Xhaka goal levels out Ndiaye's solo effort | OneFootball

Granit Xhaka's deflected strike levelled out Iliman Ndiaye's wonderful opener in an entertaining clash at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland knew they would jump to second in the Premier League, something only the most ambitious parts of the fanbase would have expected by November. For the more safety-first portion, they'd be happy that a win would see them halfway to the mythical survival points tally of 40.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead in the North East with quarter of an hour gone in the game and in some style.

Ball was changing possession a few times after Jordan Pickford's goal kick until Iliman Ndiaye decided to tidy up a far-from-pretty passage of play with some magic. 

The Senegal international forward picked up the ball midway into the Sunderland half on the right before jinking through the Everton defence and curling a superb finish beyond the reach of Robin Reofs. VAR did check for a foul in the build-up but the goal was allowed to stand much to the chagrin of Everton fans and anyone else wanting to score Goal of the Month for November.

Thierno Barry had a superb opportunity to double the Toffees lead when Jack Grealish dinked in a cross. Barry was just a few yards from goal when he latched on to it but fired over the bar.

Régis Le Bris' half-time team-team seemed to work well as the Black Cats equalised within the first minute of the second period. Enzo Le Fée had a cross that was blocked with the ball eventually dropping to Granit Xhaka on the edge of the area. The midfielder's shot took a deflection off James Tarkowski – from one captain to another – which left Pickford unable to stop it.

The home side were the better of the two in the second half and had an appeal for a penalty checked by VAR with just over 70 minutes gone.

Referee Thomas Bramall elected not to call for a handball when Noah Sadiki's attempted cross bounced off the arm of Michael Keane. However, after a look at VAR agreed with the on-field decision with Keane likely saved by the proximity of the incident.

Had substitute Carlos Alcaraz kept his cool in stoppage time then Everton could have taken all three points home but in the end both sides will have to make do with a hard-earned point.

The result does mean Sunderland are back in the top four, behind only Arsenal (who they play next), Manchester City, and Liverpool. Meanwhile, Everton moved ahead of Fulham into 14th.