Everton face Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park in a huge showdown in the race for Premier League survival.
Separated by just one point, Everton can open a four-point gap to Forest with victory and stay 16th in the table.
Forest meanwhile can leapfrog Sean Dyche’s Toffees with a win into 16th position.
Team News
Nathan Patterson is ruled out for Everton after he needed surgery on a season-ending hamstring injury suffered in a 6-0 loss at Chelsea last time out.
Jarrad Branthwaite (knock), Idrissa Gueye (calf), Seamus Coleman (groin) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (hamstring) could be available for selection.
Lewis Dobbin (ankle) and Dele Alli (hip) remain absent.
Forest could welcome Anthony Elanga back into contention after he missed their 2-2 draw against Wolves, due to a knock.
Willy Boly (muscle) and Taiwo Awoniyi (unspecified) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Everton host Forest at Goodison Park on Sunday 21 April at 1:30pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Everton have claimed 17 points in their last eight league meetings against Forest (W5, D2, L1).
- Forest have lost two of their last five visits to Everton (W2, D1, L2).
- Everton have scored first in their last two meetings against Forest.
- James Tarkowski has made more interceptions than any other Everton defender this season (50).
- Five of Chris Wood’s 12 league goals for Forest this season came from headers.
Prediction
After their demoralising defeat at Chelsea, Everton need to just refocus and cut out their defensive sloppiness but they must be more clinical up front because they can’t afford to lose this game – such is how tight the battle for survival is currently.
Forest though are the team coming into this game with confidence after they came from behind in their eventual 2-2 draw against Wolves, in a game where they were excellent on the attack but threw the win away through two moments of sloppy defending.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Reds however might need to be patient because Everton will benefit from a fierce home atmosphere, but if they can stay calm and take their chances then they should certainly have enough to snatch the win.
Prediction: Everton 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Result: Everton 2-0 Nottingham Forest
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