Sunderland 0 Everton 3: Romelu Lukaku ends goal drought with emphatic 11-minute hat-trick to send Toffees third in table

Belgian striker pounced in the second half with superb treble as toothless Black Cats continue to search for three points

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ROMELU LUKAKU ended his goal drought with a spectacular hat-trick as Everton cruised to a 3-0 win over Sunderland.

The Belgian had failed to hit the back of the net since March, but three goals in 11 minutes secured a valuable victory for Ronald Koeman's men.

Ross Barkley was hooked at half-time for Gerard Deulofeu, and the Spaniard had a huge impact on proceedings.

David Moyes' side were unable to cope with Everton's pressure in the second 45 and are still searching for their first win of the campaign.

STATS, FACTS, GOALS AND LOLS

The first goal of Romelu Lukaku’s hat-trick goal was his first for Everton in 14 games in all competitions.
This was Lukaku’s second hat-trick in the Premier League and his first in the league for Everton. He previously scored three against Young Boys two seasons ago.
Sunderland have only won two of their last 23 Premier League games on a Monday night, the last against Crystal Palace in November. Everton have won on seven of their last 13 visits to the Stadium of Light and lost only twice.
Sunderland have now failed to win their last 27 Premier League games in August and September.
Sunderland and Everton fans rose in unison in the fifth minute to raise awareness of five-year-old Bradley Lowery’s cancer fight. The Sunderland fan’s family are trying to raise £700,000 to send him to the States for treatment.
He may have made the mistake which cost them two points at Southampton, but Jordan Pickford kept his place and pulled off one wonder save to deny Lukaku.

The Sunderland squad list includes three former Evertonians who played under David Moyes at Goodison, but two of them, Steven Pienaar and Victor Anichebe, two of the 10 new signings, were injured last night.
The score was still 0-0 when Moyes turned to tell new signing Didier Ndong to warm up. By then time the record signing appeared, Sunderland were 3-0 down.
Referees aren’t always appreciated by supporters for things they do get right but Sunderland fans gave Mike Jones a quick round of applause when he showed some common sense in not booking Jan Kirchhoff after he’d wiped out Gareth Barry in an honest attempt to win the ball.
However, any praise for the referee was quickly extinguished when he booked Duncan Watmore for diving. By then he was apparently ‘not fit to referee’.
Injuries and a lack of numbers may have forced David Moyes to turn to American midfielder Lynden Gooch, a product of the club academy, but he is deservedly keeping his place in the side, demonstrated by a clever chip which almost broke the deadlock.
Wahbi Khazri has hardly had a start since Moyes took over and he will not have endeared himself to the new boss with his half-hearted challenge on Gerard Deulofeu in the build-up to the opener.

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