The Rekindling of a Historic Rivalry: Nottingham Forest vs. Liverpool
The rivalry between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool has intensified once again in recent years, especially since Forest’s return to the Premier League in 2022. While it may not yet carry the same level of animosity or importance as in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the recent meetings between the two clubs have shown that Forest are becoming a formidable opponent for Liverpool once more.
This season, in 2024/25, Forest have achieved something that no other team in the Premier League has managed—they have defeated Liverpool, handing them their only loss of the campaign so far. That victory has added another chapter to a rivalry that was once among the fiercest in English football.
Forest: The Only Team to Beat Liverpool in 2024/25
With just nine games remaining in the Premier League season, Liverpool are on track for one of their best domestic campaigns ever. They have swept aside nearly every opponent in their path, dominating the league with a level of consistency that few teams can match. However, one team has managed to crack the code: Nottingham Forest.
Forest remain the only side to have beaten Liverpool in the league this season, a feat that speaks volumes about their progress. That win wasn’t an isolated incident, either. When the two sides met again at the City Ground, Forest held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw, proving that their earlier victory was no fluke.
Even more impressively, Forest are the only team to have completely nullified Mohamed Salah this season. The Egyptian forward, who has been in red-hot form, has scored or assisted against every other team in the league, but Forest’s defense stood firm and shut him down—a rare accomplishment that highlights their tactical discipline and organization.
For Liverpool, Forest are now more than just another Premier League opponent. They are a problem, a team capable of disrupting their momentum, exposing their weaknesses, and making life difficult whenever they meet.
A Rivalry Rooted in History
While some younger fans might see this as a newly developing rivalry, those who remember the golden era of Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest know that these two clubs have history. Their meetings in the late 1970s and early 1980s were among the most significant in English and European football.
During that period, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest were arguably the two strongest clubs in England. Liverpool dominated the First Division and Europe, while Brian Clough turned Nottingham Forest from a second-tier side into back-to-back European Cup winners in just a few years.
One of the defining moments in their historic battles came when Forest knocked Liverpool out of the European Cup en route to their first European triumph. That victory was a massive statement, as Liverpool were seen as the favorites and were already established as a European powerhouse. For an English team to eliminate Liverpool from Europe was almost unthinkable, yet Clough’s Forest managed to do just that.
The rivalry wasn’t just about success—it was about contrasting styles. Liverpool, under Bob Paisley, were a well-oiled machine, relying on their structured system, passing, and experience. Forest, under Brian Clough, played with a fearless, attacking mentality, built around Clough’s unique ability to get the best out of his players.
It was a clash of two of the greatest managers in English football history, and every meeting between their teams carried extra weight.
Brian Clough’s Target: Phil Thompson, Liverpool’s Weak Link
One of the most fascinating insights into this rivalry comes from the book With Clough By Taylor, written by Clough’s assistant Peter Taylor. The book provides a behind-the-scenes look at how Clough analyzed opponents and found ways to exploit their weaknesses.
According to Taylor, there was one Liverpool player that Clough always singled out as a weak link: Phil Thompson. Despite Thompson being a highly-rated England international, Clough was never convinced by him.
Taylor writes:
“His defence would have given me nightmares – Phil Neal, Phil Thompson, Dave Watson, and Mick Mills.
The delivery from the centre-backs is poor (Thompson is the defender singled out for attack when Forest play Liverpool); Watson and Mills are too old and not good enough in 1980, so they had no part to play in Spain.”
This reveals just how detailed and tactical Clough was in his approach to games. He didn’t just prepare his team to compete with Liverpool—he had a specific plan to target individual players and gain an advantage.
For Clough, Thompson’s distribution from the back wasn’t good enough, and that was something Forest could exploit. By pressing him and forcing him to play out from the back, Forest could disrupt Liverpool’s buildup and create scoring opportunities.
Clough’s ability to pinpoint weaknesses and use them to his advantage was one of the many reasons why Forest were able to compete with the best teams of their era.
Phil Thompson’s 2025 Take on Forest’s Rise
Despite Clough’s past criticism of him, Phil Thompson has shown a great deal of respect for Nottingham Forest in 2025.
Speaking about Forest’s resurgence this season, Thompson acknowledged their progress and praised the atmosphere at the City Ground—a stadium that has remained largely unchanged since the club’s glory days.
“It’s great to see Forest up there. The City Ground is a proper English stadium. It has not changed much over the years.
At its loudest, it was never a place you chose to go to for a result, and it will be difficult for Liverpool when they go this season, that’s for sure.”
Thompson’s words highlight just how difficult it is for teams—even the very best—to get a result at the City Ground. The stadium remains one of English football’s most intimidating venues, and its atmosphere has played a key role in Forest’s impressive home form this season.
The Future of the Rivalry: Could Forest Become a Title Challenger Again?
With Nottingham Forest once again competing at the top end of the table, there’s hope that this rivalry could return to its former glory.
While Liverpool have been a dominant force in English football for much of the last decade, Forest’s progress under their current management suggests that they could soon become a serious contender once again.
If they continue their upward trajectory, investing wisely in their squad and maintaining their strong performances against the league’s top sides, Forest could establish themselves as regular challengers for European football—and potentially even titles—in the near future.
The fact that they have already managed to beat Liverpool this season and have given them their only blemish in an otherwise perfect campaign shows just how much they have improved.
If Forest can build on this momentum, their rivalry with Liverpool could become one of the biggest fixtures in English football once again.
With a rich history, a passionate fanbase, and a squad that is growing in confidence, Forest might just be on the verge of something special—a return to the very top, where they once belonged, and where rivalries like this one are forged in fierce battles, unforgettable moments, and historic victories.