Sports Blog 12/09/2016: Premier League Preview – Sunderland vs Everton, Monday 12th September 2016

Can Ronald Koeman continue his unbeaten run at the helm of the Toffees when Everton travel to Sunderland at 8pm on Sky Sports 1?

It’s been a bit of a dream start for Koeman. A first game draw against Tottenham is nothing to sniff at, especially since Everton led for 55 minutes, while wins against West Brom and Stoke, while not top tier stuff, still means the Dutchman is yet to lose a game with his new club. That run also extends into the EFL Cup, with the Toffees smashing Yeovil Town 4-0, in part thanks to a late brace from Arouna Kone, who heads into Monday night at a Super Mega PGM of 16-20.



While Koeman can be happy with the performances of Kone and, in particular, Ross Barkley (whose 2 goals leave him with a Super Mega PGM of 14-18) the manager will be less pleased with Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian star is yet to score this season, and even if you discount any post-Euros fatigue there are questions over his happiness and willingness to be at the club. Nevertheless Lukaku heads into the evening fixture with the best Super Mega PGM spread of 30-36, ahead of Kone and Enner Valencia who, at 16-20, could make his Everton debut at the Stadium of Light.

If Koeman has impressed since taking over at Everton, then David Moyes has had a far more inauspicious start to the latest leg of his managerial career. An opening day fixture at Manchester City isn’t the easiest of beginnings, and the Black Cats can feel unlucky at not getting a point having been sunk by an 87th minute own goal from debutante Paddy McNair. A loss to the newly promoted Middlesbrough is less forgivable, however, while a 1-1 draw against Southampton isn’t the result it once would have been when Koeman was still in charge. Jermain Defoe, at a Super Mega PGM of 28-33, remains the clubs only real option upfront, especially with post-transfer window signing Victor Anichebe not yet match fit.

As Moyes tries to do for Sunderland what he did for Everton it looks like he might come up short against his old club this time around, with our Spreadex traders offering an Everton/Sunderland (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.3-0.5 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.4-2.6.