Everton vs Nottingham Forest predictions: Tough to split troubled pair

Tom Hill

Spotlight

Sean Dyche will have to try and pick his Everton side up following their 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea

- Everton have only lost one of their last five games at home in the Premier League
- Nottingham Forest have scored in five successive matches in the league
- Recommended bet: Tie with goals

Everton and Nottingham Forest meet in a relegation six-pointer at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday in a game that neither team can afford to lose.

Both teams remain within range of the bottom three after their points deductions, with the Toffees two points above the relegation zone in 16th, a point and a place better off than Forest.

Everton go into the game on the back of a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Chelsea, while Forest secured a 2-2 draw at home against Wolves last weekend.

Team news

Everton right-back Nathan Patterson is set to miss the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jarrad Branthwaite and Idrissa Gueye are all hoping to feature, having taken part in training this week.

Seamus Coleman is expected to miss out though with a groin strain, while Dele Alli remains a long-term absentee due to his own groin issues.

Nottingham Forest centre-back Willy Boly is sidelined with a muscle problem, while Taiwo Awoniyi is not yet ready to make his comeback.

Anthony Elanga is a doubt but Giovanni Reyna is ready to step in in his place, having registered an assist in the recent draw with Wolves.

The stats

Nuno Espirito Santo's Forest side have made themselves harder to beat with just one defeat in their last five games

Everton have only won two of their last 19 matches in all competitions, but they did win their last home game at Burnley's expense earlier this month.

Sean Dyche's side have not scored more than one goal in a game since a 2-2 draw against Tottenham in February, a run of nine matches.

Forest have tightened things up of late, losing only one of their last five, but that run came on the back of four successive losses.

However, away from home, they have lost four of their last seven games, winning none in that run, although they have at least scored in eight of their last 10 on their travels.

The latest Everton vs Nottingham Forest odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

There is bound to be plenty of tension in the air at Goodison Park on Sunday, with both clubs desperate for every single point at this stage of the campaign.

Dyche's side were hammered by Chelsea last time out, but they did create chances and it was their inability to defend that cost them dear.

They have scored in 14 of their last 16 games at Goodison Park, but they cannot be trusted to keep a clean sheet, especially after their dismal display at Chelsea.

Forest have only scored 17 goals on their travels in the league this season, but 13 of those have come in their last 10 games on the the road.

Backing the draw looks the best play but a stalemate with goals adds a little value given both teams' defensive issues .

Back a tie with goals at 13/5 with LiveScore Bet.