Liverpool beat Nottingham Forest 5–0 at Anfield on 13 April 1988, four days after overcoming the same opponents in the FA Cup semi-final. John Aldridge scored twice, with Ray Houghton, Gary Gillespie and Peter Beardsley also on target. The result left Liverpool eleven points clear of Manchester United with two games in hand and six league matches remaining.

Forest had beaten Liverpool at the City Ground eleven days earlier. This third meeting in less than a fortnight developed very differently, with Steve Sutton repeatedly preventing the score from becoming heavier.

Houghton opened the scoring after eighteen minutes. Alan Hansen began the move with an interception, Houghton advanced through the middle and exchanged passes with John Barnes before finishing. Beardsley's through-ball then sent Aldridge clear to lift Liverpool's second over Sutton before half-time.

Sutton also turned a Beardsley shot against the bar. Alan Green's contemporary BBC World Service report recorded two Liverpool efforts against the woodwork and three major saves before the interval: the 2–0 lead represented only part of the pressure Forest had faced.

Des Walker went off at half-time with an ankle injury, Darren Wassall replacing him. Gillespie volleyed in the third around the hour. Barnes then created Beardsley's goal, beating opponents on the left before supplying his teammate, and Aldridge completed the scoring near the end after work by Nigel Spackman.

A crowd of 39,535 watched Liverpool move to 80 points. Forest remained fifth, seventeen points behind them.

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