Sunderland continued their strong return to the Premier League by drawing 1-1 with Everton at the Stadium of Light on Monday. Iliman Ndiaye gave the visitors an early lead, but Granit Xhaka’s deflected strike equalized for the Black Cats. The result keeps Sunderland fourth with 18 points from 10 matches, while Everton remain 14th with 12 points in a tightly packed early-season table. Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has impressed with tactical flexibility this season. Against Everton, his side adopted a 3-4-3 shape, growing in confidence as the game progressed. Despite missing key players like Habib Diarra and Simon Adingra, Le Bris has maximized the contributions of stars such as Xhaka, Robin Roefs, and Nordi Mukiele. Everton manager David Moyes and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, both former Sunderland players, would have hoped for all three points, but leaving with a point still offered some consolation. Everton’s performance was solid early, controlling possession, though clear-cut chances were limited. Iliman Ndiaye opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Thierno Barry forced a turnover, allowing Ndiaye to dribble past Xhaka and Dan Ballard before slotting a calm finish past Robin Roefs. However, Ndiaye had to leave the field later due to a leg injury, replaced by Dwight McNeil. Sunderland responded immediately in the second half. Enzo Le Fee recovered a loose ball and set it to Granit Xhaka, whose low strike deflected off James Tarkowski into the net, leveling the score at 1-1. The goal highlighted Sunderland’s composure and ability to capitalize on defensive errors. Throughout the match, Sunderland created several opportunities, with Wilson Isidor and Bertrand Traore testing Everton’s defense. Pickford made crucial saves to keep Everton in the game, while Everton struggled to convert possession into goals. Both teams made tactical substitutions in the second half. Everton brought on Tim Iroegbunam and Carlos Alvarez for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jake O’Brien. Sunderland introduced Brian Brobbey and Chemsdine Talbi for Isidor and Traore to maintain attacking pressure. Sunderland have shown remarkable form for a newly promoted side. Their shock 2-1 win over Chelsea last week underlined their potential, and Le Bris’ management has blended youth and experience effectively. Everton, meanwhile, have faced back-to-back Premier League defeats to Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, leaving Moyes eager to improve their attacking output. Next up, Everton host Fulham on Saturday, while Sunderland travel to Arsenal later the same day. Both sides will look to build momentum, with Sunderland aiming to maintain their strong home record and Everton hoping to climb the table. Sunderland vs Everton ended 1-1, a result that reflected the teams’ performances. Sunderland’s resilience and tactical adaptability earned them a deserved point, while Everton showed flashes of attacking skill but were unable to convert chances into a winning goal.