Everton will look to bring the curtain down on 2024 by collecting three points against Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.
Sean Dyche’s side extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to four matches by earning a hard-fought 1-1 draw away at Man City on Boxing Day.
That stalemate nudged the Toffees three points clear of the relegation zone, having played a game fewer than the majority of the teams currently housed below them.
Seeking to continue their climb up the standings, Everton will look to land what would be their fourth Premier League win of the season when high-flying Nottingham Forest come to town.
The Tricky Trees’ 1-0 triumph over Tottenham on Boxing Day took them up to the lofty heights of third place in the top-flight table.
Having emerged victorious from each of their previous four Premier League games, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will make the trip to Merseyside this weekend in high spirits.
How the bookies view it: Close contest on the cards
The bookmakers are struggling to separate the pair, with Everton marginal 13/8 favourites on Boylesports, while Nottingham Forest are narrow 7/4 outsiders with the same firm.
Each of Everton’s last three Premier League games have ended all square and a repeat here is trading at 21/10 on Boylesports.
Head to head: Forest tend to falter
Since returning to the Premier League two seasons ago, Nottingham Forest have failed to defeat Everton in four attempts. The Toffees claimed top honours from each of the two meetings between the pair last season, keeping a clean sheet on both occasions.
Players to watch: Ndiaye a nuisance
Iliman Ndiaye has proven to be a bit of a nuisance for top-flight defences this season. The Everton winger has earned his side multiple free-kicks in each of his last six Premier League outings at Goodison Park, making a repeat here an attractive option at 11/10 on PaddyPower.
Anthony Elanga has scored in each of Nottingham Forest’s last three top-flight assignments. The Swedish winger is an eye-catching 4/1 on Boylesports to grab another goal at Goodison Park.
Predicted line-ups
Ashley Young could come back into the Everton team after serving a one-game suspension against Man City last time out.
Nottingham Forest will be without influential midfielder Ryan Yates after he received his fifth yellow card of the season against Tottenham on Boxing Day.
Everton: Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin
Nottingham Forest: Sels; Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic; Williams; Ward-Prowse, Anderson; Elanga; Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Anything else catch the eye?
With the aforementioned Yates being forced to sit this one out for Nottingham Forest, James Ward-Prowse could be given the nod from the off at Goodison Park on Sunday.
With that in mind, the 30-year-old midfielder looks overpriced to commit a minimum of one foul during this match at 5/6 with PaddyPower.
Ward-Prowse has got himself on the wrong side of the referee in four of the five Premier League games that he has started this term to date.
This English Premier League match between Everton and Nottingham Forest will be played on Dec 29, 2024 and kick off at 15:00. Check below for our tipsters best Everton vs Nottingham Forest prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
