Ronald Koeman expecting “difficult” Sunderland test

Everton boss Ronald Koeman says he is pleased with the way Ross Barkley has turned his form around this season.

The Toffees started the season inconsistently as Koeman looked to implement his playing style at Goodison Park, but are now on an eight-game unbeaten run in the top flight.

For former Blues manager David Moyes, he will be happy to have back young goalkeeper Jordan Pickford back in training and likely starting after Vito Mannone’s unhappy tenure in recent weeks.

“I’d like that [to finish above Liverpool]”, Barkley told Sky Sports.

“Or when do you say ‘no, we have to change and stick with a manager?’ I think Sunderland need club building”.

Everton are seventh in the Premier League, eight points adrift of fifth-placed Liverpool ahead of Saturday’s visit of cellar-dwelling Sunderland. But since being moved into a more advanced position, the English worldwide has flourished. He was sitting behind me but I didn’t know a lot about it.

“The era of club building for managers has gone”.

“He’s working hard”, he added. “We need the three points and I want to win there with Sunderland“.

“If you look across all the games the opening goal is very important, and probably if you look at our games this season even more so”, said the Swede.

The man dressed up as death, sat just a few feet behind Moyes in the away dug-out, saw his graphic prediction come true when the axe fell within 24 hours of United’s 2-0 defeat. “After 11 years as Everton manager, Moyes lost the first time he went back there, as Manchester United manager in 2014, and he will clearly be desperate to avoid the same outcome on Saturday”.

Barkley made headlines by celebrating prior to slotting home his most recent goal against Bournemouth, but the midfielder insists the gesture was not meant to be disrespectful.

“It’s something I used to do as a kid and it just happened naturally – it was just instinct”, Barkley said.

Meanwhile, the visitors have a chance to score in both halves of this meeting despite not scoring a single in their last thrashing in front of their home fans at a price of (8.00), and are also expected to win either half of this meeting at odds of (3.50).