Match Overview
Nottingham Forest welcome Everton to the City Ground on Tuesday for a Premier League fixture that carries significance for both sides. Forest were beaten 3-0 at Goodison Park earlier this month and will look to respond at home. Recent form points to a competitive, low-scoring contest, with Forest showing improved results and Everton leaning on a compact defensive setup. Conditions are set to be clear and cold, supporting a quick tempo under the floodlights.
- Fixture: Nottingham Forest vs Everton
- Competition: Premier League
- Venue: The City Ground
- Date: 30-12-2025
- Kickoff: 19:30 GMT / 19:30 UTC
Predicted Lineups
Nottingham Forest
- M. Sels
- N. Milenkovic
- N. Williams
- Murillo
- N. Savona
- E. Anderson
- M. Gibbs-White
- C. Hudson-Odoi
- I. Sangare
- Igor Jesus
- D. Ndoye
Everton
- J. Pickford
- J. Tarkowski
- M. Keane
- J. O’Brien
- V. Mykolenko
- J. Garner
- J. Grealish
- T. Iroegbunam
- C. Alcaraz
- T. Barry
- I. Ndiaye
Injury & Suspension Report
Nottingham Forest
- O. Aina – Hamstring Injury
- R. Yates – Hamstring Injury
- D. Ndoye – Injury
- I. Sangare – International duty
- W. Boly – International duty
- C. Wood – Knee Injury
Everton
- J. Grealish – Illness
- K. Dewsbury-Hall – Hamstring Injury
- S. Coleman – Hamstring Injury
- J. Branthwaite – Hamstring Injury
- I. Ndiaye – International duty
- I. Gueye – International duty
Head-to-Head
Across 101 meetings, Everton lead the series with 45 wins, Nottingham Forest have 35 victories, and there have been 21 draws. The last seven encounters have averaged just over two goals per game, pointing to a generally cautious matchup. Everton won 3-0 in the most recent meeting earlier this month.
Match Analysis & Prediction
Forest enter this game with improved momentum: three wins in their last five and six goals scored over that stretch. They have leaned into direct passing and assertive pressing, seeking quick transitions rather than extended possession. The City Ground has provided a lift, and after the 3-0 defeat at Everton earlier this month, the hosts will prioritise a compact shape and faster ball progression to test the visitors’ back line.
Callum Hudson-Odoi’s recent brace in a 3-3 home draw against Spurs underlines a key attacking outlet for Forest, with Morgan Gibbs-White central to chance creation. Team news is notable: Forest list several absences, including D. Ndoye (injury) and I. Sangare (international duty). Their availability status could influence the balance between front-line pace and midfield control, making early midfield duels critical.
Everton’s recent run shows two wins and three losses in five, with three goals scored. Defensive metrics are more encouraging: three clean sheets lately and six shutouts in 21 matches across all competitions, driven by Jordan Pickford’s consistency and solid organisation ahead of him. They narrowly lost 1-0 at Arsenal in their latest outing and have performed reasonably against teams near them in the table (two wins and one loss, averaging just over 1.5 goals scored and conceded per game).
Nottingham Forest host Everton in clash showcasing the City Ground’s rich history and high-stakes Midlands rivalry.
Expect a controlled, physical contest. Forest will try to press selectively and exploit space for runners like Hudson-Odoi, while Everton will look to maintain their compact block and counter through quick, vertical phases. The recent head-to-head trend of low-to-moderate scoring supports a tight game script, especially with multiple players listed as unavailable on both sides and cold, clear conditions that favour organised teams.
Prediction: Draw, with under 2.5 goals. A 1-1 outcome fits the form lines and recent head-to-head profile.