Sean Dyche Returns as Everton Host Nottingham Forest

Everton host Nottingham Forest at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Forest’s recently appointed manager, Sean Dyche, returning to familiar circumstances, facing his old club in the Toffees.

Dyche was appointed manager at Everton in January 2023 and was dismissed 2 years later. When the Englishman was in charge at the club, it was an extremely difficult time behind the scenes at Finch Farm. During a period of financial distress, the Premier League toughened up on PSR rules, eventually leading to a heavy point deduction being laid on the Blues.

The 54-year-old guided the squad through multiple years of competing against possible relegation, and although challenging, every time Dyche found a way. As the new owners, The Friedkin Group, arrived, with high expectations and ambition for the future, the eerie prospect of relegation was too great for Dyche to stay, letting the manager go and replacing the Kettering-born coach with David Moyes.

Since being let go in January 2025, Dyche was unemployed until the opportunity arrived at Nottingham Forest due to the sacking of Ange Postecoglou. The prior manager to Postecoglou was Nuno Espirito Santos, who went through a period of complete disagreement with Greek owner Evangelos Marinakis due to transfers and tactical considerations.

The Australian gaffer lasted 39 days at Forest, losing 6 games and only achieving 2 draws. Being the victim of chants such as “sacked in the morning” from the fans in the City Ground, the end of the tenure was not very pretty, especially Postecoglou’s final game in charge. 20 minutes after the final whistle after the 3-0 defeat to Chelsea (18th October), the sacking was confirmed. To speed the process up even further, Marinakis left the private box early to prepare to reveal the 60-year-old’s sacking instantaneously.

Since Sean Dyche’s arrival, Nottingham Forest have picked up 5 wins from 9 games, including huge victories against Liverpool and Porto in the Europa League, and now sit above the relegation zone. Last time out for Forest, it was a trip to the Molineux Stadium to face Wolves, who are bottom of the league. A promising 1-0 victory with a second-half finish from Brazilian striker Igor Jesus leaves Rob Edward’s side still without a victory this season.

It has been doom and gloom for Wolves so far this season, but for the Toffees it has been a lot more positive. It was good news for the Blues when the monthly Premier League award nominations were revealed. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is up for Player of the Month. Iliman Ndiaye’s solo goal at the Stadium of Light is one of the nominations for Goal of the Month, as well as Jordan Pickford’s world-class save against Joshua Zirkzee during the 1-0 victory against United, which has been shortlisted for Save of the Month!

It was the same scoreline for the Toffees midweek, as Jack Grealish’s deflected goal gave Everton the three points on the south coast, completely bouncing back from the humbling 4-1 defeat against Newcastle the weekend prior.

A key part of this Everton defence this season, since Branthwaite’s injury especially, is Michael Keane. Not only shaping a strong partnership with Tarkowski but also chipping in with a fair few goals too, Keane has been smashing it. However, David Moyes has confirmed in the pre-match press conference that it is unpredictable whether Keane will be available for the game.

Furthermore, midfield pair Idrissa Gana Gueye and Tim Iroegbunam are suspended, as well as Merlin Röhl, and Jarrad Branthwaite and Seamus Coleman remain out. For Forest, there is a huge list of injury concerns that are expected to miss out: Ola Aina, Angus Gunn, Chris Wood, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Taiwo Awoniyi, Dilane Bakwa, and Douglas Luiz. Murillo faces a late fitness test, but key figure Morgan Gibbs-White is set to be available for the fixture at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

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Premier League Matchweek 15:

Saturday 6th December

Aston Villa 12:30 Arsenal

Bournemouth 15:00 Chelsea

Everton 15:00 Nottingham Forest

Man City 15:00 Sunderland

Newcastle 15:00 Burnley

Spurs 15:00 Brentford

Leeds 17:30 Liverpool

Sunday 7th December:

Brighton 14:00 West Ham

Fulham 16:30 Crystal Palace

Monday 8th December:

Wolves 20:00 Man United

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Thank you for reading my pre-match article!