After collecting a hat-trick of credible draws against established Premier League heavyweights Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City in December, Everton’s calendar year ended on a low with a 2-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, the division’s surprise package so far this season. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side went into this fixture having already secured more wins and points that they finished with when coming 17th in 2023/24 and goals from Chris Wood and captain Morgan Gibbs-White secured their first win at Goodison Park since 1999.

It was the Blues’ first Premier League defeat on home turf since the chastening 3-2 reversal against Bournemouth in the opening month of the campaign but with just three victories so far this term, they go into 2025 a mere three points above the relegation zone.

Jordan Pickford 6

Let down by those in front of him, he will be disappointed to have been beaten by Wood’s delicate lob but in truth there was little he could do about such an inspired finish and having been left exposed again when Morgan Gibbs-White doubled Forest’s lead, he had to make a smart save to deny Neco Williams from adding to the misery.

READ MORE: Everton vs Nottingham Forest LIVE - team news, kick-off time, TV channel, score and stream

Ashley Young 6

Seamus Coleman’s injury ensured he was restored straight away at right-back after serving his suspension at Manchester City and while he got forward regularly in the first half and was at the hub of proceedings on set-piece duty with Dwight McNeil still out, his influence waned after the break, and it wasn’t a pretty sight seeing Ramon Sosa knock the ball forward then leave him for dust on the byline.

Vitalii Mykolenko 6

Had his hands full against the tricky Anthony Elanga which has restricted his forays upfield and blazed high and wide with a messy cross-shot when he did get forward late in the first half, but Everton’s defensive problems were more down the middle.

James Tarkowski 5

The Everton captain plays on the edge with his physical approach and having been booked early on for a challenge on Ramon Sosa, it seemed fortunate that his full-blooded tackle on Chris Wood early in the second half was deemed fair, but his positioning looked off as he allowed Morgan Gibbs-White’s pass to dissect him and Branthwaite for the opening goal and he also wasn’t alert enough to the loose ball that got him and Doucoure in a mess ahead of the second.

Jarrad Branthwaite 5

A mixed bag from the highly-rated young centre-back as offered some encouraging moments on the ball and made a terrific challenge on Jota Silva late on but left Chris Wood unmarked for the first goal as he was drawn towards Anthony Elanga.

Idrissa Gueye 6

Racing around like a whirling dervish but as he attempted to put out fires in the engine room, but the flames would ultimately engulf him as Forest took control.

Orel Mangala 5

Has usually been Everton’s steadying influence in the centre of the park but in his attempts to find a killer ball, he often looked ponderous against his former club.

Abdoulaye Doucoure 4

Plenty of endeavour and tried to make a nuisance of himself but it was all rather scrappy and he got himself into an almighty mess for the second, giving the ball away cheaply and then allowing Gibbs-White to escape his attentions despite tracking him.

Jack Harrison 4

Looks like he could do with a confidence boost as his decision-making was still off with him gifting Forest possession when Ashley Young was in acres of space setting a nervous tone for the hosts and subsequently hooked at the interval.

Iliman Ndiaye 6

Always trying to make something happen, but it wouldn’t click for him today, he did incredibly well to win back possession and work an opening for a Jesper Lindstom shot in the second half while an early effort from himself went high over the bar.

Armando Broja 6

First start for the on-loan striker, he suffered the same issues as Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been dealing with as the game wasn’t as open as when he’s been coming off the bench late on in recent outings and struggled to impose himself, finally working an opening on his left foot that went wide just before the break, before making way as Everton chased the game.

Substitutes

Jesper Lindstrom (on 46 for Harrison) 6

Was much more of a threat than Harrison and tried to make things happen with an industrious display which included a shot which flew over the bar.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (on 68 for Gueye) 6

On for the final quarter having been dropped from the starting line-up, he’s still struggling to get on the end of decent chances.

Nathan Patterson (on 68 for Young) 6

The lesser-spotted right-back came on to share in the misery like he’d done in his last significant outing at Old Trafford and that last minute sprint back towards his own goal with Elanga can’t have been fun.

Beto (on 75 for Broja)

Late cameo as the hosts continued with two up top but he and Calvert-Lewin still don’t look like an effective partnership.