FROM EVERTON! That is truly fantastic play from Bolasie, who uses his pace and skill to breeze past Manquillo before supplying a precise cross for Lukaku, who is able to nod home his second of the game.

Saved! It’s a decent strike from the Tunisian, who gets his effort up and over the wall, but Stekelenburg is well positioned and makes a comfortable save.

That’s a dubious decision by Mike Jones, who deems that Jagileka had fouled Defoe on the cusp of the area. Khazri looks set to take the free-kick...

It’s end-to-end stuff at the Stadium of Light, with Sunderland now applying the pressure as they search for a quick equaliser. Everton have had several attempts to clear their lines but, at the moment, are rather pinned back...

CROSSBAR! That’s superb from Lukaku, who turns Djilobodji once again and proceeds to hammer a strike goalwards. Pickford is well beaten, but fortunately for the hosts the ball clatters off the woodwork.

CHANCE! That could have been a second for Everton, as Lukaku shrugged off Djilobodji with ease before turning a pass into the path of Gueye, but the former Lille midfielder drives his effort well wide.

I. Gueye

Assist

It was sublime counter-attacking play from Deulofeu, and although his first effort was blocked, Gueye had made the run forward alongside him, and the Senegalese - who has won more tackles this term than any other Premier League player - put in a brilliant cross, with Lukaku making no mistake in netting his first domestic goal since March.

R. Lukaku

Goal

GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!! EVERTON HAVE THE LEAD! What a counter by the visitors. Lukaku kick-starts it with a good defensive header into Deulofeu, who bursts forward at pace. The winger’s initial pass is blocked, only for Gueye to pick up the scraps and loft a delightful cross to the back post, with Lukaku on hand to power home a header.

Sunderland have come back strongly following Everton’s quick start after the interval, and Watmore uses his skill and pace to cause havoc down the right, winning a corner that Januzaj stands over...

W. Khazri

L. Gooch

A substitution now for Sunderland, as Moyes introduces Wahbi Khazri. Lynden Gooch is the player to make way.

I. Gueye

Yellow Card

A first booking of the game for Everton, as Gueye picks up a yellow card after he prevented Rodwell taking a quick free-kick.

MISS! Brilliant play from Everton, as Bolasie picks out Deulofeu with a searching pass. The winger weaves his way around Kone before thumping a strike goal-wards that is blocked by Rodwell. Gueye gets onto the rebound, sliding a pass into Coleman, who drills a cross into the six-yard box, but Lukaku is unable to apply the finish.

CHANCE! Kone goes close! The Ivorian scored from two set-pieces against Everton in May, and he’s up to his old tricks again as he wins a towering header from the resulting set-piece, but Stekelenburg is well-placed to make the stop.

Brilliant from Williams now at the other end, as a Sunderland counter results in Defoe getting into the area, but the Wales skipper is on hand to block the shot.

Solid defending from Kone, who has shown his worth to the hosts this evening. Everton again picked up space in the centre of the pitch, Mirallas slipping a throughball into Lukaku, but the Belgian is well-marshalled by the Sunderland defender.

CLOSE! Almost an immediate impact from Deulofeu, who drives at the heart of Sunderland’s defence before threading a neat pass towards Lukaku, but Djilobodji just gets there first. Everton recycle possession, with Bolasie curling in another dangerous cross that Pickford does brilliantly to parry away from the lurking Deulofeu.

A switch in personnel and system then for Everton, as Koeman looks to get Lukaku - who with 10 touches had fewer than any other player on the pitch in the first-half -more involved. Deulofeu has gone out to a wide berth on the right, with Bolasie switching to the left. Mirallas will play in behind Lukaku.

Welcome back! Sunderland have got the second-half underway at the Stadium of Light. There has been one change for Everton at the interval, with Ross Barkley making way for Gerard Deulofeu.

Deulofeu

R. Barkley

Substitution Ross Barkley Gerard Deulofeu Lázaro

MATCH STAT - Sunderland have now failed to attempt a shot on target in the first half in each of their last three Premier League games.

While his side have not been poor, per se, you do feel that Koeman will be looking for much more from them in the second half. Moyes’ men have defended well, and looked dangerous on the counter, so the Scot may well just be looking for more of the same.

So, no score at the interval, though both sides have gone close - Jermaine Defore spooning a close-range effort over before, at the other end, Romelu Lukaku saw a header well saved by Jordan Pickford.

HALF-TIME! That’s it for the opening 45 minutes at the Stadium of Light, where it remains goalless between Sunderland and Everton.

CLOSE! That’s a good move by Everton, as Barkley finally manages to turn away from Kirchhoff and tee up Bolasie, but the winger’s driven effort sails over the bar.

D. Watmore

Yellow Card

Good call from Mike Jones, as the referee correctly deems that Watmore - who had carved through the centre of Everton’s midfield - took a dive on the edge of the visitors’ area. The Sunderland youngster duly picks up a booking for simulation, but the hosts have definitely grown back into this game in recent moments...

Instinctive goalkeeping from Stekelenburg, who has to react quickly to prevent Gooch’s looping cross-cum-shot nestling into the top corner...

The game has just entered something of a lull at the moment, with Everton dictating the possession but so far failing to make it pay. One player who really needs to become more involved is Barkley, who has had little impact as of yet.

Great defending from Barry, there, as the former Aston Villa and Manchester City midfielder uses all of his experience to steward the ball towards the byline under pressure from Januzaj, winning a goal-kick for the visitors.

MATCH STAT - Sunderland are still yet to attempt a shot on target on the half hour mark. That being said, their opponents have only amassed one meaningful effort at goal so far.

Mirallas should do better there as, after a slick move down the right, the Everton winger opens up some space for a shot, but his effort is hit straight at Djilobodji. That opportunity is followed by a short pause in play, as Van Aanholt receives some treatment after picking up a knock in an earlier challenge with Bolasie.

Good pressure from Everton, as Mirallas wins back possession high upfield, looping a header into the feet of Barkley. The youngster keeps the move ticking over, with Baines eventually getting in a cross, but Kone is well-placed to head clear.

There were 11 goals in the two games between these sides last season, only Newcastle v Norwich saw more in the 2015/16 Premier League (13). However, since those earlier chances for Defoe and Lukaku respectively, there has been little goal-mouth action to speak of.

It’s becoming a little too predictable from Everton at the moment, as once again they give away the ball cheaply, allowing Sunderland to counter. However, the hosts’ attack comes to an end when Kirchhoff hacks down Bolasie, but the German escapes any further punishment.

STAT - Sunderland spent more time in the Premier League relegation zone than any other side last term.

Both sides are just lacking that final, cutting-edge ball at the moment. A prime example of that has just occurred - Mirallas conceding possession cheaply on the edge of Sunderland’s area, only for Van Aanholt to overhit a diagonal pass that was aimed for Januzaj.

An opportunity now at the other end, as Barkley picks out Lukaku with a neat pass, but, after taking a tumble under pressure from Kone, the ex-Chelsea striker can only direct his tame effort straight at Pickford.

A half-chance now for the hosts, as they counter at pace following a slip by Bolasie high upfield. Williams does well to prevent Rodwell’s shot reaching the target, only for Kirchhoff to recycle possession out to Gooch. The American youngster floats in a cross, but Watmore’s header loops into the hands of Stekelenburg.

PLAYER STAT - Jermain Defoe has scored five times against Everton in the Premier League, though all of these goals have come at Goodison Park. Sunderland’s forward should have bucked that trend already this evening, however!

It’s been a really lively start to proceedings at the Stadium of Light, with both sides looking to get forward at every opportunity, with gilt-edged opportunities spurned at both ends.

WHAT A SAVE! Unbelievable stuff from Pickford, who comes to Sunderland’s rescue with an outstanding stop. It was a swift counter from Everton, with Bolasie again the instigator with a sublime cross. Lukaku met it with a powerful header, but the hosts’ goalkeeper reacted instinctively to tip it over the bar!

MATCH STAT - Sunderland have not won a league game before the end of September in four years.

WHAT A MISS! That should have been 1-0 to Sunderland! Januzaj is looking particularly sharp in the opening stages of this game, and he is the architect of this chance as his strike deflects over Everton’s defence and into the path of Defoe, but the former Tottenham striker can only skew his close-range effort over the bar.

Everton haven’t really settled as of yet, with Sunderland pressing high in order to prevent the visitors from getting the ball down on the deck. The Merseysiders have scored just 12 times in 15 visits to Sunderland in the Premier League, and never more than twice in a single match.

A huge round of applause now as, after five minutes, the entire crowd rise to their feet to cheer the name of young Bradley Lowrey, a five-year-old Sunderland fan - who was the mascot for Defoe tonight - who is suffering with cancer. A really touching moment at the Stadium of Light.

A decent spell of pressure now from the hosts, as Everton fail to clear their lines after Jagielka had done well to block Defoe’s initial effort. However, the visitors do eventually counter, with Barkley teeing up Gueye, but the former Aston Villa man drags his effort wide.

One player particularly keen to impress this evening will be Ross Barkley. The Everton playmaker has netted twice so far this campaign, and has looked sharp overall, but missed out on Sam Allardyce’s England squad for the recent batch of internationals. The 22-year-old hasn't seen much of the ball as of yet, though...

CHANCE! That could have been the opener for Everton! Bolasie - who netted a hat-trick for Crystal Palace at this ground in April 2014 - did brilliantly down the right, whipping in a fantastic cross, but the ball just didn’t quite fall for Lukaku, with Pickford on hand to smother the danger.

KICK-OFF! We are underway at the Stadium of Light, with the visitors - donning their usual blue and white strip - getting proceedings up and running.

We’re just moments away from kick-off now at the Stadium of Light, as the teams make their way out onto the pitch. The referee this evening is Mike Jones!

The Belgian - who netted twice for his country against Cyprus last week - is without a goal in 13 Premier League appearances, and will be up against Sunderland’s powerful defender Lamine Kone this evening. The Ivory Coast international was the subject of several offers from Everton during the window, but the former Lorient man, who scored a brace in the corresponding fixture last term, has remained on Wearside.

While both sets of fans were perhaps left underwhelmed by the respective activity of either side in the transfer window, potentially more important for both clubs was to retain their key players. And while Everton sold John Stones to Manchester City, they kept hold of star striker Romelu Lukaku.

Comparatively, there’s just one alteration from Koeman, who welcomes back Seamus Coleman into the fold following his return from a knock. The Republic of Ireland defender replaces youngster Mason Holgate, who has impressed in the opening three fixtures, at the back.

TEAM NEWS - Everton substitutes: Robles, Deulofeu, Kone, Lennon, Funes Mori, Davies, Holgate.

TEAM NEWS - Everton (4-2-3-1): Stekelenburg; Coleman, Williams, Jagielka, Baines; Gueye, Barry; Bolasie, Barkley, Mirallas; Lukaku.

So, just the two changes then from Moyes, and both of them are enforced - with Fabio Borini and former Everton playmaker Steven Pienaar dropping out due to injury. The hosts are boosted by the return of Jan Kirchhoff from injury, while Duncan Watmore also comes in. Deadline day arrivals Jason Denayer and Didier Ndong are on the bench.

TEAM NEWS - Sunderland substitutes: Denayer, Khazri, Mika, O’Shea, Ndong, McNair, Love.

TEAM NEWS - Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Manquillo, Kone, Djilobodji, Van Aanholt; Rodwell, Kirchhoff; Januzaj, Gooch, Watmore; Defoe.

Not long to go until kick-off now at the Stadium of Light so, without further ado, let’s check on the team news. We’ll start off with Sunderland…

Moyes lost both of his matches against Everton during his short-stint in charge of Manchester United back in 2013/14, with a 2-0 reverse at Goodison Park proving to be the former Preston manager’s last game at the helm of the Old Trafford club.

Despite their respective starts, history is on the side of the hosts heading into this fixture, with Sunderland having lost just one of their last seven home league games against Everton. The corresponding match last season - back in May - led to the sacking of then Everton manager Roberto Martinez following a comprehensive 3-0 win for the home side, who were then under the tutelage of Sam Allardyce.

Everton, on the other hand, have enjoyed a fantastic start under new boss Ronald Koeman, who has overseen an unbeaten start to 2016/17, and a victory this evening could see the Merseysiders rise into third place.

It’s been a tough start to life on Wearside for David Moyes, who of course spent 11 years at Everton between 2002 and 2013. The Scot’s team sit in 19th after three games, with just one point gained so far - having drawn with Southampton last time out.

Hello, football fans, and welcome to LIVE coverage of Monday’s Premier League action, as Sunderland and Everton - both still adjusting to life under new managers - face-off at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland v Everton Live Commentary, 9/12/16

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