Nottingham Forest and Liverpool revive rivalry forged in late...

At the end of the 1970s, there were two teams dominating English football: Bob Paisley’s much-lauded Liverpool and

an up-and-coming Nottingham Forest under the guidance of the inimitable Brian Clough. In the final two seasons of

the decade, they were the top two in the old First Division, winning a title each. When the two went face-to-face, it

felt as if the victor was guaranteed success.

Liverpool have maintained their place at the top tables in England and Europe, whereas Forest’s journey has been

more striking, the club dropping to the third tier before making it back to the top flight after almost a quarter of a

century away.

The situation was not too far removed in 1977 when Clough’s Forest returned to the First Division and Liverpool had

won the European Cup for the first timeand back-to-back league titles. Liverpool were head and shoulders above

everyone in the country until a certain Mr Clough and his unlikely lads came along.

The two sides met four times in 1977-78, twice in the league, sharing the points on both occasions, and in a League

Cup final that went to a replay won by Forest thanks to a John Robertson penalty. Forest then secured the title, seven

points ahead of Paisley’s second-placed side.

Clough had assembled the best defence in the league and plenty of quality in attack. Forest conceded 24 goals in 42

games on their way to the title in 1978. Liverpool scored four fewer and let in 10 more, although they had the slight

consolation of lifting the European Cup for a second successive year.

“It was very straightforward in every single thing we did in terms of games,” says Barrett, who still lives in

Nottingham. “It was all about us. It was not about their dressing room, it was all about our dressing room. If he knew

our dressing room was right, [Clough] said: ‘We’ve got a chance.’ So it was never about Liverpool, never about any

other side either. He maintained that we’re not interested in them.”

“They were trailblazers,” Kennedy says of Forest. “I thought they were great for English football. We had a great team

but they pushed us on to do better. We knew we could not be complacent with a team like Forest around and that

helped us improve and go on to win so many trophies.”

Barrett and some of his former teammates still meet every Thursday for a drink and a chat. John Robertson, Frank

Clark and John O’Hare were among those in attendance last week. The conversation quickly turned to the reigniting

of old flames and what may happen on Tuesday and beyond.

“We all agree that Forest have got something going this season,” Barrett says. “We also agree that if Liverpool don’t

turn up, Forest have really got a good chance of turning them over, but that takes a lot of ifs. I think defensively

Forest are as strong as they’ve been for quite some time. They’re now scoring goals and they’ve got pace up front. You

put all that into the mix, I think it will be a really good game.”

Win or lose on Tuesday, Forest fans have the belief again they can achieve something special. “You see kids out in

Forest shirts again, as opposed to Liverpool, Man United and City when you walk around town,” says Barrett. “It’s

given the place a buzz again.”

Nottingham Forest and Liverpool revive rivalry forged in late 1970s