Everton at Sunderland: Live Gamethread

It's another weekend of Premier League action and Everton find themselves on the road to Sunderland. The Blues failed to secure all three points a week ago after dominating Swansea City at Goodison Park. Sunday they will find themselves facing a different challenge from Gus Poyet's Black Cats who are themselves aiming to leapfrog over the Toffees with a win.

To commemorate Remembrance Day a hundred years on from World War I, Everton will play today with a special shirt that has a poppy embroidered on the front.

EVERTON REMEMBERS: The team will be playing in shirts with embroidered poppies today as we remember the fallen pic.twitter.com/60Tvbfxs7J

— Everton (@Everton) November 9, 2014

Roberto Martinez had high praise for his one time Real Zaragoza teammate Poyet, saying

"I know that this Sunderland team has an incredible character. Losing 8-0 is one thing but it’s the reaction after that. They had a very positive performance in their very next game against Arsenal then they won at Crystal Palace. You have seen a Sunderland team that could match anyone.

"The way they finished last season, unless you have something special in the dressing room you don’t achieve what they achieved.

"A lot of that is down to Gustavo. They are different tactically; they can play in different ways. We know they will try and play form the back, they want the ball and they can hit you on the counter attack. They can also build the play up if they need to."

The Blues have won once and lost twice so far after playing in the Europa League on Thursdays, so they will have to show some higher levels of fitness to win this one. Roberto has a full strength side starting this one. Former Blue Jack Rodwell is on the Sunderland bench.

Starting lineups -

Everton XI: Howard: Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; McCarthy, Barry; McGeady, Eto'o, Barkley, Lukaku

Everton subs: Robles, Hibbert, Gibson, Naismith, Besic, Atsu, Osman

Sunderland XI: Pantilimon, Vergini, Reveillere, Brown, O’Shea (c), Bridcutt, Larsson, Gomez, Johnson, Wickham, Fletcher.

Sunderland subs: Rodwell, Altidore, Mavrias, Graham, Buckley, T Robson, Mannone.