This Saturday, Everton face Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park in the Premier League, where The Toffees have already lost two games while Forest beat West Ham last time out and both teams will be keen to add to their early points tally in this encounter up on merseyside.
Everton’s 2-1 defeat away from home at Villa Park against Aston Villa became Everton’s third league defeat on the trot in the English top flight and followed previous slip-ups against Arsenal 5-1 on the final day of the last campaign, and their 1-0 loss at home to Chelsea on the opening weekend of this new season.
Frank's #AVLEVE reaction: pic.twitter.com/jgshz1npdk— Everton (@Everton) August 13, 2022
Frank's #AVLEVE reaction: pic.twitter.com/jgshz1npdk
The Toffees were fortunate to retain their status in the Premier League last season but pivotal wins against Chelsea, Leicester City and Crystal Palace saved the merseysiders’ bacon and also Frank Lampard’s job at Goodison Park.
The hosts have it all to do again this season though and manager Frank Lampard will know the importance of this upcoming fixture against newly promoted Nottingham Forest and he’ll be demanding all three points against the new-boys in order to alleviate the early stress.
Everton will have to do without the services of forward Calvert-Lewin, defenders, Mina and Godfrey, along with midfielders Townsend and Gomes, who are all out injured.
Nottingham Forest got themselves off the mark in the Premier League last weekend when they registered a 1-0 home win over West Ham to hand the Tricky Trees a deserved and very welcome three points and Steve Cooper’s side will be looking for more of the same on Saturday afternoon against Everton.
A 2-0 defeat on the opening weekend of this season’s Premier League campaign at Newcastle United was not the sort of start that Nottingham Forest had envisaged upon their return to the English top flight but the visitors will have received a massive boost from that result against a West Ham side who qualified for European competition last season.
It’s been 23 seasons since Nottingham Forest were last in the Premier League but what we do know about the east midlands club and manager, Steve Cooper, is the fact that Forest’s defence has definitely tightened up at the back.
Indeed, nine of Nottingham Forest’s last 10 away matches in all competitions have resulted in under 2.5 goals which also includes five clean sheets as well, so a lack of goals could certainly be on the cards here this Saturday.
Defender Richards has been ruled out with injury while midfielder Yates is rated as questionable for the trip to Goodison Park.
Both Everton and Forest will be desperate to avoid defeat here and a low-scoring game could unfold at Goodison Park as a result.