Everton

Sean Dyche makes made one change to the Nottingham Forest side which lost 2-1 to Manchester City on Saturday.

Arsenal loanee Oleksandr Zinchenko replaces Nicolo Savona, who drops to the bench.

Nottingham Forest XI: John Victor, Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Zinchenko, Anderson, Dominguez, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson, Jesus

Subs: Sels; Morato, Awoniyi, Douglas Luiz, Kalimuendo, McAtee, Bakwa, Savona, Abbott.

David Moyes makes three changes for Everton's trip to the City Ground

Nathan Patterson and Merlin Rohl make their first starts of the season while Thierno Barry returns to the starting line-up.

Michael Keane and Charly Alcaraz are missing from the squad, while Beto is among the substitutes along with Jack Grealish, who has recovered from a virus to make the bench after missing the weekend's 0-0 draw at Burnley.

Everton XI: Pickford, Patterson, Tarkowski, O'Brien, Mykolenko, Garner, Iroegbunam, Dibling, Rohl, McNeil, Barry

Subs: Travers, King, Welch, Grealish, Campbell, Graham, Beto, Aznou, Bates

Giulia Bould
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Whether Beto and Thierno Barry could potentially play in attack together for Everton is one of the questions sent into us via our 'Ask about Everton' form.

I get asked this question a lot and I think there are several reasons for it right now.

Beto and Barry have only ever played together once this season and that was for just four minutes in the opening game away at Leeds. While that is not a long enough time for a full report on the idea, it did nothing to make David Moyes think it could be a viable option.

The original plan was that Beto would be first choice. He was given the iconic number nine shirt in the summer and had impressed the manager enough to think he would have enough firepower after scoring seven goals once Moyes returned to the club in January.

Fast forward and Beto is on just one goal so far this season and that came back in August at Wolves. For a time, the two strikers were alternated before Barry was given a run of games to try to get him up to speed.

Now, 11 Premier League starts later and he too has just one goal which came at home against Nottingham Forest. As the numbers are so low, it would feel a shock now if both were used together, plus it would mean a big shift in how Everton play.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been one of the Toffees standout players in the number 10 role. His injury has seen Charly Alcaraz step in rather than a change of formation to put two up top.

So with neither Beto or Barry even looking close to getting double figures, I do not see Moyes using both together and losing his midfield system that has worked well.

The manager's words for his two strikers have been few in public but his assessment of both has simply been "not good enough".

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Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

As 2025 draws to a close, let's relive one of Everton's most moving but celebratory days in club history.

Goodison Park had the farewell it truly deserved on Sunday, 18 May and for those of you who were lucky enough to be there it will be a day you will never forget.

Former players from all different decades gathered at 'The Grand Old Lady' for one final time to say their goodbye to the place they had called home for more than 130 years.

Lifelong fan and former boxer Tony Bellew interviewed a selection of them on their memories in front of the supporters in the stands.

Image source, Getty Images

There were even video messages from former captain and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Carlo Ancelotti, who managed the club for 18 months before returning to Real Madrid.

Image source, Getty Images

David Moyes had the honour of walking out with the Toffees for the final time at Goodison Park.

It just had to be him, didn't it?

Image source, Getty Images

The club left commemorative scarves on the seats for those who were lucky enough to have a ticket, and fans were adorned in Everton memorabilia.

A reminder that Goodison will forever be etched into the mind - and into some people's skin!

Image source, Getty Images

The football match itself played a smaller role in the day, but a 2-0 win over relegated Southampton meant everyone was in high spirits.

Iliman Ndiaye wrote himself into club history scoring two first-half goals that means he scored the final men's goal at the ground.

Image source, Getty Images

And the 'keep off the pitch' signs were put to one side at the full-time whistle as thousands poured on to the grass with family and friends.

No doubt there will be a few of you that took some of the hallowed turf as a memento too!

Image source, Getty Images

The emotional day marked the end of an era for Everton football club, but also the excitement of a new beginning.

Image source, Getty Images

Listen to BBC Radio Merseyside's 'Goodbye to Goodison' special on BBC Sounds

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

Nottingham Forest ended 2024 by beating Everton away but they have only earned one point from the past five Premier League meetings between the sides at the City Ground. BBC Sport explores some of the talking points for Tuesday's game.

Sean Dyche has switched clubs in 2025 but otherwise ends the year the way he began it, in a relegation scrap. Dyche was sacked as Everton manager on 9 January with Everton 16th in the table and one point clear of the bottom three. He took over a Nottingham Forest side in even greater peril in late October but they currently have a five-point cushion over the dropzone.

Nonetheless, consistency has been an issue for Forest under Dyche. They have suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time under him, albeit an industrious display against Manchester City last time out was a considerable improvement on the lacklustre showing away at Fulham before Christmas.

Chris Wood's 20 goals were vital in Forest earning European qualification last season. Without him because of persistent knee problems, no Forest player has more than three league goals this season. Winless Wolves are the only club whose top scorer has fewer.

A lack of goals is also holding back Everton. They and Forest are the joint-second lowest scorers in the division, averaging only a goal per game.

Both sides rank middle of the pack for the number of goal attempts they have had in the Premier League this season but their quality of finishing lets them down.

Everton have only converted 29% of their big chances – situations in which a player would reasonably be expected to score. It is the lowest figure in the top flight.

Four-goal leading scorers Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were both missing against Burnley, while Jack Grealish was ruled out with a virus. Their absence was keenly felt in a dire goalless draw.

It means that Everton, who moved up to fifth in the table with a 3-0 home win over Nottingham Forest earlier this month, have gone three Premier League games without a goal for the first time in nearly a year.

Strikers Beto and Thierno Barry only have one league goal apiece this season, leaving manager David Moyes to concede: "That's not good enough and we need to find more goals."

It will not be lost on any Everton followers that Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who chose to leave the club in the summer after a nine-year spell, is enjoying a six-match goalscoring streak for Leeds.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton went into 2025 hoping to start a new chapter in club history after The Friedkin Group took over from Farhad Moshiri.

Sean Dyche's dismissal nine days into the calendar year made way for David Moyes' return and Premier League survival was secured without going down to the wire.

But it is Sunday, 18 May that will stick in Evertonian's hearts forever.

After 133 years as Everton's home, it was time for the men's team to say goodbye to the 'Grand Old Lady.'

In a special 'Goodbye to Goodison' programme, the BBC Radio Merseyside team reminisce on that day and celebrate a stadium that will always be iconic in English football.

Listen now

Everton are considering loan moves for Manchester United's 20-year-old England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo and his team-mate and Netherlands forward Joshua Zirkzee, 24. (i Paper - subscription required, external)

However, Everton have ruled out a move for Wolves' 25-year-old Norway forward Jorgen Strand Larsen. (Football Insider, external)

Finally, Bournemouth are interested in Leicester City's 21-year-old Ghana winger Abdul Fatawu, who has previously been linked to Everton. (Mail, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Everton beat Nottingham Forest comfortably at the start of December, but that was with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish in their team.

It is possible that Grealish will be back from a virus to play in this game, but Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye will be much missed and we saw how much it affected Everton's firepower when they played without all three of them in their draw at Burnley.

Forest were very good against Manchester City on Saturday and they will feel they should've got something out of that game.

Sean Dyche was unhappy with City's winner but, watching it back, you could see Morgan Gibbs-White hooked his leg around Nico O'Reilly and tried to drag him down with him, so it was good refereeing to suss that out and not give the foul to Forest.

Even so, it was an impressive display. Because of that, and because of who Everton will be missing, I'm backing Dyche to get the better of his old team this time.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On his team's performance at Burnley: "It was always going to be a bit of a challenge, but I really hoped that we'd play much better. Lots of the football wasn't of the level that it should be."

• Jack Grealish will be back this week "with a bit of luck", Moyes hopes.

• Moyes credited the "huge influence" of Jordan Pickford and "how well" Michael Keane and James Tarkowski have stood up to attackers for Everton's five clean sheets in their past eight games.

• On their results and the league: "If you win two, you might move up to fifth - if you lose two, you might drop down to 15th . We want to keep picking up points where we can."

• Moyes said Thierno Barry has "improved" but his one goal is "not good enough" for a number nine.

• On their next opponents: "Nottingham Forest qualified for Europe last year and played really well all last season. The squad of players are certainly far better than their position suggests at the moment."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Burnley and Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Burnley fans

Paul: That was better from the Clarets. Everton had more shots on target but for once it looked like Burnley could win it. Some big chances missed. One that slipped away.

Harvo: More positive display than we have been seeing but our lack of quality in the final third will cost us dear.

Peter: Best home performance for a while. Don't know why Scott Parker keeps picking Marcus Edwards though - he very rarely beats an opponent and is easily taken off the ball. Desperately need a decent striker.

Graham: Scott Parker says football is like a boxing match. Unfortunately, we are going down without a fight. He sends them in with one hand tied behind their backs.

Everton fans

Jeff: If you don't have a proper striker and you are missing your three best players - Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye - I guess a draw is a good outcome. Having said that, we played Burnley. Second from bottom Burnley! Even worse is the fact that for a new much needed striker we have to rely on the same people who bought £40 million Tyler Dibling and £9 million Adam Aznou this summer. We all know how that worked out!

Paul: We are certainly down to the bare bones. Playing with a midfield that haven't played together this season was a big ask. The rebuild is still underway and this was a good point given our absences. I do fear the Nottingham Forest and Brentford games coming up if we don't get some players back.

Christopher: Truly shocking first half. Improvement in second half with both sides having chances. Apart from Tim Iroegbunam, none of the replacements did themselves any favours. To be fair to David Moyes he had few options on the bench to change things up. Without Grealish, KDH and Ndiaye, we are a bang average lower to midtable side.

Mike: Let's not sugarcoat it - that was absolutely woeful from Everton. We offered nothing; no runners off the ball, passing backwards, sideways or giving it away time and time again. Forest away next. Repeat that performance and we will get hammered.

Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 2-1 Brighton

• Liverpool 2-1 Wolves

• Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa

Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Everton's winless run in the Premier League was extended to three matches after an underwhelming goalless draw at Burnley on Saturday.

The stalemate, which came on the back of consecutive defeats by Chelsea and Arsenal, is a setback for David Moyes' side who are searching for a place in a European competition after a seven-year hiatus.

But the Everton boss is facing a considerable challenge negotiating the busy festive period amid the lack of availability of some of his key attacking players.

He is without their joint top scorers Iliman Ndiaye, currently representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, and the injured Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall while defensive midfielder Idrissa Gueye is also part of the Senegal side looking to go all the way.

Jarrad Branthwaite and Seamus Coleman have both remained sidelined with hamstring injuries and adding to Moyes' woes on Saturday was the absence of Jack Grealish, who the manager explained missed out because of a "virus".

With only six outfield players on their bench - four of whom were yet to make their full Premier League debuts - the Toffees only produced an expected goals (xG) of 0.88 in the game to settle for a point against the relegation-threatened Clarets.

With games coming thick and fast, Moyes would hope to get his fringe players like Dwight McNeil and Tyler Dibling firing to their full potential if they are maintain their push for a top-half finish this season.

Everton boss David Moyes spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's draw away at Burnley: "You wouldn't want to watch too much of that, certainly from our point of view. Burnley might have different thoughts but from our point of view it wasn't a good performance. We have been playing quite well recently but today wasn't one of our best.

"It's a difficult time. Lots of games and different things going on, but I was disappointed that we didn't play better, because we can do a lot better than we played. We go away with a point and a clean sheet so there are some positives to take from it.

"I'm not happy at all because I didn't come here for a point, I came here to take three, but we never really got going right from the start. I never thought we got into second gear. But when you can't play so well you've got to try and take something from the game and we did do."

On Everton's penalty shout: "I saw one right at the end where [Jake] O'Brien heads the ball onto the boy's arm which was up in the air - we got done with a penalty last week. So that is the only one I've seen but someone did tell me that there was another one."

On injuries and absences: "No [Kiernan] Dewsbury-Hall, no [Jarrad] Branthwaite, no [Iliman] Ndiaye is away, so is [Idrissa] Gueye, so we have quite a few players out at the moment. Hopefully Jack [Grealish] will be back in training and we will get him back this week sometime."

Did you know?

• Everton have drawn 112 Premier League games by a 0-0 scoreline, the most of any side in the competition's history.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Burnley's performance

What did you make of Everton's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Burnley boss Scott Parker makes three changes from the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth last week.

Armando Broja, who scored the late equaliser against the Cherries, starts along with Bashir Humphreys and Marcus Edwards as Zian Flemming and Jaidon Anthony drop to bench and Joe Worrall misses out.

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Laurent, Larsen, Ugochukwu, Edwards, Humphreys, Ekdal, Pires, Cullen, Broja.

Subs: Weiss, Hartman, Anthony, Florentino, Tchaouna, Flemming, Sonne, Tresor, Barnes.

Everton manager David Moyes makes two changes to the side that started the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal.

Tyler Dibling is given a rare start but Jack Grealish is missing from the matchday squad entirely while Beto replaces Thierno Barry up front.

Everton XI: Pickford, Keane, Tarkowski, McNeil, Beto, O'Brien, Mykolenko, Dibling, Alcaraz, Garner, Iroegbunam.

Subs: Travers, King, Patterson, Barry, Rohl, Aznou, Welch, Campbell.

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Nottingham Forest v Manchester City (12:30)

• Arsenal v Brighton - BBC Radio 5 Live

• Brentford v Bournemouth

• Burnley v Everton

• Liverpool v Wolves - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• West Ham v Fulham

• Chelsea v Aston Villa (17:30) - BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Brighton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Aston Villa", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Burnley got a late goal that earned them a point at Bournemouth, which felt big for their boss Scott Parker - it felt like a few Clarets fans were questioning whether he is the man to keep them in the Premier League.

As I've said before, I've always felt like Burnley were being competitive, even when they were losing games.

This is going to be a close game, too. Everton's problem is that they are missing Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and they might have to settle for a point.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Burnley target a first Premier League win since 26 October against an Everton side who have lost their past two league fixtures.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes ahead of Saturday's meeting at Turf Moor (15:00 GMT).

Burnley's first point since October

Burnley avoided equalling the club record run of eight successive Premier League defeats with a creditable draw at Bournemouth last weekend. However, while picking up a first point since 26 October may have provided some welcome relief to supporters, the manner of the result has been Burnley's 2025-26 campaign in microcosm so far.

The Clarets have not won a game since defeating Wolves two months ago, because of an unwanted combination of a lack of creativity in attack in addition to struggles in defence.

Burnley did not record a shot of any kind until the 86th minute at the Vitality Stadium, while Armando Broja's injury-time equaliser was their first, and only, shot on target.

Scott Parker's side simply cannot sustain such paucity in attack with the number of chances they are conceding to opposing teams.

The Clarets have faced the most shots, allowed the most opposition touches in their box and have the highest expected goals tally against of any Premier League side this season. Although Broja's first goal in more than two years will be a boost to manager and player alike, the Albania international has only once scored in back-to-back matches in 87 appearances in the Premier League.

Everton's misfiring attack

Broja next faces an Everton side where he spent an injury-hit season on loan in 2024-25, failing to score in all 11 outings for the Toffees.

Where Burnley and Broja can take comfort is that Everton are experiencing their own problems in front of goal, a season-long search for firepower further undermined by the loss of top scorers Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury Hall to the Africa Cup of Nations and injury respectively.

As a result, David Moyes's men are one of only two sides, along with Brighton, to have failed to score in the past two match rounds.

Meanwhile, Everton average just a point per game across their 10 Premier League matches without Ndiaye in the starting line-up since the start of last season, compared to 1.4 per game when he starts.

The Toffees' problems in attack, however, differ slightly from those of Saturday's hosts. Whereas Burnley are struggling to create chances, Everton are unable to take them, with strikers Beto and Thierno Barry mustering just two Premier League goals in total so far between them.

Image source, BBC Sport

Moyes, though, has a good record against the Clarets. He hasn't lost any of his past six Premier League meetings with them, all as West Ham manager between January 2021 and March 2024, while his last game against Burnley as Toffees manager was in December 2009, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from James Vaughan and Steven Pienaar.

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, PA Media

Everton's requirement is simple. They must address the problem that threatens to undermine the many improvements seen this season as manager David Moyes completes almost 12 months back in his second spell at the club.

They have to sign a striker who can score goals.

Moyes has a potent creative trio at his disposal in on-loan Jack Grealish, £25m summer signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye.

All this, however, has often been wasted by the lack of a reliable, consistent striker.

Thierno Barry has won plaudits for his effort, not least from Everton's fans, following his £27m signing from Villarreal, but one Premier League goal is an accurate reflection of his impact, while fellow striker Beto has the same dismal return as the January window approaches.

Everton's need has been given added urgency with Ndiaye away with Senegal at the Africa Cup Of Nations, while Dewsbury-Hall is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Moyes' side barely laid a glove on Arsenal in the last home defeat and there have been other occasions this season when a striker of quality might have transformed one point into three.

This has been an obvious flaw since the start of the season, so it would be a mistake on the part of Moyes and Everton's recruitment team if they do not have plans to put in place quickly right at the start of January.

Everton also need to bring in a right-back, having failed to do so in the summer.

Captain Seamus Coleman is now at the veteran stage and regularly troubled by injuries. Jake O'Brien is a central defender by nature who has filled in at right-back. James Garner has also taken on the task in defence, but it is a waste of a talented player who can provide creation from midfield.

Moyes thought he had signed Kenny Tete in the summer, only for the defender to decide to stay at Fulham, so this is another priority area to strengthen.

It's a festive special of The Wayne Rooney Show as Wayne, Kelly Somers and Kae Kurd are joined by Sam Allardyce and Dion Dublin for a Christmas catch-up.

Wayne reveals his eyebrow-raising Christmas dinner choices and what the big day is really like in the Rooney household, while the panel lifts the lid on how footballers actually spend Christmas.

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Everton are actively exploring loan opportunities for left-back Adam Aznou, 19, with the Morocco international yet to feature for the first team. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Burnley at Turf Moor (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There are no fresh injury concerns for the weekend's game. The squad should "just about be the same" as the one that faced Arsenal.

• Jarrad Branthwaite, who hasn't played a single minute for Everton this season, is getting "closer to the grass and closer to his return" from a hamstring injury. The centre-back could be back on the grass by the end of this year.

• Moyes added: "He isn't due to integrate back in for another two to three weeks, maybe even more. He has missed too much of this season to get back into things quickly. We could do with him back though, even just getting him into the squad would be great for numbers."

• When asked if he is happy going into Christmas 10th in the table, he replied: "Sort of, but a couple of weeks ago we were fifth or sixth and hoping to go higher. If you can win two or three games on the bounce in this league, it makes a big difference. I hope we have a couple more of them this season so we can challenge at the top again."

• Three festive fixtures in eight days isn't a concern for Moyes, who is more concerned about "not having as many players in our squad, picking up the odd injury here and there, and Afcon".

• On Tim Iroegbunam's reaction after being criticised by fans for his performance against Newcastle, he said: "He has a lot of really good attributes. He played well at the weekend and we want him to continue that. We want him to improve and keep his training levels really high."

• Everton won't be doing "loads of business" in the January transfer window. He added: "The ownership want us to have a plan, want us to prepare and do everything in a certain fashion. It won't be a case of coming up with quick fixes."

• He admitted that the club don't want to get everybody's hopes up and that he "laughs a bit" at all the transfer speculation.

• On the reports that Dwight McNeil might leave in January, he said: "I don't know where that's come from. As the manager of this football club, I haven't heard anything about it. There is no plan for it. I don't really want to lose anybody."

Hear more from Moyes on BBC Sounds

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Giulia Bould
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Top of David Moyes's list for Father Christmas is a striker who can score. Seventeen Premier League games in, his two front men Beto and Thierno Barry have just one goal each.

It makes the fact Everton are 10th and five points off fifth more remarkable as they have clocked up that tally without a firing strikeforce.

It is largely down to some clever summer signings in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish, who have helped transform the midfield. Some questioned how effective Iliman N'Diaye would be moved out to the right wing, but the Senegal star has proved he is world-class anywhere he plays with some standout performances.

Everton and the right-back position is now an age-old discussion and if there is one at the North Pole workshop then the manager would be delighted to find it under his tree.

The Jake O'Brien experiment that worked well towards the end of last season has failed to sparkle and James Garner remains the club's best full-back despite being a midfielder.

Among the positives this campaign have been the new home of Hill Dickinson Stadium. It is already providing some fierce atmospheres and the crowd played a big part in the comeback win over Crystal Palace in October. The Toffee doughnuts have also gone down a storm. If you've visited you will know they are worth having blue teeth for!

So as David Moyes probably leaves one out for Father Christmas on 24 December, his wish will be to find a striker worthy of the number nine shirt that has been worn by the likes of Dixie Dean, Graeme Sharp, Kevin Campbell and Duncan Ferguson. If Everton can get that fixed then the European charge could well be on in 2026.