Everton will begin their FA Cup journey with a third-round clash against Sunderland at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Toffees, who last won this prestigious tournament in 1995, will be eyeing a deeper run in the competition this time around after the dismal campaigns of late. Since finishing runners-up in 2009, Everton have made two semi-finals and four quarter-finals appearances but they haven’t been able to get past the fourth round in any of their last three seasons.
An early elimination from the EFL Cup after a disappointing loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers makes the FA Cup even more important for the Blues.
Everton and Sunderland have already met in the league once this season, sharing spoils after a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light. This is the first FA Cup meeting between the two sides since the 2011-12 quarter-final which the Toffees won 2-0. Everton have also knocked out the Black Cats eight times from this competition.
David Moyes’ side drew 1-1 with Wolves over the weekend. Michael Keane gave the hosts the first-half lead with a clinical finish but was on the receiving end of a bizarre VAR decision and was sent off at the 83rd minute for “violent conduct”.
Jack Grealish lost his cool in the aftermath of the incident and followed his teammate to the dressing room shortly after, leaving the Blues to defend with nine men for the final minutes of the contest.
That stalemate has extended Everton’s winless streak in front of their supporters to three games and the Blues will be desperate to secure their first win at Hill Dickinson Stadium since the 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in early December.
Sunderland, meanwhile, are also winless in their last five games after suffering a 3-0 loss to Brentford and they’ve won just once in their last 12 games. As a result, they find themselves 10th in the league table, just one point ahead of Everton at 12th.
They suffered consecutive third-round exits against Newcastle United and Stoke City over the last two seasons, respectively and have been eliminated in each of their last seven FA Cup ties against teams from the same division as them.
Everton vs Sunderland, FA Cup – Team News and Predicted Lineups
Everton Team News
Everton will miss Michael Keane and Jack Grealish for this FA Cup clash. Keane got a straight red after VAR deemed his tug of Tolu Arokobare’s hair “violent conduct” while Grealish lost his cool and was awarded two successive yellow cards for dissent and sarcastically applauding the referee.
Grealish will serve his one-game suspension this weekend while Keane will begin a three-game ban. Meanwhile, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jarrad Branthwaite, Seamus Coleman and Charly Alcaraz are out injured.
The Blues will also miss the Senegal duo of Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye, with the quarter-finals of the AFCON being played over the weekend.
Mark Travers is the designated cup keeper for Everton this season and is likely to replace the ever reliant Jordan Pickford in goal for this fixture. Meanwhile, the absences of Keane and Grealish could lead to Nathan Patterson and Tyler Dibling securing starts once again.
Everton’s predicted starting XI: Mark Travers (GK), Nathan Patterson, James Tarkowski, Jake O’Brien, Vitalii Mykolenko, James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam, Harrison Armstrong, Tyler Dibling, Beto, Dwight McNeil
Form Guide –
Everton: L-L-D-W-L
Sunderland: W-D-D-D-D
Head-to-Head –
Matches: 185
Everton wins: 83
Sunderland wins: 71
Draws: 31
When is Everton vs Sunderland, FA Cup match?
Everton will face Sunderland in the third round of the FA Cup on the afternoon of Saturday, January 10. Kickoff at Hill Dickinson Stadium is scheduled at 12:15 pm UK time.
Where to watch Everton vs Sunderland in the FA Cup?
The FA Cup clash between Everton vs Sunderland will be broadcast live on TNT Sports. The match will also be available for live streaming on Discovery+ platform.
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()
Posted
09/01/2026 at
08:21:01
Talking with a Sunderland fan the other day and he reckons they’re not interested in this game and will field a weak side.
I reckon Moyes will not want to risk silly injuries to an already depleted squad and will play the U-21s and U-18s.
A game neither side wants contest.
Posted
09/01/2026 at
08:32:03
“Designated cup keeper”?
I dont like that!
Play your best eleven Moyes!
Posted
09/01/2026 at
08:39:09
I dont understand why Sunderland would field a weakened side? Theyve surely done enough to secure safety in their first season up which is target #1.
Why shouldnt they go for the cup?
Bit like us – Ill be very annoyed if Moyes doesnt field his strongest team.
Posted
09/01/2026 at
09:01:01
Swap McNeil with Rohl
Posted
09/01/2026 at
09:09:00
Mark, I agree on both points there, Traversty not playing Pickford against his boyhood (home) team.
As regards to playing an understrength side, pure fantasy on someone’s part. We are forced to play an understrength side due to may reasons, not by choice. Hopefully those given the role of playing can and will have something to prove. Namely Patterson, Dibling and McNeil, who has been very disappointing.
Posted
09/01/2026 at
09:09:30
Do you remember those wonderful saturdays when the 3rd round of the cup kicked off everywhere at 3pm. The excitement of pitential upsets on dodgy pitches. Where every club put out its strongest side and supporters dreamt of a trip to Wembley.
Where has all of that gone?
The notion now of. weakened/alternative teams and a designated cup keeper is dreadful. It’s a competition every club should be desperate to win, not least for its supporters and a pathway into Europe.
So, tomorrow, don’t fanny around. Pickford to start. Strongest 11 to win the game. Unless there is some inredible and unforseeable outcome to Keane’ appeal, the back four should pick itself. McNeil will replace Grealish and Dibling given another chance with Armstrong to continue. There arent really any alternatives other than Beto for Barry and Rohl given a role somewhere. Moyes wont play any other kids. Go out and win it for us.
Posted
09/01/2026 at
09:30:32
Mark, I agree with you. Ideally, we should be starting with Pickford. Let’s see what Mr Moyes decides.
Posted
09/01/2026 at
09:42:01
Did I miss a rule change?
Isnt Keane available to play until his Appeal is heard? Unless its heard today of course.
Posted
09/01/2026 at
09:46:24
Derek, apart from the keeper situation I don’t think Moyes CAN pick a weakened side, unless he plays some kids?
Rohl / McNeil may be the only selection “headache” he has given the availability we have.
Patterson may not be best right back in the league but he’s the ONLY right back we have and should be played there. Personally, whatever happens on Saturday, and unless we get a new right back in this window, Patterson should be given a fair run in the side to see what he can do. He must be absolute dogshit in training if Jake O’Brien is keeping him out.
My team
Pickford
Patterson Obrien Tarkowski Mykolenko
Garner Armstrong Iroegbunam Mcneil
Grealish
Barry
Garner and McNeil instructed to double up with their full backs when were on the back foot.
Posted
09/01/2026 at
10:03:23
Anjishnu,
If you agree with Mark that ideally Pickford should start then why did you put Travers in the team. I suspect you are being mischievous to get this thread talking about Moyes rather than the team and the match.
I believe the team picks itself but would put Beto before Barry as I believe he provides a more physical impact. Barry is too timid.
That leaves us with the following realistic sub options, Barry Rohl and Alcaraz. Aznou and the untried youngster provide the other options.
I am not sure why McNeil is the latest scapegoat on TW for our poor performance. From what I saw against Forest, he constantly doubled up with Myko on their wingers meaning that their cross were poor which made our two central defenders look like world beaters. On the other side Dibling didnt cop on that he had to do the same thing for Patterson until well into the game and probably from getting a roasting from Moyes to work harder. Was it not McNeill who provide the pass for Garners goal, Was it McNeill who won the ball in our own box which eventually led to Garner to providing the inch perfect pass to set up Barry.
There are many other candidates to pick as scapegoat.
Posted
09/01/2026 at
10:04:12
Mark
Grealish is suspended for his childish hissy fit
How to get rid of these ads and support TW
© ToffeeWeb