David Moyes has confirmed that Idrissa Gueye will miss Everton’s crucial final home game of the season against Sunderland on Sunday.
The 36 year old Senegalese midfielder has already sat out the Toffees’ last two matches. He’s back on the grass. He’s training. But the Sunderland fixture comes too soon.
“No, Idrissa isn’t fit for the game,” Moyes said in his pre match press conference. “And obviously, Braithwaite is out as well.
“He’s back on the grass; he’s just not available for this game. There’s an outside chance that he could make Tottenham. So we’ll see how that goes.”
That’s the final day trip to North London. A slim chance. Not much more.
The midfield void
Moyes has heavily relied on Gueye as his midfield anchor this season. Without him, Everton have looked vulnerable.
Tim Iroegbunam is expected to step in again. He’s done a job. But Gueye’s experience and reading of the game are missed.
Everton are enduring a five match winless spell, their longest without a victory this season. European qualification hopes have taken a serious hit. Sunday’s final home game feels like a must win, even if the maths says otherwise.
The numbers that matter
Everton’s recent fixtures have become unusually open. At least three goals in each of their last six matches. Twenty goals across their last five outings.
The problem? Everton have conceded at least twice in every game during that five match winless run.
Sunderland, by contrast, have one of the best defensive records in the division. The most clean sheets. A promoted side sitting 12th with 48 points. A remarkable achievement.
Home comfort
Here’s the good news for Everton. They’ve won each of their last five final home league games. Not since a 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth at the end of the 2019/2020 campaign have they lost their season ending home fixture.
Sunderland, meanwhile, have lost their final away league game in six of the last nine seasons. They won the other three consecutively between 2020/2021 and 2022/2023, but that run ended two years ago.
The bottom line
Two sides separated by one point and one position in the table. Comfortably away from relegation. Not quite in the European race. But still plenty to play for.
For Everton, it’s about ending a difficult season on a high. For Sunderland, it’s about capping a brilliant first season back with a statement result.
Gueye won’t be there to anchor the midfield. Moyes will have to find another way.
Slim chance for Tottenham. No chance for Sunderland.
Everton go into their final home game without their general. And they’ll need to find some steel from somewhere else.
