Everton host Nottingham Forest next weekend in arguably one of the biggest games of the season. Both teams have been plunged into the relegation battle due to financial mismanagement from both teams. The hosts have been deducted six points in total (initially ten but reduced to six on appeal) whereas Nottingham Forest have been deducted six points.
Location: Goodison Park
Date: 21/04/24
Kick-off: 1.30 pm
The points deductions for both sides mean they both sit just outside the relegation zone. Everton does have the advantage over Nottingham Forest in that they have two games in hand. One against Chelsea before their game against Nottingham Forest and the remaining game being the Merseyside Derby.
The Toffees were embroiled in a relegation battle last season and the Merseyside club narrowly avoided the drop on the final day thanks to a 1-0 win over Bournemouth. The single goal from Abdoulaye Doucouré was enough for Everton, as they continued their tremendous record in the top flight at the expense of Leicester City and Leeds United.
This season, Everton finds themselves in a more favourable position you could argue. Without the financial penalties imposed on them, the Toffees would be 14th and completely safe, however, they would still need to make sure they obtain the results required.
Sean Dyche, who garnered a reputation for his work at Burnley, has side currently 16th after 31 games. Everton are only two points above the relegation zone but as mentioned they do have games in hand to extend the points gap. Before the game between the two sides next weekend, Everton could be four points clear of Nottingham Forest if they were to obtain a result against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Everton have accumulated 27 points from 32 games played this season, currently nine points fewer than last season’s tally of 36. The Toffees have averaged 0.84 points this season, although, at the end of next weekend, they could potentially be eight points clear of Luton Town in that last relegation place. That’s assuming Everton managed to beat both Nottingham Forest and Chelsea.
As for the visitors, they have experienced the same financial penalty as their hosts. Nottingham Forest would be placed in 15th behind Brentford if they didn’t fall foul of regulations. Instead, Forest will enter this game behind Everton, despite the Blues heavy 6-0 defeat at Chelsea on Monday night.
Nottingham Forest will be hoping for a result in their favour at Stamford Bridge to give them a chance of overtaking the Toffees next weekend. If results do fall in their momentum, Forest can go two points clear of Everton and potentially four points clear of Luton Town should Luton against Brentford.
The away side has had a managerial change this season, replacing the popular Steve Cooper with the former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, Nuno Espirito Santo. Since joining, Nuno Espirito Santo has obtained 16 of the 26 points Forest have accumulated this season. Forest has an average of 0.78 points per game obtained, with a win rate of 23.81% as manager of the club.
In the most recent league meeting between the two sides, it was Everton who came out on top in a closely fought encounter. The hosts for that game, Nottingham Forest had 62% possession and completed 592 passes but failed to find a way past a resilient Everton side. The winner came in the 67th minute through Dwight McNeil, who controlled the ball brilliantly at the back post to then rifle the ball home past Vlachodimos in the Forest net.
Premier League 
