Everton will look to make it five games unbeaten and put further space between themselves and the drop zone when they take on high-flying Nottingham Forest.
The Toffees have somehow got through a daunting December fixture list unbeaten, with three successive draws against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City more than what most people expected.
A lack of wins remains a concern, but Sean Dyche has shown he can organise a defence and make the team tough to defeat – losing just twice since the end of August.
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Those lack of wins though means they have been unable to pull clear of the drop zone, with the gap just three points after Wolves beat Manchester United, showing the value of turning draws into victories.
But if Everton can maintain that stubborn streak they should do just enough to stay out of danger and allow Dyche to see it through to the end of the season, where it will be easier to change managers and begin the rebuild in earnest.
The opposition
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Photo by Ritchie Sumpter/Nottingham Forest FC via Getty Images
Nottingham Forest were fellow relegation battlers and points deductees last season, but now find themselves in the Champions League spaces.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have won eight of their last 11 matches to rise to third, just one point behind second-placed Chelsea.
It is a remarkable turnaround for a side that has finished 16th and 17th in their two seasons since promotion.
Nuno employs similar tactics to Dyche, with Forest and Everton the two sides with the lowest average possession this season. But unlike the Toffees Forest are far more of a threat going forward, with the likes of Anthony Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White providing the creative spark and Chris Wood the final product, with the 33-year-old New Zealand bagging 10 goals in 18 games so far.
Previous meeting
Everton 2-0 Nottingham Forest, 21 April 2024
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Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
The first of three home wins in a week that secured Premier League safety, goals from Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil were enough to seal the points.
Team news
Everton are hopeful Iliman Ndiaye will be fit despite coming off against City with a tight calf. Seamus Coleman was also substituted as a precaution but has a chance of being available.
Dwight McNeil remains a doubt as he continues his recovery from a knee injury. Ashley Young is available after serving a one-match ban.
What they said
Everton boss Sean Dyche: “Nottingham Forest have made a strong name for themselves in playing that kind of absorb-and-counter and absorb-and-hurt teams – and I mean that in a positive way.
“[They have] a lot of that defensive stability and try to break open on teams in the right moments.
“Woody [Chris Wood] is their centre-forward who is really on form. I’ve known him a long time, and credit to him and respect to him him – but, equally, we’re back at home.
“There is a nice feeling to what we’re doing, so we’ll certainly be ready to take them on.”
Final word
Given this is a clash of two teams who prefer not to have the ball, it will be interesting to see how this game pans out. I suspect Forest will sit back and look to spring on the counter, something they have done so effectively this year. That would mean Everton will have to try and take the initiative, which is not their strong point. Given Forest’s form a draw would not be the worst result, but a win would round off Goodison Park’s final full year nicely.
