On This Day – 27th September
Holders Liverpool had an uphill task to try and retain the European Cup on this day in 1978. They had lost 2-0 away to English league champions Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their First Round tie.
This was the first time that two English sides had played against each other in the European Cup. Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest had won the First Division the previous season. What was remarkable about their league title win in 1977/78 was that it was their first season in the First Division after winning promotion from the Second Division in 1976/77.
Liverpool on the other hand were the most successful side in the English game. They had also won the last two European Cups and were favourites to win the trophy for a third successive year.
This was Nottingham Forest’s first season playing in a European competition. They got off to a dream start, beating Liverpool 2-0 at home in the first leg at the City Ground. The return leg was always going to be a challenge with Liverpool having an axe to grind with the visitors. Clough’s men had taken their league title and also beat them in the League Cup Final the previous season.
51,679 fans crammed into Anfield for another European match under the floodlights. Liverpool tried – but ultimately failed – to break down the strong Nottingham Forest defence and the game finished goalless. Forest went through 2-0 on aggregate.
Nottingham Forest would go on to win the European Cup that season, before retaining it the following season. Liverpool would get their hands on the trophy again in 1981 before Aston Vila won the competition a year later. Villa’s victory meant that an English club had won the European Cup for six successive seasons!
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