Credit: Imago

Josh Edwards

Sun 17 May 2026 16:55, UK

Everton fell to a 3-1 defeat at home to Sunderland, despite taking the lead.

With both sides still chasing Europe, many would have expected a cagey start to the game, but very few would have expected Everton to be dominated possession-wise as they did, despite Sunderland doing little with it.

However, it was the Toffees who took the lead after 43 minutes, with Merlin Rohl’s deflected effort beating Robin Roefs.

But it was a very similar start to the second half for Everton as it was in the first, and this time Brian Brobbey made them pay for it, with a tidy finish to level the game.

After assisting Brobbey for the equaliser, Le Fee would then go on to score the winner for the visitors, with Wilson Isidor adding a third, all but ending Everton’s European hopes.

Merlin Rohl proves David Moyes right (and everyone else wrong)

For the Toffees to have gone five games without a win and name an unchanged side against Sunderland certainly raised eyebrows.

As did the inclusion of Rohl, who has struggled to impress on the flank since coming back into the starting 11.

However, he took his chance against Sunderland and earned his reward with a goal, even if it was the result of a huge deflection.

Rohl created a big chance for Beto in the opening stages that came to nothing, and more than did his work off the ball.

The German won x of his x duels against the Black Cats, with a total of x defensive contributions.

Iliman Ndiaye falters vs Sunderland

Iliman Ndiaye has so often been the man that Everton look towards for a moment of quality, but he failed to provide a single one against Sunderland.

His performance was summed up by his laboured through ball to Beto after the Toffees had broken through two on one, only for Roefs to collect with ease.

He failed to complete any of his two attempted dribbles and lost all six of his duels in the game.

With Everton already lacking quality going forward, the last thing they needed was their star man to underperform just as much as he did.

Everton ratings

Jordan Pickford – 6

Jake O’Brien – 4

James Tarkowski – 6

Michael Keane – 6

Vitalii Mykolenko – 5

James Garner – 6

Tim Iroegbunam – 5 (for George 73′)

Merlin Rohl – 7

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 7

Iliman Ndiaye – 3

Beto – 5 (for Barry 73′)

Subs

Tyrique George – 5 (for Iroegbunam 73′)

Thierno Barry – 5 (for Beto 73′)

Dwight McNeil – N/A (for Rohl 88′)

Seamus Coleman – N/A (for O’Brien 88′)

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.