Sunderland will be looking for their second win of the Premier League season when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton this weekend.
The Black Cats will be facing a side that are without a win in their last three outings in the league.
Everton
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Roberto Martinez's side have had a difficult run of fixtures in the Premier League recently, following up a draw in the Merseyside derby with defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal in their last three games.
Last weekend's 2-1 loss to the Gunners dropped the team down to 11th in the table, seven points clear of the relegation zone, and the same distance from a spot in the Champions League places.
The Toffees had a chance to get back to winning ways in the League Cup this week when Norwich City came to Goodison Park, but Everton were held to a draw before overcoming the Canaries in a penalty shootout, setting up a quarter-final with Championship side Middlesbrough in December.
The team have struggled to produce their best performances in front of their own fans this season, with September's win over Chelsea their only victory at Goodison Park in five home fixtures.
Injuries among their defenders have left Everton vulnerable at the back in recent weeks, with no clean sheets in their last five outings in the Premier League, and their last seven in all competitions.
Romelu Lukaku remains the team's top scorer, having netted five of their 13 goals in the top flight so far this season, although the Belgian international has not found the back of the net in his last two league outings.
Recent form: WDWDLL
Recent form (all competitions): WWDLLW
Sunderland
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Sunderland finally got their first win on the board last weekend, thrashing local rivals Newcastle United 3-0 to move off the bottom of the table.
Sam Allardyce's side sit 18th coming into this match, just two points from safety, but they will need to turn around their away form if they are to make it back-to-back wins this weekend, having lost four of their first five matches away from the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats' players have been vocal following the win over Newcastle, with Steven Fletcher admitting that the team "needed" the win, while Yann M'Vila has insisted that it was the best match he has ever played in.
The victory also gave Sunderland their first clean sheet of the season. The team have now conceded 19 goals in 10 outings in the Premier League. While only three sides have let in more, the number is the same as defending champions Chelsea.
Allardyce's side are still trying to find their form down the other end of the pitch as well, with last week's three-goal performance giving them 11 goals so far this season. Sunderland have failed to score in three of their five away matches.
Discipline has been something of a problem for Sunderland, with the team picking up 25 bookings and two red cards so far this season - only Tottenham have had more. As a result, Billy Jones sits just one caution away from a suspension.
Recent form: LLLDLW
Recent form (all competitions): LLLDLW
Team News
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Everton will be without club captain Phil Jagielka after the defender was ruled out for two months with a knee injury earlier this week.
He joins defensive colleagues Leighton Baines and Tony Hibbert in the treatment room, while midfielders Muhamed Besic and Steven Pienaar are still out as well, although Gareth Barry is available again after serving a suspension in midweek.
Sunderland could also have to make a string of changes for this match, with John O'Shea injuring his hamstring while Younes Kaboul and Ola Toivonen both picked up groin injuries in the derby.
Fabio Borini is expected to train before this match though so could make his return from an ankle injury, but Jack Rodwell and Adam Matthews remain sidelined.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Howard, Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Galloway, McCarthy, Barry, Deulofeu, Barkley, Lennon, Lukaku
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Pantilimon, Yedlin, Coates, Jones, Van Aanholt, Cattermole, M'Vila, Johnson, Larsson, Lens, Defoe
Head To Head
It has been just five months since Sunderland last went to Goodison Park, securing a 2-0 win over this weekend's opponents in May to help them avoid relegation late in the 2014-15 season.
Sunderland have a decent record against the Toffees in recent years, losing just once in their last five meetings with Everton, despite failing to beat the team between 2001 and 2013.
These two sides have met plenty of times over the years, with Everton winning 65 of the 141 previous fixtures between the two clubs, while Sunderland have picked up 53 wins, and 23 matches have ended in draws.
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Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Everton 2-1 Sunderland
Sunderland will come into this match noting Everton's lack of form at home this season while still high on their derby result from Sunday. However, having picked up so many injuries last weekend, it is hard to see the visitors producing a similar performance, particularly given their own struggles away from home this season.
Sian Cowper
