Sunderland duo return injured from Afconpublished at 10:57 GMT 15 January
10:57 GMT 15 January
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Sunderland duo Arthur Masuaku and Bertrand Traore will be out of action for between four and six weeks after reporting back from the Africa Cup of Nations with injuries.
Left-back Masuaku, who represented DR Congo, has an ankle problem while Burkina Faso winger Traore sustained a knee injury.
Both were summer arrivals at the Stadium of Light.
Masuaku has made just four appearances for the Black Cats this season, while Traore has scored once in 10 Premier League outings.
Which Premier League teams are defying their xG numbers?published at 09:06 GMT 15 January
09:06 GMT 15 January
Chris Collinson BBC Sport statistician
With more than half of the season gone, we have enough stats to get a good idea of how well Premier League teams have been playing and therefore how things will likely unfold in the months ahead.
With the figures based on how Premier League teams have performed in the past, history shows that the higher a team's xG difference - the more they dominate games - the more chance they have of success.
If we compare teams' xG difference with the points they have taken this season, we can clearly see in the chart below that the majority of sides' results align closely with their general performance.
But there are three teams who have so far defied their xG numbers, in either a good way, or a bad way: Aston Villa, Sunderland and Wolves.
Image caption,
Source: Opta
Aston Villa and Sunderland have almost certainly achieved their season objectives already, with Opta giving Villa a 96% chance of Champions League football and the Black Cats a 99% chance of survival.
This is not about whether the two sides "deserve" to be where they are in the table. The fact that they have scored and kept out the goals they have means they have earned those positions, thanks in part to Villa's elite long-range finishing and Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs being the best shot-stopper in the league.
But what it does show is that this season's success is built on shaky ground and there is still work to be done if Villa wish to establish themselves at the top of the Premier League long-term and Sunderland are to avoid suffering second-season syndrome next season.
Villa fans will rightly point out that their team has regularly overperformed their xG under Unai Emery, while Sunderland fans will claim that you cannot measure tenacity and togetherness.
At the other end, while Wolves have been playing like a team worthy of relegation, they have been far better than the tally of two points they had until recently, so it is no real surprise their results have begun to improve.
Expected goals is not perfect and there are aspects of football that can never be captured on a spreadsheet, but history shows that it has a great track record for predicting a team's long-term success.
O'Nien 'going nowhere' but will reality bite?published at 17:15 GMT 14 January
17:15 GMT 14 January
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Sunderland's Luke O'Nien says he is "going nowhere" and has a "lot to offer" the Black Cats.
The 31-year-old, who joined the club in 2018, has struggled for game time this season but says he isn't concerned by links with a move in any way.
O'Nien's emphatic stance - which you can listen to on BBC Radio Newcastle here - has been championed by Lee Cattermole, but the former Black Cats midfielder warned the volatile nature of football may mean O'Nien's wishes clash with the realities of the sport.
"It's timing," said Cattermole. "He has a family. I have had a long career. Everything is rosy at the minute. Luke seems happy, he's in a good place there. I think the only way he will leave is if the club turn around and say there's no place here. At the minute everything is great. It's great to listen to what he's saying, but there has to be a reality as well.
"If he leaves the club he's going to the Championship. I think he believes he can play Premier League. I think he'll stay until the end of the season. At 31, he has a long way to wait until you go to coaching. For me, the game is so volatile that it sounded too easy to say 'I am not going anywhere'.
"The attitude is brilliant but he's 31. He believes he can get in the team and stay in the team, but that will probably take injuries.
"To see his journey with Sunderland, the biggest credit to Luke is his attitude.
"To look at a player, you have to be adaptable. The only way you can be adaptable is good attitude daily, you're fit, technically good and you take on information, listen to the coaches and what they need from you.
"Did I see him where he is now? Probably not. But it doesn't surprise me with his attitude. I am absolutely delighted for him.
"He has found his way into every manager's team, hasn't he?
"He is a great character and you can see why he'd be a manager's dream."
'Fully deserved' - Cattermole on Ballard honourpublished at 16:20 GMT 14 January
16:20 GMT 14 January
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Former midfielder Lee Cattermole on Dan Ballard becoming the first Sunderland player to win the North-East Writers' Footballer of the Year award since Jermain Defoe in 2016.
"It's no surprise at all, fully deserved. He's been massive for the club since he's come. He seems to have found his home and has grown with the club. He's proven himself as a leader in the group.
"That goal against Coventry will go down in history, the roof came off. It took us into the Premier League and he's been massive in the Premier League.
"He'll see on the night there are some great names on that trophy.
"Any time you get an award as an individual - in football it's so rare - it will mean a lot to him and his family. It's great for the club."
'He hasn't had the chance to show himself' - Cattermole on Neil's futurepublished at 17:17 GMT 13 January
17:17 GMT 13 January
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Former Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole says he "will be gutted" if Dan Neil leaves the club.
Neil came through the Black Cats academy and played a big part in Sunderland's rise to the Premier League, featuring for the side in League One and the Championship.
However, the 24-year-old midfielder's contract is up in the summer and he has made only three substitute appearances for Regis le Bris' side this season.
Cattermole said: "If he does leave, I will be gutted that he hasn't had the chance to show himself because people write people off before they have even had a chance to kick the ball.
"I think he would have been expecting to have a start, especially with Afcon and us losing players.
"The speculation is definitely there. I believe he wants to be and should be playing football at his age."
'Let's dare to dream in both the FA Cup and the Premier League'published at 11:34 GMT 13 January
11:34 GMT 13 January
Gavin Henderson Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
I've got cup fever!
It's been a long time since we could say that, but after what has felt like an eternity, Sunderland are in the hat for the fourth round of the FA Cup after our penalty shootout victory at Everton.
For the past decade, my team has been in a bit of a pickle and any idea of going on a cup run has been firmly put on the back burner.
But with 30 points on the board in January and Premier League safety practically guaranteed, we can dare to dream again and prioritise a good run in the cup.
We should be taking cup competitions seriously. That's the whole point of this thing, right? We all want to experience the feeling of winning. Lifting a cup is the best thing you can do outside of winning a Premier League, and that's basically a closed shop, so why not?
From the off, we were energetic and the tempo was good. While the scoreline might indicate this wasn't a particularly dominant Sunderland performance, I felt there was only ever really one team that was going to win it.
Our goal was superb - and it had to be Enzo le Fee. After all the carry-on last week with his terrible penalty at Brentford, he took his opportunity and celebrated in front of the near-8,000 Sunderland supporters in the stands.
And then came the undeserved Everton goal. It was never a penalty, and John Brooks ought to be ashamed for awarding it.
Extra time should be renamed "waste of time". Surely it will soon be scrapped in the FA Cup and we'll skip straight to the shootout?
The way Everton got back into the game was a joke, but it did give the travelling away fans another fun experience. Robin Roefs faced three penalties and saved them all, while Le Fee, Granit Xhaka and Luke O'Nien expertly dispatched their spot-kicks. Job done.
It's been a tough few weeks, but this win gives us momentum heading into an important game this weekend against Crystal Palace.
Let's dare to dream both in the FA Cup and the Premier League!
'I think I was the only one enjoying extra time' - O'Nien published at 11:42 GMT 12 January
11:42 GMT 12 January
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Sunderland's Luke O'Nien said he was "enjoying" extra time against Everton after it allowed him to get more minutes under his belt following a spell on the sidelines.
O'Nien has made just three league appearances for Sunderland from the bench this season, having missed the opening few games through injury and then struggling to break into the starting line up.
But in his first start of the season, O'Nien played all 120 minutes and converted the winning penalty as Sunderland progressed past Everton in the FA Cup.
Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle after the game, O'Nien said: "A win is always a good day. I think I was the only one enjoying the extra minutes and extra time, I was thinking about getting those extra minutes under my belt.
"I really enjoyed the game, I had great people around me and they made the game easy by the way they talk and position themselves.
"To be able to put in a performance and get through to the next round, it's what we're here to do."
Everton 1-1 Sunderland (0-3 on pens) - the fans' verdictpublished at 08:42 GMT 12 January
08:42 GMT 12 January
Media caption,
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's FA Cup game between Everton and Sunderland.
Here are some of your comments:
Everton fans
Tony: We got what we deserved, beaten. More questions about Moyes as our manager with more and more fans becoming disgruntled with him. Yes he has a threadbare squad, but without our half decent first half of the season, again we'd be looking over our shoulder at another possible relegation battle. Villa next, yikes!
Jack: I'm afraid the game highlighted what we already knew. The squad is too thin to cover injuries and other absences for whatever reason. I accept Sunderland are playing well at the moment, but we looked miles behind them especially in the first half. Hopefully we'll soon be back to full strength, but it shows that we need to strengthen in the summer.
William: The outcome of the game was oh so predictable. A lack of creativity and determination and effort. Everton at home were dreadful and got what they deserved. The whole team - Pickford apart - showed no desire to win this game. The whole team need to practice their skills in penalty taking. Another trophy-less season again. Hopefully we will make mid-table in the league and quickly forget the miserable showing in the cup.
Thomas: With each passing week it's getting harder to distinguish this team from Everton under Sean Dyche.
Sunderland fans
Keith: In spite of a shocking penalty decision against us we played confidently and passed the ball round accurately. We desperately need a proven goal merchant. It was good to have a stress free penalty shootout for a change. Xhaka magnificent as usual.
Dave: After defeat against Brentford it was important not to panic by chasing a win. Fringe players got much needed game time and we still got a result, albeit against a lacklustre Everton.
Edward: Reacted really well to the defeat from Brentford. Very disappointed at the referee's penalty decision but great to see the team not drop their heads and actually play the better of the two sides. Well done to Luke O'Nien, coming into the team and giving such an outstanding performance. What a goalkeeper we have, he gave another tremendous performance.
Harry: What a comeback after Wednesday night. What a buy Robin Roefs is - I can't ever remember a keeper saving all penalties in a shootout. Just outstanding, give him a pay rise.
Everton 1-1 Sunderland (0-3 on pens): What Le Bris saidpublished at 17:59 GMT 10 January
17:59 GMT 10 January
Image source, Getty Images
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle following his side's penalty shootout victory at Everton: "It was a long game, maybe we should have won before [the match went to penalties] because it wasn't a good decision to award Everton's penalty [in normal time].
"But we were ready for the fight and we showed great composure on the ball as well.
"Finally, extra-time, we showed good control once again, and the penalty shootout - [it was] the shortest of my life - so I'm happy."
On Enzo Le Fee: "He was ill, so it shows great character and I think it's part of the process.
"If you take responsibility, you make mistakes [regarding Le Fee's missed penalty v Brentford] - a wrong decision, but today he did well.
"He is committed and ready to fight for the squad and I am happy for him."
Did you know?
Sunderland have progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the second time in the last four seasons (also in 2022-23), having failed to do so in each of the previous seven campaigns beforehand.
Everton v Sunderland: Team newspublished at 11:40 GMT 10 January
11:40 GMT 10 January
Everton have eight players out because of injuries, suspensions and international duty but David Moyes has named a relatively strong starting XI at least.
There are four changes from the draw with Wolves, two enforced after Jack Grealish and Michael Keane were sent off.
Nathan Patterson, Merlin Rohl, Beto and Tyler Dibling come in. There's no Tim Iroegbunam. David Moyes says he has a "slight injury".
Everton's bench is lacking experience with 17-year-old Malik Olayiwola in line for a debut.
Sunderland have made five changes but it's still a pretty strong XI.
Luke O'Nien, Sunderland's captain from their rise from League One, makes his first start of the season while Noah Sadiki is back from Afcon. Romaine Mundle, Dennis Cirkin and Elizer Mayenda are the others to start. Wilson Isidor is back on the bench after injury.
Follow Saturday's FA Cup games livepublished at 11:27 GMT 10 January
11:27 GMT 10 January
There are 18 third-round ties in the FA Cup on Saturday - 16 involving Premier League and Championship teams, who all enter the competition at this stage - and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Fulham v Middlesbrough" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Aston Villa", for instance.
Sutton's predictions: Everton v Sunderlandpublished at 18:45 GMT 9 January
18:45 GMT 9 January
I wouldd like to think these teams will have a real go at the FA Cup this season, because neither of them have got relegation to worry about, but they both come into this tie off the back of poor results.
The Black Cats' defeat at Brentford was a very un-Sunderland like performance compared to what we've seen from them this season, while Everton will be very disappointed to have only drawn at home to Wolves.
The last time Sunderland reached the final, when they lost to Liverpool in 1992, they broke my heart on the way when they beat my Norwich side in the semi-final. I missed a great chance in that game too, when I ballooned a shot over the bar.
It still haunts me how we didn't make it to Wembley that year - we deserved to. Sunderland are due another FA Cup run because they have only made it to round four once in the past 10 years, but I don't think this is their year either.
I can see this going to penalties, and Jordan Pickford will win it for the Toffees.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1 aet, Everton win on penalties
Could Black Cats 'have a go' in FA Cup?published at 17:47 GMT 9 January
17:47 GMT 9 January
Former Sunderland player Martin Smith thinks edging past Everton in the FA Cup could open up a pathway for the Black Cats in the competition.
Smith thinks Regis le Bris' side could "have a right go" at the competition if they progress and players return from the Africa Cup of Nations for the remainder of the tournament.
Le Bris on team news, FA Cup and Evertonpublished at 12:29 GMT 9 January
12:29 GMT 9 January
Karan Vinod BBC Sport journalist
Sunderland boss Regis le Bris has been speaking to the media before Saturday's FA Cup game against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium (kick-off 12:15 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On team news: "Wilson Isidor is getting better, he trained this morning with the squad and we'll see if he's available or not. We're just on the limit, we don't want to take unnecessary risks, so we'll see. Everyone looks OK."
Le Bris refused to cite fatigue as an excuse for the defeat against Brentford, instead pointing to his side's failure to capitalise on their chances. However, he added that it is "really important to experience those situations to grow".
On taking the FA Cup seriously: "We want to go strong because we respect this competition, and at the same time, we'll have to manage the load of a few players. So at the moment, we don't have the full picture because the schedule is so busy that every hour, I think it's useful to understand exactly the situation. So we won't take unnecessary risks, but we will select the best team as possible, so we'll see."
On transfer activity involving Romaine Mundle: "The conversation is open for every player who likes minutes. It's always the case. The most important thing is the club project. This is the first project, the first idea. After that, depending on the situation, if we can expect for the second part of the season, that the player won't play a lot, it means that you can find a solution, and you have to find another club with a good project as well. So I still say that it's important to stay open, to avoid misunderstandings and if it's clear for everyone, after that you can move forward."
On Everton's injuries: "It's part of the decision, but I think we have to stay focused on us, so how we can build the best squad, the best possible squad, and obviously if they don't have those threats, like [Iliman] Ndiaye and [Jack] Grealish, the team is a bit different, but they still have many good players."
Chuck: Outstanding from start to finish, Brentford blew away an accomplished Sunderland, with Vitaly Janelt pulling the strings in midfield and Igor Thiago doing what he does best: dominating defences and scoring goals. To be fifth in the table at this stage of the season is a tremendous effort by all concerned. Long may Brentford's progress continue.
Keith: Dominated most of the game. Lots of confidence in the team. Not sure Keith Andrews should have started without Mikkel Damsgaard or Jordan Henderson. To me they are similar players and we play better if one of them is on the pitch.
Richard: Absolutely brilliant. Brentford fought for every ball and everyone was worried at the start of the season. Thomas Frank, you made a big mistake.
Michael: Brilliant display by the Bees. Is Caoimhin Kelleher the coolest keeper in the Premier League? He seems unfazed, no matter the situation.
Sunderland fans
Rob: A tired performance from a depleted squad; nothing to panic about, we will bounce back. We can forgive Enzo le Fee with that penalty miss as he has been superb all season.
Andrew: At some point we had to have a poor performance. The penalty miss drained our energy and it could have been more than three goals from Brentford. We learn from the experience and move on. Let's remember, we still have 30 points and the Afcon players are coming back. Still proud of the season's achievements so far.
Colin: Sunderland were poor all over the park. We've got nothing to complain about as we got exactly what we deserved - there is no excusing that performance.
Alan: In football, one team loses so another wins. Penalties get missed or saved. The lads were beaten by a very good workmanlike team. Move on!
Image source, Getty Images
