The intriguing FA Cup third round clash between Everton vs Sunderland is scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 3:00 PM GMT (10:00 AM ET). Hosted at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England, this matchup pits Premier League side Everton, aiming to progress in the cup amid a mid-table league campaign, against fellow Premier League team Sunderland, currently positioned 8th in the standings and pushing for European spots.
Everton enters the tie with mixed form, having drawn their last Premier League match 1-1 against Nottingham Forest, where Iliman Ndiaye scored but defensive lapses persist. Key updates include midfielder Tim Iroegbunam out with a foot injury until mid-February, while Armando Broja (Achilles) and Seamus Coleman (groin) are doubtful. The Toffees have extended contracts for key players like Jarrad Branthwaite, bolstering morale as coach Sean Dyche focuses on cup progression to salvage a challenging season.
Sunderland, sitting 8th in the Premier League with 30 points from 20 games (7 wins, 9 draws, 4 losses, +2 goal difference), has shown resilience with an unbeaten run in their last five league matches, including a 1-0 win over Newcastle and draws against Leeds (1-1) and Tottenham (1-1). The Black Cats report injuries to midfielder Salis Abdul Samed (knee, out until late January) and defender Daniel Ballard (hamstring, doubtful). Coach Régis Le Bris has praised their defensive record—conceding just one goal in five matches—as they aim for a cup scalp to boost their European aspirations.
The cup tie comes with both sides in mixed form and dealing with significant absences, especially due to injuries and AFCON call‑ups.
- Competition: 2025–26 FA Cup – Third Round (all‑Premier League tie)
- Date: Saturday 10 January 2026
- Kick-off: 4:15 pm UK time
- Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool (Everton’s new home)
- TV (expected): TNT Sports / discovery+ (UK), ESPN+ (USA)
- Everton form (all competitions): L L D W L D
- Sunderland form (all competitions): W D D D D L
Everton vs Sunderland Prediction, Team news, lineups
Recent Form & Context
Everton
Across all competitions in 2025‑26, Everton have 9 wins, 5 draws and 9 defeats, scoring 25 goals (1.09 per game). Recent trends are worrying:
- Just 1 win in their last 6 matches, with 3 defeats and 3 games without scoring.[6]
- At home, they still tend to be more reliable, scoring in around 80% of home fixtures according to betting model analysis.
Everton also drew 1–1 with Wolves in midweek league action, making it six games with only one victory ahead of the cup tie.
Sunderland
Sunderland’s overall 2025‑26 record across competitions stands at 7 wins, 10 draws and 5 defeats, with 22 goals scored (1.0 per game). Their recent pattern:
- Only 2 wins in their last 10 matches.
- Away from home they are really struggling: winless in the last six away games, losing three and failing to score in four.
- A five‑match unbeaten run ended with a 3–0 defeat at Brentford – one of their heaviest losses of the season.
Given both sides’ issues in front of goal, several models lean towards a low‑scoring game and favour Everton narrowly at home.
Everton vs Sunderland Head‑to‑Head
- Last meeting: Sunderland 1–1 Everton (Premier League, 3 Nov 2025).
- Everton are unbeaten in the last four meetings vs Sunderland, winning three of them.
This recent H2H pattern, combined with Everton’s mild home advantage, helps explain why most prediction sites make the Toffees slight favourites.
Team News
Everton Team News
Everton are dealing with a “threadbare squad” due to injuries, suspensions and AFCON absences. Recent reports ahead of their Wolves league game list the following as unavailable:
| Out (AFCON): | Idrissa Gana Gueye – with Senegal Iliman Ndiaye – with Senegal |
| Out (injury): | Seamus Coleman – hamstring Jarrad Branthwaite – post‑surgery hamstring (out all season so far) Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall – hamstring Carlos Alcaraz – undisclosed issue |
Sunderland Team News
Sunderland are heavily affected by AFCON call‑ups. Tottenham’s opposition briefing and Sports Mole’s Brentford preview both list six players away at AFCON plus one long‑term injury:
| Out (AFCON): | Reinildo Mandava Chemsdine Talbi Arthur Masuaku Noah Sadiki Bertrand Traoré Habib Diarra |
| Out (injury): | Aji Alese – shoulder |
| Doubtful: | Wilson Isidor – knock picked up recently |
Sunderland nevertheless have an experienced core available, including Granit Xhaka (5 assists this season) and several new signings such as Nordi Mukiele, Marc‑Olivier Geertruida and Brian Brobbey.
Everton vs Sunderland Starting XI
Based on the most recent predicted line‑ups for their league matches, adjusted for cup rotation and AFCON absentees:
Everton (4‑2‑3‑1)
- Mykolenko, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Patterson; Iroegbunam, Röhl, Armstrong; Dibling, Beto, McNeil.
This mirrors the XI Sports Mole expected against Wolves, which is likely close to David Moyes’ strongest available side right now.[8]
Sunderland (4‑2‑3‑1)
- Patterson; Mukiele, Alderete, Ballard, Cirkin; Xhaka, Geertruida; Adingra, Le Fee, Mayenda; Brobbey
This is built directly from Sports Mole’s Brentford vs Sunderland predicted XI and adjusted only minimally for the different opponent.
Tactical Preview
- Everton under Moyes are likely to be compact and pragmatic, using a 4‑2‑3‑1 with Garner/Iroegbunam protecting the back four and McNeil/Grealish providing creativity in the half‑spaces. With Dewsbury‑Hall and Ndaiye missing, they lack a natural goalscorer, which is reflected in their 1.1 goals scored and 1.2 conceded per game this season. Set‑pieces and long diagonals to McNeil remain key weapons.
- Sunderland, under Régis Le Bris are tactically flexible but currently constrained by AFCON absences. The Black Cats have been very hard to beat at home, but away they have not won in six, scoring just two goals in those six matches. With Brobbey or a half‑fit Isidor leading the line and Xhaka orchestrating from deep, they are likely to sit slightly deeper and try to exploit Everton turnovers.
Both teams head into this match struggling to score, and several model-based previews suggest that betting on under 2.5 goals could be the smart move.
Everton vs Sunderland Match Prediction
- Everton’s home advantage and historical dominance in the matchup (unbeaten in the last four vs Sunderland, three wins).
- Sunderland’s six AFCON absentees and winless away run.
- Everton’s own injury issues and a recent record of just one win in six.
A cagey, low‑margin match is more likely than a goal fest.
- Predicted Result: Everton 1–0 Sunderland
- Everton to edge it through a set piece or individual moment (McNeil/Grealish), while Sunderland struggle again to create clear chances away from home.
- Under 2.5 goals aligns with most external previews and both teams’ scoring profiles.
Where to Watch
In the USA, the Everton vs Sunderland FA Cup match streams live on ESPN+ and Paramount+. Coverage starts at 10:00 AM ET, with highlights on ESPN or the official FA Cup website.