The calendar is about to flip over to 2026, but Everton have one more match to finish off 2025, as Matchday 19 nicely reaches the halfway point of the campaign as the new year comes.
The Toffees will play their second successive away match to close things out in 2025 with their trip to Notthingham Forest, having drawn 0-0 with Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday, although they'll have felt hard done by refereeing decisions for two weeks running.
This match will finish the season series between the two clubs, with Everton having thumped the Reds 3-0 at Hill Dickinson earlier this month. David Moyes' side will look to continue that success against Forest, although one the goal scorers, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, will not be available for Tuesday's match.
Everton will also continue to be without Iliman Ndiaye, off at AFCON with Senegal, although the hope is that Jack Grealish will be feeling well enough to go after missing Saturday's draw at Burnley.
With all this in mind, let's take a look at how Moyes might choose to set up his side heading into the match at The City Ground.
Everton projected lineup v Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper & Defenders
Jordan Pickford (GK): Nothing much to say here. Burnley didn't pressure him all that much on Saturday, and he made just two saves in the previous meeting against Forest.
Vitalii Mykolenko (LB): No surprise here either. The Ukrainian is solid in defense, but doesn't offer much going forward.
James Tarkowski (CB): The Englishman has shown a lot of improvement as the season has gone on, but he and his partner remain on watch for who'll be replaced with Jarrad Branthwaite's return coming soon.
Michael Keane (CB): Ditto to above, although Keane has been the more consistent performer throughout the season.
Jake O'Brien (RB): Everton need a starting right back in the upcoming transfer window. Until then, there's little reason to think O'Brien will be replaced with all the injuries in midfield.
Midfielders
Tim Iroegbunam (CM): He's been solid in the first two matches since Idrissa Gana Gueye departed for AFCON. He'll need to keep that up as the Senegalese international's time away continues.
James Garner (CM): One of Everton's players of the season so far, he's being asked to do different things on a regular basis. Remains up to the task.
Charly Alcaraz (CAM): The Argentine started the reverse fixture, albeit with Dewsbury-Hall playing just behind him to great effect. I would not be surprised if his poor recent form gives Merlin Röhl a shot here.
Forwards
Jack Grealish (LW): Moyes was coy in his pre-match press conference about whether or not he'd get any players back for this match, but given that Grealish was only ill, he feels like the most likely to return.
Tyler Dibling (RW): In my opinion, the young Englishman showed more in one match than Dwight McNeil has all season long. Maybe longer. He should be allowed a shot opposite a more dynamic player.
Thierno Barry (CF): Beto got the start on Saturday, but Barry started and opened his account against Forest last time out. The quick turnaround may have led to a planned swap.