IT’S GRIM, HOW THEY RATED
Moyes, who spent 11 years as Everton manager, found himself stalked by someone dressed as the figure of death near the dug-out when he returned with Manchester United in 2014.
United lost 2-0 and two days later Moyes was gone.
The Scot’s job prospects at the Stadium of Light appear more secure – but the same cannot be said for his club’s chances of avoiding relegation.
They were not outclassed by Everton but, apart from the perennial threat of Jermain Defoe, there was little to worry the Goodison defence.
The hosts’ opening goal might have come from an unlikely source in Idrissa Gueye, but the killer second catapulted Romelu Lukaku into the Toffees’ history books.
A 60th topflight goal for the Merseysiders put the big Belgian level with Duncan Ferguson as the club’s highest scorer since the league was formed.
Everton boss Ronald Koeman said: “He is also the Premier League’s leading scorer at the moment but there is a long way to go.
“He works hard, he is strong and fast and his finishing is some of the best but he can still improve.”
Sunderland’s immediate focus, meanwhile, is just to stay in the EVERTON: Robles 6, Coleman 7, Williams 6, Funes Mori 7, Baines 6, Gueye 7, Schneiderlin 8, Davies 7 (Valencia 70, 6), Lookman 6, Barkley 7 (Mccarthy 82), Lukaku 7. Subs not used: Stekelenburg, Jagielka, Barry, Holgate. SUNDERLAND: Pickford 7, Jones 6 (Love 90), O’shea 6, Kone 6, Oviedo 7, Gibson 6 (Honeyman 79), Ndong 6, Larsson 6, Januzaj 6, Borini 6 (Khazri 79), Defoe 6. Subs not used: Domingues, Lescott, Manquillo, Gooch. Morgan Schneiderlin. Does the dirty work quietly and effectively and was also the springboard for many Everton attacks. REFEREE: Stuart Atwell. Still on the recovery trail after a Premier League absence but nothing to bother him here. Premier League. Jordan Pickford, the highly-rated Black Cats keeper, was under pressure from the off, allowing Ademola Lookman’s tame effort to squirm out of his grasp after six minutes.
To his relief he was able to smother the loose ball on the line. But there was nothing he could do to prevent Gueye firing Everton ahead with a
RONALD KOEMAN has defended his decision to take his Everton squad to Dubai for the week.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte resisted the opportunity to give his players a dose of winter sunshine because he says his club’s sports scientists warned him against long-haul flights. But stupendous strike. It was the Senegal player’s first Premier League goal after 56 games for Everton and Aston Villa.
It was just the tonic Koeman’s men needed. They laboured to break down Sunderland after Moyes’ plan to suffocate his former side and hit on the break appeared to be working.
But the visiting manager hadn’t accounted for Gueye’s
He works hard but Romelu can still improve RONALD KOEMAN
Koeman (left) said: “In England we don’t know such a thing as a winter break like they have in the rest of Europe.
“A week in Dubai with the squad, when other clubs are still playing in the FA Cup, is a