Everton

Everton manager David Moyes has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the Toffees' win: "I was pleased we kept another clean sheet - I know that sounds negative, but that's the place to start. Winning any game in the Premier League is difficult at the moment, and going three goals ahead late on is good.

"The early goal let us sit in and counter-attack a bit more, and the second goal before half-time is a killer."

On Thierno Barry scoring his first goal for the club: "It's huge for him. It was coming, it was certainly due. You have got to score when you're playing as a centre-forward, otherwise we will find someone to replace him.

"When he went down he did it. He's had a bad shoulder, but he's been well looked after by the medical team."

On Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's form: "He is a really good footballer, a dedicated footballer. We have given him the chance to play regularly, which he missed at Chelsea, so hopefully we can keep him at it. He's had to play deeper, but his performances have been very good."

On the club's European ambitions: "I'm too old now to say we just want to avoid relegation, but I'm not daft enough to say Europe is possible. I don't think we are quite ready, but we will keep knocking at the door."

Everton goalscorer Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has also been speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We are, apart from the blip against Newcastle, clicking and playing some great stuff. We were the dominant team, they didn't cause us many problems.

"Of course Europe is a realistic ambition. The size of the club, the ownership, the stadium, it all shouts European football. A lot can happen, but we are making positive steps."

On his form at Everton: "I came here for a reason, I saw something that looked pretty special. Now I'm starting to feel really settled, the best I've ever felt, so long may that continue.

"The way the fans have taken to me is so humbling. The manager and players, they say: 'We know how good you are, go and express yourself'. Now it is about keeping on doing the right things and keeping a level head."

Did you know?

• Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has scored three goals in his past four Premier League games - just one goal fewer than he had managed in his first 82 appearances in the competition (four goals).

• Thierno Barry scored his first goal for Everton with his 19th shot in what was his 17th appearance across all competitions for the Toffees. It was his first goal since netting for former club Villarreal against Osasuna in May.

Listen to Moyes on BBC Sounds

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

Have your say on Everton's performance

What did you make of Nottingham Forest's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Michael Keane returns from injury to start in defence for Everton.

The defender missed the midweek win against Bournemouth with a minor issue but has now recovered.

Everton XI: Pickford, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Alcaraz, Grealish, Barry

Substitutes: Travers, King, Patterson, McNeil, Beto, Dibling, Aznou, Campbell

Nottingham Forest are unchanged from the team that beat Wolves last-time out.

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams, Sangaré, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson, Ndoye, I. Jesus

Substitutes: John; Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo, Domínguez, Yates, Jair Cunha, McAtee, Boly, Abbott

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

• Aston Villa v Arsenal (12:30)

• Bournemouth v Chelsea - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Everton v Nottingham Forest

• Manchester City v Sunderland

• Newcastle v Burnley

• Tottenham v Brentford - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

• Leeds v Liverpool (17:30) - listen on 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 Bournemouth v Chelsea" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Leeds v Liverpool", for instance.

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

I don't know what kind of reception Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche will get from Everton fans, but I'd like to think it will be a good one - based on how he dealt with the turmoil at the club when he was in charge there.

Given the circumstances at Everton, Dyche did a good job there - and I think he will do a good job at Forest too.

Wednesday's win at Wolves was another good result for him and it already feels like he has steadied the ship at Forest.

Put it this way, it already feels like they are going to be staying up pretty comfortably, because Dyche will be well aware of the work he has to do.

I don't see Forest getting anything on Saturday, though. It's been impossible to predict how Everton will do in recent weeks, but I have a feeling they will edge a very tight game.

Sutton's prediciton: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Everton will look to continue a run of three wins in four matches when they face a Nottingham Forest side managed by former Toffees boss Sean Dyche.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes as two in-form teams meet at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Everton's improvement under Moyes

When Everton sacked Sean Dyche in January this year, the Merseyside club were 16th in the Premier League table, one point above the relegation zone, following three wins in 19 matches.

If the tipping point for Dyche's tenure with the Toffees does not tell the whole story of how he successfully avoided relegation on two occasions despite financial troubles and points deductions, it also shows the improvement that Everton have made since David Moyes's return.

Moyes replaced Dyche and went on to guide Everton to 13th last season, some 23 points clear of relegation.

Everton's upward progress has continued into this campaign, with the Toffees amassing 21 points by 2 December – a figure they failed to reach until mid-February in each of the past three seasons, including both under Dyche.

The data also demonstrates how Moyes has made Everton more effective in both boxes, scoring more goals and conceding less often, whilst crucially winning a higher percentage of matches.

Such improvements have been boosted by recruiting the likes of Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to bolster Everton's creative capabilities but the journey, as Moyes has often referenced this season, is far from over.

Everton have lost two of their three previous matches at the Hill Dickinson, following only one defeat in the previous 13 at home, and Moyes's men will need to be at their best to see off a Forest side enjoying their own resurgence under Dyche.

Dyche galvanises Forest

While Everton were ailing when Dyche departed in January, his early impact in the East Midlands has been mightily positive. Forest have lost just two of nine matches in all competitions since Dyche replaced Ange Postecoglou in October, collecting 10 points from six league fixtures.

They come into this contest with exactly the same record as Everton over the past five matches (D, W, W, L, W) but crucially Forest have clicked away from home, winning consecutive top-flight matches on the road for the first time in a year courtesy of the 1-0 triumph at Wolves on Wednesday night.

Three wins in the last four Premier League games are as many as Forest had managed in their previous 18 (D5, L10), while Dyche has steered the club from 18th to 16th and four points clear of relegation.

A Premier League table since Dyche's first league game in charge on 26 October would place Forest in seventh – on exactly the same points as Everton.

Fitness concerns for both sides

With little to choose between the sides in terms of form, player availability could be key.

Everton are missing suspended midfielders Idrissa Gueye and Tim Iroegbunam, alongside injured number eight Merlin Rohl, meaning the home side look a little light in the engine room in a contest which is sure to be physical.

It could also present a problem at right-back should Michael Keane remain out. James Garner deputised there during Tuesday's win at Bournemouth to allow Jake O'Brien to cover for Keane at centre-back, although Garner may be needed in midfield on Saturday.

Forest, though, have fitness concerns of their own, with up to eight players at risk of missing out, but Dyche told Thursday's press conference that Morgan Gibbs-White is set to feature after he was substituted during injury time at Molineux.

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at Hill Dickinson Stadium (15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Moyes began with providing an injury update on Michael Keane: "I'm not sure yet if he's going to be right. He's played against Newcastle with an injury and he couldn't quite make it. I'm not sure if he's going to make it or not."

• Captain Seamus Coleman has pulled his hamstring and is "going to be out for a little while" but Moyes does not know "exactly the timescale on it".

• On Tim Iroegbunam, who started in pace of the suspended Idrissa Gueye in the midweek win over Bournemouth: "I'm pleased for Tim. He played really well for us and he got better as the game went on. He's been a bit up and down in the team but he's someone we really like. We think there's a player in there."

• Moyes praised former Toffees and current boss Sean Dyche: "From afar, it looked as if he steered the ship, which was in big trouble and was sinking and he did a great to make sure they were still in the Premier League. I think he did a brilliant job in what the situation was."

• On Jack Grealish's form: "I've don't think I've done an awful lot with Jack. I think the most important thing is we've tried to give him a bit of love and made him feel really welcome. I think the crowd here have done a brilliant job here. They've taken to him."

• He said the Toffees "want to be a team challenging for Europe" but also have to be realistic: "If we can get another win against Nottingham Forest, we push ourselves right in there again, but in the same breath we're all looking over our shoulder because we want to get more distance between the bottom of the league and the ones at the bottom at the moment."

• On Jake O'Brien, who has been used mostly at right-back but played at centre-back against the Cherries: "He is a centre-back and he's playing out of position. But if he plays centre-back, he's got to move the likes of Tarky [Tarkowski] and Jarrad [Branthwaite] and Keano [Keane] out, so he's got a bit to do. But he played really well the other night. While we're short of right-backs, he might be the best option in the building."

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

Image source, Getty Images

We asked how crucial you think Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been for Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Adam: Dewsbury-Hall has such a brilliant attitude as well as superb ability. He brings calmness on the ball and makes the right choices. You can really see his desire to win and perform for the fans as well. You can really feel his passion and I'm over the moon we've got him.

Paul: I feel Dewsbury-Hall has been pivotal to the team. He's played ever so well and he's also stood out more than he ever did at Chelsea. His all-round play has been great for Everton, long may it continue.

Mike: KDH is easily Everton's best player this season. I haven't seen a more complete central midfielder in my time supporting the club (born 1985).

He has everything.

Ross: KDH is the perfect Evertonian. Endeavour, energy, tough tackling and important goals. A modern-day Bally.

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has emerged from a difficult season at Chelsea to become a key figure at Everton.

The 27-year-old was a peripheral figure at Stamford Bridge after his £30m move from boyhood club Leicester in the summer of 2024, starting just two Premier League games and only featuring prominently in the Conference League.

It has been a marked contrast since joining the Toffees. He has started 13 of Everton's 14 Premier League matches - missing one game through suspension - scoring three goals and registering two assists.

Only Jack Grealish, who scored the winner against Bournemouth on Tuesday, has more goal involvements with six than Dewsbury-Hall's five for Everton so far this season. Yet it was his performance from a deeper midfield position in place of the suspended Idrissa Gueye that caught the eye against the Cherries.

"Kiernan has been playing ever so well in midfield," David Moyes said post-match. "I thought [in this game] he might have just been the difference at times for us. He had to play a little bit deeper. I'm so pleased with him."

Grealish added: "I thought he was so good when he played in a deeper role. I was so tired towards the end of the game and he had the ball a few times and was driving with it and playing passes.

"That is what you need. Kiernan was brilliant at that."

At Vitality Stadium, Dewsbury-Hall exhibited a gritty and physical side to his game, but it is his progressiveness that has really caught the eye this season.

His 24 completed passes into the penalty area places him fourth in the Premier League, as per FB Ref, while his 60 crosses is the 12th-most in the division.

His expected assisted goals - which records the expected goals from shots following an individual player's passes - is 2.76, which is the fifth-best in the Premier League.

For Everton, only James Garner (75) has made more progressive passes than Dewsbury-Hall's 68, while he leads the way for the club in dead-ball passes leading to a shot (nine) and completed through-balls (seven).

With Moyes lacking a reliable striker, the trio of Grealish, Iliman Ndiaye and Dewsbury-Hall just behind a front man has become vital to the side's success.

While the other two may be more flashy on the ball, Dewsbury-Hall has suggested he may possess the most versatility and well-rounded skillset of the three . There is therefore a strong argument that he is the most important.

*Stats provided by Opta

How impressed have you been with Dewsbury-Hall?

Is he a crucial player for this Everton side?

Tell us how good he can be this season

Pundits Danny Murphy and Shay Given join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Tuesday and Wednesday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

Jack Grealish struck Everton's late winner at Bournemouth via a deflection, notching his first Premier League goal from outside the box since November 2020, when he did so for Aston Villa versus West Ham.

It earned a superb win on the road and since David Moyes' first away game back in charge of Everton in January, only Arsenal - on 30 - have won more away Premier League points than Everton's 27.

"I have scored two goals now this season, one was a tackle and one was a deflection, but I got hammered for years for not scoring so I am taking both of the goals," said Grealish.

"It's good to be contributing. It's a brilliant team."

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans

Terry: The worst display by Bournemouth this season. The slick passing and pressing game has disappeared. We missed Ryan Christie and other key players. Alex Scott is unpredictable and Justin Kluivert is a shadow. Our players looked small and were pushed off the ball too easily. There is a lot of work to be done. Will our coach stay?

Lee: What happened to the free-flowing football Bournemouth gave us earlier in the season? The performance was woeful. They have replaced passion and goals with bickering and doubt.

Schrintzle: Pretty dire, notwithstanding several players out. Want to beat Bournemouth? Pack your defence with the biggest players you have! Simple.

Mick: We seem to have lost our way and I'm not sure how we're going to turn things around. Teams seem to have worked out how we play and how to neutralise our pressing style. We are not a tall team, so I don't understand why we keep putting the ball in the air, where we lose the second ball.

Everton fans

Anton: On what has been our bogey ground for too long now, we battled and gritted our way to another away win. It was also very important to bounce back after the Newcastle debacle. Let's be realistic, this is our season in a nutshell - we'll win some well, lose some badly, grind out some and be unlucky in some. We cross our fingers for a more positive performance against Nottingham Forest and Sean Dyche on Saturday.

Tom: Tim Iroegbunam put on a much better display after being hooked at half-time in the Newcastle match. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has such a good engine on him while Jake O'Brien at centre-back is a colossus!

Mark: A dogged, fighting performance. A completely different one from the display against Newcastle. I've been saying for some time that Jack Grealish needs to shoot more rather than cross or pass and luckily he did. I hope this is where he kicks on and gets his England place back too. Three great points towards a top-half finish this season, I hope!

Garry: Thierno Barry and Beto both put in a shift. I wish one of them would score as a reflection of their efforts. In any case, I'm made up to win.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton defender Jake O'Brien was "buzzing" after coming away with a clean sheet and three points from the long trip to Bournemouth.

O'Brien praised his team-mates for winning three of their past four matches and said the team "stuck together" after defeat against Newcastle on Saturday.

"Mentally, we're a strong group of lads, with a lot of leaders and we knew that it was a quick turnaround so we had to put it behind us," O'Brien said.

"Things like that happen in football and we came away from the weekend very disappointed but we got a win here and that's three in four. We're picking up points and it's important that we keep doing it.

"We're playing top teams, and as long as we stick together, get clean sheets, we can get the ball up to a winger or the attackers and get them one-v-one, creating chances and scoring goals.

"Everyone played their part, midfielders tucked in and won the ball and got us up the pitch and then the wingers get it up there. But it wasn't just the defenders - it was a collective performance and a collective defensive performance.

"We're getting on with Jack [Grealish] and if he can get a one-v-one with anyone he can do them. He came inside, took his shot and I'm not surprised he's come away with a goal because he's a top, top player and you can keep adding goals and assists to his game.

"It's special to have these performances but we've got to keep doing it. There's a lot of big games over Christmas and it's important that we pick up as many points as we can."

Listen to O'Brien on BBC Sounds

Everton boss David Moyes speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was an excellent win for us because it has not really been a happy hunting ground for Everton in recent years. Bournemouth have been doing really well this year so we might have just caught them at the right time, they had a couple of injuries and suspensions, so did we.

"I thought he game was pretty tight and maybe whoever got he first goal was going to win it. Generally I'm really pleased we managed to get the three points.

"Garner did a great job Semenyo who has been in top form at the minute and also Dewsbury-Hall who played ever so well in midfield - I thought tonight he might just have been the difference for us. He did a lot, had to play a bit deeper tonight because we are missing some midfield players, so I'm so pleased with him.

"We've won three of the last four. We had a disappointing defeat at the weekend but the players have bounced back well and kept a few clean sheets as well which is always important.

"The fans love Jack, they certainly do. He is certainly a top player and has continued to show it. I want him to get more goals, he has got a goal tonight, I don't know if it will go down as an own goal, I hope not. I want him to score more, make more assists, but he has made a big difference and he is loved by everybody."

Everton forward Jack Grealish speaking to BBC Match of the Day about his partnership with Dewsbury-Hall: "I said that to him then, I thought he was so good. He played in a more deeper role today. I was so tired towards the end of the game and he had the ball a few times and was driving with it and playing passes. That is what you need.

"I told the lads in the dressing room that when you come to places as difficult as this where they are going to be on you, you need players to take a lot of touches and want the ball and not be afraid to stay on the ball. Kiernan was brilliant at that tonight."

Did you know?

David Moyes has never lost a Premier League game at the Vitality Stadium against Bournemouth – it is the stadium he's managed at most often without losing in the competition.

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

This was a highly satisfying performance for Everton boss David Moyes.

He had seen his side capitulate in front of their own fans last time out, but they responded with a gritty display that was capped off by a goal on the counter by Jack Grealish.

Moyes has been calling for the winger to contribute more in terms of goals and assists, and he duly delivered to earn the Toffees a first top-flight win at Bournemouth at the ninth attempt.

Grealish now has two goals and four assists in 13 Premier League games for Everton and Moyes will hope the player can kick on.

While the 30-year-old found the net for the first time since 5 October, Thierno Barry's wait for a first Everton goal continues after another frustrating game.

The French forward, 23, will feel unfortunate after Djordje Petrovic's decent save, but the £27m summer signing from Villarreal was guilty of wasteful finishing as the game wore on.

Grealish, though, stepped up when needed to deliver a welcome third top-flight away win of the season.

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

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

What did you make of Everton's display?

Come back on Wednesday for a selection of your replies

Eighteen-year-old Veljko Milosavljevic gets a rare start in Bournemouth's defence as Marcos Senesi is suspended. Justin Kluivert returns to the starting XI.

Bournemouth: Petrovic, Jimenez, Diakite, Milosavljevic, Truffert, Adams, Scott, Semenyo, Kluivert, Adli, Kroupi.

Despite seeing his side lose 4-1 at home to Newcastle on Saturday, Everton boss David Moyes makes just one change - Charly Alcaraz is in for Michael Keane, who is not involved.

Everton: Pickford, Garner, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Iroegbunam, Alcaraz, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Barry.

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

• Bournemouth v Everton

• Fulham v Manchester City

• Newcastle v Tottenham (20:15)

Kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction

Mike Richards
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

As we all know, five days is a long time in football.

From the jubilation of Monday night at Old Trafford to the despair of Saturday evening at Hill Dickinson Stadium - it's been a rollercoaster few days for Evertonians.

From a personal perspective, it simply highlights where we are.

It is easy to forget that our progression will not be straightforward or all in one direction. Defeats in the manner of that suffered against Newcastle may be few and far between but it reminds us all to keep grounded in the short term.

After the game, David Moyes was eager to point out the clear differences between both sides. Some do not like the honesty and his comments were interpreted as defeatist.

However, the manager doubled down on his comments again in today's pre-match news conference.

There is a difficulty trying to strike a balance when managing the expectations of fans. We all want to be able to run before we can walk, but this squad is small and injuries and suspensions have a telling impact on us more than most.

The dismissal of Idrissa Gana Gueye on Monday was dealt with somewhat comically after the event. A win will do that.

The reality is that the incident has and will cost Everton dearly.

Saturday highlighted the drop-off in quality and leadership in the middle of the park, without the Senegal international.

With Afcon on the horizon and Merlin Rohl injured, we knew the forthcoming games would prove difficult, but the unnecessary, self-inflicted nature of his absence is a bitter pill to swallow.

Both December and January will be hectic as always. Here is hoping those that step in do so with the grit and determination needed for us to keep picking up points.

Thankfully, we have a chance to right the wrongs of Saturday quickly.

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external