How the national media reacted to Everton's 3-1 loss to Sunderland in their final Premier League home game of the campaign
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 17: Beto of Everton looks dejected after Nilson Angulo of Sunderland (not pictured) scores his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Sunderland at Hill Dickinson Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Beto looks dejected during Everton's second-half collapse against Sunderland(Image: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
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Everton's first season at Hill Dickinson Stadium ended on a disappointing low as they were beaten 3-1 by Sunderland to deliver a potentially fatal blow to their lingering hopes of challenging for Europe.
The Blues led at half-time thanks to a first goal for the club from Merlin Rohl and at that point they were level on points with eighth-placed Brentford.
But a horrible second-half collapse ensured Everton will go into the final game of the campaign sitting in 12th and with the prospect of finishing as low as 14th.
That would not be the way they would want to end the campaign. Similarly, no-one associated with the Blues would have wanted captain Seamus Coleman, who was playing his final game for the club after 17 years of magnificent service, to have signed off in the manner that David Moyes' side did.
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And here's what what national media made of it...
Andy Hunter, in The Guardian, wrote: "Hill Dickinson Stadium was virtually empty by the time Everton commenced their lap of appreciation, interest in the end-of-season ritual having somewhat evaporated along with the club’s European ambitions. Sunderland now carry European dreams of their own into the final day of an outstanding Premier League return.
"Regs Le Bris’ side leapfrogged their opponents in the table courtesy of a commanding second-half display shaped by effective substitutions and an incisiveness that Everton lack. Brian Brobbey, Enzo Le Fee and substitute Wilson Isidor were all on target as Merlin Rohl’s first-half opener was consigned to irrelevance. The Europa or Conference League could be Sunderland’s reward for adapting seamlessly to the top flight should they defeat Chelsea at the Stadium of Light next Sunday.
""It's on but it's not done," said Le Bris, whose team extinguished Everton’s FA Cup hopes earlier this year and all but ended their European ones here. "The most important thing is to stay focused because when we start dreaming probably it is a distraction. It’s a really good season. We hit the 40-point target early and were able to keep the consistency. The team showed they were still ambitious and played good football and now we have an opportunity to play an exciting fixture at home."
"The opposite is true of Everton. An unexpected shot at European qualification presented itself to David Moyes' team following their rampant defeat of Chelsea on 21 March. They have not won in six matches since and their defensive foundations have crumbled. While Sunderland have won more points from losing positions than any other team in the Premier League this season, Everton are unable to hold a lead. The eighth league defeat at their new home was punishment for a dreadful, lackadaisical performance and confirmed the team are a long way off fulfilling their manager's expectations."
Paul Joyce, in The Times, wrote: "Everton’s own hopes of European football are not mathematically over, but rest on a series of improbable results even if they take care of matters away to Tottenham Hotspur next Sunday.
"A six-match, winless streak has come at exactly the wrong time and, certainly, this was not the farewell home appearance that Seamus Coleman was hoping for after announcing he will call time on his 17-year playing career with the club in the summer.
"He had just been introduced to a rapturous ovation, but erred when leaving Habib Diarra's cross and Wilson Isidor twisted the knife to complete the turnaround after earlier goals from Brian Brobbey and Enzo Le Fee.
"Everton’s first season at Hill Dickinson Stadium ended with a backdrop of row upon row of empty seats and a chorus of boos. Coleman, 37, was later given a guard of honour by his team-mates before a lap of appreciation was conducted with virtually no-one left in the arena.
"Whatever happens, Moyes' side have failed to grasp the opportunity that presented itself after the thumping 3-0 triumph over Chelsea before the March international break, which speaks to the work he must still implement.
"He has overseen plenty of progress, and it was only three years ago that Everton stayed up on the final day of the season when beating Bournemouth, but this outcome was grating. Forget teething troubles at their shimmering new home, squad limitations have been exposed."
Michael Emons, writing for the BBC, said: "The talk before the game was about departing Everton captain Seamus Coleman, who has said he will not be playing for the club next season after 17 seasons there.
"Republic of Ireland full-back Coleman, 37, joined as a 20-year-old for only £60,000 from Irish side Sligo Rovers in 2009 and has gone on to become Everton's leading appearance maker in the Premier League era.
"He came on to a standing ovation as a substitute in the 88th minute for his 434th Toffees match, moving ahead of Dixie Dean and Leon Osman in 10th spot in the club's all-time appearances list.
"However, he could not inspire an Everton recovery as Sunderland added a third goal three minutes later, with the Toffees dropping to 12th and with their own European hopes all but ended.
"Coleman then was given a guard of honour after the match by his team-mates, although a large number of home supporters and all the away fans had already left the ground."
And in the ECHO, our own Joe Thomas wrote: "Seamus Coleman emerged from the tunnel to a guard of honour from his team-mates. The supporters applauded and he clapped back, all to the soundtrack of his famous '60 grand' chant. Surrounded by his family, it was no doubt an emotional moment for a talisman who has led Everton with pride across more than 17 years in Royal Blue.
"For all that he did on the pitch since joining from Sligo Rovers in 2009, his impact off it is perhaps where his legacy truly lies. The Blues were a mess in the final years of former owner Farhad Moshiri’s reign. Such was the financial plight of the club, relegation to the Championship would have been catastrophic, possibly fatal. It was in those dark times that Coleman stepped forward, a link between the stands and the dressing room and the talisman that helped inspire salvage acts when all hope was lost.
"Coleman will go down as a club legend and deserves far more recognition for his impact at Everton than he is ever likely to receive. David Moyes will have a huge hole to fill next season, the first in almost two decades without his club captain and trusted protege at Finch Farm. Together, they have shepherded Everton to a point where the club can finally look up the table rather than down.
"But his final game ended with a brutal reality check. For all the steps forward the Blues have made in the past 18 months, the progress is fragile. That was unavoidable when, on the final whistle, Coleman took in hugs and handshakes from both sets of players to the soundtrack of celebrating supporters.
"The problem was the noise was coming from the north east corner of the stadium. Coleman had his moment, brought on to a huge ovation for his final Everton home game. Minutes later it ended in a crescendo of boos as the few home supporters left inside the ground let their feelings known after a second half implosion destroyed any realistic hope of Moyes leading the side into Europe next season.
"Even fewer remained when the squad returned to the pitch for a final lap to thank the fans after the final whistle. The scene was such that it deserved serious thought over whether it should even have taken place.
"Had it not been for Coleman’s send-off, maybe it would have been cancelled. It was not supposed to end like this."