With this mid-table duo seeing their European chances fade due to winless runs in recent weeks, it perhaps wasn’t a surprise to see a distinct lack of quality in the early stages.
Neither side looked particularly dangerous going forward, but the Black Cats were bossing possession, leaving the home crowd seething at the hosts’ lack of intensity.
The first shot on target of the contest arrived on the 35-minute mark when a harmless long-range effort from James Garner was pouched by Robin Roefs, but the Dutch stopper was soon forced into more meaningful action, turning James Tarkowski’s flicked header at the near post wide and out for a corner.
David Moyes’ men turned up the heat as half time approached, and moments after Beto failed to divert Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s cross on target, they hit the front in fortuitous circumstances.
Merlin Röhl cut in from the right and unleashed a low strike that took a wicked deflection off Granit Xhaka on its way in, with the German’s first goal in Everton colours ensuring the Toffees led a ninth PL home game at half time this term – only four teams have done so more often.
Everton had lost just one of the prior eight, but a slow start to the second period - combined with an increase in intensity from the visitors - meant anxiety levels were rising around the Hill Dickinson.
And with good reason, as moments after Jordan Pickford tipped Trai Hume’s wayward cross over the bar, a dreadful touch from Jake O’Brien landed at the feet of Enzo Le Fée, who slotted in Brian Brobbey to thunder in his seventh Sunderland goal, with this the first to arrive before the hour mark.
Chances were at a premium after the equaliser, but with Everton having conceded 2+ goals in each of their prior five winless games, their lack of conviction eventually cost them.
An intricate Sunderland move culminated in Chris Rigg teeing up Le Fée to tuck home the winner despite Pickford getting a hand to it.
O’Brien’s nightmare afternoon continued when his point-blank header was kept out by Roefs’ shoulder, before he was put out of his misery and replaced by departing Everton captain Séamus Coleman, who bows out as the club’s all-time appearance maker in the PL.
He could only watch on as Habib Diarra’s low cross was left untouched as it drifted along the six-yard line to the back post, where Wilson Isidor was waiting to end the contest.
Everton, therefore, failed to win their final home league match for just the third time in 11 seasons, with a paltry return of one victory in six matches against the promoted sides largely responsible for their deficit to the top eight, which stands at three points.
Sunderland’s first win in five leapfrogs them above their hosts and Chelsea, the latter of which they face on what’s shaping up to be an intriguing final day.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland)