Admin I Monday, May 18.2026
LIVERPOOL — By the time David Moyes’ miserable Everton players emerged for their end-of-season lap of appreciation, the shiny new Hill Dickinson Stadium was virtually empty.
The Toffees’ European ambitions did not just evaporate in the Mersey drizzle; they were brutally torn apart by a dazzling, star-studded second-half masterclass from Régis Le Bris’ relentless Sunderland.
On a day that was supposed to be about final-day top-flight push and a fairytale home farewell for a Goodison legend, it was the Black Cats’ shining stars who stole the show, staging a sensational comeback to secure a resounding 1-3 victory on enemy territory.
The afternoon had started with such promise for the hosts. Just before the interval, Everton’s rising midfield star, Merlin Röhl, ignited the home crowd. Unleashing a venomous left-footed strike from the edge of the box, the ball took a massive deflection off Sunderland’s veteran skipper Granit Xhaka, completely wrong-footing keeper Robin Roefs to nestle into the back of the net.
It was Röhl’s first goal for the club—a golden moment for the youngster that briefly lifted Everton into the European spots.
But if the first half belonged to Everton’s young hope, the second half was a total eclipse by Sunderland’s glittering array of attacking talent.
The catalyst for the brilliant Black Cats turnaround was undoubtedly French maestro Enzo Le Fée. Operating with the precision of a surgeon and the flair of an artist, Le Fée single-handedly pulled the strings in midfield, utterly tearing Everton’s engine room to shreds.
In the 58th minute, Le Fée turned provider. Capitalising on a defensive horror-show from Everton’s Jake O’Brien, the Frenchman delivered a sublime, first-time through ball to Brian Brobbey.
The powerful Sunderland striker showed world-class strength, brushing aside the towering challenge of James Tarkowski like a ragdoll before drilling a clinical, low finish past England’s number one, Jordan Pickford.
“Enzo Le Fée is playing like a man possessed out there. A true superhero performance,” roared the travelling red-and-white army.
Sunderland’s star man wasn’t finished. In the 80th minute, Le Fée decided to take matters into his own hands. After brilliant build-up play involving substitutes Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi, the ball found its way to Le Fée inside a panicked Everton box.
With the coolest head in the stadium, he squeezed a precise, left-footed shot past the diving Pickford, celebrating his magnificent strike by pulling on a Spiderman mask to the delight of the travelling fans.
Desperate to salvage something from the wreckage, Moyes threw on legendary club captain Séamus Coleman for his 434th and final appearance on home soil. The stadium erupted in a moving, tumultuous reception for the £60,000 bargain icon, but football takes no prisoners.
Deep into stoppage time, Sunderland’s brilliant substitute army struck the final, fatal blow. The energetic Habib Diarra completely dissected the fragile blue backline once more, driving a low, tantalising cross across the face of the goal.
A momentary lapse in communication saw the retiring Coleman leave it at the back post, allowing Sunderland’s super-sub Wilson Isidor to ghost in entirely unmarked. Isidor made no mistake, tapping home to make it 1-3 and put the final exclamation point on a masterclass away performance.
While Everton were booed off the pitch after a collapse that exposed severe defensive frailties, Sunderland now march toward the final day of the Premier League season sitting proudly in ninth place.
Should they beat Chelsea next Sunday, European football will be returning to the Stadium of Light. On this evidence, with stars like Le Fée and Brobbey firing on all cylinders, you wouldn’t bet against them.