Nottingham Forest host Everton at the City Ground in their final Premier League matches of 2025 on Tuesday evening. The fourth-bottom Reds seek to recover from a recent 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, remaining five points clear of the relegation zone. Everton, in 12th place, have earned just one point from their last three games following a 3-0 home win over Forest on December 6.
Nottingham Forest enter the match after suffering a second consecutive loss, a 2-1 setback at Manchester City on Saturday. Despite their position near the bottom, they hold a five-point buffer from the drop zone. Everton sit comfortably in mid-table at 12th, but their form has dipped since the December 6 victory over Forest, including a goalless draw at second-bottom Burnley on Saturday.
Injuries and international commitments affect both sides. For Forest, full-back Ola Aina, midfielder Ryan Yates, and forward Chris Wood are sidelined by injuries. Midfielder Ibrahim Sangare and defender Willy Boly are absent due to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.
Nottingham Forest's starting XI: John Victor, Neco Williams, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Omari Hutchinson, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Nicolas Dominguez, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus.
Substitutes: Matz Sels, Morato, Taiwo Awoniyi, Douglas Luiz, Arnaud Kalimuendo, James McAtee, Dilane Bakwa, Nicolo Savona, Zach Abbott.
Everton miss defender Jarrad Branthwaite with a hamstring injury, while right-back Seamus Coleman is out after a hamstring issue sustained in a 1-0 win at Manchester United on November 24. Midfielders Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye are with Senegal's AFCON squad. Playmaker Jack Grealish returns on the bench after illness.
Everton's starting XI: Jordan Pickford, Nathan Patterson, James Tarkowski, Jake O’Brien, Vitalii Mykolenko, Tyler Dibling, Tim Iroegbunam, Merlin Rohl, James Garner, Dwight McNeil, Thierno Barry.
Substitutes: Mark Travers, Beto, Jack Grealish, Tom King, Adam Aznou, Braiden Graham, Reece Welch, Elijah Campbell, Callum Bates.
Kick-off is at 19:30 GMT, with coverage on Sky Sports Cricket in the UK. The match offers both teams a chance to end the year on a high note amid the Premier League's festive schedule.
