| Wednesday 13 April 1988 19:30
Barclay League Division One |
| |
 |
|
 |
| "Liverpool" |
5 - 0 |
"Nottingham
Forest" |
| |
(2-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Houghton 18, Aldridge 37, 88,
Gillespie 58, Beardsley 79 |
|
|
| |
1 Bruce
Grobbelaar
2 Gary Gillespie
3 Gary Ablett
4 Steve Nicol
5 Nigel Spackman
6 Alan Hansen (c)
7 Peter Beardsley
8 John Aldridge
9 Ray Houghton
10 John Barnes
11 Steve McMahon
Subs:
12 Craig Johnston
14 Jan Molby |
|
1 Steve Sutton
2 Steve Chettle
3 Stuart Pearce (c)
4 Des Walker
5 Colin Foster
6 Terry Wilson
7 Gary Crosby
8 Neil Webb
9 Nigel Clough
10 Eddie Glover
11 Brian Rice
Subs:
14 Wassall |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
McMahon (Molby 78)
Houghton (Johnston 85) |
|
Walker (Wassall 46) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: R G Milford
(Bristol) |
| |
|
|
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 45,485)
Attendance: 39,535 |
|
Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool)
Brian Clough (Nottingham F) |
 Price: 60 pence
Notes:
- The legendary Sir Tom Finney certainly enjoyed Liverpool's performance: "It
was the finest exhibition I've seen the whole time I've played and watched the game. You
couldn't see it bettered anywhere, not even in Brazil. The moves they put together were
fantastic."
|
|
Best performance ever?
Liverpool thrashed Brian Clough's young Forest side with a devastating display of
precision football and power. Many observers likened the Reds' display to the Real Madrid
team which swept all before it in the late 1950s. Certainly, on this day there was
probably not a team in Europe which could have lived with the Anfield side.
Liverpool were strong in every department and attacked relentlessly from start to
finish. Barnes, with an elegant shake of the hips, strode past defenders almost at will,
whilst the nimble Beardsley showed tremendous aggression, forcing his way into the Forest
penalty area and creating chances for his colleagues.
That was the signal for Forest to capitulate. Barnes twice went close before
Aldridge struck his 26th goal of the season after 36 minutes. Beardsley delivered a
telling 30-yard pass which split the Forest defence and Aldridge raced clear to lift his
shot over the onrushing Sutton. Liverpool were now in rampant mood and Beardsley forced
Sutton to tip the ball over the bar.
Forest's problems were increased when Des Walker suffered an ankle injury and was
replaced at the interval by Darren Wassall. Sutton continued to deny Liverpool's efforts
but, on the hour, Gary Gillespie, who was giving such a calm and assured display at the
back, made it 3-0 when he crashed a left-footed volley into the roof of the net from 12
yards after another perfect pass from Beardsley.
After 78 minutes, Beardsley added his name to the score-sheet. The mercurial Barnes
"nutmegged" Chettle and then jinked past Crosby before squaring the ball to
Beardsley, who rifled it past the helpless Sutton. It was a goal that his superb
performance richly deserved.
Liverpool completed this great display when Aldridge scored with four minutes
remaining, after excellent work by Nigel Spackman. Liverpool's merciless destruction of
Forest had been achieved with a display of unbelievable pace, accuracy and imagination. It
was a display which personified the style of manager Kenny Dalglish - and it was a display
which must rank as one of the best team performances ever seen in Britain.
Copyright - Brian Pead (Complete record). |
