Everton vs Nottingham Forest | EPL Prediction Today | Premier League 2025/26 | Dec 6 – Can Everton Tighten Their Top-10 Push at Home?

Welcome to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, where two high priests of pragmatism collide. It is a tactical mirror match on Merseyside as David Moyes’ disciplined hosts welcome Sean Dyche’s gritty visitors. Both sides are looking to grind out results rather than paint pretty pictures, making this mid-table clash a likely war of attrition.

Everton vs Nottingham Forest Form Guide

Everton

The mood on the blue half of Merseyside is buoyed by a resurgence in consistency. David Moyes has steered his side to an impressive run, with their last five Premier League outings reading W, L, W, D, W. This sequence, including a strong bounce-back after a loss to Newcastle, highlights their defensive solidity and ability to grind out points. While they aren’t scoring for fun, attacking inconsistency remains a noted weakness, the creative spark of Jack Grealish and the direct threat of Louie Barry have added just enough venom to their transition play to secure results.

Nottingham Forest

Life under Sean Dyche has stabilized the ship at the City Ground. Since taking charge in late October 2025, the gravel-voiced tactician has transformed a winless start into a credible run, winning four of his last seven matches. The visitors have leaned heavily into Dyche’s trademark physical dominance and high work rate. However, they remain somewhat one-dimensional; while defensively resilient, their attacking output is limited, and they often rely on forcing errors rather than creating open-play brilliance.

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Everton vs Nottingham Forest Key Battles

Louie Barry vs Nicolò Savona

Based on the players available, a likely key duel is on the flank where Everton’s Louie Barry operates. Barry has emerged as a key attacking outlet for Moyes, utilizing his pace and direct running to stretch defenses that try to play a high line. Tasked with stopping him is Nicolò Savona, who has become a defensive pillar for the visitors. Savona perfectly embodies the Dyche philosophy: no-nonsense, physically imposing, and disciplined. He won’t care about possession stats; his entire game will revolve around funneling Barry into traffic or forcing him backward.

Jack Grealish vs Ibrahim Sangaré

In the middle of the park, Jack Grealish provides the guile amidst the grit. Operating as the primary creative hub for the hosts, Grealish’s job is to win fouls, slow down the tempo when needed, and thread the needle through a crowded defense. Standing in his way is the physical presence of Ibrahim Sangaré. The Forest midfielder acts as the screen in front of the back four, a role critical to Dyche’s low-block system. Sangaré’s objective will be simple: disrupt Grealish’s rhythm through interceptions and physical challenges.

Everton vs Nottingham Forest Tactical Outlook

David Moyes will set the hosts up in a structure prioritizing shape over adventure. Expect a rigid two banks of four when out of possession, with the team looking to spring forward via direct balls to the channels once the ball is won. With James Garner likely slotting into a defensive role (potentially right-back or holding mid), the emphasis is on closing gaps. However, their weakness at set-pieces is a concern, specifically against a team that thrives on dead-ball situations.

Conversely, Sean Dyche will have Nottingham Forest playing… well, like a Sean Dyche team. They will likely cede possession, happy to let the home side have the ball in harmless areas, before aggressively pressing triggers in the midfield. With key strikers Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi out, the attacking burden falls on Igor Jesus, meaning the visitors might play more balls into feet rather than their usual aerial bombardment.

Everton vs Nottingham Forest Head-to-Head Encounters

Recent meetings between these two heavily favor low-scoring affairs. The tactical tendencies of both managers suggest a game where “zero” is a very popular number on the scoreboard for long stretches. Historically, home advantage has played a significant part in this fixture, but Dyche knows the Goodison (and now Hill Dickinson) crowd intimately. He will try to turn the atmosphere toxic by wasting time and breaking up play, a strategy the visitors have perfected on the road recently.

Injury News and Suspensions

Everton

The Toffees are navigating a tricky defensive injury crisis. Captain Seamus Coleman is out until late December, while key center-back Jarrad Branthwaite won’t return until mid-January 2026. Michael Keane is also sidelined with a knock, and Merlin Röhl is nursing a groin injury. To make matters worse in midfield, the tireless Idrissa Gana Gueye is suspended, stripping the engine room of bite.

Nottingham Forest

The visitors’ treatment room is overflowing. Defensive options are thin with Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ola Aina, and goalkeeper Angus Gunn all out until late December or January. Center-back Murillo is doubtful with a calf issue. The midfield is missing Douglas Luiz, while the attack has been decimated: both target men, Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi, are injured, as is winger Dilane Bakwa.

Everton vs Nottingham Forest Possible Playing Squad

Everton XI:

Pickford (GK), Garner, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall, Alcaraz, Grealish, Ndiaye, Barry

Nottingham Forest XI:

Sels (GK), Williams, Milenkovic, Morato, Savona, Sangaré, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Ndoye, Hutchinson, Igor Jesus

Everton vs Nottingham Forest Match Details at a Glance

Everton vs Nottingham Forest Match Prediction

This has “1-0” written all over it. Everton enter the match with superior form and a slightly healthier squad, particularly in attacking areas where the visitors are missing their primary goalscorers (Wood and Awoniyi). While Dyche’s men have improved, their injury list is catastrophic for a squad relying on physical rotation. The home side’s defensive solidity under Moyes should be enough to nullify a blunt Forest attack, while the creative edge of Grealish and the pace of Barry should eventually break down the away block. It won’t be pretty, but it should be effective.

Score Prediction

Everton 1–0 Nottingham Forest; The hosts edge a tight, tactical battle thanks to superior availability in attack and home advantage.

Disclaimer: This Football prediction is based on the author’s insights and analysis. Readers should consider the points discussed and draw their own conclusions.