Follow every kick as Sunderland take on Everton at Stadium of Light in the Premier League
on 26-Dec-2009, kick off time 15:00
Sunderland v Everton Live
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Everton face a chilly trip to the north east on Boxing Day as they get set to tackle Sunderland and try to improve on their faltering Premier League campaign. The Toffees have won just one of their last 11 league fixtures and just twice in their last 16 in all competition as the festive blues are well and truly circulating on Merseyside.
With a string of injuries still blighting their progress, David Moyes' men need a win desperately if they are to remain out of the relegation places. They are now just two points off Bolton Wanderers, who sit in the third and final drop zone spot, and their weekend 1-1 draw with Birmingham City has heaped more misery on the beleaguered outfit.
Clashes with Manchester City and Arsenal fast approaching in the new year, there are further troubled times ahead. Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, Victor Anichebe and Phil Neville still sit in the treatment room with knee injuries while fellow first team colleagues Joseph Yobo, Jack Rodwell, Dan Gosling and Sylvain Distin are out owing to hamstring troubles. They have been boosted by the return on diminutive midfield pair Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman in recent times, but they require their injury problems resolved sooner rather than later.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is likely to be without Bolo Zenden (hamstring) with Anton Ferdinand (ankle) and Craig Gordon (broken arm) definitely missing out. Defender Michael Turner will begin a four-match suspension following his dismissal in the 4-3 loss at Manchester City last weekend. The Black Cats have their own concerns on the domestic front and they will be looking for strike duo Darren Bent and Kenwyne Jones to fire them out of their mini rut. They have collected just a single point from their previous five league fixtures and their excellent 1-0 home success against Arsenal towards the back end of November seems a long time ago now.
Source: DSG
