A really interesting FA Cup quarter-final replay on Tuesday at the Stadium of Light and Wembley awaits the winners.
Sunderland and Everton clash in the north-east having drawn 1-1 on Merseyside in the original tie and more than 90 minutes could well be required to separate two fairly evenly matched sides.
Out-of-form Liverpool will be the opponents in the last four for the victor and both managers know that this year’s FA Cup represents a terrific opportunity to claim some silverware.
With the Premier League’s current top 3 all out of the running, England’s number one cup competition is up for grabs and both Martin O’Neil and David Moyes will be desperate to take advantage.
Two first-half goals, Phil Bardsley opening for the Black Cats before Tim Cahill equalised for Everton, ten days ago means Sunderland now boast home advantage but Tuesday’s visitors are more than capable on the road and I fancy Moyes’ boys to make life difficult.
Everton, who endured a slow start to the season once again, are really finding their stride when it matters most and, aside from a 3-0 defeat when fielding a weakened team in the derby, it is just one defeat in 13 matches in all competitions.
That reversal came at the hands of in-form Arsenal, a 1-0 loss when arguably unlucky not to share the spoils, and the Toffees have conceded just seven goals in that period.
A 2-0 win at the Liberty Stadium over Swansea on Saturday will have teed Everton up perfectly for Tuesday’s assignment and, while it should be close, I take them to advance.
Sunderland, enjoying such a terrific renaissance under O’Neil, rediscovered their form with a 3-1 win over QPR last time out too but the suspicion is that their opponents possess slightly superior quality throughout and the odds against about Everton progressing will do for me.
1pt Back Everton To Qualify (vs. Sunderland) @ 2.10 (various)