Nottingham Forest ended the year on a high note, defeating a lackluster Everton side to climb to second place in the Premier League standings.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s impressive team continues to defy expectations, emerging as one of the season’s standout stories with performances that challenge the league’s established elite. With Arsenal not playing until Wednesday, Forest’s victory at Goodison Park ensured they finished the day just behind league leaders Liverpool, who face West Ham later on Sunday.
Striker Chris Wood played a pivotal role, scoring his 11th league goal of the season with a sublime finish and providing the assist for Morgan Gibbs-White’s second-half strike. Wood had already sent warning shots with a long-range volley and a header that went over, but he made no mistake when combining with Anthony Elanga to loft the ball over a stranded Jordan Pickford.
Everton, meanwhile, struggled to threaten. Armando Broja, making his first start for the Toffees, showed glimpses of quality but missed a chance from the edge of the area. Ramon Sosa also failed to double Forest’s lead before halftime, sending a promising opportunity wide.
Gibbs-White secured the win shortly after the hour mark, cutting inside and firing home to cement Forest’s place as Liverpool’s nearest challengers at the season’s midpoint.
Ruthless in Attack, Resilient in Defense
Since replacing Steve Cooper just over a year ago, Nuno Espirito Santo has transformed Forest from a team battling relegation to one competing among the league’s best. The team has now won five consecutive matches and sits between Liverpool and third-placed Arsenal. While a title challenge remains ambitious, a top-four finish is a realistic goal.
Forest’s success is built on strong starts, having taken the lead in 15 of their 19 matches this season. Wood’s clinical finishing continues to be a key factor, while Gibbs-White demonstrated his quality despite an earlier miss. At the back, Serbian defender Nikola Milenkovic has anchored a defense that has conceded just 19 goals all season.
Everton struggled to break through Forest’s solid defense, managing only two shots on target. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s tame header and a late effort from substitute Beto were easily dealt with by goalkeeper Matz Sels.
The defeat ended Everton’s four-game unbeaten run, leaving them in 16th place, just three points above the relegation zone. Sean Dyche’s side has now won only three matches this season, highlighting the challenges ahead.
Player of the Match: Chris Wood