Monday night lights on Wearside: Black Cats hunting momentum as Toffees chase a reset

Under the Stadium of Light glare, Monday night serves up a proper litmus test: Sunderland, seventh and bristling with intent despite a recent wobble, welcome an Everton side marooned in 15th and stinging from a 3-0 home reality check against Tottenham. This one’s about response as much as results.

Sunderland team news

Régis Le Bris has reason for cautious optimism. Centre-half Omar Alderete trained with the group and is trending the right way after concussion, but he remains a doubt while he clears protocols. The manager’s hope is that the green light lands in time, yet Sunderland won’t risk him if there’s any doubt.

Simon Adingra missed the Chelsea win with a minor hamstring issue, but it was precautionary and he’s back in the frame. Dan Neil could also step in to thicken up midfield options. The absentees are more clear-cut: Aji Alese, Dennis Cirkin, Romain Mundle, Leo Fuhr Hjelde and Habib Diarra are all unavailable.

Read between the lines and you’d expect Le Bris to keep the spine intact. If Alderete doesn’t make it, the back line that saw off Chelsea likely gets another outing, with Adingra’s pace the obvious injection higher up.

Everton team news

David Moyes confirmed two significant misses. Jarrad Branthwaite remains out as he recovers from hamstring surgery, and Nathan Patterson is unavailable after a minor groin procedure. Outside of that, the Toffees boss has a full deck to shuffle.

Given the bruises from Spurs, don’t be shocked by a couple of tweaks: a sturdier midfield screen, maybe a fresh pair of legs in wide areas, and an emphasis on set-piece security without Branthwaite’s aerial presence.

Tactical threads and selection hints

For Sunderland, the big lever is transition. With Adingra’s return and Neil’s tidiness, the Black Cats can spring quickly and control the rhythm when needed. Alderete’s availability would steady the build-up and help defend crosses—vital against a Moyes side that thrives on pressure moments.

Everton need a reset in both energy and shape. The absence of Patterson narrows full-back options, so the visitors may tuck in a touch, lean on the press in bursts, and look to pinch set-pieces. Without Branthwaite, organisation is everything; first contact and second balls will decide plenty.

Key storyline

Form lines say Sunderland, but context makes it tight. Le Bris has his outfit humming when they strike first; Moyes will want a gritty, low-event contest to quieten the crowd and keep his forwards in the frame late on. This feels like a one-goal game either way, with home advantage nudging the needle towards the Black Cats.

Odds, context and where this leaves them

If Sunderland win, it underlines that their early-season surge wasn’t a flash in the pan; if Everton nick it, it’s the reset they’ve been crying out for. For markets, form and previews, check our curated best betting sites before you make your mind up.

When to expect the XIs

Confirmed line-ups will land an hour before kick-off. Until then, pencil in Adingra’s return for Sunderland and expect Moyes to freshen his Everton XI in response to that Spurs defeat.

Pundit’s verdict

Edge to Sunderland, narrowly. Adingra’s pace and Neil’s control could be the difference against an Everton back line missing its lynchpin. But if Moyes tightens the set-piece screws and drags this into a scrap, don’t rule out the ultimate smash-and-grab. It’s that sort of night under the lights on Wearside.