Sunderland and Everton will round off this weekend’s Premier League action at the Stadium of Light on Monday night.
The hosts have made a seamless transition to life back in the top-flight under Regis Le Bris, losing just two of their opening nine league games of the campaign.
Last time out, the Black Cats bagged their most eye-catching result of the season so far by earning a dramatic 2-1 win away at Chelsea.
That triumph lifted Sunderland up to fourth-place in the Premier League table, and they will now look to remain on an upward curve when Everton come to town.
After making a bright start to the season by claiming three wins from their opening four Premier League games of the campaign, the Toffees have hit a bit of a sticky patch in recent times.
Last week’s 3-0 loss at home to Tottenham means that David Moyes’ men have come away empty-handed from four of their last six top-flight outings.
How the bookies view it: Duo difficult to separate
The bookmakers are struggling to separate the pair, with Everton marginal 13/8 favourites with BOYLE Sports while a Sunderland success has been chalked up at 17/10 with the same firm.
Meanwhile, an all square affair at the Stadium of Light on Monday night is trading at 21/10 with BOYLE Sports.
Head to head: History book dormant
Sunderland and Everton will cross paths for the first time in almost a decade on Monday night. Everton have won each of the last three meetings across all competitions, keeping a clean sheet in each of those three victories.
Players to watch: Ndiaye to deliver?
Iliman Ndiaye has registered one on-target effort in each of Everton's last four Premier League matches, making the same selection on Monday night an attractive option at 11/10 with Bet365.
Having received a yellow card in three of Sunderland's last seven Premier League matches, Granit Xhaka holds plenty of appeal to tackle his way into the referee’s notebook again here at 10/3 with BOYLE Sports.
Predicted line-ups
The hosts are carrying a heavy injury list at the moment, with Aji Alese, Dennis Cirkin, Habib Diarra, Leo Hjelde and Romaine Mundle all sidelined while both Omar Alderete and Simon Adingra are rated as doubtful
Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson will miss out for Everton, but apart from that the visitors could have a clean bill of health.
Sunderland: Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Traore, Rigg, Le Fee; Isidor
Everton: Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Beto
Anything else catch the eye?
Nordi Mukiele looks well worthy of support to commit two or more fouls on Monday night at 5/2 on Bet365.
Team news permitting, the Sunderland defender could find himself up against Jack Grealish.
The Everton winger is well known for being a magnet when it comes to drawing fouls, with Grealish earning his team an eye-watering 26 set-pieces across his last six Premier League appearances.
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