Nottingham Forest

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The issue around the footballing calendar and the demands being placed on players right now is a difficult one.

First, we need to take into consideration the really high demands on the body that go on all-year round with few breaks, especially for international footballers and those in teams competing on multiple fronts.

I know the men's and the women's games are different, but we got exposed to these issues when we went from amateur to professional. There was a lot of loading, a lot of games and the result of that was a higher risk of injury and we have seen a lot of anterior cruciate ligament injuries now in the women's game.

From the fans' side, their point is often that players get paid a lot of money but I think that is irrelevant. That is just the industry players are in and, if you take out the money, they are still human beings.

The governing bodies need to look at who they consult with about changes in the calendar such as World Cups being held in winter and summers where there is just a couple of weeks off before going straight back into it. The changes and fixtures that are put in are there to generate more money, which makes it difficult. As a business, it is about money.

We talk about mental health a lot and you wonder, where is the time to switch off and have that time away from playing? To have that family time which is a deep human need? At some point mentally, if not physically, it will take its toll.

None of us want to see players striking, but players need to be listened to. What do they need to do to make change happen?

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

The latest episode of the 'Shut Up And Show More Football' podcast has landed.

Club owner Evangelos Marinakis talks about plans for the City Ground while BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray asks Ola Aina about eggs after the Nigeria midfielder offered to give 1,000 eggs to Callum Hudson-Odoi as reward for his winner against Liverpool last weekend.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Wolves and West Ham are among the admirers of Red Bull Salzburg's 24-year-old French defender Oumar Solet. (HITC), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

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It is easy to get lost in the euphoria of Saturday. Somehow Nottingham Forest had gone 55 years without winning at Anfield - and yet we shouldn’t really focus too much on beating Liverpool in their own back yard.

Yes, it is a landmark. Yes, it is a long-standing record. Yes, not so long ago our bogey grounds were places like Barnsley and Rotherham. And yes, we should definitely celebrate it and enjoy it.

But the underlying story is the circumstances that made this possible. The gradual progression of a club that some people (again) had down for relegation at the start of the season - make no mistake, avoiding the drop is still our first goal for 2024-25 - and the mission to be winning away at other grounds nobody is expecting us to get anything from.

In our first season back in the Premier League we lost 6-0 at Manchester City and 5-0 at Arsenal. Last season, the results were a lot more competitive in most games, if not closer. But beating the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham is now something we have done in recent years.

And I have no doubt owner Evangelos Marinakis would concur that if we are to further progress, then the mentality must not be that of a plucky, small club feeding off scraps, but of a club that deserves to be at the top table with results to match.

The strategic transfer window this summer, and keeping the core of the squad together, has given the manager Nuno Espirito Santo the tools to do what we did on Saturday.

Being able to carry out a gameplan that involved being solid in midfield, before bringing on players with the quality of matchwinner Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga, proves the strength in depth we have now as well as the understanding and unity throughout the team.

Of course, the fact remains that Liverpool rarely lose at home - and this season it was finally our turn.

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Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes Nottingham Forest will be a "mid-table team" this season, as the Reds continued their unbeaten Premier League start with an "impressive" performance against Liverpool.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Sutton said: "To be able to bring players of that quality off the bench - who are game changers - is a massive positive.

"They now have strength and depth in the squad, but it has taken some building and it has cost Nottingham Forest a lot of money to assemble their squad.

"I think they will be a comfortable mid-table team this season, on the basis of one game at Liverpool, but their performance was that impressive."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

The Monday Night Club panel were full of praise for Nottingham Forest and head coach Nuno Espirito Santo after Saturday's fine win over Liverpool at Anfield continued their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.

"They have plenty of options, a better squad, a stronger squad," said former Newcastle United and Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given.

"How many opposition managers do you see go to Anfield, it's 0-0 after an hour and they're putting on an extra midfielder and shutting up the shop with an extra defender ? He's gone: 'Hang on, I can smell something here, something even more successful.'

"He thought: 'We can make history today. I'm going to roll the dice.' He put two quick wingers on and tried and win the game. He deserves so much credit because so many managers, from so many different clubs, go to the big clubs and are happy with a draw. He's thought the opposite and went and won the game."

After guiding Forest to safety last season despite a four point deduction, New York Times journalist Rory Smith believes Nuno can bring similar success to that which he brought to Wolves during his four years at Molineux.

"To an extent, Nuno's reputation has been unduly affected by that short, unhappy stint at Spurs," added Smith. "Nuno did really, really well at Wolves. He's taken a team that wasn't dissimilar in terms of the squad to Forest.

"The way he made Wolves a well-established Premier League team was making them hard to beat, solid with two or three injections of real quality. And if you look at Forest, there's that similar sort of blueprint.

"Nuno is a really good manager at getting those sorts of teams results and I wonder if we've forgotten that a little bit because it didn't work out for him at Spurs."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Forest fans, what do you think has made the difference so far this season?

We want to know your thoughts - is it Nuno's management, the summer transfer business, good fortune or something else?

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Manchester City are monitoring Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, but the Reds are keen to offer the midfielder a new deal. (HITC), external

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Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Steve Hodge says Nuno Espirito Santo's current squad is "lightyears ahead" of the one managed by Steve Cooper in the promotion season of 2022-23.

Forest continued their impressive unbeaten start by stunning Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday with substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi scoring a fine winner off the bench.

"That team at the end had me thinking," Hodge told BBC Radio Nottingham post-match. "People liked the promotion team that got up under Steve Cooper but I thought that this team against Liverpool is lightyears ahead of that team in terms of maturity, experience, strength, power, speed off the bench, centre forwards.

"The squad in general is packed with young-ish but very experienced players who know the game really well.

"When you win at Anfield after 55 years you enjoy the moment. Whether by hook or by crook or by luck sometimes, the odd team has come here and won.

"Forest's win wasn't about luck. It was by planning, organisation and team spirit to dig in at the end. The subs coming on made a difference, the wide players were quick, direct and both involved in the goal that mattered.

"It was the perfect away performance."

When asked if it was the most impressive display since Forest's return to the Premier League, Hodge added: "By a country mile.

"To come here and keep a clean sheet when they've got a new manager, three wins out of three and are flying.

"You can nick a win anywhere but it was about how they won. It was comfortable."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

David asked: Phil, have the pundits underestimated how well Forest will do this season given the noticeable improvement in the quality of the squad?

Phil replied: Hello, David. I may have been one of the guilty ones you mentioned. I tipped them to finish 16th in my pre-season predictions but they will already be looking much higher.

They were excellent at Liverpool on Saturday and looked like a side very much in the Nuno Espirito Santo mould from his Wolves days.

They are solid at the back, where Murillo is a class act, while Morgan Gibbs-White is another fine operator in midfield with players such as Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga giving Forest the pace and width Nuno likes, making them dangerous on the counter attack.

James Ward-Prowse brings experience and quality to midfield while Alex Moreno is dependable at left-back. Elliot Anderson is another smart signing from Newcastle United.

It’s been a great start and a real platform to build on.

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Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says Nottingham Forest were "spot-on" everywhere on the pitch to get a win against a strong Liverpool side.

"It was perfect tactics and everything worked how it was supposed to," Reo-Coker said on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily Podcast. "I look at this Forest side and they are now a consistent staple-side in the Premier League. They are becoming a team that are tough to face.

"Nuno could not have asked for any more from his team and to get a result at Anfield you have to be perfect. That was what they were.

"It is hard to even be critical of Liverpool because they didn't play bad. Forest were just spot on!"

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Geoffrey: Did anyone other than Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz break a sweat? Not quick or intelligent enough to see movement or find the right players. Far too slow in everything. Mohamed Salah - learn to pass properly. Awful display!

Vardon: An all too familiar scene played out in front of a frustrated home crowd, reminding all Liverpool fans that just tweaking things with the existing squad won't guarantee a win against well drilled and disciplined 'lesser' opponents. Poor passing and little creativity in the final third led to an exasperating spectacle. Time to reflect and adapt.

Fraser: What on earth happened to that patient style of play that helped us win our first three games? The moment we conceded we went into full panic mode, just as we did towards the end of last season. Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai were just not on point. It's still early days but I hope this is not the start of a slump.

Forest fans

Chris: Executed to absolute perfection. Perhaps Liverpool were unlucky not to get the lead but huge credit to Nuno Espirito Santo for not trying to drag out a draw. This demonstrates the huge leaps we are making. Going for a win with 15 minutes to go at Anfield? Unheard of.

Brian: Fully deserved win. Liverpool ran out of ideas and got outbattled in the middle of the park. We had the clearer chances second half and were always a danger on the break. Much more mature in final moments too - gamesmanship and professionalism. All subs were switched on and solid. Well played.

Graham: Our backline was tighter than my brother - and believe me, he is tight. I would love to wax lyrical about the Reds but we need a striker. Chris Wood is not the answer. Also, Salah had a bad game and how often do you say that?

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Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer spoke on Match of the Day about Nottingham Forest's performance against Liverpool on Saturday:

"They were absolutely magnificent from start to finish. They had a gameplan and it worked to perfection.

"You've got to be almost perfect when you come to Anfield, especially with the form that Liverpool are in - and Forest were. There was just no way through, no gaps or spaces in the midfield. They were really tight and compact and Liverpool just got frustrated with how well Forest were playing.

"There was no way through for [Mohamed] Salah against [Alex] Moreno, and on the other side with [Luis] Diaz and [Ola] Aina.

"They [the defenders] were fighting with each other to close Liverpool down and get in the way.

"This was no fluke, - this was absolutely deserved. What a win, and a great start to the season."

Catch up on Saturday's Match of the Day episode here

Gary Linker brings you highlights and analysis from Saturday's eight Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest

• Aston Villa 3-2 Everton

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Nottingham Forest secured their first away top-flight win against Liverpool since February 1969, ending their 25-game winless run at Anfield in league competition.

Nuno Espirito Santo secured his first ever Premier League victory against Liverpool, having lost all seven meetings with the Reds coming into today’s game.