Everton welcome Sunderland to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday lunchtime in the third round of the FA Cup in an all-Premier League clash.
The Toffee’s sticky run of form continued on Wednesday night, as they could only draw 1-1 at home to rock-bottom Wolves in a match the Merseyside outfit finished the game with nine men.
David Moyes’s men have now won just one of their previous six Premier League fixtures (W1-D2-L3), leaving them in 12th position, one point and two places behind their 10th-placed visitors.
Like their hosts, Sunderland aren’t in the greatest form themselves, as they were beaten 3-0 in West London by an Igor Thiago-inspired Brentford on Wednesday night.
That result put an end to their four-match drawing streak, with the Black Cats now winning just two of their previous 12 Premier League encounters, albeit only three have been defeats (W2-D7-L3).
How the bookies view it: Toffees favourites
Everton have been priced as favourites to advance to the fourth round, with bet365 pricing a Toffees win at 6/5 inside 90 minutes, and just 4/7 to qualify.
Sunderland are 5/2 to win in regulation time, and 5/4 just to qualify.
Head to head: Four unbeaten for Everton
Everton are unbeaten in each of their previous four meetings with Sunderland in all competitions, including a 1-1 draw in their Premier League clash at the Stadium of Light at the beginning of November.
Players to watch: Barry to bag again?
It’s been a tough start to life as an Everton for Thierno Barry, as he failed to score in each of his opening 16 matches for the Toffees following his summer move from Villarreal.
However, the Frenchman has scored three in his next seven appearances – including in home games against Nottingham Forest and Brentford – and he is 11/5 at bet365 to get on the scoresheet on Saturday.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Everton will be missing a few players here, with Seamus Coleman, Jarrad Branthwaite, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carlos Alcaraz injured, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye still at the Africa Cup of Nations, and Michael Keane and Jack Grealish are both suspended following their silly red cards at home to Wolves in midweek.
Sunderland will be without the injured Aji Alese, as well as Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi, who are still away at the Africa Cup of Nations, but Reinaldo, Arthur Masuaku, Noah Sadiki and Bertrand Traore have all been eliminated with their countries at AFCON so may return.
Everton: Pickford, Patterson, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Garner, Armstrong, Iroegbunam, Rohl, Dibling, Barry
Sunderland: Patterson, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Cirkin, Neil, Xhaka, Rigg, Le Fee, Mundle, Brobbey
Anything else catch the eye?
I’m not expecting an entertaining cup tie in Merseyside between these two clubs at lunchtime on Saturday, and neither are the bookmakers, with Under 2.5 Goals paying just 4/6 at bet365.
Prior to their loss in West London on Wednesday night, Sunderland had drawn their previous four matches, and I can see this tie going the distance.
These two also played out a 1-1 draw in their earlier meeting at the Stadium of Light at the beginning of November, and a repeat of that result pays 11/5 at bet365, which is my preferred play.
GambleAware