Liverpool 5–0 Nottingham Forest (1988)
Encyclopedia
In April 1988, with the 1987–88 season
drawing to an end, Liverpool
played Nottingham Forest
three times in the space of twelve days. The first game, on April 2, was a League game at Forest's City Ground
, with the home team winning 2–1. A week later the two teams met at Hillsborough
in an FA Cup semi-final - this time Liverpool were winners, by the same score. The third meeting was the return league fixture at Anfield
, four days later. Liverpool were lying top of the league, with Forest six points behind in third place. Liverpool won the match 5–0, putting distance behind them and their title rivals. Their performance is considered to be one of the best in English football history
, and the most memorable from a team considered to be one of Liverpool's best.
trophyless, and lost star striker Ian Rush
to Juventus. Manager Kenny Dalglish
acted to sign three new forwards - Ray Houghton
from Oxford United
, John Barnes
from Watford
and Peter Beardsley
from Newcastle United
. They joined John Aldridge
who had signed in April, and now took Rush's place in the team. The new attacking line-up gelled immediately, as Liverpool remained unbeaten until the 30th game of the season, and had already, by April, scored 4 goals in a match no fewer than 10 times.
won the ball in his own half, and played a through-ball
to Ray Houghton
, who ran diagonally towards the opposition penalty area
. He played a one-two with John Barnes
, before beating Des Walker
and lifting the ball over goalkeeper Steve Sutton
under pressure from close range. The second goal also began in Liverpool's half - Peter Beardsley
received the ball, and in one motion played in a long-distance pass in front of John Aldridge
, who was between two defenders. Aldridge ran onto the pass, and clipped it over the advancing 'keeper from the edge of the area. In the second half, Liverpool made it 3–0, an unmarked Gary Gillespie
smashing a John Aldridge
cross into the roof of the net from inside the penalty area in the 58th minute. The fourth goal came in the 79th minute. The move started on the left wing, Barnes beat two defenders before approaching the penalty area, and cutting the ball back to an advancing Beardsley, who hit a low drive into the bottom right-hand corner. Liverpool rounded off the scoring in the 88th minute - a long ball from Bruce Grobbelaar
was cleared by Steve Chettle
, but Nigel Spackman
won the ball back as Forest tried to move forward. He continued running into the area and received the ball back from Beardsley, before cutting the ball across for Aldridge to score his second from close range.
, who was commentating on the game, described it as "almost fantasy football". Liverpool's performance was described by former England
international Tom Finney
as "the finest exhibition of attacking football ever seen"., while former European Footballer of the Year
Michel Platini
said Liverpool resembled "a continental team, not an English one". In his 1999 autobiography, John Barnes
said it was "the best Liverpool performance he ever played in.
a week later, with a 0–0 draw against Norwich City
. They were denied a double
, however, with a surprise defeat against Wimbledon
in the FA Cup Final. Liverpool and Nottingham Forest met again in more tragic circumstances a year later, in another FA Cup semi-final which was the scene of the Hillsborough disaster
.
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST:
|
GK
1
Steve Sutton
RB
2
Steve Chettle
LB
3
Stuart Pearce
(c)
CB
4
Des Walker
CB
5
Colin Foster
CM
6
Terry Wilson
RM
7
Gary Crosby
CM
8
Neil Webb
CF
9
Nigel Clough
CF
10
Lee Glover
LM
11
Brian Rice
Substitutes:
FW
12
Tommy Gaynor
DF
14
Darren Wassall
Manager:
Brian Clough
1987-88 in English football
The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
drawing to an end, Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
played Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
three times in the space of twelve days. The first game, on April 2, was a League game at Forest's City Ground
City Ground
The City Ground is a football stadium in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Trent. It has been home to Nottingham Forest Football Club since 1898, and has a capacity of 30,602 ....
, with the home team winning 2–1. A week later the two teams met at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
in an FA Cup semi-final - this time Liverpool were winners, by the same score. The third meeting was the return league fixture at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
, four days later. Liverpool were lying top of the league, with Forest six points behind in third place. Liverpool won the match 5–0, putting distance behind them and their title rivals. Their performance is considered to be one of the best in English football history
History of English football
The History of English football is a long and detailed one, as it is not only the national sport but England was where the game was developed and codified. The modern global game of Football was first codified in 1863 in London. The impetus for this was to unify English public school and university...
, and the most memorable from a team considered to be one of Liverpool's best.
Background
Liverpool had finished the previous season1986-87 in English football
The 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off...
trophyless, and lost star striker Ian Rush
Ian Rush
Ian James Rush, MBE, is a retired football player from Flint, Wales. He is best remembered as a player for Liverpool, where he was among the top strikers in the English game in the 1980s and 1990s. He also had spells playing at Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield...
to Juventus. Manager Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish
Kenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish MBE is a Scottish former footballer and the current manager of Liverpool F.C.. In a 22-year playing career, he played for two club teams, Celtic and Liverpool, winning numerous honours with both. He is the most capped Scottish player, with 102 appearances, and...
acted to sign three new forwards - Ray Houghton
Ray Houghton
Raymond James "Ray" Houghton is a retired Scottish-born footballer who represented the Republic of Ireland at international level, qualifying through his Irish father...
from Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
, John Barnes
John Barnes (footballer)
John Charles Bryan Barnes MBE is an English football manager and former player.During his playing career, Barnes had successful periods at Watford and Liverpool in the 1980s and 1990s, winning the First Division twice, the FA Cup twice, and playing for England 79 times...
from Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
and Peter Beardsley
Peter Beardsley
Peter Andrew Beardsley MBE is an English former footballer who played between 1979 and 1999. He once set a record transfer fee in the game and represented his country 59 times between 1986 and 1996, once as captain...
from Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. They joined John Aldridge
John Aldridge
John William Aldridge is a former Republic of Ireland international footballer and football manager...
who had signed in April, and now took Rush's place in the team. The new attacking line-up gelled immediately, as Liverpool remained unbeaten until the 30th game of the season, and had already, by April, scored 4 goals in a match no fewer than 10 times.
Match
Liverpool dominated the match from start to finish, and took the lead in the eighteenth minute. Alan HansenAlan Hansen
Alan David Hansen is a Scottish former football player and BBC television football pundit. He played as a central defender for Partick Thistle, Liverpool and Scotland...
won the ball in his own half, and played a through-ball
Passing (association football)
Passing the ball is a key part of association football. The purpose of passing is to keep possession of the ball by maneuvering it on the ground between different players and to advance it up the playing field....
to Ray Houghton
Ray Houghton
Raymond James "Ray" Houghton is a retired Scottish-born footballer who represented the Republic of Ireland at international level, qualifying through his Irish father...
, who ran diagonally towards the opposition penalty area
Penalty area
The penalty area , is an area of an association football pitch. It is rectangular and extends to each side of the goal and in front of it. Within the penalty area is the penalty spot , which is from the goal line, directly in-line with the centre of the goal...
. He played a one-two with John Barnes
John Barnes (footballer)
John Charles Bryan Barnes MBE is an English football manager and former player.During his playing career, Barnes had successful periods at Watford and Liverpool in the 1980s and 1990s, winning the First Division twice, the FA Cup twice, and playing for England 79 times...
, before beating Des Walker
Des Walker
Desmond Sinclair "Des" Walker is a former England international footballer who is best remembered for his spells with Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday...
and lifting the ball over goalkeeper Steve Sutton
Steve Sutton (footballer)
Stephen "Steve" Sutton is an English former professional football goalkeeper, currently working as a coach.-Playing career:...
under pressure from close range. The second goal also began in Liverpool's half - Peter Beardsley
Peter Beardsley
Peter Andrew Beardsley MBE is an English former footballer who played between 1979 and 1999. He once set a record transfer fee in the game and represented his country 59 times between 1986 and 1996, once as captain...
received the ball, and in one motion played in a long-distance pass in front of John Aldridge
John Aldridge
John William Aldridge is a former Republic of Ireland international footballer and football manager...
, who was between two defenders. Aldridge ran onto the pass, and clipped it over the advancing 'keeper from the edge of the area. In the second half, Liverpool made it 3–0, an unmarked Gary Gillespie
Gary Gillespie
Gary Thompson Gillespie was a defender who played football for Liverpool through much of their dominant period of the 1980s.-Early career:...
smashing a John Aldridge
John Aldridge
John William Aldridge is a former Republic of Ireland international footballer and football manager...
cross into the roof of the net from inside the penalty area in the 58th minute. The fourth goal came in the 79th minute. The move started on the left wing, Barnes beat two defenders before approaching the penalty area, and cutting the ball back to an advancing Beardsley, who hit a low drive into the bottom right-hand corner. Liverpool rounded off the scoring in the 88th minute - a long ball from Bruce Grobbelaar
Bruce Grobbelaar
Bruce David Grobbelaar is a former football goalkeeper and manager.He played for a number of clubs in a career which spanned for more than 20 years at professional level, most notably Liverpool during their dominant period in the 1980s and early 1990s.-Early years:In his teenage years, Grobbelaar...
was cleared by Steve Chettle
Steve Chettle
Stephen "Steve" Chettle is an English former footballer who currently works as the U13 team coach at Nottingham Forest. He is best known for his time as a player at Forest...
, but Nigel Spackman
Nigel Spackman
Nigel James Spackman is an English football manager and former player. He was formerly a midfield player who was an integral part of the much-admired Liverpool team of 1988...
won the ball back as Forest tried to move forward. He continued running into the area and received the ball back from Beardsley, before cutting the ball across for Aldridge to score his second from close range.
Reaction
John MotsonJohn Motson
John Walker Motson OBE ,AKA Motty, is an English football commentator on both television and radio as well a well known moter. He made his name as 'Moty' after he moted out the entire Huddersfield huddersfield cheerleaders team. writer.-Biography:The son of a Methodist minister, Motson was educated...
, who was commentating on the game, described it as "almost fantasy football". Liverpool's performance was described by former England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international Tom Finney
Tom Finney
Sir Thomas Finney, OBE is a former English footballer, famous for his loyalty to his league club, Preston North End, and for his performances in the English national side....
as "the finest exhibition of attacking football ever seen"., while former European Footballer of the Year
European Footballer of the Year
The "", literally translated as "the golden ball" and often referred to as the European Footballer of the Year award, was an annual association football award. It was presented to the player who had been considered to have performed the best over the previous calendar year...
Michel Platini
Michel Platini
Michel François Platini is a former French football player, manager and current president of UEFA. Platini was a member of the French national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was the top goalscorer and voted the best player. He participated in the 1978, 1982...
said Liverpool resembled "a continental team, not an English one". In his 1999 autobiography, John Barnes
John Barnes (footballer)
John Charles Bryan Barnes MBE is an English football manager and former player.During his playing career, Barnes had successful periods at Watford and Liverpool in the 1980s and 1990s, winning the First Division twice, the FA Cup twice, and playing for England 79 times...
said it was "the best Liverpool performance he ever played in.
Aftermath
Liverpool secured their 17th League TitleEnglish football champions
The English football champions are the winners of the highest league in English football, which is currently the Premier League. Teams in bold are those who won the double of League Championship and FA Cup, or the European Double of League Championship and European Cup in that season.Following the...
a week later, with a 0–0 draw against Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
. They were denied a double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
, however, with a surprise defeat against Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
in the FA Cup Final. Liverpool and Nottingham Forest met again in more tragic circumstances a year later, in another FA Cup semi-final which was the scene of the Hillsborough disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | LIVERPOOL | |||
| GK | 1 |  Bruce GrobbelaarBruce Grobbelaar Bruce David Grobbelaar is a former football goalkeeper and manager.He played for a number of clubs in a career which spanned for more than 20 years at professional level, most notably Liverpool during their dominant period in the 1980s and early 1990s.-Early years:In his teenage years, Grobbelaar... |
||
| CB | 2 | Gary Gillespie Gary Gillespie Gary Thompson Gillespie was a defender who played football for Liverpool through much of their dominant period of the 1980s.-Early career:... |
||
| LB | 3 | Gary Ablett |
||
| RB | 4 | Steve Nicol Steve Nicol Stephen "Steve" Nicol is a Scottish former professional footballer. A utility player who played in the all-conquering Liverpool team of the 1980s, he was most recently coach of New England Revolution, and was the longest-tenured head coach in MLS to coach a single club.As a player, Nicol was a... |
||
| CM | 5 | Nigel Spackman Nigel Spackman Nigel James Spackman is an English football manager and former player. He was formerly a midfield player who was an integral part of the much-admired Liverpool team of 1988... |
||
| CB | 6 | Alan Hansen Alan Hansen Alan David Hansen is a Scottish former football player and BBC television football pundit. He played as a central defender for Partick Thistle, Liverpool and Scotland... (c) |
||
| CF | 7 | Peter Beardsley Peter Beardsley Peter Andrew Beardsley MBE is an English former footballer who played between 1979 and 1999. He once set a record transfer fee in the game and represented his country 59 times between 1986 and 1996, once as captain... |
||
| CF | 8 | John Aldridge John Aldridge John William Aldridge is a former Republic of Ireland international footballer and football manager... |
||
| RM | 9 | Ray Houghton Ray Houghton Raymond James "Ray" Houghton is a retired Scottish-born footballer who represented the Republic of Ireland at international level, qualifying through his Irish father... |
||
| LM | 10 | John Barnes John Barnes (footballer) John Charles Bryan Barnes MBE is an English football manager and former player.During his playing career, Barnes had successful periods at Watford and Liverpool in the 1980s and 1990s, winning the First Division twice, the FA Cup twice, and playing for England 79 times... |
||
| CM | 11 | Steve McMahon Steve McMahon Stephen Joseph McMahon is an English former football midfielder who most notably played for Liverpool in the late 1980s... |
||
| Substitutes: | ||||
| MF | 12 | Craig Johnston Craig Johnston Craig Johnston is a former football player who was one of the first Australians to make a major impact in the English game. He is remembered for his time spent with Liverpool throughout the 1980s... |
||
| MF | 14 |  Jan MølbyJan Mølby Jan Mølby is a Danish former international footballer who spent much of his professional football career at English club Liverpool.- Club career :... |
||
| Manager: | ||||
| Kenny Dalglish Kenny Dalglish Kenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish MBE is a Scottish former footballer and the current manager of Liverpool F.C.. In a 22-year playing career, he played for two club teams, Celtic and Liverpool, winning numerous honours with both. He is the most capped Scottish player, with 102 appearances, and... |
||||
Steve SuttonSteve Sutton (footballer)
Stephen "Steve" Sutton is an English former professional football goalkeeper, currently working as a coach.-Playing career:...
Steve ChettleSteve Chettle
Stephen "Steve" Chettle is an English former footballer who currently works as the U13 team coach at Nottingham Forest. He is best known for his time as a player at Forest...
Stuart PearceStuart Pearce
Stuart Pearce OBE is an English football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of the England national under-21 team and the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic football team...
(c)
Des WalkerDes Walker
Desmond Sinclair "Des" Walker is a former England international footballer who is best remembered for his spells with Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday...
Colin Foster Terry Wilson Gary CrosbyGary Crosby (footballer)
Gary Crosby began his senior career at Lincoln United. In his teenage years, he had been one of the most promising players in the Lincoln area and regularly appeared for Lincoln City's youth and reserve sides. A slight but skillful player, it was often felt his physique would prevent him turning...
Neil WebbNeil Webb
Neil John Webb is an English former footballer and television pundit. He played as a midfielder and defender between 1980 and 1997 notably for Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United...
Nigel CloughNigel Clough
Nigel Howard Clough is an English former footballer and the current manager of Derby County. Playing predominately as a striker, but later in his career was used as a midfielder, Clough was capped by England 14 times in the early 1990s....
Lee GloverLee Glover
Edward Lee Glover is a retired footballer, turned manager.His career started with Nottingham Forest in 1987, where he remained up until 1994, when he joined Port Vale. Two years later he signed with Rotherham United, staying with the Millers until 2000...
Brian RiceBrian Rice
Brian Rice is a Scottish former association football player, who played for clubs including Hibernian, Nottingham Forest and Falkirk. Rice has also held coaching positions with Greenock Morton, Airdrieonians, Falkirk and Hibernian, working for Ian McCall and John Hughes.-Playing career:Born in...
Tommy GaynorTommy Gaynor
Tommy Gaynor was an Irish soccer player during the 1980s and 1990s.He made his League of Ireland debut on the 13th of September 1981 for Limerick United before signing for Shamrock Rovers in 1982. He scored 2 goals in 3 appearances for the club in the UEFA Cup. He left to sign for Dundalk in 1983...
Darren WassallDarren Wassall
Darren Wassall is a retired English football defender.Wassall began his career in 1984 at Nottingham Forest, where he was a product of the youth system. He failed to win a regular first team place, although he was a reliable stand-in to the likes of Des Walker, and was loaned out to Hereford...
Brian CloughBrian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...