Evertonvs.Nott'm Forest

The Toffees managed to snatch a point off Manchester City at the Etihad on Boxing Day, whilst the Tricky Trees conquered the Lilywhites of Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground.

Match preview

After three straight bottom-half finishes in the Premier League between 2022 and 2024, Everton are beginning to show signs of a team who could fight for a spot in the elite 10 of the division this time around, with Sunday's hosts at Goodison Park disrupting the big boys so far in December.

On the back of consecutive goalless draws with title contenders Arsenal and Chelsea prior to Christmas Day, the Toffees ran off their turkey dinners at the stomping ground of Manchester City on Boxing Day, when Iliman Ndiaye's third goal of the term forced a point following Bernardo Silva's opener for the Citizens.

Tasting defeat in just one of their last seven matches at the top table of English football, Everton are currently occupying 15th position in the Premier League standings, three points ahead of Leicester City in the relegation zone and eight points behind Brighton & Hove Albion before their game against Brentford.

Season ticket holders on the blue end of Merseyside have not always been spoilt for goalscoring action from their heroes so far in 2024-25, with Sean Dyche's largely-pragmatic bunch scoring just nine goals across eight matches at Goodison Park - only Ipswich Town (6), Crystal Palace (7) and Southampton (7) at netted fewer at their respective home bases.

Everton's superstar era of the early 2020s - in which Carlo Ancelotti managed the likes of James Rodriguez - are well behind them, and now an honest bunch of players are sharing the limelight, although just four men have scored more than one Premier League goal for the club in 2024-25.

Rivalling the demise of Pep Guardiola's generational Manchester City side in the category of surprise of the 2024-25 campaign, Nottingham Forest are sitting pretty in third place in the Premier League table following a Boxing Day bout with Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham.

Involved in countless thrillers across the domestic scene and in Europe this season, Spurs were kept at bay on the banks of the River Trent, with a composed first-half finish from Sweden international Anthony Elanga securing all three points for the Tricky Trees at the City Ground.

After winning four straight Premier League matches for the first time since 1995, Nuno Espirito Santo's troops will be looking to end the calendar year with a record-breaking five consecutive triumphs, a feat that would highlight the progression the club have made under the tutelage of the Portuguese coach.

The City Ground has been a serious fortress for the Tricky Trees this term, but Sunday's visitors to Goodison Park are no slouchers on their top-flight travels either, with the East Midlands outfit collecting 17 points from nine league outings, a tally that only Chelsea (20) and Liverpool (20) can better.

Forest will be striving to record three straight Premier League away victories before the close of 2024, with Nuno's boys ending the unbeaten record of Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium during their last away contest on December 21, when Ola Aina and Elanga made the net ripple in West London.

Everton Premier League form:

D

L

W

D

D

D

Nottingham Forest Premier League form:

W

L

W

W

W

W

Team News

A much-needed source of creativity for Everton, Dwight McNeil is fighting hard to return for the visit of Forest, with the attacker a doubt after missing the last three Premier League games.

A hero for the Toffees on the blue side of Manchester last time out, Senegal international Ndiaye picked up a calf problem, although the issue is believed to be minor.

The hosts will welcome back the services of Ashley Young, who was suspended for the contest at Man City after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign versus Chelsea.

The 39-year-old could be straight back into the XI, especially considering the fitness worries of Seamus Coleman, who might not be asked to start two games in the space of four days.

Dyche will be unable to call upon the talents of both James Garner (back) and Tim Iroegbunam (foot), with the midfield duo targeting returns in the New Year.

A surviving member of Nottingham Forest's promotion-winning campaign, Ryan Yates will be unavailable on Sunday after collecting his fifth caution of the term on Boxing Day.

As a result, summer arrival Elliot Anderson will require a new partner at the base of midfield, with Nicolas Dominguez a top candidate for the role.

The Tricky Trees also have a pair of long-term absentees in their ranks, with both Ibrahim Sangare (hamstring) and Danilo (ankle) limited to watching briefs.

Everton possible starting lineup:

Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Mangala, Gueye, Doucoure, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:

Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Dominguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Silva; Wood

We say: Everton 1-1 Nottingham Forest

After holding members of the traditional top six to draws in each of their last three matches, Everton will be quietly confident of earning a positive result against high-flying Nottingham Forest.

Written by

Carter White

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