Sources confirm Saturday's fixture at Hill Dickinson Stadium carries significant emotional weight as Sean Dyche prepares to face Everton for the first time since his October departure from the City Ground. The understanding is both camps view this as a pivotal encounter in their respective campaigns.
Form and context
Everton arrive in decent fettle following their 1-0 triumph at Bournemouth on Tuesday. Jack Grealish struck the decisive blow in the 78th minute, his sixth goal involvement of the campaign, as David Moyes' men demonstrated the defensive resilience that has become their hallmark under the Scottish manager's second spell.
The Toffees sit 10th with 21 points from 14 matches, remarkably just a single point behind local rivals Liverpool. However, concerns linger after their 4-1 capitulation to Newcastle United in their previous home outing, a performance that exposed vulnerabilities Dyche will undoubtedly seek to exploit.
Forest travel north on the back of consecutive away victories, their 1-0 success at Molineux on Wednesday extending their unbeaten run to three matches across all competitions. Igor Jesus netted his first Premier League goal for the club, a timely contribution given Chris Wood's ongoing knee injury.
The Tricky Trees occupy 16th position with 15 points, maintaining a three-point cushion over the relegation zone. Dyche's appointment following Ange Postecoglou's brief and turbulent tenure has steadied the ship, with the trademark defensive organisation gradually returning to the City Ground outfit.
Team news
Everton face a selection headache in midfield. Sources indicate Tim Iroegbunam serves a one-match suspension after accumulating five yellow cards, while Idrissa Gueye remains unavailable following his red card against Manchester United. Jarrad Branthwaite continues his recovery from a hamstring injury, with Seamus Coleman and Merlin Rohl also sidelined. Michael Keane faces a late fitness test after missing the Bournemouth trip.
The visitors carry an extensive injury list into Merseyside. Wood, Ola Aina, Douglas Luiz, Angus Gunn, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Taiwo Awoniyi all remain unavailable. The understanding is Murillo faces a late assessment after missing the Wolves fixture through illness, while Morgan Gibbs-White is a major doubt with a lower back complaint sustained in midweek.
Head-to-head and tactical outlook
Historical records favour the hosts, who have lost just twice in their last 11 meetings with Forest. Crucially, however, both defeats came at home, including a 2-0 reverse at Goodison Park last December. Forest could secure consecutive away league victories over Everton for the first time in their history.
Nine of the last ten encounters have produced under 2.5 goals, a trend consistent with both sides' current defensive approaches. Everton have conceded just eight goals in their last seven league matches, while Forest have kept four clean sheets in their previous six outings across all competitions.
Dyche's intimate knowledge of Everton's setup adds intrigue. The 54-year-old spent over two years at Goodison Park before the club's relocation to their new waterfront home, and his familiarity with key personnel could prove decisive in what promises to be a tight, tactical affair.
Match details
Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 UTC at Hill Dickinson Stadium. This represents Forest's first visit to Everton's new 53,000-seat venue, an occasion that adds further significance to an already charged fixture.
