In their most recent Premier League encounter on February 22, 2026, Liverpool secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, with Alexis Mac Allister scoring a 97th-minute winner. Historically, Liverpool holds the upper hand in this fixture with 51 wins to Forest’s 27, across a total of 103 competitive meetings dating back to 1894. The 2025/26 season saw a fascinating split between the two sides; while Liverpool snatched the late win in February 2026, Nottingham Forest pulled off a stunning 3-0 victory at Anfield earlier in the season on November 22, 2025. This article explores the deep historical roots of this clash—from the Brian Clough era to the modern Premier League battles—providing fans with comprehensive statistics, tactical analysis, and practical matchday information for one of English football’s most storied fixtures.
Historical Head-to-Head Statistics
The rivalry between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool is one of the most respected in English football, spanning over 130 years of competition. As of April 2026, the two clubs have faced each other 103 times in official competitions, with Liverpool leading the overall tally.
Statistically, Liverpool has recorded 51 wins, while Nottingham Forest has claimed 27 victories, with the remaining 25 matches ending in a draw. Despite Liverpool’s historical dominance, the fixture remains notoriously difficult to predict, especially when played at the City Ground, where Forest’s unique atmosphere often levels the playing field against higher-ranked opponents.
Recent Results: 2025/26 Season
The 2025/26 Premier League campaign delivered two remarkably contrasting results that highlighted the volatility of this fixture. In a shocking upset on November 22, 2025, Nottingham Forest secured a comprehensive 3-0 win at Anfield, a result that remains one of Liverpool’s heaviest home defeats in recent years.
The return fixture on February 22, 2026, at the City Ground was a much tighter affair. Liverpool struggled to break down a resilient Forest defense led by Murillo and Nikola Milenković until the 97th minute, when Alexis Mac Allister headed home a cross from Harvey Elliott to secure all three points and break Forest hearts in the dying seconds.
Tactical Battles and Style
Under manager Arne Slot, Liverpool has maintained a high-intensity, possession-based 4-2-3-1 system that relies heavily on the creative output of Alexis Mac Allister and the speed of Mohamed Salah. This technical approach was on full display in their 2026 victory, where they dominated 53% of possession and generated four big chances.
Nottingham Forest, led by Vitor Pereira in early 2026, has adopted a more pragmatic, counter-attacking 4-2-3-1 setup. By utilizing the blistering pace of Callum Hudson-Odoi and the playmaking ability of Morgan Gibbs-White, Forest focuses on defensive solidity before launching rapid transitions that exploit the spaces behind Liverpool’s high defensive line.
Icons of the Rivalry
The peak of this rivalry occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when both clubs were the dominant forces in European football. Brian Clough’s Forest famously ended Liverpool’s 42-match unbeaten run in 1978, a record that stood for decades, and the two clubs regularly traded the First Division title and European Cups.
In the modern era, players like Mohamed Salah for Liverpool and Morgan Gibbs-White for Forest have become the defining faces of the fixture. Salah’s goal-scoring record against top-flight opposition is legendary, while Gibbs-White’s technical leadership has been instrumental in Forest’s ability to compete with the “Big Six” since their return to the Premier League.
St. James’ Park vs. The City Ground
While many Premier League rivalries focus on London or Manchester, the atmosphere at the City Ground during a Liverpool visit is considered unique. Situated on the banks of the River Trent, the stadium provides a compact, loud environment that has historically troubled Liverpool squads.
Anfield, by contrast, offers a larger stage with a capacity exceeding 60,000 following recent expansions. While Liverpool usually dominates at home, Forest’s 3-0 victory in November 2025 proved that the “Anfield Factor” is not always enough to stop a well-drilled Forest side from taking maximum points.
League Standings and Impact
As of April 10, 2026, Liverpool finds itself in 5th place with 49 points, fighting for a Champions League qualification spot. Their late-season form has been bolstered by critical wins like the one against Forest, though they remain several points behind leaders Arsenal and Manchester City.
Nottingham Forest is currently embroiled in a relegation battle, sitting in 16th place with 32 points. Every point is vital for the Reds as they sit just three points above the drop zone, making their narrow loss to Liverpool in February all the more painful in their quest for Premier League survival.
Practical Information and Planning
Ticket Prices and Categories
Matchups between Forest and Liverpool are classified as Category A fixtures, meaning they command the highest ticket prices. For a match at the City Ground, adult tickets typically range from £50 to £70, while youth and child tickets are priced between £18 and £35.
How to Get There
- City Ground (Nottingham): The stadium is a 15-minute walk from Nottingham Railway Station. Fans traveling from Liverpool can take direct trains from Lime Street, which usually take around 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Anfield (Liverpool): Best reached via the 917 bus from Liverpool city center or by walking from Sandhills Station on the Merseyrail Northern Line.
Tips for Visitors
Fans are encouraged to arrive at least 60 to 90 minutes before kickoff, especially given the increased security and digital ticketing requirements introduced for the 2026/27 transition. Both stadiums offer extensive hospitality options, but these must be booked months in advance.
Head‑to‑head record overview
All‑time, Nottm Forest vs Liverpool is heavily skewed in Liverpool’s favour, with the Reds winning the majority of encounters in the First Division, Premier League, and domestic‑cup‑meetings. The all‑time‑head‑to‑head features a large‑point‑advantage, a strong‑goal‑difference in Liverpool’s direction, and a record where Liverpool win far more often than they draw or lose against the Midlands‑side. Forest’s victories are rarer and often scattered across different eras, with the most memorable wins coming in the 1970s–1990s when both clubs had more‑frequent‑Premier‑style‑meetings.
In the Premier‑era (1992 onward), the numbers still tilt toward Liverpool, with the Reds regularly winning or drawing at Anfield and often taking points even at The City Ground. Forest have managed a handful of positive‑results, including a few home‑draws and the occasional‑upset‑win that briefly moved them up the table, but those outcomes are exceptions rather than the norm. The head‑to‑head‑goal‑difference underlines Liverpool’s attacking‑superiority, with the Reds often scoring multiple‑goals per game, while Forest’s positives tend to be built on tight‑score‑lines, defensive‑discipline, and the odd‑counter‑break or set‑piece. Even in the post‑re‑election‑era, where Forest returned to the Premier League after many years, the fixture‑record has still favoured Liverpool, though the gap in points and goal‑difference has narrowed slightly.
Iconic Nottm Forest wins
Nottingham Forest’s wins against Liverpool are rare but cherished, with each positive result becoming a chapter in the club’s post‑relegation‑and‑re‑election‑narrative. One of the most‑flagship‑victories came in the 1970s or 1980s, when Forest beat Liverpool at home with a bold‑pressing‑approach and a goal‑from‑a set‑piece, a result that felt like a statement of belief after years of being pushed around by the dominant‑Reds. The match is often replayed in club‑documentaries and fan‑recaps as a symbolic‑turning‑point, showing that the Magpies could still stand up to elite‑clubs even without Liverpool’s global‑fanbase and financial‑investment.
Another notable win came more recently, in the post‑takeover‑period when Forest’s new‑ownership‑project began bearing fruit, and the team held Liverpool to a narrow‑home‑win or a surprise‑draw at Anfield that contributed to the Reds’ occasional struggles in the 2020s. These games are remembered for Forest’s compact‑midfield‑shape, strong‑defensive‑organisation, and the way the team refused to sit‑deep‑and‑fold under pressure, instead using quick‑transitions and aggression to unsettle a more‑fancy‑looking‑Liverpool‑line‑up. For Forest fans, those victories are proof that the club’s ambition is not just marketing talk but can be backed up by results against one of the biggest‑brands in world football.
High‑score Liverpool wins
On the other side of the ledger, Nottm Forest vs Liverpool has produced several very‑one‑sided‑Liverpool‑victories, with the Reds running up big‑score‑lines at both The City Ground and Anfield when the fixture coincided with peak‑Liverpool‑form years. Some of those games finished 4–0, 5–0, or even 6–0 in Liverpool’s favour, with the Reds scoring freely from the wings, the channels, and through individual‑class‑moments that exposed weaker‑defensive‑units in Forest’s back‑line. Those matches are often cited in media coverage as examples of the gulf in quality and squad‑depth between the two clubs, especially when Liverpool are at their most‑stable and Forest are rebuilding.
Even in the post‑takeover‑era, where Forest are more competitive, Liverpool have still managed at least one or two‑very‑dominant‑results in the fixture, particularly when the Reds’ manager gets the balance between pressing‑and‑possession right and the Forest‑midfield struggles to cope with the intensity. These games are usually remembered more for the goals and the spectacle than for Forest’s performance, but they do underline how Liverpool can still turn a Premier‑Leaguemeeting into a near‑walkover if the tactical‑conditions align in their favour. The memory of such high‑score‑losses adds extra pressure every time the fixture rolls around, making a draw at Anfield or a win at The City Ground feel like a small‑but‑meaningful‑upset for the Trent‑Valley‑side.
Recent Premier League clashes
In the 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25 Premier League seasons, Nottm Forest vs Liverpool has become a more‑competitive‑and‑unpredictable‑fixture, with several matches decided by narrow‑score‑lines and last‑minute‑drama rather than giant‑score‑explosions. The Reds’ financial‑backing and squad‑quality often give them a clear‑advantage in possession and attacking‑options, but Forest have used a compact‑mid‑block, strong‑pressing, and aggressive‑counter‑attacks to push the game closer than the historical‑numbers suggest. Recent scores have often hovered around 1–1, 2–1, or 2–2, with the margin leaning slightly in Liverpool’s favour but with enough Forest‑points to show that the fixture is no longer automatic for the Reds.
A particularly‑talked‑about‑recent‑fixture was a 2023–24 match at The City Ground where Forest held Liverpool to a 1–1 draw, capitalising on a first‑half‑defensive‑error and then defending resolutely through the second half to secure a valuable point in a tight‑table‑race. Another standout match was a 2024–25 away‑game at Anfield where Liverpool edged Forest 2–0, controlling the game for long spells while the visitors found themselves under sustained pressure but avoided a heavier‑defeat, which was still seen as a relatively‑solid‑performance given the venue and the Reds’ attacking‑resources. These games reinforce the idea that the modern‑era‑Nottm Forest‑vs‑Liverpool‑rivalry is closer than the all‑time‑numbers suggest, with both sides capable of claiming points when the conditions are right.
Cup‑tie drama and replays
Beyond the Premier League, Nottm Forest vs Liverpool has a notable history in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup, where single‑elimination‑rules and neutral‑interest‑have led to several tense‑tie‑situations and replays. The FA‑Cup‑meetings in particular produced a handful of genuinely‑dramatic‑games, including one‑or‑two‑replays that required a second‑match after a no‑score‑or‑single‑goal‑draw at the first‑throw, with the outcome eventually decided by a last‑minute‑goal or a penalty‑shootout. The pressureof Cup‑football, combined with the quality gap between the two sides, has often made these ties feel like lottery‑style‑clashes where either team can tip the balance with a single‑moment of quality.
In the League‑Cup, the fixture has occasionally been truncated by mid‑week‑schedule‑pressures, but any game‑where Nottm Forest and Liverpool meet can still swing a season for one or both teams, especially if the tie falls in the early‑rounds and the winners use the momentum to push into later‑cuts of the competition. The cup‑history of Nottm Forest vs Liverpool is less about a long‑series‑of‑finals and more about a few scattered‑high‑drama‑moments that fans remember for years, such as a last‑minute‑knock‑out, a controversial‑call, or a young‑player‑who‑announced‑their‑arrival on the stage. These cup‑kd‑offs add another layer to the fixture, with the added‑narrative of a winner‑takes‑all‑environment contrasting with the more‑consistent‑league‑campaigns.
Tactical patterns and formations
Tactically, Nottm Forest vs Liverpool is a classic clash between a compact‑mid‑block, counter‑oriented Forest side and a high‑pressing, wide‑overload‑style Liverpool‑team, with the balance of control often shifting depending on the managers at each club. In recent seasons, Forest have tended to line up in a 4–3‑3 or 4–2–3‑1 system that emphasises defensive‑structure, a strong‑holding‑midfielder, and quick‑transitions through the wings, using their fast‑attacking‑full‑backs and direct‑striker‑presences to punish Liverpool’s passing‑chains. The Magpies often sit‑deep, press in concentrated‑zones, and look to win the ball back in the middle third before releasing the ball forward in one‑or‑two‑touch‑moves.
Liverpool, in contrast, often deploy a 4–2‑3‑1, 3–4‑3, or 4–3‑3 with an emphasis on midfield‑control, overlapping full‑backs, and numerical‑superiority in the wide‑areas, aiming to stretch Forest’s compact‑shape and find pockets between the back‑line and the midfield. The Reds’ centre‑forwards and attacking‑midfielders are encouraged to drop‑between the lines, while the wingers cut inside to create shooting‑opportunities or cut‑backs that exploit the gaps left by Forest’s aggressive‑full‑back‑pushes. Set‑pieces are another key‑tactical‑battle, with Liverpool leveraging their aerial‑threats and crossing‑accuracy against Forest’s well‑organised‑defensive‑walls, and vice‑versa, with Forest looking to capitalise on corners and free‑kicks against a sometimes‑fragile‑Liverpool‑back‑line.
Atmosphere and fan culture
The atmosphere at Nottm Forest vs Liverpool matches is charged, with strong‑support from both sets of fans and a sense of occasion that comes from the size‑difference between the two clubs. At The City Ground, Forest’s supporters create a loud, compact 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 “Trent‑side‑power‑chant” and the red‑and‑white‑colour‑scheme contrast with Liverpool’s more‑cosmopolitan‑and‑globally‑spread‑support, but both crowds bring genuine‑passion to the fixture.
At Anfield, the atmosphere is even more intense, with a larger‑capacity‑stadium echoing the famous “You’ll Never Walk Alone” chant and the Liverpool‑fans bringing flags and banners to intimidate the visitors. 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. Chants, banners, and social‑media debates flare up around the fixture, with Forest‑fans teasing about the club’s recent‑upset‑results and Liverpool‑supporters countering with the club’s long‑list of trophies and league‑titles. The clash between the two‑crowd‑cultures—Midlands‑pride versus Merseyside‑glamour—adds another layer of intensity to the game.
Current form and recent seasons
In the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons, Nottm Forest vs Liverpool has remained a key fixture in the Premier League, with Liverpool often fighting for top‑four‑spots or the title and Forest fluctuating between top‑half‑and‑mid‑table based on managerial‑and‑ownership‑instability. Recent form for Forest in the fixture has been mixed, with a mix of draws, narrow‑losses, and occasional‑home‑wins, underlining that they can be competitive but rarely dominant. Liverpool, in contrast, have usually won or drawn at Anfield, with a handful of 3–1 or 4–1‑victories adding to their psychological‑edge in the fixture.
The 2026 clash where Forest drew 1–1 at home is a prime example of the current‑dynamic: Liverpool’s attacking‑quality and depth‑advantage created numerous chances, but Forest’s defensive‑resilience and set‑piece‑threat prevented a heavier‑scoreline, keeping the points‑table‑status‑quo. The 2–0‑loss at Anfield in a previous season highlighted how Liverpool can dominate in their own‑stadium, using superior‑possession and pressing to force errors. The fixture thus serves as a key barometer for where Liverpool’s project stands domestically and for how Forest’s project‑era‑squad performs against a top‑tier‑opponent.
Practical information and planning
For fans planning to attend Nottm Forest vs Liverpool live at The City Ground in Nottingham or at Anfield in Liverpool, there are several key practical details to consider. The stadium in Nottingham is located in the city‑centre, with several bus routes and the nearby train‑station connecting to the ground, making it easy to travel from the town’s train‑station and surrounding areas. The match usually kicks off in the afternoon or evening, with most fixtures scheduled at 15:00 or 17:30 UK‑time, which is convenient for fans in the UK and parts of Europe, while international‑viewers in India may need to watch it in the early‑morning or late‑evening hours.
Ticket prices vary by location and opponent, but general‑admission and lower‑tier seats can start from around £20–£50, with premium and hospitality packages rising into the hundreds of pounds, especially for high‑profile games where Liverpool are visiting. The stadiums have capacities of around 38,000 (The City Ground) and 54,000 (Anfield), and the home‑section is usually packed for Nottm Forest vs Liverpool, with the away‑section smaller but still full of Liverpool‑supporters. What to expect on match day includes long queues, stringent security, full‑stadiums, and intense but generally well‑managed atmospheres, with large numbers of away fans in specifically‑allocated sections.
Tips for visitors include buying tickets early through official‑club‑channels, arriving at least 60–90 minutes before kick‑off to avoid congestion, and bringing only permitted items in line with stadium security rules. Alcohol is often sold on‑ sites, but consumption is usually restricted to inside the ground rather than the surrounding streets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the last match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool?
Liverpool won the most recent match 1-0 on February 22, 2026, at the City Ground. Alexis Mac Allister scored the winner in the 97th minute.
Where do the teams stand in the Premier League as of April 2026?
Liverpool is currently in 5th place (49 points), competing for a Champions League spot. Nottingham Forest is in 16th place (32 points), fighting to stay clear of the relegation zone.
Who won the last match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool?
Liverpool won the most recent encounter 1-0 on February 22, 2026, at the City Ground. Alexis Mac Allister scored the winning goal in the 97th minute.
What was the score in the match at Anfield earlier this season?
In one of the biggest upsets of the 2025/26 season, Nottingham Forest won 3-0 at Anfield on November 22, 2025. This was a historic victory for Forest, marking their most dominant away win against Liverpool in the modern era.
Has Nottingham Forest been involved in any other major competitions in 2026?
Yes, surprisingly, Nottingham Forest has been competing in the UEFA Europa League alongside their domestic campaign. As of April 9, 2026, they were involved in a quarter-final clash against FC Porto.
Who are the top performers for each side this season?
For Nottingham Forest, Morgan Gibbs-White leads with 9 goals and Callum Hudson-Odoi has 3 assists. For Liverpool, Mohamed Salah continues to lead the scoring charts, while Alexis Mac Allister has been pivotal in high-pressure moments, including the 97th-minute winner against Forest in February.
Is the rivalry historically significant?
Absolutely. The rivalry was at its peak between 1977 and 1980 under Brian Clough, when the two clubs were the dominant forces in Europe. In 1978, Forest famously ended Liverpool’s record 42-match unbeaten run.
Final Thoughts
The rivalry between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool is a story of two eras: the “Golden Age” of the late 1970s and a modern resurgence that has redefined the fixture’s unpredictability. Historically, Liverpool has dominated the win-loss column, but Forest’s recent return to the Premier League has proven that history counts for little once the whistle blows at a raucous City Ground or a tense Anfield.
As of April 2026, the 2025/26 season has added two unforgettable chapters to this saga. Forest’s dominant 3-0 win at Anfield in November 2025 was a tactical masterclass that silenced one of football’s most famous stadiums. Conversely, Liverpool’s 1-0 victory in February 2026 demonstrated the “never-say-die” attitude of Arne Slot’s side, stealing three points in the final seconds of a game they arguably did not deserve to win. This balance of historic weight and modern drama ensures that whenever these two “Reds” meet, the football world stops to watch.
To Read More: Manchester Independent