Sean Dyche has shared insights into his challenging period at Everton before his return to Merseyside with Nottingham Forest. Dyche took over from Frank Lampard in January 2023, guiding the team to Premier League safety. Despite an eight-point deduction for financial breaches, Everton finished 15th in the 2023-24 season. However, Dyche was dismissed early this year after winning 26 of 84 matches.
Reflecting on his time at Everton, Dyche acknowledged the difficulties faced. "It was hard," he stated, expressing pride in the collective effort during a tumultuous phase. He praised David Moyes for his effective management since returning to the club, noting Moyes' familiarity with both Everton and the Premier League as key factors in his success.
Forest currently sits four points above relegation after a rocky start. They face an Everton team that recently climbed into the top 10 following a midweek victory. Jack Grealish's second-half goal secured a 1-0 win against Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium, marking Everton's first away top-flight win against them.
Everton's triumph over Bournemouth was well-earned, with an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.44 from 13 shots compared to Bournemouth's 0.5 from five attempts. "It was an excellent win for us," said Moyes, acknowledging their struggles at Bournemouth in recent years. He noted both teams faced injuries and suspensions but felt whoever scored first would likely win.
Players to Watch: Dewsbury-Hall and Igor Jesus
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been influential for Everton, contributing a goal or assist in his last two home games. His previous streak of three consecutive home league appearances with a goal involvement was with Blackpool in early 2020. For Nottingham Forest, Igor Jesus ended his Premier League scoring drought against Wolves with a header in his 13th appearance.
Igor Jesus has been impressive this season as Forest's top scorer across all competitions with six goals. The Brazilian forward aims to continue his strong form and make an impact against Everton.
Match Prediction and Historical Context
Everton have lost only twice in their last 11 league encounters with Forest (W7 D2), though both defeats occurred at home (0-1 in January 1999 and 0-2 last season). This season, they have lost two of their last three home games by significant margins against Tottenham and Newcastle United.
Forest have shown improvement under Dyche, winning three of their last four league matches (L1). They seek consecutive away wins against Everton for the first time after last season's victory at Goodison Park. Forest remain unbeaten in Saturday 3pm kick-offs this season (W1 D2), including a notable win over Liverpool.
The Opta Win Probability suggests a close contest: Everton have a 48.6% chance of winning, while Nottingham Forest stand at 25.6%, with a draw at 25.8%.
