Everton vs Sunderland: Premier League Clash at Hill Dickinson Stadium

On 17 May 2026, Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool stages a late‑spring meeting loaded with subplots, as Everton welcome Sunderland with both clubs jostling for position in the heart of the Premier League table. Everton, in mid-table but with the home crowd demanding a strong finish, are chasing a top‑half statement. Sunderland arrive just a point behind, eyeing the chance to leapfrog their hosts and underline their return as a competitive top‑flight force.

Season Context

Everton sit 10th with 49 points from 36 matches, having scored 46 goals and conceded 46. That perfectly level goal record (46 goals for, 46 against) underlines a side capable of hurting opponents but just as likely to be opened up, while 49 points keeps them clear of danger yet short of the European conversation.

Sunderland are 12th with 48 points from 36 games, their 37 goals scored set against 46 conceded. The negative goal difference (-9) shows the cost of a modest attack (37 goals in 36 games) and some heavy defeats, but 48 points represents a solid platform in the middle third of the table and a chance to finish above an established club like Everton.

Form & Momentum

Everton’s recent league form line reads “DDLLD”, a sequence that reflects a stuttering spell (no wins in that run) where draws have been as common as defeats (three draws, two losses). Across the full campaign they average roughly 1.3 goals scored and 1.3 conceded per game (46 goals for, 46 against over 36 matches), painting the picture of a balanced but inconsistent side that struggles to turn performances into victories.

Sunderland arrive with “DDLLW” as their current form string, which points to only one victory in the last five but also to a team that often stays competitive (two draws in that run). Over the season they have scored just over a goal per game (37 in 36) while conceding at the same 1.3‑per‑match rate as Everton (46 against in 36), suggesting a slightly more conservative attacking profile but similar defensive vulnerability.

Head-to-Head Patterns

The most recent cup clash between these sides came at Hill Dickinson Stadium, where a 1-1 draw in normal time preceded Sunderland’s triumph on penalties (FA Cup, season 2025, January 2026). That shootout win will give the visitors confidence that they can handle both the venue and the occasion.

Earlier in the Premier League calendar, Sunderland and Everton shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Stadium of Light (Premier League, season 2025, November 2025), a tight contest that underlined how little has separated the teams this year. Both sides found a way to score, but neither could land a decisive blow.

Looking further back, Everton produced a commanding 3-0 home win over Sunderland at Goodison Park (League Cup, season 2017, September 2017), a reminder that when the Merseyside club gets on top in knockout‑style atmospheres they can overwhelm the visitors. Across these snapshots, the pattern is of a matchup that can swing from cagey to one‑sided depending on who seizes the initiative early.

Tactical Preview

Everton’s statistical profile suggests a side built around a 4-2-3-1 base, with that shape used in 21 league matches. With 46 goals from 36 games, they carry a decent attacking punch (around 1.3 goals per game) and have often relied on creative supply lines from midfield. J. Garner, listed as a midfielder in the squad and standing out in the assists charts with 7 assists and 52 key passes, offers progressive passing and bite in the challenge (115 tackles, 54 interceptions). J. Grealish, also a midfielder, adds another layer of craft with 6 assists and 40 key passes, giving Everton strong ball‑carrying and combination play between the lines.

Out of possession, Everton’s identical goals for and against tallies (46-46) show that their ambition can leave spaces. Defenders like J. O'Brien, who has contributed 55 tackles and 16 blocks, will be central to handling transitions, particularly against Sunderland’s runners from deep. The 4-2-3-1 structure, used far more often than the occasional 4-3-3 (1 appearance), should give them a familiar platform to press high and keep Sunderland pinned back.

Sunderland, by contrast, are more tactically fluid, with 4-2-3-1 their most common formation (19 matches) but supported by regular switches to 4-3-3 and 5-4-1 (5 games each), plus spells in 4-4-2 and 4-1-4-1 (3 games each). Their 37 goals from 36 league fixtures underline a more cautious or build‑up oriented attack (about 1.0 goal per game), but they have technical midfielders capable of controlling tempo. G. Xhaka, a midfielder with 6 assists and 1 goal, has completed 1684 passes at 83% accuracy, while E. Le Fée adds thrust with 4 goals, 5 assists and 45 dribble attempts, making late surges from midfield.

Defensively, Sunderland share Everton’s total of 46 goals conceded, but the distribution hints at vulnerability away from home (27 conceded on the road in the broader statistics set). Defenders like D. Ballard and Reinildo, both listed as defenders and each having one red card in the league, bring aggression that can help in duels but also risks disciplinary trouble. T. Hume, officially a midfielder in the squad yet a key defensive presence in the card data with 64 tackles and 9 yellow cards, underlines Sunderland’s combative edge on the flanks.

Set‑piece and crossing battles will be crucial. Everton’s home record of 25 goals scored and 24 conceded in 18 league matches shows they tend to play open games at Hill Dickinson Stadium, while Sunderland’s away return of 14 scored and 27 conceded points to a side that can be stretched when asked to defend for long spells. Expect Everton to lean on their attacking midfielders and full‑backs to overload wide areas, with Sunderland looking to break through players like E. Le Fée and wide attackers from their flexible forward line.

Statistical Snapshot

• Competition: Premier League, season 2025 — 17 May 2026.
• Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool.
• Prediction: Win or draw — Double chance : Everton or draw.
• Win Probabilities: Home 45% / Draw 45% / Away 10%.
• Model: Everton 60.0% — Sunderland 40.2%.

Betting Verdict

The prediction model leans strongly towards the hosts avoiding defeat, with a “Win or draw” call and a home/draw split of 45%/45% against just 10% for Sunderland. That aligns with Everton’s slightly stronger attacking record (46 goals to Sunderland’s 37) and the visitors’ fragile away numbers (27 league goals conceded on the road in the wider data). With home odds clustered roughly between 1.80 and 1.90, the straight Everton win is priced as a clear favourite, while the draw sits around 3.60–3.80 and the away win around 4.00–4.36. Given the recent 1-1 league draw and Sunderland’s FA Cup success on penalties at this venue, the most data‑backed angle is to follow the model and take a cautious stance: the double chance on Everton or draw offers cover against another tight contest while still siding with the statistically stronger home side.