Everton managed to bring a halt to their losing streak in the Premier League over the weekend with a stunning 6-2 victory against Sunderland at Goodison Park.
In what was a thoroughly enjoyable match, Everton produced a stunning display of attacking football and the likes of Arouna Kone, Romelu Lukaku and Gerard Deulofeu wreaked havoc on the hapless Sunderland backline.
The victory now gives Everton a huge morale boost ahead of a crucial point in the season and the Toffees will be hopeful of using the victory as a springboard to further success in the coming weeks.
Here is an analysis of the performance of the Everton players on the day –
|
Player Rating |
Comment |
| Tim Howard – 7
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Tim Howard conceded two goals during the clash but the goalkeeper could do nothing regarding the strikes. Despite the comfortable looking win for Everton at the end, Howard did make a couple of important saves in the first half which was crucial in the Toffees’ victory. |
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Seamus Coleman – 7
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Coleman shrugged off illness to start on the day and the right back put in a very good performance.
Always an outlet on the right wing, Coleman provided the width which allowed the central players more space to penetrate through the middle of the park. |
| John Stones – 6
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While most of the Everton players played well during the clash, John Stones will probably not be too pleased with his display. The defender was good in possession as always but he was arguably at fault for the two goals that Everton conceded. |
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Ramiro Funes Mori – 7
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Ramiro Funes Mori has been making a good impression among the Everton faithful and the Argentinean put in another solid display at the back.
Mori was troubled a couple of times by Steven Fletcher but the defender’s distribution was impressive and the 24-year old is already looking like a good signing for the Toffees. |
| Bryan Oviedo – 6
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Oviedo made his first start in a while for Everton on the day but the injury curse struck the unfortunate Costa Rican once again as he had to be forced off within the first 25 minutes due to a hamstring injury. |
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Gareth Barry – 7.5
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Barry had endured a torrid time against Arsenal last time out but the veteran midfielder managed to bounce back with a very strong performance against Sunderland.
Barry bossed the midfield area and his use of the ball was supremely efficient throughout the course of the game. |
| James McCarthy – 7.5
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Alongside Barry, James McCarthy’s contribution from the middle of the park helped Everton dominate the game. McCarthy was judicious with his passing and he grabbed an assist with a wonderful ball to Aroune Kone for the fifth goal. |
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Gerard Deulofeu – 8.5
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Deulofeu can be exciting and frustrating in equal measure but his performance against Sunderland was the former in emphatic fashion.
Deulofeu put in a stunning display out wide and managed a fine goal as well as two assists during the clash, and his presence meant that the Sunderland full backs could not enjoy a moment’s peace on the day. |
| Ross Barkley – 8
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Barkley was a bit frustrating in the first half but he certainly improved after the break and his desire on the ball was one of the main reasons behind Everton’s thumping victory. While Barkley did not grab a goal on the day, his contribution was crucial and his teammates will surely have been appreciative of this fact. |
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Arouna Kone – 9.5
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Kone has been inconsistent this season but the striker put in his best performance in an Everton shirt by scoring a stunning hattrick against Sunderland.
Deployed on the left wing, Kone’s pace and power was too much for the Sunderland defence to deal with and his three goals were expertly taken. |
| Romelu Lukaku – 9
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Romelu Lukaku shrugged off the speculation surrounding his future by putting in a fine performance against Sunderland. Lukaku’s power put Everton on the back foot throughout the course of the game and the Belgian’s stunning cross for Kone’s hat trick goal was arguably the moment of the match. |
Substitutes
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Brendan Galloway – 7
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Galloway entered into the fray to replace Bryan Oviedo in the first half and the youngster performed well during the clash. |
| Kevin Mirallas – 6
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Mirallas come into the game in the 65th minute and he did look dangerous on the ball. |
|
Leon Osman – NA
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Osman came on late into the clash and made some good touches. |
