Granit Xhaka equaliser earns Sunderland point against Everton

Captain Granit Xhaka’s second-half equaliser earned Sunderland a point in a 1-1 draw against Everton.

The clash was Everton boss David Moyes’ first visit to the Stadium of Light since he oversaw the Wearsiders’ relegation from the Premier League in 2017 and his current side took the lead when Iliman Ndiaye struck after 15 minutes with his fourth league goal of the campaign.

However, the hosts levelled seconds after the break as Xhaka’s effort bounced off James Tarkowski’s foot and into the net for his first goal for the club.

The draw lifted Sunderland up to fourth in the table and left 14th-placed Everton without a win in their last three games.

Sunderland were unchanged from their 2-1 win over Chelsea, while Thierno Barry was Everton’s sole change from the defeat to Tottenham.

Former Black Cats goalkeeper Jordan Pickford received a warm reception ahead of kick-off as he came up against his boyhood club for the first time since moving to Merseyside in 2017.

He nearly helped the Toffees go in front seconds into the game, booting a long ball up field which James Garner fired wide.

Following a quick move down the left, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall played a neat pass into Ndiaye, who had his shot blocked before Barry had an effort smothered as the Toffees enjoyed a lively start.

Ndiaye soon put them ahead. Barry challenged Noah Sadiki and, with no foul awarded, the attacker quickly took advantage, racing away and weaving through the home defence to curl a shot past Robin Roefs from the edge of the area.

An unsettled period followed for the hosts as Everton caused problems around the box, with Jack Grealish’s strike coming back off a post.

The Manchester City loanee was in the thick of the action again, sending a deep cross into