Nottingham Forest vs Everton
Premier League
Saturday
2nd December 2023
The City Ground
The most comprehensive preview, detailed analysis and reliable predictions of the Premier League fixture between Nottingham Forest and Everton.
Nottingham Forest vs Everton: Preview
Nottingham Forest form analysis
Forest’s first season back in the Premier League has seen some encouraging performances, but their overall form is inconsistent. On October 21st, Forest twice led at home to Luton before conceding late on to draw 2-2. A 3-0 defeat away at Liverpool followed, before an important 2-0 home win over Aston Villa on November 5th with first half goals from Ola Aina and Orel Mangala. However, Forest then lost a seven-goal thriller away at West Ham, twice equalising through Taiwo Awoniyi and substitute Anthony Elanga before going down 3-2.
Most recently on November 25th, Forest led Brighton through Elanga’s early goal but collapsed to lose 3-2, undone by two goals from João Pedro and Evan Ferguson’s equaliser. Overall, Forest have struggled defensively, keeping just one clean sheet and conceding 14 goals in their last five games. But in attack, coach Steve Cooper has plenty of options like Elanga, Awoniyi, Brennan Johnson and Morgan Gibbs-White. If Cooper can make his side more solid at the back, Forest have enough firepower to boost their survival bid.
Everton form analysis
Everton’s form has been mixed recently under Sean Dyche. On October 21st, they suffered a 2-0 defeat away at rivals Liverpool. But a week later, Everton bounced back to beat West Ham 1-0 through Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goal. This was followed by a 1-1 home draw with Brighton on November 4th – Vitaliy Mykolenko’s early opener cancelled out by Alex Iwobi’s late own goal. Everton then won a seven-goal thriller away at Crystal Palace on November 11th, twice coming from behind to triumph 3-2 after goals from Mykolenko, Abdoulaye Doucouré and late substitute Idrissa Gueye.
However, their momentum stalled with a 3-0 home loss to Manchester United on November 26th. Overall, Everton have struggled for consistency but shown spirit to fight back in games. With Calvert-Lewin back fit and the likes of Anthony Gordon and Demarai Gray supporting, they carry an attacking threat. But tightening up defensively remains key if Dyche is to guide Everton away from another relegation scrap. There have been some positive signs though.
