Everton will face Sunderland in final home game of the 2025-26 season.
The Toffees must win to keep their European hopes alive.
Officials for the crucial matchup have recently been announced.
Everton’s push for Europe continues as they square up to Sunderland in their final match at Hill Dickinson Stadium this season.
The Toffees have already faced the Black Cats at their new home, where they suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat on penalties in the third round of the FA Cup.
Regis Le Bris’s men are also in with a chance for a European spot as they sit just a point behind the Blues.
Ahead of the match, the Premier League has announced the officials who will oversee the game, and it does not make for pretty reading for Evertonians.
John Brooks will referee Everton vs Sunderland
John Brooks will oversee the encounter between Everton and Sunderland, along with Simon Bennett and Craig Taylor as his assistants, and Tony Harrington will occupy the VAR chair.
Brooks is set to be in charge of his third Toffees match of the league season, but Sunday will be his first at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Blues’ season opener against Leeds United was refereed by the 36-year-old, who controversially awarded the hosts a penalty that proved to be the winner.
Out of the 23 Premier League matches in which Brooks has refereed Everton, they have only won three, giving them a win rate of 17%.
Their last victory with Brooks in charge of a game was a 3-2 win against Tottenham Hotspur in January 2025.
Referees have not been helpful to Everton
Recent matches have shown a weak Everton side, and their poor form ultimately boils down to their inability to hold their nerve and get results over the line.
Yet poor refereeing decisions have also cropped up, and they have not gone in favour of the Toffees.
The most shocking of all was the denial of a stonewall penalty against West Ham United, in which Mateus Fernandes handled the ball inside the box.
It was revealed that the Blues should have been given a penalty on this occasion, but the club cannot do anything with an apology.
Everton’s 2025-26 campaign started with controversy, but they will be hopeful that their final two matches are clean sailing.
If both games are controversy-free, then supporters can hope the Toffees will put in solid performances and seize a spot for Europe.