BRIAN CLOUGH will be looking down with pride when Nottingham Forest host Liverpool in an amazing rekindling of their 70s rivalry.
That is the message from his son Nigel — who played for both sides — ahead of tonight’s unlikely Premier League title crunch at the City Ground.
Forest are the story of the Prem season after six consecutive top-flight wins that has them battling with the big boys at the top.
If Nuno Espirito Santo’s side make it seven on the bounce, they will cut Liverpool’s lead to just three points.
Clough Sr took Forest from the old Second Division in 1977 to break the dominance of Liverpool and land the First Division title and two European Cups within just three years.
Mansfield boss Nigel, 58, whose League One side play Wigan in the FA Cup tonight, declared: “Dad would have been very proud to see Forest back up there.
“So many older supporters have said they wish their children were around to see that time.
“Now, they are getting a little taste. Not of what it was — but a little taste of them being up there.
“It’s just brilliant for those fans. It was always special playing Liverpool and I couldn’t believe the recent stat that Forest had not won at Liverpool since 1969.
“For how much Forest did challenge them, they could not win at Anfield — despite some good nil-nils there.
“It will be another sell-out at the City Ground. People can’t get tickets there these days, although they are welcome to come to the One Call Stadium if they want to see some live football!”
Back in the late 1970s, Forest versus Liverpool was the country’s biggest rivalry.
Old Big ’Ead, who died in 2004, masterminded Forest’s rise from the second tier in 1976-1977 and they won the First Division the next year.
What followed was even more remarkable — European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980, following on from Liverpool’s consecutive wins before that.
Forest also beat Liverpool in the 1978 League Cup final at Wembley as Clough and his Anfield rival, Bob Paisley, created an enduring rivalry.
Clough Jr, who was 12 when Forest won the title in 1978, said: “I never thought I would see the sides up there together in the top three or four again.
“It brings back memories of the late 70s when they were English football’s dominant forces.
“Every time they have played in recent history, it’s always Liverpool who have been strong favourites.
“But this does take you back all those years, when Forest were the only side responsible for preventing Liverpool’s dominance continuing.
Dad would have been very proud to see Forest back up there.
Nigel Clough
“They were established European champions, had dominated in the mid-70s and looked as though they would continue to do that until Forest came along and upset the apple cart.
For a few years, Forest were then equal to them at least.
It will bring back a lot of memories for the older Forest supporters, who can tell their children that 40-odd years ago they were toe-to-toe with Liverpool.
“This is the closest it’s been since that time at the moment.
“I remember watching the rivalry build and Liverpool players from that time acknowledge the role Forest played in giving them that challenge they were not getting anywhere else in Europe.
“It was not a geographical rivalry. It was just a rivalry on the pitch after becoming Liverpool’s closest challengers.
“It wasn’t like a Liverpool v Manchester United situation.
“But we just had so many battles around that time — including the League Cup final, as well as pipping them for the title and beating them in the European Cup first round.
“It all just evolved. The one uniting factor, if anything, was the Hillsborough disaster a few years later.
“You would never get the tragedy chanting like with Liverpool v Manchester United — it’s not that sort of rivalry.
“It is just purely the rivalry on the pitch of two very, very good football teams at their peak.”
After two seasons finding their feet back in the top flight, Forest have suddenly hit form.
They are the only team to win at Anfield this season, thanks to Callum Hudson-Odoi’s goal in September.
And Clough — who played over 300 times for Forest before signing for Liverpool in 1993 — reckons they have to be taken seriously as title contenders.
He added: “You can’t ignore Forest now because of the run they have had, similar to when Leicester won it.
“It breeds confidence, which is a commodity in football you can’t buy.
“You can’t instil it, either. The only way to get it is by winning games.
“I saw some of the game at Wolves the other night and, after Forest scored early, the home side failed to take one of two or three chances.
“Forest won it 3-0 when it could have maybe been 1-1.
“When games like that are going for them, you can’t rule them out.”
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