Nottingham Forest can head to Crystal Palace pressure-free this weekend after securing survival with a game to spare.
However, head coach Steve Cooper will be eager to finish the campaign on a high at Selhurst Park on Sunday. It is also an opportunity for the Reds to improve a record on the road which has been an Achilles’ heel all season.
When the final whistle blows, all eyes will then turn to a crucial summer transfer window as Forest plan for another year in the top-flight. Ahead of the clash in the capital, here’s a look at the latest goings-on at the City Ground.
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Blazing a trail?
For the second year in a row, Cooper has worked absolute wonders Trentside. Keeping the Reds up, amid all the challenges they faced - the injuries, the number of signings, the long absence from the Premier League - is arguably a greater achievement than last season’s promotion success. To think where Forest were and where they looked like heading when he walked in, the progress has been remarkable.
And plenty of pundits have been dealt a dose of humble pie after doom-laden predictions tied to last summer’s influx of new players. So have the Reds blazed a trail, provided a template for other promoted sides to follow?
“I’m not sure everyone will be signing however many players,” Cooper quipped. “But the fact that we have done it and have made something of it…
“What do you compare it to? I can’t pick up the phone to anyone and say: ‘How did you do that?’
“It became my biggest driver from a professional point of view, to do something that’s not been done before. My biggest driver is the supporters, but professionally, it’s been the biggest driver.
“This has been my most important year in coaching so far, because of what we have had to experience. I just love the fact that no-one has ever had to do what we have done as a coaching group. Never. You can’t compare it to anything.”
Making the difference
Liverpool away, as much as it ended in defeat, was something of a turning point in the Reds’ survival mission. It was a much-improved performance - particularly on the road - from previous games. And Forest kicked on from there, ending the season strongly to get them over the line.
Ryan Yates pointed to the famous Moussa Niakhate long throw as being an important factor in the run-in, after the defender returned from seven months on the sidelines. Jurgen Klopp and Frank Lampard certainly weren’t fans of being on the receiving end of it.
But perhaps the biggest difference-maker has been the level of support from the stands. While other sides battling relegation have seemed to be in some level of crisis, the backing Cooper’s men have received throughout has been phenomenal. Even in the tough times.
“It was one of their best performances,” Yates said of last Saturday’s City Ground atmosphere. “They didn’t let up for a second, they just gave us energy throughout the whole game.
“It’s tough for them sometimes when Arsenal had a lot of possession, but they really pulled us through. I didn’t think the atmosphere could be topped from that West Ham game (the first home game of the season), but when that full time whistle went, that was really special.
“Since day one in pre-season the manager has continued with the same message about believing in yourselves and how much the City Ground can help us. It is our home form that has kept us in the league.”
Secret celebrations
Yates was giving nothing away when quizzed on talkSPORT earlier this week about how the squad had marked their achievement. “It was a good night after we beat Arsenal, for sure. We’re probably still recovering a little bit,” he said, before - being the ultimate pro that he is - quickly turning attention to the trip to Palace.
It remains to be seen whether Shakira’s Waka Waka gets added to the City Ground playlist after it got an enthusiastic airing in the changing room post-match. The various videos which have emerged suggest it will take on the same kind of legendary status as Just Can’t Get Enough and Freed From Desire.
Brazilian quartet Gustavo Scarpa, Renan Lodi, Danilo and Felipe extended the celebrations into the following day with a BBQ. Meanwhile, Taiwo Awoniyi was quickly back in the Nigel Doughty Academy gym.
Straight to work
It didn’t take long for work to begin on the City Ground pitch ready for next term. After all, the countdown is already on for the 2023/24 campaign, which begins on August 12.
With the Reds away for the final day, the ground staff have pounced on the opportunity. Photos have emerged of the turf being dug up a couple of days after the Arsenal match ended, with the caption: "Now let's build a new pitch." Hopefully there will be plenty more memorable moments Trentside on the new one.
Country call-up
The absence of Morgan Gibbs-White from Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad generated plenty of debate. His time will surely come, though.
But teammate Danilo is being lined up for a Brazil call-up, according to the Daily Mail. The midfielder has come on leaps and bounds in a short space of time, and it seems his form has not gone unnoticed.
The 22-year-old is yet to play for his country, despite being selected by previous manager Tite for a friendly against Japan last summer. He could soon get his chance as his sparkling performances are said to have put him “firmly on the radar” of the Brazil Football Confederation. A call-up would be well deserved.
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