John Aldridge scored both goals as Liverpool beat Nottingham Forest 2–1 in the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough on 9 April 1988. A week after losing by the same score at the City Ground in the league, Liverpool reached Wembley before a crowd of 51,627.
John Barnes supplied the openings, but his defensive work also mattered. Gary Crosby troubled Gary Ablett down Forest's right, and Barnes repeatedly helped his full-back. Ablett was booked early; the Sunday Times report argued that a second foul on Crosby should have brought another caution.
Liverpool took the lead when Steve McMahon released Barnes down the left and Steve Chettle brought him down inside the penalty area. Aldridge converted the kick. Forest continued to threaten, while Steve Sutton denied Nigel Spackman and Peter Beardsley before half-time.
Nigel Clough headed narrowly wide soon after the restart. Liverpool then doubled their lead in the fifty-first minute: Beardsley found Barnes on the left, and his cross was volleyed in by Aldridge.
Clough brought Forest back into the tie midway through the second half, scoring after Paul Wilkinson flicked on Crosby's long throw. Sutton later saved from Barnes as Liverpool sought a third.