As Jesse Lingard seemingly attempted to high-five or shake hands with every one of the 300 or so fans packed around the players’ entrance, a member of the coaching staff emerged from the Robin Hood Suite with an armful of beers destined for the manager’s office.
Steve Cooper had just given a simple post-match team talk. If Nottingham Forest’s players had held any doubts about themselves or their team-mates, the performance and result against LiverpoolThey are proof that they belong in the Premier League.
If a run of nine games without a top-flight win had created any degree of impostor syndrome among the squad, beating Liverpool — a side that lost 1-0 to Real MadridThe Champions LeagueLast day before Forest Beat Huddersfield by the same score in the Championship play-off final — should have erased it.
The main driver for the biggest win since Wembley victory was not physical but mental.
Cooper repeatedly repeated to his players this week: Liverpool are not invincible. He then armed them with a plan he felt could undo Jurgen Klopp’s side — having instilled the belief to implement it.
Forest’s intense recruitment plan has had a lot of attention in the past few months after the club brought in 22 players at a cost of around £150million ($169.5m). The team that faced Liverpool in the first round of the Champions League was the one that won. FA CupOnly in March, Ryan YatesJust six months later, I was still in the XI at the same time.
Cooper was as alert as anyone to the possible ramifications of such a large scale of change. But he has worked hard to inspire the same kind of team spirit and togetherness that was the foundation of Forest’s promotion push.
The players stayed in a hotel on Monday night to bond over the trip to Brighton earlier in week. The 0-0 draw on the south coast on Tuesday, then only Forest’s second clean sheet of the season, also served to cement the notion that a more cautious approach could work for Cooper’s side.
To further promote unity and a sense of belonging, there was a Thursday night team dinner. Such occasions are now a regular event — and are starting to have an impact.
This result was by far the best Forest team performance. This was a throwback to last year, when these qualities were the key to their success under Cooper.
Cooper celebrating with his players after beating Liverpool. (Photo by Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images).
Forest’s preparation was meticulous. As usual, they watched numerous videos of Liverpool’s recent performances in the meeting room at the Nigel Doughty Academy and outlined potential areas in which they might be able to flourish.
Cooper’s plan was to outnumber Liverpool in the centre of the pitch, even if that meant they allowed their opponents to deliver crosses from wider positions. Forest felt they were equipped to defend such situations; that they were strong aerially at the back in open play — a point that was justified by the fact Liverpool’s best openings generally came from set pieces, with Virgil van DijkThe three best of them.
Scott McKennaClearanced 10 items Steve CookForest held firm as he defended calmly from seven in the centre. “If you can clog up the middle of the pitch, it can work for you. It is a risk because they can deliver from wide areas,” said Cooper. “I can’t say that it was a comfortable win, but I never felt the opposite to that, either.”
Cheikhou KouyateIn a 4-3-3, he was drafted back into the midfield and made a 4-5-1 play. With Taiwo AwoniyiForest, who was also up front, had an invaluable physical presence along their spine.
Kouyate was a huge figure in the centre, but he wasn’t the only one. Yates continues his demonstration that he is capable to make the move up. Yates has played at every level of the National League while Switzerland international Remo FreulerThey provided intelligence and industry. Forest might have discovered their most efficient midfield combination.
Once Trent Alexander-ArnoldForest was able to change the dynamic when he introduced the ball in the 62nd second. They switched immediately to five backs, with Joe WorrallHelping to quell the threat of an exceptional crosser of the ball, I stepped off the bench Brennan Johnson’s pace also gave Forest a different dynamic.
In the build-up, Forest’s players had the value of simple work-rate drummed into them. Cooper believed industry and toil would be important in the defeat of Liverpool.
“Our game plan was to respect what they do well… but also to match their intensity or better it, if we can,” said Yates. “We knew that we could match them if we could beat them for intensity. We had more attacking threat, which just came from that extra energy.”
Cooper made it a point of speaking to Neco Williams, who signed from Liverpool in the summer for £17million, to make sure he was mentally prepared to face a club with which he still holds strong emotional ties.
Awoniyi did not play competitive games during his six years with Liverpool. This was largely because of problems with his work permit. Cooper talked to Awoniyi about the possibility of facing his old club. He instilled confidence in him by stating that his strength and athleticism would make them a powerful weapon if they could engage in a physical battle against the opposing defenders.
Defender Cook was the unlikely provider. He whipped in a cross from Awoniyi’s right. The £17million signing from Union Berlin saw his initial shot bounce back off the post, but he reacted quickest to guide the ball high into the net.
Lewis Grabban came back from Saudi Arabia — where he now plays with Al-Ahli — to watch from the stands, before heading into the tunnel to chat to his former team-mates afterwards. He appreciated the manner of this victory — and Awoniyi’s composed finish — as much as anyone.
Forest was still required to defend. Dean HendersonProducing a world-class save in order to keep out a Van Dijk head. But AlissonJohnson, and even more impressively Yates, had to be denied by Johnson at one-on-one.
“They are obviously a really talented team and we knew we were going to have to defend well. But at the same time we wanted to be dangerous,” said Johnson. “The atmosphere was great but the main thing was how hard we worked.
“Every day the boys’ attitude in training has been really good, even the boys who aren’t playing. Everyone has stuck to it and no one has started sulking because we know days like this can come if we keep pushing ourselves.”
The training ground was filled with a feeling of unity; that people are becoming more.
The 4-0 defeat was followed by LeicesterCooper was in danger at the beginning of October. The Forest hierarchy had considered a number of alternatives and had a shortlist including Rafa Benitez and Nuno Espirito Santato.
Cooper was still very popular with his fans so they gave him a new contract.
This could be a turning point for the team. In the four games since, Forest have taken five points and conceded only two goals — a significant transformation for a team that had shipped 18 in their previous five outings.
“We had a tough run, so we had to change the shape of the side and get the simple things right,” Yates said. “But over the last few weeks, it felt as though we were building and building. We have made some partnerships around the pitch.
Yates exemplified Forest’s approach against Liverpool (Photo: Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“We are becoming more of a team, it is obvious to see. We need the same togetherness and belief as last year. If we beat Liverpool, anyone can beat us. It’s about not hiding. I am loving it, even in the tough moments.”
Cooper, who has been bold enough to abandon the 3-4-1-2 formation that helped Forest to promotion last season, added: “In poor runs, players, managers and staff members can hide, sulk and find blame or excuses. It has been the exact opposite here, I can assure you.
“Going forward, if there are ever any doubts among the players about themselves or each other, they can use this result as a reference point to show that we belong at this level.”
Afterwards, the area around the players’ entrance had the atmosphere of a concert, as hundreds of fans screamed for the attention of their heroes. Many of the Liverpool players stopped by to sign autographs and chat with fans. James MilnerHe agreed to take a selfie, which was a funny moment. However, he still had the furious look that a man who’d just had his car tyres flat.
As the music played in the home dressing area, and the outside noise, senior players exhorted their teammates to enjoy such moments.
Forest should continue to perform at this level if they want to have more moments like these.
(Top photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
