Nottingham Forest, flying high in third place after a Boxing Day win over Tottenham, faces a gritty Everton side at Goodison Park. Sean Dyche’s Everton have shown resilience, holding Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City to draws in their last three matches.
Forest, led by Nuno Espirito Santo, are on a four-game winning streak, thanks to their solid defense and effective counterattacks. Meanwhile, Everton’s improved form in December has showcased their potential to frustrate stronger teams.
Match Details:
- Fixture: Everton vs Nottingham Forest
- Date: December 29, 2024
- Kick-Off Time (Nepal): 8:45 PM
- Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool
Team News
Everton:
- Unavailable: Dwight McNeil (knee injury), James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam
- Expected Lineup: Pickford; Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gueye, Mangala, Ndiaye; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin
Nottingham Forest:
- Unavailable: Ryan Yates (suspension)
- Returning: Nicolas Dominguez (after suspension)
- Expected Lineup: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Dominguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Head-to-Head Stats:
- Last Meeting: Everton 2-0 Nottingham Forest (April 21, 2024)
- Recent Record: Everton: 2 wins | Nottingham Forest: 1 win | Draws: 2
Current Form (Last 5 Matches):
Everton:
- Man City 1-1 Everton (26/12/24)
- Everton 0-0 Chelsea (22/12/24)
- Arsenal 0-0 Everton (14/12/24)
- Everton 4-0 Wolves (04/12/24)
- Man Utd 4-0 Everton (01/12/24)
Nottingham Forest:
- Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham (26/12/24)
- Brentford 0-2 Nottingham Forest (21/12/24)
- Nottingham Forest 2-1 Aston Villa (14/12/24)
- Man Utd 2-3 Nottingham Forest (07/12/24)
- Man City 3-0 Nottingham Forest (04/12/24)
Prediction:
Both teams boast solid defensive setups but differ in their attacking styles. Forest may struggle to exploit space if Everton maintains a compact low block. However, Chris Wood’s aerial threat and Hudson-Odoi’s creativity could still test Everton’s defense.
Predicted Score: Everton 1-1 Nottingham Forest