Everton joint-scorers Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil could miss out as the Toffees attempt to extend their unbeaten run at home to five games to host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League 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.
Everton manager Sean Dyche said: “It’s still a bit of a touch-and-go scenario with the game coming thick and fast, so it’s probably a possibility at the moment whether Dwight will make it or not.”
“We will have to wait. Now I need to check on Illi. [Ndiaye]. We took him out last game just because he had a little bit of tightness in his calf. “We will see how it works out.”
That’s what he does 😀 pic.twitter.com/xstluSkCJN
— Everton (@Everton) December 27, 2024
Man City vs Everton: Ndiaye Goal
Senegal international Ndiaye was sent off nine minutes after scoring a memorable first-half equalizer against Manchester City on Thursday.
Visiting goalkeeper Jordan Pickford also saved City top scorer Erling Haaland’s penalty after the break as Everton recorded successive draws against fourth-placed Arsenal, second-placed Chelsea and reigning champions.
“It would have been tough on them so we take the point,” Dyche said when asked whether Everton could have won, adding he was not “surprised or relieved” by his players’ performance.
“I trust them too. I just lacked a little will. “2 losses in 13 games (I know there are a lot of draws) but that is not easy in the Premier League.”
— Iliman Ndiaye (@iliman_ndiaye) December 26, 2024
Everton vs Forest
Forest are on a four-game winning streak, with a 1-0 home win over Tottenham late on Thursday leaving them fourth in the table.
A win would see Nuno Espirito Santo’s side move up to second, but Forest lost both encounters with Everton without a goal last season.
Forest’s only win in their last nine games came at Everton in 1999, with their best result since a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park in August 2022.
Fifteenth-placed Everton are three points ahead of third-placed Leicester City and five points behind Manchester United, just above them.
