Nottingham Forest is on a remarkable six-game winning streak, preparing to face league leaders FC Liverpool. Historically, Liverpool has been a tough opponent for Forest, but recent performances, including a notable 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton, have reignited hope for the club. Under coach Nuno Espírito Santo, who took charge in late 2023, Forest has seen a resurgence. The match today promises to be a thrilling encounter, showcasing the rich history and rivalry between the two teams.
Nottingham Forest is making waves in the league. After an impressive six-game winning streak, they are set to challenge league leaders FC Liverpool today.
Historically, Liverpool has been a formidable opponent for Forest. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Liverpool dominated the European scene, winning multiple European cups and championships, while Forest, under the legendary Brian Clough, captured the European Cup of Champions twice and clinched a championship title once.
The winning momentum for Forest came to a halt in 1990, and the newly established club faced relegation in 1993, marking them as the last team to drop down. It took until 2020 for Liverpool to reclaim their first championship title since 1990. Nonetheless, Liverpool has consistently maintained their presence in the top league, securing several cups along the way.
Nottingham Kicks Off 2025 with a 3-0 Win Over the Wolves
Since the competition was rebranded in 1992, Nottingham Forest has yet to participate. However, a debut in the 2025/26 season now seems within reach after a year of away games against Liverpool that showcased the club’s progress.
Brian Clough’s legacy includes two European Cup of Champions victories with Forest.
‘Let’s relish this moment. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year’, expressed Nuno Espírito Santo to the Forest supporters following their 2-0 triumph against FC on December 29, 2024. The victory against the ‘Blues’ in Liverpool marked Forest’s fifth consecutive Premier League win, which was extended to six with a 3-0 defeat of Wolverhampton Wanderers in their first match of 2025.
The last time Forest experienced a similar winning streak was at the conclusion of the 1994/1995 season when they finished third. Although that was their highest placement to date, it was insufficient for Champions League qualification, as only the champions were eligible to participate.
Nuno Espírito Santo has now celebrated six consecutive victories with Forest.
Currently, sitting in fourth place in the standings ensures qualification, with Nottingham holding a five-point advantage over fifth-placed Newcastle ahead of the 21st matchday.
Nuno Espírito Santo: A Year on the Sidelines
In December 2023, coach Nuno Espírito Santo took the reins of Nottingham Forest, a club named after the tree depicted in its crest. At the time, Forest was facing relegation, and the Portuguese coach had been out of work for an extended period.
Following a successful tenure at Wolverhampton, he joined Tottenham in 2021 but was let go after only ten Premier League matches. Later, he won a championship title with Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia before being dismissed shortly thereafter.
Nuno Espírito Santo has indeed marked his return with six consecutive victories at Forest.
After more than a year without a coaching position, the ambitious Nottingham Forest, under Greek entrepreneur Evangelos Marinakis, who also holds stakes in other clubs like Olympiakos Piraeus, welcomed him back into management.
A Colorful Owner
Marinakis is known for his eccentric personality, facing numerous accusations with little evidence substantiated. He has had confrontations with the Olympiakos team, imposing fines for unsatisfactory performances. His relationship with referees has also been rocky; in October 2024, the English FA banned him from matches for five games following an incident where he spat near the referees after a loss.
Marinakis claimed it was merely a coughing fit, asserting that the spitting was not directed at the officials, a claim the FA dismissed.
Public Critique of Referees
Earlier this year, a significant incident arose involving Nottingham and match officials. Following a loss to Everton on matchday 34, the club publicly alleged bias against the referees, citing that the video assistant was a supporter of a rival team in the relegation struggle.
This public accusation has proven costly for Nottingham Forest, as the Premier League club faces a fine of £750,000 (approximately 896,352 euros).
For their claims, Nottingham was penalized around 900,000 euros. Fortunately, the team managed to avoid relegation, while Luton was not as fortunate.
This summer, as has been the case in previous years, there were numerous player transfers. However, the dramatic rise in form cannot be solely attributed to these changes. Only two players from the squad that defeated Tottenham 1-0 were with Forest the previous year, indicating a more gradual evolution rather than a complete overhaul.
Only Forest has triumphed over Liverpool this season
The foundation for Nottingham’s resurgence lies in their significantly improved defense, as noted by various analysts, thanks to the astute signing of the 1.95-meter tall center-back Nikola Milenković from AC Florence.
The Serbian defender played a crucial role when the momentum began to shift, as Nottingham secured a 1-0 victory against FC Liverpool, marking the only defeat for their rivals this season, a team they have a particular disdain for.
Catch the Highlights of Today’s Showdown
Today, the highly anticipated return match will unfold in the historic stadium. It’s a clash between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool reminiscent of their glorious past.
Don’t miss the highlights of this thrilling encounter, airing at 10:50 PM.