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Four things learnt from Everton vs Sunderland

Everton's slim chances of Europe look over following a disappointing second-half collapse against Sunderland.

In a lacklustre first-half Merlin Rohl's deflected strike gave the Blues the lead in a half where Everton struggled to create chances.

Sunderland responded and started the second-half with intent and were pinning Everton back. Iliman Ndiaye wasted an Everton counterattack as they found themselves in a 2v1 situation but the 26-year-old's final ball failed to fall to the feet of Beto.

Jake O'Brien's sliced clearance fell to the path of Enzo Le Fee who played through Brian Brobbey who bullied James Tarkowski and fired home the leveller.

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Everton struggled for a response and with ten minutes remaining Le Fee gave the Black Cats the lead, before Wilson Isidor wrapped up the points for Regis Le Bris' ambitious Sunderland side, who now go above Everton in the table.

It was Seamus Coleman's last home game for the club as the captain announced that he'll be leaving the club after 17 years and it wasn't the send-off he or Everton were looking for.

Here are four things learnt from the defeat.

European finish has faded

David Moyes's side haven't won since March and have now gone six games without a victory. During that run the Toffees have conceded 14 goals and are conceding a minimum two goals a game.

The run-in presented Everton with a opportunity to finish in Europe and would have shown clear progress as in recent years the club has been fighting relegation but with Everton only picking up three points out of 18, the fragilities in the squad have been highlighted.

Everton became the first team in the Premier League to concede in injury time in three consecutive games and have looked vulnerable defending set-pieces.

It looked like the Blues would finish above 50 points for the first time since 2020-21, but with injuries and poor home form that now looks unlikely.

The injuries to Jarrad Branthwaite and Idrissa Gana Gueye

The absences of Branthwaite and Gana Gueye have played a factor in Everton's disappointing end to the campaign.

It's been a season plagued with injuries for Branthwaite but despite only playing 10 Premier League games his importance has shown in recent weeks.

When Branthwaite is in the side he brings a calmness to the side, and with the defender being comfortable with the ball, Everton are able to play out from the back and build between the lines.

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The 23-year-old's pace also allows Everton to play higher up the pitch whereas with Michael Keane and Tarkowski are stronger when playing in a low block.

Idrissa Gueye's experience has been missed in recent weeks and his ability to keep hold of the ball as the midfielder has an 87% pass-completion rate this season.

The lack of substitutes

Against Sunderland it took David Moyes until the 73rd minute to make a double substitution, but by that point the visitors had levelled the scoring and looked more likely to score again.

Last weekend against Crystal Palace, all three substitutes came after the 70th minute and were seen as being reactive as Crystal Palace levelled the scoring.

Carlos Alcaraz has struggled for minutes this season despite the Argentine looking promising towards the end of last season and has made bright cameos this season.

Tyler Dibling has struggled to get a look in with the youngster's last appearance coming back in March against Burnley.

The winger has only played 520 minutes and out of Everton's last 13 games Dibling has only featured once in what was a one-minute display against the Clarets.

Tyrique George has looked promising when he has come off the bench and looked dangerous against Sunderland. Whereas Nathan Patterson has failed to get a look in which could move O'Brien in his more favoured position centre-half.

Not the farewell Coleman deserved

The Irishman came on for what looks like being his final game for the club and it wasn't the send-off that the club captain deserved after spending 17 years at the club.

When the full-time whistle was blown there were boos echoing around Hill Dickinson and plenty of supporters left in a flurry when Isidor scored Sunderland's third.

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For the lap of appreciation and to give Coleman his send-off the stands were empty, which is something the full-back didn't deserve but sums up life at Hill Dickinson so far.

Everton ended their inaugural season down at the waterfront with six wins and eight defeats and with the dreams of Europe over, this summer will be important for Everton to maintain the challenge for Europe but without their beloved captain.

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