**SUNDERLAND** (5-2-3):
7 Roefs: Made a couple of important second-half strops and always looked comfortable when Everton swung the ball into the box
8 Hume: Helped change the course of the game as he flung himself into whole-hearted tackles – fared pretty well against the dangerous Grealish
8 Mukiele: Another barnstorming display from the defender, who loves a tackle – once again, his long throws were a real threat
7 Ballard: Won everything against Beto in the second half, when Sunderland were dominant
7 Geertruida: Looked shaky in the early stages, but improved as the game wore on – is justifying his place in the team
7 Reinildo: A solid showing at left-back, with his covering late in the game an important factor
9 XHAKA: The best player on the pitch by a distance – scored his first Sunderland goal and completely bossed the midfield
7 Sadiki: Looked to have lost his head during the first half, but deserves credit for regaining his composure and avoiding a second booking
6 Traore: Got himself into some decent positions down the right, but the quality of his delivery into the box was mixed
7 Isidor: Covered a lot of ground leading the line, and produced a superb second-half dribble that ended in a shot over the bar
8 Le Fee: Produced some lovely attacking touches – his pass set up Xhaka’s goal - and continues to deliver defensively too
**Subs**:
Talbi (for Traore, 82)
Brobbey (for Isidor, 82)
(not used): Patterson (gk), Masuaku, O’Nien, Neil, Rigg, Adingra, Mayenda.
**EVERTON** (4-2-3-1):
Pickford 8; O’Brien 5 (Iroegbunam 83), Tarkowski 7, Keane 7, Mykolenko 6; Gueye 6, Garner 6; **NDIAYE** 8 (McNeil 62, 6), Dewsbury-Hall 5 (Alcaraz 83), Grealish 7; Barry 4 (Beto 56, 5).
Subs (not used): Travers (gk), Aznou, Coleman, Dibling, Rohl.
**Man Of The Match: GRANIT XHAKA** – On this evidence, Sunderland boast one of the best central-midfielders in the Premier League.