Nottingham Forest vs Everton Prediction | Premier League 2025/26 | EPL Prediction | Dec 31 – Can Forest Drag Everton Back into the Dogfight?

The City Ground prepares for a New Year’s Eve clash that promises to be a tactical grind rather than a goal-fest. The stakes are clear: the hosts are fighting to distance themselves from the relegation scrap in 16th, while the visitors are comfortable but uninspiring in 10th. Coming into this, Nottingham Forest are looking to stabilize after a volatile run of “impressive wins mixed with heavy defeats,” while the visitors arrive following a mixed bag of two wins and two losses in their last four.

Nottingham Forest vs Everton Match Details at a Glance

Injury News and Suspensions

Nottingham Forest

Sean Dyche is navigating a tricky period with a depleted frontline. Top scorer Chris Wood is sidelined with a knee injury until late December, meaning this game might come too soon. The striker crisis is compounded by Taiwo Awoniyi’s muscle injury, also ruling him out until the New Year. In midfield, the industrious Ryan Yates is out with a hamstring issue until January.

Everton

David Moyes has his own defensive headaches to manage. The most significant absence is young center-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who is out until mid-January with a hamstring injury. Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is facing a similar timeline on the sidelines. Veteran captain Seamus Coleman is also nursing a hamstring strain, with his return not expected until late December.

Nottingham Forest vs Everton Head-to-Head Records

Form Guide

Nottingham Forest

The Tricky Trees have been frustratingly inconsistent under Dyche. Currently sitting 16th, they have vacillated between looking like a solid mid-table unit and a relegation candidate from week to week. Their playing style is unmistakably Dyche-ball: deep defensive lines, forcing play wide, and looking to hit directly on the counter. However, the reliance on Morgan Gibbs-White for creativity is heavy.

Everton

Since David Moyes returned to the dugout in January 2025, the Toffees have become a tough nut to crack, sitting respectable 10th. Their recent form two wins and two losses encapsulates their season: solid enough to beat the teams below them, but lacking the cutting edge to trouble the elite. They rely heavily on set pieces and the aerial dominance of their center-backs. Open-play creativity remains a major issue.

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Nottingham Forest vs Everton Key Battles

Igor Jesus vs Jake O’Brien

Based on the players available, a likely key duel is the physical battle upfront. With Wood and Awoniyi out, the goalscoring burden falls on Igor Jesus. The forward offers pace and direct running, looking to stretch the game vertically, a crucial trait for Dyche’s counter-attacking system.

Tasked with stopping him is Jake O’Brien. The Toffees’ defender has been a standout performer, embodying the physical, no-nonsense style Moyes loves. O’Brien’s aerial ability is a massive asset, but Jesus might look to exploit him on the ground with quick turns. If O’Brien dominates this duel physically, the home side will struggle to get out of their own half.

Morgan Gibbs-White vs James Garner

In the creative department, Morgan Gibbs-White is the heartbeat of the home side. He is the one player in red capable of moments of magic, drifting between lines to unlock stubborn defenses. Everything good the hosts do usually goes through him. He will be looking to find pockets of space in front of the visitors’ back four to slip in through-balls or shoot from distance.

Trying to shackle him will be James Garner, a man who knows The City Ground well from his loan spell. Now patrolling the midfield for the visitors, Garner’s energy and tactical discipline are vital. He will likely be tasked with a man-marking job or at least cutting off the supply line to Gibbs-White. It’s a battle of creativity versus containment.

Nottingham Forest vs Everton Tactical Outlook

Expect a game of “who blinks first.” Sean Dyche will set Nottingham Forest up in a structured, low-block 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1, inviting pressure and looking to spring Hudson-Odoi and Igor Jesus on the break. Without their target men they might play slightly more on the floor than usual, but set pieces will still be their primary weapon.

David Moyes will likely mirror this pragmatism. Everton will deploy a 4-4-1-1 or 4-5-1, prioritizing defensive shape above all else. With Jack Grealish on the side, they have a ball-carrier who can win fouls and relieve pressure, which is crucial for winning territory. Both teams are incredibly strong in the air but vulnerable to pace in behind. The midfield battle will be congested and physical, with neither side wanting to risk leaving gaps.

Nottingham Forest vs Everton Possible Playing Squad

Nottingham Forest XI:

Victor (GK), Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Savona, Sangaré, Anderson, Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus

Everton XI:

Pickford (GK), O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Garner, Iroegbunam, McNeil, Alcaraz, Grealish, Barry

Nottingham Forest vs Everton Match Prediction

This has “low-scoring draw” written all over it. Both managers prioritize not losing over winning, especially in a congested fixture period. The hosts have the home advantage, but their injury list particularly upfront blunts their spear significantly. The visitors are solid but rarely spectacular away from home. It might not be a classic for the neutrals, but the tactical discipline will be high.

Score Prediction

Nottingham Forest 0–0 Everton: A stalemate at The City Ground, where defenses come out on top, and clear-cut chances are at a premium.

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