The Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool matchup in the 2025/26 Premier League season concluded with a split series, most recently seeing Liverpool secure a 1-0 victory at the City Ground on February 22, 2026. This followed a stunning 3-0 win for Nottingham Forest at Anfield earlier in the season on November 22, 2025, which remains one of the most significant upsets of the campaign. Historically, Liverpool holds the advantage in this fixture with 61 wins out of 124 meetings, but Forest has proven to be a formidable “bogey team” for the Reds since their return to the top flight.
In this comprehensive guide, you will explore the deep tactical battles between managers Arne Slot and Sean Dyche, the historical context of this midlands-northwest rivalry, and practical information for fans planning to visit Anfield or the City Ground. We cover everything from the legendary 1970s clashes under Brian Clough to the modern-day stars like Morgan Gibbs-White and Alexis Mac Allister, ensuring you have every stat and fact at your fingertips.
2025/26 Match Results and Scores
The most recent meeting between these two sides took place on February 22, 2026, where Liverpool edged out a narrow 1-0 victory away at the City Ground. A late goal from Alexis Mac Allister in the 97th minute secured the three points in a match dominated by high-intensity pressing and physical duels.
Earlier in the season, Nottingham Forest produced a historic performance at Anfield on November 22, 2025, winning 3-0. Goals from Murillo, Nicolo Savona, and Morgan Gibbs-White stunned the home crowd, marking Liverpool’s first home defeat to Forest in over five decades and signaling a shift in the competitive balance between the clubs.
Head-to-Head Historical Record
Liverpool and Nottingham Forest have faced each other 124 times in competitive football since their first meeting in the late 19th century. Liverpool has claimed 61 victories, while Nottingham Forest has won 33 times, with 30 matches ending in a draw.
Despite Liverpool’s historical dominance, recent years have seen a remarkably even split. Since Forest’s promotion in 2022, they have recorded three victories over the Merseysiders, including a memorable 1-0 win at the City Ground in October 2022 and the aforementioned 3-0 rout at Anfield in 2025.
Key Players and Match Winners
Morgan Gibbs-White has emerged as a frequent thorn in Liverpool’s side, consistently delivering goals or assists in these high-stakes fixtures. His ability to find space between the lines has made him the focal point of Sean Dyche’s counter-attacking strategy against the Reds’ high defensive line.
For Liverpool, Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah have often been the difference-makers. Mac Allister’s composure in tight midfield battles was evident in his match-winning performance in February 2026, while Salah remains the primary goal threat, having netted several times in this fixture over the last three seasons.
Tactical Analysis: Slot vs. Dyche
The 2025/26 fixtures highlighted a fascinating tactical clash between Arne Slot’s possession-based “control” football and Sean Dyche’s disciplined, low-block defensive system. While Slot’s Liverpool sought to dominate the ball with over 60% possession, Forest excelled at quick transitions and set-piece efficiency.
Forest’s 3-0 win at Anfield was a masterclass in defensive organization, where they limited Liverpool’s high-quality chances and exploited the space left by attacking full-backs. Conversely, in the return fixture, Liverpool’s increased patience and tactical fouls prevented Forest from launching the same devastating counter-attacks.
Head‑to‑head record overview
All‑time, Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool tips heavily in Liverpool’s favour, with the Reds winning substantially more league, cup, and European‑style meetings than the City Ground side. Across top‑flight encounters, Premier League games, and cup‑kd‑off ties, Liverpool have more than double the number of wins, while Forest’s victories are rarer and usually spaced out over decades. The head‑to‑head goal‑difference is also lopsided, with Liverpool averaging well over two goals per meeting, whereas Forest often struggle to consistently hit the net against Liverpool’s back‑line.
In the Premier League era, Forest’s wins or draws against Liverpool, though infrequent, tend to be emotionally charged because they come against the league’s ever‑present elite. Several of Forest’s positive results—such as home‑draws or narrow‑home‑wins—have come at the City Ground, where Forest fans hope to recreate the hostile‑atmosphere‑of‑their‑Championship‑style‑promotion years. The fixture also features a handful of high‑score games, with Liverpool occasionally running up 3–0, 4–0, or 5–0 wins at Anfield, while Forest’s most famous overall result remains the 1978 FA Cup fifth‑round tie that they won 2–1 at home, a result that is still quoted in club‑narrative and media coverage.
Historic Forest upsets
The most iconic Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool result in the fixture’s history is the 1978 FA Cup fifth‑round meeting, where Forest beat Liverpool 2–1 at the City Ground on their way to a Wembley final and the eventual trophy. At the time, Liverpool were the reigning First‑Division champions and one of the most‑fearless‑sides in Europe, while Forest were still in the process of building Brian Clough’s project, so the win served as a massive confidence‑booster. That victory is often cited as a psychological stepping‑stone towards Forest’s subsequent European‑Cup‑winning‑run and their status as a club‑capable‑of‑beating even the very best.
In the top‑flight, Forest have also produced a few shock‑style results, including unexpected home‑draws and 1–1 scores at Anfield where they have held Liverpool to a point thanks to resilient defending and a strong‑midfield‑shape. These games are remembered by Forest fans for their defensive discipline, high‑work‑rate, and the sense that the team punched above its weight against a club that regularly picks up points from lesser‑funded outfits. Such upsets are rare enough to be cherished but frequent enough to keep the fixture from feeling purely one‑sided, especially when Forest arrive in decent form or when Liverpool are under pressure from title‑racing or European‑commitment fatigue.
Recent Premier League meetings
In the 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25 Premier League seasons, Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool has re‑emerged as a regular fixture, with one home game for each side per season and several matches decided by fine‑margin outcomes. These recent meetings have tended to be low‑scoring‑grinds, with 1–0, 1–1, or 2–1 scorelines, reflecting Liverpool’s greater‑technical quality balanced against Forest’s physicality, pressing, and compact‑midfield‑shape. Liverpool have often dominated possession and created chances, but Forest have sometimes capitalised on defensive lapses, counter‑attacks, or set‑piece situations to take a point or even a surprise‑win.
One of the most talked‑about recent fixtures was a 2023–24 home game at the City Ground, where Forest held Liverpool to a 1–1 draw, with the hosts capitalising on a first‑half defensive error and then defending resolutely through the second half to secure a valuable point in a tight‑relegation‑and‑mid‑table‑running race. Another notable match was a 2024–25 Anfield‑style fixture where Liverpool won 2–0, controlling the game for long spells while Forest found themselves under sustained pressure but managed to avoid a heavier defeat, which was still seen as a relatively positive result given the visitor‑status. These games underline that the modern‑era fixture is tighter than the all‑time‑statistics might suggest, with Forest capable of complicating Liverpool’s life on the road to the City Ground or even at Anfield.
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool in cups
Beyond the league, Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool has a notable cup‑history, especially in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup, where the fixture has produced one‑off‑style drama and the occasional shock. The 1978 FA Cup tie remains the most famous, but later meetings in the 1980s and 1990s also gave Forest opportunities to challenge Liverpool in high‑pressure‑knockout environments. Forest’s underdog‑status in those games made any draw or narrow‑loss a moral‑victory, while a win would have resonated far beyond the competition itself.
In the EFL Cup, meetings between the two clubs have been fewer because of the uneven‑club‑trajectory over the last few decades, with Liverpool often competing in the Premier League and European competitions while Forest spent long spells in the Championship and League One. When the teams have met at that level, the games have often been high‑intensity, with Liverpool bringing a rotated‑squad of fringe‑players and youngsters, while Forest fielded a mix of senior‑heads and prospect‑hunters. These cup‑style fixtures add another layer to the rivalry, giving Forest extra‑motivation by the chance to beat Liverpool in a one‑off‑competition, even if the league‑record remains heavily in Liverpool’s favour.
Tactical patterns and styles
Tactically, the Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool fixture tends to be a clash between Liverpool’s high‑intensity, pressing‑based, wide‑overload‑system and Forest’s more compact, counter‑attacking‑and‑set‑piece‑oriented‑approach. Under Arne Slot‑style setups, Liverpool prioritise aggressive pressing, quick‑transitions, and wide‑full‑back movement, expecting their forwards to exploit space behind Forest’s full‑backs and in the half‑spaces. Forest, in contrast, often lined up with a compact‑midfield shape, using two or three holding‑players to cut off central passing lanes and relying on physicality, long‑balls, and a strong aerial presence to create entries into the Liverpool box.
The City Ground has historically been a difficult venue for visitors because of the crowd’s proximity to the pitch and the enclosed‑stadium‑acoustics, which Forest managers exploit by encouraging a high‑press and quick‑transitions whenever they win the ball. Liverpool’s tendency to dominate possession can sometimes be used against them, with Forest sitting deep, absorbing pressure, and then breaking through the centre or down the wings when Liverpool overcommit. Set‑pieces are another tactical‑battleground, with Forest’s taller‑players and strong‑midfield‑presence offering extra threat on corners and frees, whereas Liverpool look to use their technical‑midfielders and versatile‑wingers to create overloads at the back post.
Managers and coaching battles
The Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool fixture has featured several high‑profile managerial runs, with Liverpool’s top‑coaches constantly facing the challenge of breaking down a defensively‑resolute, physically‑aggressive Forest side. In the 1970s and 1980s, Bob Paisley’s Liverpool had to contend with Brian Clough’s evolving Forest project, which combined discipline, tactical‑intelligence, and a strong‑belief‑instilled culture that allowed them to punch above their weight in cup‑style‑meetings. Clough’s 1978 FA Cup win is still cited as an early‑validation of his philosophy against one of English football’s most‑established powers.
In the modern era, managers such as Alex Ferguson‑era‑United‑style‑allies‑turned‑critics (for example, Jurgen Klopp and Steve Cooper) have shaped the contemporary‑narrative of the fixture. Klopp’s Liverpool has faced Forest in multiple‑Premier‑League encounters, with the German‑style pressing‑system clashing against the English‑style compact‑midfield and physicality of Cooper’s side. The battles between these two ideological‑approaches—high‑press vs. deep‑block—have defined many of the modern‑Forest‑vs‑Liverpool games, with each coach trying to out‑think the other on pressing‑triggers, pressing‑lanes, and pressing‑synchronisation. Even as Forest have changed managers after Cooper’s departure, the core‑tactical‑approach of using a compact‑midfield and a high‑press at the City Ground has persisted, keeping the fixture tactically‑interesting and unpredictable.
Key players in the rivalry
Several players have left their mark on the Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool fixture, with individual‑performances often becoming part of the club‑lore. For Liverpool, names like Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard, and Mohamed Salah have appeared in the fixture’s history, with their goals and assists adding to the psychological‑edge the Reds enjoy at the head‑to‑head. Dalglish’s goals in the 1970s, Gerrard’s driving‑runs in the 2000s, and Salah’s modern‑goal‑feasts against Forest‑style‑defences all contribute to the sense that Liverpool‑stars are accustomed to prospering against the City Ground‑side.
For Forest, iconic figures include John Robertson, Stuart Pearce, and Chris Wood, each of whom has scored or set up key goals in meetings against Liverpool. Robertson’s 1978 FA Cup‑style‑goal is a legendary‑moment in the club’s history, associated with the team’s rise under Clough. Pearce’s tough‑tackling and no‑nonsense‑defensive‑style helped Forest stay in games against the powerful‑midfield‑of‑the‑Reds, while Wood’s aerial‑presence and goal‑return in recent‑Premier‑League‑era‑meetings have given Forest fans a modern‑era‑hero to rally around. These players, spanning different generations, illustrate how the fixture has endured despite the gap‑in‑resources and stature between the two clubs.
Crowd atmosphere and fan culture
The atmosphere at Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool matches is typically charged, with strong‑support from both sets of fans and an edge that comes from the rivalry’s history and stakes. At the City Ground, Forest’s fan‑base creates a loud, enclosed ambiance, with the stands close to the pitch and the crowd amplifying every chant and song, especially during pressing‑phases or when the team is defending a narrow lead. The “Forest! Forest!” chant and the red‑and‑forest‑green‑colour‑scheme contrast with Liverpool’s more‑cosmopolitan‑and‑globally‑spread‑support, but both crowds bring genuine‑passion to the fixture.
At Anfield, Liverpool’s famous stands generate a wall of noise that can unnerve visitors, particularly in tight games where a single goal can change the momentum. The Kop and the recently‑expanded‑sections add to the intimidating‑atmosphere, and the Reds’ fans typically expect a comfortable‑win against a newly‑promoted‑or‑mid‑table‑side like Forest. However, the presence of Forest’s vocal‑away‑support—often travelling in strong‑numbers despite the distance—adds another layer to the match‑day‑experience. Chants, banners, and social‑media debates flare up around the fixture, with Forest‑fans teasing about the 1978 FA Cup‑upset and Liverpool‑supporters countering with the club’s long‑list of trophies and league‑titles. The rivalry is generally respectful compared to local‑derbies, focusing on sporting‑competition rather than regional‑animosity, which helps keep the overall‑atmosphere boisterous and passionate.
Current form and recent seasons
In the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons, Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool has remained a key fixture in the Premier League, with both teams usually separated by several places in the table, though Liverpool occupying the higher‑ranks. Forest’s goal‑return in these meetings has been modest, with a mix of 1–1 draws, 0–1 losses, and 2–1 away‑defeats, underlining that they have been competitive but rarely dominant. In contrast, Liverpool have usually won or drawn at home, with a handful of 3–1 or 3–0 victories at Anfield adding to their psychological‑edge in the fixture.
However, recent form also shows that Forest can complicate Liverpool’s life, especially when the visitors are playing in decent‑mid‑table‑form or fresh from a positive‑run. High‑work‑rate‑midfields, compact‑defensive‑lines, and the occasional‑goal‑from a set‑piece or counter‑attack have given Forest fans reason to believe they can take points from even the strongest‑sides. The 2024–25 season saw a notable 1–1 draw at the City Ground, with Forest capitalising on a Liverpool‑defensive‑error and then defending doggedly through the second half to secure a useful point in the relegation‑and‑mid‑table‑battle. Such results keep the fixture from feeling purely one‑sided and give Forest hope for future encounters.
Future fixtures and scheduling
Upcoming Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool fixtures will be scheduled in the Premier League calendar for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 seasons, with dates and kick‑off‑times announced several months in advance by the league and broadcasters. Home and away meetings usually alternate, with one leg in the first half of the season and the other in the second half, often aligning with key titles‑race or mid‑table‑battle windows. Exact dates can shift slightly due to European‑competition scheduling, international‑breaks, and cup‑ties, which means fans following the fixture should check the official Premier League and club websites for the most accurate information.
Kick‑off‑times for UK‑based‑broadcasts are often in the 15:00, 17:30, or 20:00 slots, while international‑viewers—such as those in India—will typically watch the game in the evening or early‑morning hours depending on the broadcast‑window. These fixtures are frequently selected for live‑TV‑coverage, both in the UK and globally, which can lead to occasional‑changes in start‑time to maximise viewing‑figures. For fans planning to attend or watch live, it is wise to monitor club and broadcaster‑announcements well ahead of the match to secure tickets, streaming access, or broadcast information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the most recent match between Forest and Liverpool?
Liverpool won the most recent fixture 1-0 on February 22, 2026, thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time goal by Alexis Mac Allister.
Has Nottingham Forest ever beaten Liverpool 3-0?
Yes, Nottingham Forest achieved a historic 3-0 victory at Anfield on November 22, 2025, which was their first win at the stadium in over 50 years.
How many Champions League spots are available for the Premier League this year?
The Premier League is currently on track to receive a fifth Champions League spot for the 2026/27 season based on the association’s UEFA coefficient.
Who is the leading scorer in Forest vs Liverpool fixtures this season?
No single player dominated, but Morgan Gibbs-White (Forest) and Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool) scored the most impactful goals in the 2025/26 series.
When is the next time these two teams will play?
The 2025/26 league fixtures between the two are complete. They will not meet again in the Premier League until the 2026/27 season, provided Forest avoids relegation.
Was there any VAR drama in the last match?
Yes, the 1-0 win in February involved a significant VAR review; a Mac Allister goal was initially ruled out for handball before he scored a legitimate winner minutes later.
Final Thoughts
The Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool rivalry in the 2025/26 campaign served as a microcosm of the Premier League’s inherent unpredictability. As the season approaches its final weeks in April 2026, the two meetings between these clubs stand out as critical turning points for their respective ambitions. While Liverpool remains locked in a tense battle for Champions League qualification, currently sitting in 5th place with 49 points, Nottingham Forest is embroiled in a fierce relegation scrap, holding 16th place with 32 points—just a narrow margin above the drop zone.
The shared points across their two meetings this season perfectly encapsulate the “bogey team” dynamic that Forest has established. Liverpool’s 1-0 revenge at the City Ground in February was a testament to the tactical discipline of Arne Slot’s side, yet the memory of the 0-3 defeat at Anfield in November remains a stark reminder that underestimating Forest’s counter-attacking prowess can be fatal. With both teams facing a grueling run-in against top-four contenders and fellow survivalists, the impact of these fixtures will likely be felt well beyond the final whistle of their head-to-head encounters.
Read More on Manchester Reporter