After collecting a hat-trick of credible draws against established Premier League heavyweights Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City in December, Everton’s calendar year ended on a low with a 2-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, the division’s surprise package so far this season. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side went into this fixture having already secured more wins and points that they finished with when coming 17th in 2023/24 and goals from Chris Wood and captain Morgan Gibbs-White secured their first win at Goodison Park since 1999.
It was the Blues’ first Premier League defeat on home turf since the chastening 3-2 reversal against Bournemouth in the opening month of the campaign but with just three victories so far this term, they go into 2025 a mere three points above the relegation zone.
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Let down by those in front of him, he will be disappointed to have been beaten by Wood’s delicate lob but in truth there was little he could do about such an inspired finish and having been left exposed again when Morgan Gibbs-White doubled Forest’s lead, he had to make a smart save to deny Neco Williams from adding to the misery.
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Seamus Coleman’s injury ensured he was restored straight away at right-back after serving his suspension at Manchester City and while he got forward regularly in the first half and was at the hub of proceedings on set-piece duty with Dwight McNeil still out, his influence waned after the break, and it wasn’t a pretty sight seeing Ramon Sosa knock the ball forward then leave him for dust on the byline.
