Nottingham Forest and Everton both look to bounce back from defeats in a Premier League clash at the City Ground.
Victory could put Forest up to 12th if Wolves lose at Arsenal in Saturday’s mid-afternoon kick-off, whilst Everton can move above Sheffield United into 18th position if the Blades don’t beat Burnley.
Team News
Ibrahim Sangare is again ruled out for Forest after he missed their loss to Brighton due to illness.
Felipe (knee) and Taiwo Awoniyi (groin) remain absent.
Everton could be without Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the pair struggle with knocks.
Amadou Onana (calf) is a doubt but Andre Gomes (calf) and Dele Alli (hip) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Forest host Everton in a 5:30pm GMT kick-off at City Ground on Saturday 2 December, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Forest have won just one of their last seven league meetings against Everton (W1, D2, L4).
- Everton have claimed seven points in their last five visits to Forest (W2, D1, L2).
- All three of Forest’s goals against Everton last season were scored by Brennan Johnson, who this summer left the club for Tottenham.
- Two of Forest’s six headed league goals this season have been scored by Chris Wood.
- Six of Everton’s nine away goals in four of their last five away games were scored after half time.
Prediction
Forest will be disappointed by the manner of their defeat to Brighton because their defensive marking was just poor at times and deservedly punished, amidst impressive counter-attacking play with a strong pace and intensity to their performance.
Everton meanwhile were simply outclassed by Man Utd because they were simply wasteful whenever they got on the attack, whilst their defence were simply caught out in key decisive moments which Utd punished clinically so a more tighter defensive effort will be needed.
Either way, there isn’t much to split both teams because neither team can claim the defensive high ground, but if Forest’s attack can produce another strong performance without mistakes at the back, I can see them having enough for the win.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Everton
Result: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Everton