Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool: Why This Old School Grudge Match Still Hits Different

Football has a funny way of making history repeat itself until you’re forced to pay attention. If you’d told a Liverpool fan back in August that they’d be staring down a Nottingham Forest side in 2026 having lost the last two encounters at Anfield, they would’ve laughed you out of the pub. But here we are.

Honestly, the Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool fixture has morphed from a nostalgic 1970s throwback into a genuine tactical headache for the big hitters. It’s no longer just about Brian Clough and Bob Paisley’s old ghosts. It’s about a very modern, very stubborn Forest identity that seems to have cracked the code on how to frustrate one of the most expensive squads in the world.

The Anfield Shock and the 2026 Reality

Most people look at the league table and see a gap. Liverpool, usually hovering in that top-four bracket, and Forest, fighting tooth and nail around the 17th spot. But the table lies. It definitely lied in November 2025 when Forest didn't just beat Liverpool at Anfield—they dismantled them 3-0.

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Murillo lashing one in after a corner. Nicolò Savona side-footing home after Neco Williams (a former Red, no less) danced through the midfield. Then Morgan Gibbs-White putting the cherry on top. It wasn't a fluke. It was a tactical masterclass by Sean Dyche, who has turned the City Ground crew into a low-block nightmare for teams that love possession.

Liverpool had 74% of the ball that day. They had 21 shots. They had Virgil van Dijk winning nine aerial duels. And they still lost by three goals. That tells you everything you need to know about where this rivalry sits right now.

What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup

There’s this common idea that Liverpool just "has an off day" when they play Forest. People say the same thing about the 1-0 loss in September 2024. But if it happens three or four times in two seasons, it’s not an off day. It’s a matchup problem.

Basically, Forest plays a brand of football that sucks the oxygen out of Liverpool’s "heavy metal" style. They compress the space. They make Mohamed Salah work in phone booths. When Liverpool’s full-backs push high—which they always do—Forest hits the channels with terrifying speed.

Recent Form and the "Dyche Effect"

Since Sean Dyche took over, Forest has stopped trying to out-play the "Big Six" and started out-working them. You’ve got players like Elliot Anderson and Ibrahim Sangaré who aren't afraid to do the "dirty work" for 90 minutes straight.

Liverpool, meanwhile, has been navigating a transition under Arne Slot that has seen some incredible highs but some bafflingly soft lows. In January 2026, the Reds find themselves 14 points off the pace of leaders Arsenal. The "invincibility" factor at Anfield has taken a massive hit, and much of that started with the Garibaldi shirts showing the rest of the league how to win there.

The Injury Crisis Changing the Game

You can't talk about Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool without looking at the treatment room. It’s a mess for both sides, frankly.

Liverpool’s right-back situation is a genuine emergency. Conor Bradley, who had been a revelation, is out for the season after knee surgery. Jeremie Frimpong is there, but there are whispers that the coaching staff finds him "unreliable" defensively in a back four. They are literally looking to accelerate January transfers just to cover that gap.

Forest isn't exactly healthy either. They’ve been missing Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi, which has forced them to play a more mobile, counter-attacking front line with Igor Jesus. It’s a different kind of threat—less "bruiser" and more "sprinter."

Why the 1970s Still Matter

I know, I said it’s not just about the past. But you can't ignore the DNA. In the late 70s, this was the game in European football. Between 1977 and 1980, these two were the only teams that mattered.

Forest won the league in '78, then back-to-back European Cups. Liverpool won the league in '77, '79, and '80, plus their own European Cups. It was a civil war for total dominance. When they met in the 1978 European Cup first round, it was the first time two English clubs had ever faced off in that competition. Forest won 2-0 on aggregate.

The fans remember. The older generation at the City Ground still sings about it, and that energy filters down. There’s a specific kind of "edge" at the City Ground that you don't get at Bournemouth or Fulham. It’s a "we used to be kings" energy that makes every tackle feel a little bit heavier.

Tactical Breakdown: How Forest Wins

If you’re watching the next installment of this, keep an eye on the transitions. Forest doesn't care about the ball. They’ll happily let Liverpool pass it around the 18-yard box until their eyes glaze over.

1. The Murillo Factor: The guy is a mountain. He doesn't just defend; he starts attacks. His ability to hit a 60-yard diagonal pass is exactly what catches Liverpool’s high line out.
2. The Wing-Back Trap: Neco Williams and Ola Aina (when fit) aren't just defenders. They are the primary playmakers. They wait for Liverpool’s wingers to switch off, then they go.
3. Set Piece Chaos: Liverpool has shown a weird vulnerability to second-phase set pieces lately. Forest is one of the best in the league at "keeping the ball alive" in the box.

What Really Happened With the VAR Controversies?

Let’s be real: this fixture has been a referee's nightmare lately. Remember the Darwin Núñez 99th-minute winner in 2024? The one where the ball was supposedly returned to the wrong team after a head injury stoppage?

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis famously chased referee Paul Tierney down the tunnel after that. That moment changed the relationship between these two clubs. It’s not just "friendly rivals" anymore. There’s a genuine sense of grievance in Nottingham that the "big clubs" get the rubs of the green, and it fuels the atmosphere every single time they meet.

Looking Ahead: Actionable Insights for Fans

If you're following the Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool saga through 2026, don't just look at the betting odds. The odds usually favor Liverpool by a wide margin, but the data suggests a much tighter affair.

• Watch the First 15 Minutes: Liverpool under Slot tends to start fast. If Forest survives the first quarter-hour without conceding, the frustration builds in the Liverpool ranks, and that's when they start taking risky shots from distance.
• Player to Watch: Morgan Gibbs-White. He is the heartbeat of the Forest attack. If Liverpool doesn't put a dedicated man-marker on him, he’ll find the gaps behind Mac Allister all day.
• The City Ground Factor: If the match is in Nottingham, expect a "cup final" atmosphere. The crowd genuinely believes they are Liverpool’s bogey team now.

Final Thoughts on the Rivalry

This isn't a mismatch anymore. It’s a clash of philosophies. One team wants to control the world through possession and structure; the other wants to burn it all down with 25% possession and clinical counter-attacks.

For Liverpool to regain their footing in the title race, they have to figure out how to beat the "Forest Wall." For Forest, these games are the difference between a mid-table finish and a relegation scrap.

To keep up with the latest tactical shifts, pay close attention to the Liverpool team sheets in the hour before kick-off. If they opt for a more conservative midfield, it’s a sign they finally respect the Forest counter-attack. You should also track the "Expected Goals" (xG) versus the actual scoreline; Forest has a habit of defying the math, and that trend is the most fascinating part of this matchup's evolution.