It’s Everton vs Nottingham Forest today at Goodison Park in a match that could have a huge say on the Premier League relegation battle.
Luton Town’s 5-1 defeat at home to Brentford on Saturday means they remain one point behind fourth-from-bottom Forest and two behind fifth-from-bottom Everton. But all of a sudden second-from-bottom Burnley are back in with a chance of survival. Their 4-1 win at doomed Sheffield United means they are now just three points adrift of safety.
That merely adds to the pressure on Sean Dyche’s and Nuno Espirito Santo’s sides going into this afternoon encounter on Merseyside. Kicking off at 1.30pm, Joe Thomas and Chris Beesley will be in place at The Grand Old Lady to bring you all the pre-match build-up, including team news when it drops, before guiding you through all the action and bringing you the best post-game analysis and reaction.
The Blues will go into the crucial clash on the back of a humiliating 6-0 defeat at Chelsea on Monday. Manager Dyche had a simple answer when asked what he demanded his team do better today: “Everything.” But for fed-up Evertonians, the proof will be in the pudding.
For Forest, who like their opponents are currently appealing against a points deduction for breaking Premier League spending rules, drew 2-2 at home to Wolves last time out. They have failed to win any of their previous seven league away matches.
13:24Joe Thomas
Gwladys Street looking superb
Once again, Everton are reliant on their fans dragging them over the line. For a third consecutive season they are responding, too. Led by The 1878s there have been big plans for today and, as kick-off approaches, the Gwladys Street is filled with flags and looks superb. These players need to give the supporters some inspiration too, it is a two-way street. A good start and the stands might be able to carry the team through this.
13:24Connor O’Neill
Less than 10 minutes to go
There are less than 10 minutes to go until kick off at Goodison Park. As I said earlier, this is a must-win game for Everton this season. Not only do they need to return to winning ways, but a victory this afternoon also gives them the chance to move one step closer to safety.
13:23Chris Beesley
Flying the flag
Just under 10 minutes to go until kick-off now and with Goodison Park filling up, lots of those flags that fan group the 1878s encouraged, are already flying on the Gwladys Street end.
Hopefully we’ll have a cracking atmosphere today and the Everton players can respond to it.
13:10Chris Beesley
Young dropping back
As is the custom at Everton, the back four are warming up as a unit now before kick-off with substitute defenders Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey launching some balls over the top for them to deal with.
The combination of Vitalii Mykolenko, Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski is joined by Ashley Young who drops back from right midfield to right-back today.
The 38-year-old was used extensively in that role earlier in the season but it’s been a while now since he started in that position.
13:05Connor O’Neill
Sean Dyche explains team selection
Sean Dyche has been speaking about his team selection for this afternoon’s game.
He told Sky Sports: “The reaction is important: the player reaction, my reaction. We’ve looked to change things as well, it’s not just about the players I can assure you.
“We’ve looked to change the way we are looking at the game – the way we’ve trained, the way the meetings go. We’ve changed things to try to get the effect we want which is a much-improved performance and a win.”
On Nottingham Forest, Dyche added: “It’s not an easy task playing any Premier League game. We’ve got to look to perform, it’s the overall performance and not just one area.
“We know we have strengths from set pieces, we know we haven’t scored enough goals from open play so we’ve got to improve in those areas and also keep the back door locked and look after ourselves defensively. Finding that balance is the key.”
13:03Connor O’Neill
Warm-ups underway at Goodison Park
Both sets of players are out warming up at Goodison Park, with kick-off just under half an hour away. I can see why some see this afternoon’s team selection as bold and brave from Sean Dyche; however, I quite like the team that the Everton boss has picked. The only change I would have made is moving James Garner to right-back instead of Ashley Young. I thought the England under-21 international did well there last season and could offer the Blues a bit more on the ball than Young can.
12:58Chris Beesley
Distribution drills
Everton’s players are currently working on their passing in their pre-match warm-ups.
It’s one of the areas that they could certainly do with improving.
Hopefully the Blues can find the right rhythm in this respect today. The presence of Andre Gomes could certainly help in that respect.
12:41Connor O’Neill
Good to see Calvert-Lewin back
For all the talk about the midfield, it is good to see Dominic Calvert-Lewin back this afternoon. He was missed on Monday against Chelsea. Beto didn’t exactly produce the type of display that gave Sean Dyche something to think about. At the moment, Calvert-Lewin remains Everton’s best hope of scoring a goal.
12:37Connor O’Neill
We expected changes to Evertom team
Well, we thought there might be changes, but some eyebrows will perhaps be raised with Sean Dyche opting to play Gueye, Gomes and Doucoure as the middle three. Amadou Onana and James Garner both coming out is not surprising, but the lack of pace in the middle of the pitch could be something that haunts Everton this afternoon.
12:34Chris Beesley
Double boost but midfield changes are intriguing
Everton are handed a huge double boost with both striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite being fit to start but it’s interesting to see the changes that Sean Dyche has made in midfield as Andre Gomes and Idrissa Gueye come into the side at the expense of Amadou Onana and James Garner. The Blues boss goes for experience over youth which is also the case to a certain extent with his choice of Ashley Young at right-back rather than Ben Godfrey with Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson picking up injuries last time out.
12:33Joe Thomas
Dyche experiments as he looks for a response
So that looks set to be a central midfield of Doucoure, Gomes and Gueye, with Young dropping to right back. An interesting set up fron Dyche as he looks for a reaction.
Bench: Virginia, Keane, Godfrey, Garner, Onana, Danjuma, Warrington, Chermiti and Beto.
12:33Chris Beesley
Double boost but midfield changes are intriguing
Everton are handed a huge double boost with both striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite being fit to start but it’s interesting to see the changes that Sean Dyche has made in midfield as Andre Gomes and Idrissa Gueye come into the side at the expense of Amadou Onana and James Garner. The Blues boss goes for experience over youth which is also the case to a certain extent with his choice of Ashley Young at right-back rather than Ben Godfrey with Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson picking up injuries last time out.
12:33Connor O’Neill
Forest team news
Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Williams, Niakhate, Murillo, Aina, Danilo, Reyna, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Dominguez, Wood.
Subs:Turner, Sangare, Toffolo, Omobamidele, Yates, Montiel, Elanga, Ribeiro, Origi.
12:30Joe Thomas
Four changes for Everton as DCL starts
Right, here we go:
Everton starting XI:
- Pickford
- Mykolenko
- Branthwaite
- Tarkowski
- Young
- McNeil
- Gomes
- Gueye
- Doucoure
- Harrison
- Calvert-Lewin
So that is DCL, Gueye, Gomes and Harrison in for Beto, Onana, Garner and Coleman
12:25Joe Thomas
A big, tough week at Finch Farm
Hello everyone, Joe Thomas here alongside Connor now in the Goodison media room. We have mixed feelings about this, today. Connor is optimistic, I’m worried about the pace of Anthony Elanga and the guile of Morgan Gibbs-White – especially after the freedo, Cole Palmer was given on Monday.
How they respond to that drubbing at Stamford Bridge will be telling. This has been a tough week at Finch Farm, that much has been clear. Reflection, introspection and some candid words it appears have been said. For me, this feels like the Newcastle game last April. That 4-1 defeat was horrendous and it felt the closest the club got to relegation. Dyche was able to get a response from his players for that – they only lost once more in the remaining five and that was against City. The next two were the draws at Leicester and the win at Brighton. Hopefully something similar today.
12:14Connor O’Neill
Nuno sends Goodison message to Forest players
Nuno Espirito Santo has told his Nottingham Forest players that they must silence the Goodison Park crowd this afternoon.
Speaking to the media earlier this week, he said: “I know how strong they are at Goodison Park and how hard it is going to face them. It’s going to be a tough game.
“Part of the plan is to play good, control and dominate the game. If that happens the crowd gets silenced. We have to be ready.
“There will be moments when we don’t have the ball, and the crowd will get loud. We have to be strong in those moments.”
12:11Connor O’Neill
Latest Everton injury news
Sean Dyche revealed on Thursday that Jarrad Branthwaite, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Idrissa Gueye could all be available this afternoon after returning to light training.
However, a groin injury is likely to keep Seamus Colman sidelined, while Nathan Patterson is out with a hamstring problem.
12:09Chris Beesley
Stats to calm the nerves?
Everyone with Everton’s best interests at heart wants to see a tangible reaction today following the Chelsea shambles and hopefully some of the numbers crunched by club statistician Gavin Buckland will help calm some of the nerves from Blues as this is actually a big opportunity for Sean Dyche’s men.
Sean Dyche has faced Forest 11 times as a manager (W4 D5 L2) and is unbeaten in his last five Premier League games against Nuno Espirito Santo (W3 D2).
Everton have won five of the last eight meetings between the clubs (W5 D2 L1).
12:07Connor O’Neill
Greetings from Goodison Park
Good afternoon and welcome to Goodison Park for what really is a must-win game for Everton this afternoon. There is no denying that the Blues are in the midst of a poor run of form. However, following Luton’s defeat yesterday afternoon, Sean Dyche’s side have the chance to give themselves a five-point cushion over the Hatters in the Premier League table. It is a chance they must take.
11:56Chris Beesley
Dyche tells Blues fans: “We know we have a powerful weapon in you”
Writing in his programme notes, Everton manager Sean Dyche describes being hit for six by Chelsea as “horrible”, “unacceptable” and “the worst” of his 500 plus games in management. Looking forward to today’s game with Nottingham Forest though, the Blues boss says:
“We know what is at stake and we are ready for the fight.
“There has to be a reaction after our last game and if we do the basics well, in terms of putting in the hard yards and showing bravery, we know we have a powerful weapon in you – the Goodison crowd – to really help turn the screw and make it difficult for any opposing team that comes here.
“We have four home games remaining this season and while the players are fully aware of their responsibility to light the touch paper, the impact you an have should never be forgotten.
“Thank you, once again, for your tremendous and continued support. Let’s move forward together.”
11:48Chris Beesley
Coleman: We will be determined to right a few wrongs this afternoon
Everton captain Seamus Coleman has called for unity against Nottingham Forest following the Blues’ 6-0 thrashing at Chelsea. The Republic of Ireland international, who played in the first half at Stamford Bridge before being forced off injured, writes in his programme notes:
“From our own perspective, we absolutely know we have to be better than we were at Chelsea on Monday. There will be no excuses whatsoever from me – it was a totally unacceptable performance and one that fell well, well short of what is expected at this football club and what is demanded, quite rightly, from our supporters.
“I genuinely felt so bad for the 3,000 Evertonians who made the difficult journey to west London on a Monday night. As captain of this incredible football club, I want our fans to be proud of the team and it hurts me greatly when I know that is not the case.
“Every single player has an enormous responsibility every time he pulls on an Everton jersey and we will be determined to right a few wrongs this afternoon. We deserved the criticsm that came our way after how we performed at Stamford Bridge but we need to be alll back together today singing from the ame hymn sheet.
“I’ve said before that anything we achieve here will be a collective between players, supporters and staff. We’re at the start of such a big week and we are so much stronger when we’re all together.”
11:46Chris Beesley
Hello everyone
Good morning everyone and welcome from Goodison Park for today’s live blog for Everton v Nottingham Forest.
Joe and I were sat next to each other at Stamford Bridge to witness Monday’s debacle and as I’ve said already, it’s sometimes remarked that the darkest hour is the one before dawn so hopefully that is the case for this Blues team as they have the opportunity to secure a victory today that would put daylight between themselves and their opponents, plus Luton Town of course, who lost 5-1 at home to Brentford yesterday.
11:43Joe Rimmer
Good morning
Hello, good morning and welcome to our EFC liveblog for today’s huge match against Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park.
Our reporters are getting themselves in place at Goodison and will be bringing us live updates, including the latest team news within the next hour.
Don’t go away.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
