Nottingham Forest defended superbly well against Liverpool on Saturday, with Nikola Milenkovic roaring back into form.
Milenkovic was one of the standout performers during the 2024/25 campaign, with the Serbian defender helping Forest to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League.
This season has been a rough one for Forest defensively, but the Reds did manage to keep their first clean sheet since April at Anfield on Saturday, running out 3-0 victors.
Milenkovic has struck up a brilliant partnership with Murillo at Forest, and on Saturday, some comments he made in 2024 rang true as he stood firm at Anfield.
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest - Premier League
Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
Before Forest played Liverpool last season, Milenkovic was asked about the famous Anfield atmosphere and how he felt he would cope with it.
Who was the Man of the Match vs Liverpool?
Milenkovic didn’t hold back when talking about Anfield and confessed that some of the derby-day clashes he’d experienced with former clubs should help him.
He said: “I played for Partizan against Red Star. Anfield certainly doesn’t scare me.”
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Not only has Milenkovic won both games with Forest at Anfield, but he’s also yet to see a goal go in the net against him.
What Nikola Milenkovic said about playing at Anfield in 2024
Nikola Milenkovic stars vs Liverpool
The Serbian defender hasn’t been quite as good this season as he was last season, with a turbulent campaign to date epitomised by the fact that Forest are on their third manager of the campaign.
Milenkovic has been allowed to go back to the basics of defending under the influence of Dyche and ultimately, that’s what the big man does best from centre-back.
Nikola Milenkovic stats vs Liverpool Total
Minutes 90
Interceptions 1
Clearances 8
Blocks 4
Ground Duels Won 2
Who Scored Rating 7.00
Liverpool started Alexander Isak, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister at the weekend, yet despite their efforts, the reigning champions were left frustrated in attack.
With an uncompromising physique and a steely determination, Milenkovic isn’t fazed by anything and as a result, he’s not speaking lies when he claims that Anfield doesn’t scare him.