The 2024/25 Premier League season resumed on Saturday with Gameweek 32. The action on the day will start with the game between Manchester City and Crystal Palace before continuing with three simultaneous matches, including Nottingham Forest vs Everton at the City Ground.
When people look back at the 2024/25 season in the future, Nottingham Forest will emerge as the biggest surprise package. The Tricky Trees have been relentless in chasing UEFA Champions League qualification, creating a five-point gap over sixth-placed Manchester City. So, while Nuno Espirito Santo’s men lost to Aston Villa last week, they remain comfortable in the standings.
On the other hand, the momentum Everton built under David Moyes has slowly dissapeared. While the Toffees have not lost many games under the Scottish manager, they are currently on a six-match winless run that has stretched for nearly two months. While relegation does not beckon, the Merseyside club can finish as low as 17th in the Premier League standings if they do not arrest the slide.
The reverse fixture saw Nottingham Forest beat Everton 2-0, with Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White finding the back of the net. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Nuno Espirito Santo has a new injury concern that is hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Nottingham Forest manager might be bereft of the services of four first-team players on Saturday.
Ola Aina is the latest absentee after picking up a calf injury last weekend against Aston Villa. In addition, Nuno is sweating over the fitness of Chris Wood (hip), Taiwo Awoiyi (hamstring), and Anthony Elanga (knock).
Matz Sels will take his spot between the sticks, with Nottingham Forest lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Everton on Saturday. The backline should feature Neco Williams, Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, and Alex Moreno.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Ryan Yates and Elliot Anderson in the double pivot. Morgan Gibbs-White will reprise the no. 10 role, with Callum Hudson-Odoi and the in-form Jota Silva being the two wide attackers. Finally, Chris Wood should lead the line for Nottingham Forest against Everton on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Alex Moreno; Yates, Anderson; Jota Silva, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Unlike his counterpart in the Nottingham Forest dugout, David Moyes has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of the trip to the City Ground. The Everton manager will be without four first-team players on Saturday.
Vitaliy Mykolenko is fit and available after recovering from a hamstring injury. However, Orel Mangala (knee), Jesper Lindstrom (groin), and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.
Jordan Pickford is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Everton lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The backline should feature Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, and Vitaliy Mykolenko.
As for the midfield unit, Idrissa Gueye and James Garner will shore up things in the middle of the park. Abdoulaye Doucoure will take up more advanced positions in the final third, with Jack Harrison and Iliman Ndiaye being the two wide attackers. Beto will spearhead the Everton attack against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Harrison, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Beto
While Callum Hudson-Odoi, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Beto were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Iliman Ndiaye as our Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Nottingham Forest and Everton at the City Ground.
The Senegalese international has scored four goals in his last five Premier League starts for Everton, all since David Moyes returned to Goodison Park. He is averaging a goal every 115 minutes under Moyes. Expect Ndiaye to be the Everton manager’s go-to man vs Nottingham Forest this weekend.
Saturday’s match at the City Ground features two of the most defensively resolute teams in the Premier League this season. So, it will be surprising to see a goal fest when Nottingham Forest and Everton face off, although we should witness a few enticing opportunities on both ends.
However, the home side should have enough quality to eke a narrow victory, although Everton will not go down without a fight. The Hard Tackle predicts Nuno Espirito Santo and his charges to clinch a 1-0 win, with Morgan Gibbs-White making his mark.
