Everton vs Sunderland Match Preview: Key Absences Impacting Teams
Match Context
Everton host Sunderland at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool on 17 May 2026, with kick-off at 14:00 UTC. This Premier League fixture comes in Regular Season - 37, with Everton sitting 10th on 49 points (goal difference 0) and Sunderland 12th on 48 points (goal difference -9).
Everton Availability
Everton face several absences.
- J. Branthwaite (Hamstring Injury) is sidelined.
- J. Grealish (Foot Injury) is sidelined.
- I. Gueye (Injury) is sidelined.
Grealish’s absence is a major blow: across 20 league appearances he has contributed 2 goals and 6 assists, offering significant creativity and ball progression from midfield. Everton’s leading creator J. Garner, with 7 assists and 2 goals, is available and will be expected to shoulder even more responsibility in the final third.
Sunderland Availability
Sunderland also have key issues to manage.
- D. Ballard (Red Card) is sidelined.
- R. Mundle (Hamstring Injury) is sidelined.
Ballard’s suspension removes a first-choice defender from a back line that has conceded 46 goals in 36 matches. In attack, Sunderland will still look to G. Xhaka, who has 6 assists and 1 goal in 32 appearances, to link play and supply their forwards.
Impact Summary
Everton lose an important creator in Grealish and an experienced midfielder in Gueye, potentially reducing their control and incision. Sunderland’s main damage is defensive, with Ballard out and Mundle’s hamstring problem trimming their attacking depth, but their primary playmaker Xhaka remains available to drive their attacking output.
