Everton have now won just one of the last seven Premier League games after a 1-1 draw at Sunderland.
The Toffees were looking to hit back after a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
Everton started well as Iliman Ndiaye danced away from Sunderland defenders to score a brilliant individual goal.
Thierno Barry missed from close range, and Everton were made to pay as Granit Xhaka’s deflected strike beat Jordan Pickford for Sunderland’s leveller.
Neither side could find a winner, but Everton will feel gutted after squandering a strong start at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland v Everton - Premier League
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Iliman Ndiaye is reaching a truly sensational level for Everton
The hype around Iliman Ndiaye has been huge of late, and Monday’s display showed why.
Ndiaye’s goal was a piece of art as the ball stuck to his feet like glue, allowing him to dance through the Sunderland defence to score.
It’s one thing to have the skill to drift past players; it’s another to then have the end product.
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Ndiaye is proving that he has both, and he has become Everton’s star attraction over Jack Grealish.
The Senegal star just keeps getting better and better, but Everton may need to fend off serious interest in 2026.
Thierno Barry’s mixed evening
David Moyes made one big change in his starting XI, deploying Thierno Barry up front over Beto.
Barry has struggled in the early days of his Everton career, but there were promising signs.
The Frenchman dropped in to link play and made himself a nuisance to the Sunderland back line.
The problem is that Barry had the best chance of the game for Everton, but fired the ball over the bar from inside the six-yard box.
That is a chance an Everton striker simply has to take, and his night ended by being substituted for Beto before the hour mark.
Barry should have scored, but there were some signs that he isn’t a completely lost cause.
It’s time for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to step out
The subject of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s performances has accelerated in recent weeks, and especially since the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Dewsbury-Hall has been utilised as a number 10 at Everton, despite arguably playing his best football in a deeper role at Leicester City.
After a bright start, Dewsbury-Hall has tailed off and hasn’t recorded a goal or assist since the 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in August.
Dewsbury-Hall is proving to be completely ineffectual in an attacking sense for Everton, and Monday’s display should be his last from the start for a little while.
Carlos Alcaraz fails to take his chance
If Dewsbury-Hall does come out of the team, many fans would want to see Carlos Alcaraz come in.
Everton fans praised Alcaraz after his showing against Crystal Palace, but starts have eluded the Argentinian.
Alcaraz came on in the final 10 minutes against Sunderland, as Moyes threw him on for a great chance to shine.
Unfortunately, Alcaraz wasted a couple of good openings, including squandering a 2-vs-1 break late in the day.
Moyes wasn’t impressed as Alcaraz couldn’t make a telling impact, and that may mean he stays on the bench.
Everton fans have every right to ask questions about Merlin Rohl
Moyes made changes in search of all three points, but he didn’t look to Merlin Rohl.
Alcaraz came on, Tim Iroegbunam even came on, but Rohl remained on the bench.
Perhaps Moyes felt that Iroegbunam’s greater experience in English football suited the moment, with the Sunderland crowd up.
Everton need to give Rohl a chance to shine, though, or he will never be ready for games like this.
The German has endured a tricky start to life at Everton, and fans will wonder just when he will be given a big opportunity.