Nottingham Forest vs Everton Prediction: Stalemate specialists at it again

Nottingham Forest suffered a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa last weekend, but Nuno Espirito Santo's side remain well positioned to finish in the Premier League top five and qualify for next season's Uefa Champions League. Their opponents at the City Ground on Saturday (15:00), Everton, drew 1-1 with Arsenal last Saturday and have now lost just one of their last 11 top-flight fixtures.

Below are my Nottingham Forest vs Everton predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Nuno has confirmed Forest forwards Chris Wood (hip), Anthony Elanga (knock) and Taiwo Awoniyi (hamstring) are all doubtful for Saturday's game, while Ola Aina (calf) is definitely out injured.

Jota Silva came on for Elanga at the start of the second half at Villa Park last weekend and scored within 12 minutes of his introduction, so he's an obvious candidate to replace the Sweden international in the starting XI.

Football Odds

Left-back Alex Moreno is available after he was ineligible to face parent club Aston Villa, and the Spaniard could slot into Nuno's line-up with Morato likely to come out.

Vitalii Mykolenko and Dwight McNeil have been in full training this week and both are in contention to feature on Saturday, although Blues boss David Moyes has ruled out the latter starting.

However, Jesper Lindstrom underwent a hernia operation on Thursday and is likely to be out for the rest of the season, as is Orel Mangala (ACL).

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (hamstring) isn't expected back for another three weeks.

Nottingham Forest vs Everton Odds

Forest are unbeaten at the City Ground since November 10, picking up 23 home points from the last 27 on offer (W7, D2), and the East Midlanders are 23/20 to make it eight victories from 10 on Saturday. Those odds imply a 46.5% probability, while Everton, winless in their last three on the road, are 11/4, or a 26.7% chance, to triumph in West Bridgford for the second season running.

The draw is priced at 23/10, both teams to score at 1/1, and over 2.5 total goals at 6/5.

Match Result & Total Goals Over/Under 2.5 - Draw & Under 2.5 Goals @ 13/5

Draw specialists Everton, who have experienced at least three more stalemates (14) than any other Premier League side this season, secured us a 12/5 winner last Saturday as they held Arsenal to a 1-1 at Goodison Park.

The Toffees have now drawn five of their last six games and six of their last eight, proving just how difficult to beat they have become under Moyes. Their last four stalemates have all finished 1-1, and under 2.5 goals has landed in their five matches.

Forest, meanwhile, last shared the spoils on February 26 (0-0 v Arsenal), and four of their six league draws this season have come at the City Ground.

The Tricky Trees won 2-0 at Goodison in December, but that victory was achieved with Wood, who scored and set up Morgan Gibbs-White's goal, Aina and Elanga in the starting XI, and all three players could be missing this weekend.

Sean Dyche was in charge of the Blues at that time, but Moyes has since replaced the Englishman and transformed the team.

Alongside Arsenal, Everton are top of the Premier League under 2.5 goals table, as 61% of their games have seen two or fewer strikes, and Nottingham Forest aren't far down in fifth (48%).

A draw and under 2.5 goals looks like the best bet at 13/5.

Correct Score - Draw 1-1 @ 11/2

Forest have drawn 1-1 on four occasions in this season's Premier League, while Everton have experienced seven of those scorelines in 2024/25 - four of which have come in their last five games.

With the hosts potentially without a few key attackers, and the visitors not exactly awash with attackers either, it's difficult to envisage too many goals on Saturday.

A goalless draw is a possibility, but Forest have scored in their last four matches, netting exactly once in three, while Everton have struck once in four of their last five, so 1-1 feels right for this one.

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