Everton’s top two scorers, Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil, could miss out as the Toffees look to extend their unbeaten run at home to in-form Nottingham Forest in the Premier League to five games on Sunday (3pm GMT).
Midfielders Ndiaye and McNeil have each scored three of Everton’s 15 Premier League goals this season, with the Englishman also providing four assists.
“It’s still a bit of a transition as the games come close together – so it’s questionable at the moment whether Dwight can make it,” said Everton manager Sean Dyche.
“We’ll have to wait and see. We just need to check with Illi (Ndiaye). I took him out of the last game because of a slight strain in his calf – we’ll wait and see how that changes.”
That’s what he does 🤩 pic.twitter.com/xstluSkCJN
– Everton (@Everton) December 27, 2024
Man City vs Everton: Ndiaye goal
Senegal international Ndiaye scored a memorable first-half equalizer in his side’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Thursday before being sent off nine minutes from time.
Visiting goalkeeper Jordan Pickford also saved City striker Erling Haaland’s penalty after the break, ensuring Everton secured consecutive draws against fourth-placed Arsenal, second-placed Chelsea and the reigning champions.
“It would have been tough for them, so we understand that,” Dyche said when asked if Everton could have won, adding that he was neither “surprised nor relieved” by his players’ performance.
“I believe in them too. It just lacked a bit of intention. Two defeats in 13 – I know there were a lot of draws – but that’s not easy in the Premier League.”
— iliman Ndiaye (@iliman_ndiaye) December 26, 2024
Everton vs Forest
Forest’s 1-0 home win over Tottenham later on Thursday means they finish in fourth place and have a run of four wins in a row.
A win would take Nuno Espirito Santo’s team into second place, although Forest lost both of their meetings with Everton without scoring last season.
Forest’s only win in the last nine editions of the game came at Everton in 1999, with a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park in August 2022 being their best result since then.
Everton, in 15th place, is three points ahead of third-bottom Leicester City with a game remaining and five points behind Manchester United, immediately above them.
