Nottingham Forest up to 2nd place after win at Everton

The Premier League table is starting to have a 1979 kind of feel to it — with Liverpool at the top of the standings and Nottingham Forest in second place as the closest challenger.

Forest was runner-up behind Liverpool in the English top tier in 1979 – the same year it won the first of two straight European Cups under Brian Clough – but hasn't finished that high in the domestic first division since then.

The club's long-suffering fans finally have reason to believe that the good times are back under Nuno Espirito Santo after Sunday's 2-0 win at Everton continued its surprising push for a Champions League place. Although the Portuguese manager was the first to point out that his team may not stay in second place for very long.

"It doesn't mean anything," Nuno said of his team's position. "We haven't achieved anything yet."

Chris Wood put Forest ahead against Everton with a delicate lob in the 15th minute after linking up with Anthony Elanga on a quick counterattack, and then set up Morgan Gibbs-White to double the lead in the 61st.

Forest could find itself back in fourth place by Jan. 1 as it is only one point above Arsenal and two ahead of Chelsea, with both London clubs having a game in hand.