FA Cup fever is set to descend on Merseyside this Saturday as Everton welcome Sunderland to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for a third-round clash that promises drama, rotation, and plenty of talking points. Both sides, juggling a punishing festive schedule and a string of absentees, are expected to ring the changes in their lineups, offering squad players a golden opportunity to shine on the big stage.
The Toffees, under the stewardship of David Moyes, are desperate to turn around a patchy run of form that has seen them stumble at home. A 4-2 defeat to Brentford and a 1-1 draw against bottom-placed Wolves have left supporters craving a spark of FA Cup magic to kickstart the new year. Yet, Moyes’s hand is forced: injuries and suspensions have decimated his options, with as many as eight first-team regulars ruled out for Saturday’s midday kickoff.
Jack Grealish and Michael Keane are both suspended following their midweek disciplinary woes against Wolves—Grealish picking up two yellows, Keane handed a straight red for an off-the-ball incident. Their absence is compounded by injuries to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jarrad Branthwaite, Seamus Coleman, and Charly Alcaraz, all of whom are sidelined with various knocks and fitness issues. Adding to Moyes’s selection headache, Senegalese duo Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye remain on international duty at the African Cup of Nations, their return date hinging on Senegal’s continued progress in the tournament.
With so many key players missing, Everton are expected to hand starts to some of their less experienced squad members. Nathan Patterson and Tyler Dibling are tipped to step in for the suspended defenders, while Mark Travers is likely to deputize in goal, giving regular number one Jordan Pickford a well-earned rest against his former club. The predicted Everton lineup, according to several sources, could see Travers (or Pickford) behind a back four of Mykolenko, Tarkowski, O’Brien, and Patterson. In midfield, expect Iroegbunam, Armstrong, and potentially Merlin Röhl to feature, with Dibling, Beto, and McNeil providing the attacking thrust.
Sunderland, meanwhile, arrive with their own set of challenges. The Black Cats, enjoying their first season back in the Premier League, have impressed with a resilient defense and a never-say-die attitude. However, manager Regis Le Bris has been forced to navigate a tricky period, with six players away at AFCON and others nursing fatigue from a relentless fixture list. The midweek defeat at Brentford left several starters looking leggy, and Le Bris has made no secret of his intention to balance squad rotation with a competitive edge in the cup.
In his pre-match press conference, Le Bris explained, “We will go strong whilst also balancing the load of our players. We don’t have a full picture of the squad yet, but we will select the best team possible. We respect the competition, so we want to go strong. Some players may need assessment and conversations about being rested, but every player wants to play. We have an enthusiasm and a connection to bounce back.”
Wilson Isidor’s return to training offers a glimmer of hope up front, though Le Bris has insisted he won’t take unnecessary risks with players just back from international duty or injury. Regulars such as Anthony Patterson, Luke O’Nien, and Dan Neil—mainstays during last season’s promotion—are expected to get their chance to impress, while the likes of Cirkin, Hjelde, and Jenson Jones could bolster the defense. The predicted Sunderland XI, as debated by fans and analysts alike, might see Patterson in goal, a backline of Cirkin, Hjelde, O’Nien, and Jones, a midfield trio of Neil, Rigg, and Harrison Jones, and a front three featuring Traore, Mayenda, and Mundle.
Fan sentiment ahead of the match is a mixture of pragmatism and hope. Ciaran McKenna, a prominent supporter, summed up the mood: “To be honest, I am expecting a totally different eleven on Saturday, and I won’t be upset if that is the case. We have done very well this season, but I think Regis would be more likely to give the FA Cup a proper go if we had another few points on the board. It is a shame, as our club has a rich history with the FA Cup, and you would think that our first team would make a good cup team.”
James Elliott, another fan, is eager for Sunderland to seize the moment: “I’m a big fan and I’m hoping we take it seriously this year by fielding a competitive side on Saturday. Despite this only being a third-round tie, I think it’s worth taking the risk as it’s a brilliant opportunity to get the team back to winning ways and give our morale a real boost. Wednesday night was gutting after all the recent highs we’ve had (even with the number of draws), but this is the perfect chance to respond and bounce back — especially as Everton are also struggling, with key players missing through suspensions and injuries.”
From a tactical perspective, both managers are likely to approach the fixture with caution, keenly aware of the physical toll the holiday schedule has taken on their squads. Jon Guy, a regular matchday observer, notes, “I really think we need to use some fresh legs on Saturday. A few members of the team looked tired against Brentford and we still have the rest of a very gruelling league season to go. The lads who have and will return from the AFCON all went deeply into the competition and while they may not have played every minute, it will have not been a month off.”
For Everton, the FA Cup represents a chance to inject some positivity into a campaign that has, so far, felt stop-start. Moyes’s previous cup exploits with the Toffees—reaching the semi-finals during his first tenure—serve as a reminder of what’s possible, even amidst adversity. Sunderland, for their part, are eager to channel their defensive solidity and underdog spirit into a memorable cup run, though the looming Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace on January 17 may influence Le Bris’s rotation policy.
Fans of both sides will be able to follow the action live, with TNT Sports 5 broadcasting from 12:10pm ahead of a 12:15pm kickoff. For those unable to watch, radio coverage will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra 2 and talkSPORT 2, ensuring no one misses a moment of the drama as it unfolds at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
With nearly 8,000 Sunderland supporters making the trip and Everton fans eager for a turnaround, Saturday’s FA Cup tie is shaping up to be a fiercely contested affair. Both managers are facing selection dilemmas, both teams are hungry for a cup run, and with so many squad players set to feature, there’s every chance for a new hero to emerge in this classic knockout battle. As the third round kicks off, all eyes will be on Merseyside to see who can make the most of their opportunities and keep their FA Cup dreams alive.
