BRIAN CLOUGH will look down with pride as Nottingham Forest host Liverpool in a fantastic revival of the 1970s rivalry.
That is the message from his son Nigel – who has 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, battling the big boys at the top.
If Nuno Espirito Santo's team reaches seven points, Liverpool's lead will be reduced to just three points.
Clough Sr brought Forest from the old Second Division in 1977 to break Liverpool's dominance and win 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, said: “Dad would have been very proud to see Forest there again.
“So many older supporters have said they wish their children were there that time.
“Now they're getting a taste for it. Not what it was, but a taste of their presence up there.
“It's just great for those fans. It was always special to play against Liverpool and I couldn't believe the recent statistics that Forest hadn't won at Liverpool since 1969.
“As much as Forest challenged them, they couldn't win at Anfield – despite some good nil points there.
“It will be another sellout at the City Ground. People can't get tickets there anymore these days, but if they want to see live football, they are welcome at the One Call Stadium!”
In the late 1970s, Forest versus Liverpool was the country's biggest rivalry.
Old Big 'Ead, who died in 2004, was the mastermind behind Forest's rise from the second tier in 1976-77 and they won the First Division the following year.
What followed was even more remarkable: European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980, following on from Liverpool's back-to-back victories before that.
Forest also defeated 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 teams up there together in the top three or four again.
“It brings back memories of the late 1970s when they were the dominant forces in English football.
“Every time they have played in recent history it has always been Liverpool who have been big favourites.
“But this takes you back to all those years when Forest were the only team responsible for preventing Liverpool's dominance from continuing.
“They were established European champions, had dominated in the mid-1970s and it looked like they would continue to do so until Forest came along and upset the apple cart.
For a few years, Forest were at least equal to them.
It will bring back many memories for older Forest supporters, who can tell their children that they came face to face with Liverpool 40 years ago.
“This is the closest we've come since then.
“I remember seeing the rivalry growing and Liverpool players at that time recognizing the role Forest played in giving them that challenge that they didn't get anywhere else in Europe.
“It wasn't a geographical rivalry. It was just a rivalry on the pitch after they became Liverpool's biggest challengers.
“It wasn't like a situation between Liverpool and Manchester United.
“But we had so many fights around that time, including the League Cup final, but also for the title and beating them in the first round of the European Cup.
“It all just evolved. The only unifying factor was the Hillsborough disaster a few years later.
“You would never hear tragedy sung like Liverpool – Manchester United – it's not that kind of rivalry.
“It's just purely the on-field rivalry of two very, very good football teams at their peak.”
After two seasons of finding their way back into the top flight, Forest have suddenly found themselves in good form.
They are the only team to win at Anfield this season, thanks to Callum Hudson-Odoi's goal in September.
And Clough – who made more than 300 appearances for Forest before signing for Liverpool in 1993 – believes they should be taken seriously as title contenders.
He added: “You can't ignore Forest now because of the run they've had, similar to when Leicester won.
“It builds trust, a commodity you can't buy in football.
'You can't insert it either. The only way to achieve this is by winning matches.
“I watched part of the game at Wolves the other day and after Forest scored early the home side failed to convert on one of the two or three chances.
“Forest won 3-0, while it might have been 1-1.
“If these kinds of games are in store for them, you can't rule them out.”
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