Toffees smash seven

The last time Everton hit seven was against Southampton 11 years ago and the Black Cats were put to the sword by a team now unbeaten in seven and on the crest of a wave in Europe and on the domestic front. Ayegbeni Yakubu and Tim Cahill grabbed two each, with Steven Pienaar, substitute Andrew Johnson and Leon Osman completed the rout.

Sunderland's only bright spot was a first half injury-time goal from Dwight Yorke, but with defending as bad as this there was never much hope of a revival.

The opening goal came in the 12th minute when Paul McShane allowed the ball to elude him 40 yards out and Yakubu burst away. The Nigerian's effort was firm and on target from 12 yards and although Danny Higginbotham got back to tackle the ball deflected up and over the stranded Craig Gordon.

Five minutes later Ian Harte was exposed by Mikael Arteta with a neat ball to Phil Neville and the Everton captain clipped a cross into the box for Cahill to control and fire home from six yards.

Everton were three ahead after 43 minutes when Nuno Valente and Pienaar combined down the left, with the Portuguese full-back pulling the ball back for Pienaar to lift into the top corner.

Sunderland still came forward and got one back in added time when Yorke fired home after determined work by the impressive Carlos Edwards and Kenwyne Jones in the box.

Any hope of a revival was ended after 62 minutes when Sunderland were undone again by awful defending. Joseph Yobo's 60-yard ball down the middle of the pitch saw Cahill run in between Harte and McShane to drill the fourth past Gordon.

Gordon saved well with an out-stretched leg from Osman but could do nothing about Everton's fifth in the 73rd minute. Arteta was allowed to stroll into the box before setting up Osman from 18 yards. The ball thudded into a mass of defenders and Yakubu was quickest to spin and drill the ball past Gordon.

In the 78th minute Sunderland were exposed again. Neville's long ball into space saw substitute Andy Johnson comfortably out-pace McShane before lifting the ball over Gordon for the sixth. The seventh came when Osman ran through virtually unopposed to lift his effort past Gordon with six minutes remaining.