- Forest have won either half in six of their last seven Premier League home games 
- Everton have lost either half in 10 of their 12 away league games this term 
- Recommended bet: Back Forest to win either half

A classic relegation six-pointer takes place by the River Trent as Sean Dyche's Everton attempt to stop the flow of Nottingham Forest's positive results at the City Ground this Saturday.

Unbeaten in their past eight Premier League home games, Steve Cooper's side have risen to 13th in the standings — although they are only four points clear of the relegation places.

The dotted line currently falls just above Everton's name and the prospect of the Merseyside club falling out of the top flight for the first time in 69 years remains very real heading into the spring.

Back-to-back defeats for the Toffees indicate the bounce that Nottingham native Dyche achieved by winning two of his first three games in charge has now dissipated.

Team news

Ryan Yates (illness) and Moussa Niakhate (hamstring) look like being available for the visit of Everton after returning to training this week.

Renan Lodi and Serge Aurier (calf) are fitness doubts while Willy Boly (hamstring), Scott McKenna (hamstring), Dean Henderson (thigh), Cheikhou Kouyate (hamstring), Taiwo Awoniyi (groin), Giulian Biancone (ACL) and Omar Richards (leg) are still out.

Cooper said Henderson is still "a few weeks away" while Awoniyi is "making good progress".

For Everton, Dyche revealed Dominic Calvert-Lewin (hamstring) has been "recovering and getting strong".

The Toffees boss did not suggest the striker would be ready to feature on Saturday, but he did not rule him out either.

Nathan Patterson played 70 minutes for the club's Under-21 side this week as he steps up his comeback again after injury.

Midfielder James Garner (back) could come back into the reckoning after getting minutes with the development side on Thursday, but Andros Townsend (ACL) remains out for the time being.

The stats

Only Manchester United (11) can boast a longer current unbeaten home run than Forest, who last lost in the Premier League at the City Ground in September.

But Cooper's side have been doing it without the lion's share of the ball as they have had less than 40% of possession in each of their last five home league games.

Everton are winless in their past eight Premier League games against promoted sides (D3 L5).

The Toffees have not scored more than once for 15 games, the last time coming in a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace last October.

Prediction

Tactical discipline will be crucial in a game like this where neither team truly wants to have the most possession. 

Forest have set up to play on the counter-attack in all their recent games and it has generally served them well.

Everton have lost all three away games under Dyche where their 4-5-1 formation has eventually been penetrated by more progressive opponents.

It will be interesting to see who blinks first here if each side's preferred approach is stymied by the other's tactic and it may take until well into the second half for there to be any flow.

A similar game to the one between these clubs at Goodison Park earlier this season could ensue which, while there were chances for either side in the first half, was tight and finished 0-0 at the break.

Forest eventually pushed hard enough to take the lead only for Demarai Gray to respond with a brilliant individual goal, but the Tricky Trees have grown enough in the meantime to make them worthy of support to win either half.

The hosts have won at least a half of football in six of their last seven home games while Everton have lost one 45-minute period in all but three of their 15 total away games this term.

Back Forest to win either half at 17/20 with LiveScore Bet.