Everton still have plenty to play for, Moyes insists

Everton manager David Moyes has made it clear that there is plenty still to play for, despite his side appearing safe from relegation.

The Toffees have a 15-point gap between themselves and the bottom three in the Premier League, after a 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal last weekend.

They travel to high-flying Nottingham Forest on Saturday, and Moyes has urged his squad to stand up and be counted against their third-place opponents.

"I've said to the players that the challenge we've got is to prove how we get on against the better teams," he said.

"We are trying to play better. We didn't do that [against Arsenal], so we need to find a way we can do that. Moving forward, we are trying to find how to get better against better sides.

"We've done a pretty good job. We are just about there, not mathematically, but just about clear of being a Premier League team."

Everton's draw at home to Arsenal saw the return to the starting XI of Iliman Ndiaye, who scored the equaliser from the penalty spot. 

Ndiaye had come off the bench against Liverpool in midweek after two months out, and his inclusion provided a timely boost for the Toffees.

"We missed Iliman. He is one of our major talents," Moyes said. "We have missed Dwight McNeil as well, and we are without Dom [Calvert-Lewin], so we've had to find a way to get results."

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo, meanwhile, has acknowledged the difficulty of moving on from a defeat after they were beaten by Aston Villa last weekend.

"It was one of the matches that we created the most in, but didn't take anything from the game," he said.

"When you lose, you don't recover so well. The miles come to your mind. It's always easy when you are in a good moment. Now, it is not so good, and it requires a bit of patience."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Nottingham Forest - Callum Hudson-Odoi

Hudson-Odoi created six chances for Forest during their 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, his most in any of his 127 Premier League games to date.

Since Forest returned to the top-flight in 2022-23, only Morgan Gibbs-White has created more in a single game for them (seven against Bournemouth in January 2023).

Hudson-Odoi also comes into this game having scored three goals in his last six league appearances.

Everton - Iliman Ndiaye

Ndiaye has scored four goals in his last five Premier League starts for Everton, all since Moyes was re-appointed as manager.

He is averaging a goal every 115 minutes under Moyes; among players to play seven or more games under him in the Premier League, only Apostolos Vellios (one every 110 mins) and Nick Chadwick (one every 111 mins) have scored at a more frequent rate.

MATCH PREDICTION: NOTTINGHAM FOREST WIN

Forest have won 12 of their last 13 Premier League games against teams starting the day in the bottom half of the table (lost one), including winning the last nine in a row.

The Tricky Trees have also won seven of their last nine Premier League home games (drawn two), more than their previous 24. 

They have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four at the City Ground, last recording more in a row at home in the top-flight in May 1980 under Brian Clough (eight).

Following their 2-0 win at Goodison Park in December, meanwhile, Forest are looking to complete their first league double over Everton since 1994-95.

The Toffees have the fourth-worst travelling record in the Premier League this season, having taken just 15 points from their 15 away games.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY 

Nottingham Forest – 48.3%

Draw – 26.4%

Everton – 25.4%