Everton’s joint top scorers Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil could be absent when the Toffees attempt to extend their unbeaten run to five matches at home to put in-form Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday (3 p.m. 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.
“It’s still a bit of a touch and go scenario, with these games coming quickly – so it’s maybe, at the moment, whether Dwight will get there,” said Everton manager Sean Dyche.
“We’ll have to wait and see. We just need to make sure that on Illi [Ndiaye]. I took it out last game just because of some slight calf tightness – we’ll wait and see how that resolves.
This is what he does 🤩 pic.twitter.com/xstluSkCJN
-Everton (@Everton) December 27, 2024
Man City vs Everton: Ndiaye’s goal
Senegal international Ndiaye scored a first-half equalizer in his side’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Thursday before being taken off nine minutes from time.
Visiting goalkeeper Jordan Pickford also saved City top scorer Erling Haaland’s penalty after the break as Everton ensured they collected back-to-back draws against fourth-placed Arsenal, second-placed Chelsea and the champions in title.
“It would have been tough for them, so we take note,” Dyche replied when asked if Everton could have won, adding that he was neither “surprised nor relieved” by his players’ performance.
“I believe in them too. It just lacked a bit of intention. Two defeats in 13 – I know there have been a lot of draws – but it’s not easy to do that in the Premier League.
-iliman Ndiaye (@iliman_ndiaye) December 26, 2024
Everton v Forest
Forest’s 1-0 home win against Tottenham later on Thursday means they move into fourth place and on a four-game winning streak.
A win would propel Nuno Espirito Santo’s side into second place, although Forest lost both of their games against Everton last season without scoring.
Forest’s only victory in the last nine editions of the match came at Everton in 1999, with a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park in August 2022 their best result since then.
Everton, 15th, are three points clear of third-placed Leicester City with a game in hand and five behind Manchester United immediately above them.
