Classes of 2025 meet on Tuesday, echoing trophy-dictating matches between sides coached by Clough and Paisley. 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.
![[Will Unwin]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2024/10/03/Will_Unwin.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Liverpool have maintained their place at the top tables in England and Europe, whereas Forest’s journey has been more storied, the club dropping to the third tier before making it back to the top flight after almost a quarter of a century away. Now the pair are rivals for trophies again; Liverpool travel to the City Ground on Tuesday at the top of the pile and, much to almost everyone’s surprise, Forest are only two places below and dreaming of reliving the glory days. Win and they will be three points behind, albeit having played a game more.
![[Brian Clough (blue blazer) and Bob Paisley (brown suit) lead Forest and Liverpool out for the 1978 League Cup final at Wembley]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ad606b2de40380995b5482369c938b45070370e4/0_238_4586_2753/master/4586.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
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.
![[Nottingham Forest’s Archie Gemmill hacks the ball clear during his side’s 2-0 win in the 1978-79 European Cup watched by teammate Viv Anderson and Liverpool’s Kenny Dalglish (left) and Alan Kennedy (right)]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2dbe718f1e25908e59148fde31882575fe8dccb9/3_467_2389_1434/master/2389.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
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.
