TEAM NEWSEverton will be without long-term absentees Yannick Bolasie, Seamus Coleman and Ramiro Funes Mori.
Sunderland are without Everton loanees Tyias Browning and Brendan Galloway, who are ineligible to face their parent club. The Black Cats will also be missing on-loan Bournemouth striker Lewis Grabban.
The frontman has three goals to his name this season but picked up a hamstring injury in the 1-0 Championship defeat to Nottingham Forest earlier this month.
However, former Toffees forward James Vaughan overcame a bout of illness to score the opening goal at Hull City on Monday.
John O’Shea (calf) is a doubt but ex-Everton winger Aiden McGeady could return after missing out against the Tigers, although Lamine Kone played the full 90 minutes at the KCOM.
Midfielder Duncan Watmore has only just returned from a cruciate knee ligament injury and will not feature at Goodison.
FORMEverton are searching for their first win since the 2-0 success over Hajduk Split at home on 17 August.
Their 4-0 defeat to Manchester United last time out was their fourth loss in succession.
Sunderland, meanwhile, have also struggled lately, with just three wins in 10 games since the start of the campaign. Two of those came in the previous rounds of the Carabao Cup – over Bury and Carlisle United in rounds one and two respectively.
The only league game the Black Cats have picked up maximum points in was a 3-1 away win at Norwich City back on 13 August. Last time out they left Hull with a 1-1 draw thanks to James Vaughan’s first goal for the club.
ONE TO WATCHCallum McManaman
The Merseyside-born winger was a deadline-day capture from West Brom, penning a two-year deal after joining for an undisclosed fee.
It brought an end to a disappointing spell for the former Everton youth teamer, who made only sporadic appearances for the Baggies after joining from Wigan Athletic in 2015.
However, he represents an excellent bit of business from Simon Grayson – a winger who knows the division after spells on loan at Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday, and who can provide a goal threat from out wide.
Indeed, Blues fans may remember his strike in the 3-0 defeat to Wigan in an FA Cup tie in March 2013.
LAST TIMEEverton 2-0 Sunderland
25 February 2017
Everton were in imperious form going into this Premier League clash with basement boys Sunderland.
Boasting a run of eight games unbeaten, the Blues stretched that to nine with a convincing win over the Black Cats at Goodison Park.
Idrissa Gana Gueye swept home his first goal for the Club, powerfully side-footing Seamus Coleman’s cross past Jordan Pickford.
Jermain Defoe then rattled the crossbar in a rare foray forward for the visitors, before Romelu Lukaku wrapped up victory with a deflected finish – his 60th Premier League goal for the Blues.
MAN IN THE MIDDLEOliver Langford
West Midlands-born Langford takes charge at Goodison Park for his 11th fixture of the season.
His campaign started with a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland faced Derby County on the opening day, and this will be his first Everton fixture.
He has overseen predominantly Championship games, alongside Carabaro Cup and Checkatrade Trophy fixtures.
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