Change happens very slowly, even surreptitiously, at Liverpool Football Club. They never, but never, change for change sake... and that is one of the most important reasons for their unparalleled run of success. "Continuity is our theme" says Chairman John Smith and he has nailed this dictum to the Anfield mast of triumph. It is a policy which others could copy because, patently, it works. Yet change does take place at Liverpool and it is happening this season in two important aspects...

1. Looking further ahead than the next match which hitherto has been an unchangeable theme.

2. Working harder than ever before to get fitter faster.

There will be no easy-easy approach to the start of this season, which has been their method in previous years. Both changes are inter-related. And the reason is, quite simply, Nottingham Forest and the first round draw in the European Cup. "This" says manager Bob Paisley "is our cup final in September." The fact that he was referring to it in July indicates that it is THE match on the immediate Anfield horizon and demotes the next game from being the most important. That, alone, is a major change. The manager goes on: "Because of this game, we have stepped up our training pre-season. I want to be ready at our peak from the start. We have been preparing for this match from the day we restarted training."

Whoever loses this classic cup tie will think the end of the season has arrived in September. It will take a massive outlay of will-power and spirit for the losers to get over it. Liverpool are well aware of the effect defeat could mean. They are confident that, over the season, they will prove themselves the better team and finish ahead of Forest in the league. I go along with this. On the season's prospects, Mr. Paisley is not the type to make glowing predications. He knows only too well how football can lift you one week and knock you down the next, and keep on knocking you down for months.

But he quotes facts and lets others make the forecasts. He says "We have a good a squad as anyone and better than most. Alan Kennedy should prove an asset. He is quick and sure, and will give more width to our attacking plans down the left. Graeme Souness is starting off a full season. He had half a season with us and had a difficult start because of suspension, being ineligible for cup-ties, and one thing and another. Now he is in from the start and this can only help the team and himself. I realise most of them have won everything there is to win in the game, so challenge for their first team place is the motivation for them. This is why I have built up the first team squad to provide competition for places. It's the best motivation of the lot. We shall be trying more shooting from longer range, which was one lesson I picked up from the World Cup. Considering the calibre of our build-up work, we don't score enough goals. I am sure we are going to have another good season but there are ten other clubs who can provide a threat. You get nothing for history. You have to start from scratch and get on with it. We know what it entails - hard work and attention to detail. That is the Anfield way of life."

Returning to the theme of change, it is remarkable how Bob Paisley has rebuilt the side since he took over four years ago from Bill Shankly. Yet, it has happened so gradually. His greatest triumph has been to bring in new blood almost stealthily... and without making a song and dance about it. Only four members of the 1974 FA Cup winning team are still in the side - Ray Clemence, Phil Thompson, Emlyn Hughes, and Steve Heighway. Of the other eight, including substitute Chris Lawler, only lan Callaghan remains on the books and he could be moving to Swansea as soon as he returns from his stint in the States. Those gone are Tommy Smith, Alec Lindsay, Peter Cormack, Kevin Keegan, Brian Hall and John Toshack. My view is that the current squad is the best and strongest since the great mid-sixties team. I believe that they will win as least one trophy, and their number one aim is to pull off a hat-trick of European Cup triumphs. Forest will probably be their stiffest hurdle towards that ambition so it's no wonder they are preparing for it already.

Once again, Liverpool's most carefully laid plans are on the way to be confounded by Nottingham Forest who won the opening leg of their European Cup tie 2-0 at the City Ground last night to threaten the holders with their first departure from a continental competition in four years. Last March, Liverpool needing to win the League Cup as insurance for a place in Europe, failed to beat Forest both at Wembley and in the replay at Old Trafford because a relatively inexperienced goalkeeper, Chris Woods, proved equal to their best shots. Last night, Brian Clough had enough faith in the ability of another novice, Garry Birtles, to keep the 22 year old former Midland League player in the attack for only his third first team game. Birtles duly scored for Forest midway through the first half and played a considerable part in their second goal which came two minutes from the end, just when Liverpool were preparing to return home with the relatively simple task of overcoming a one goal defeat at Anfield in a fortnight's time. The matter of fact way in which Birtles swerved past Case and Thompson on the left before centring for Woodcock to head down and Barrett to score rather summed up Forest's approach to the game. Some of the most vaunted attacks in Europe have simply dissolved against Liverpool's stifling organisation but Clough's men have never been overly impressed by the European Champions and while the Trent End's chant of "Muppets are better than Scousers" was a little unkind, it did rather reflect the mood of the evening. In the First Division this season, Liverpool have simply strode away with some mavellous attacking football and a landslide of goals, Forest, square and circumspect in comparison, have only just begun to advance. However, little of this contrast in form and approach was evident last night. Kenny Burns, omnipotent in defence even after an ill-timed tackle by Ray Kennedy had left him limping badly at the start of the second half, and Woodcock, with his tight turns and close control, gave Forest a momentum and an easy flow between defence and attack that Liverpool did not start to equal until the last 20 minutes. Clough forbore to recall Martin O'Neill, leaving lan Bowyer in midfield, but the return of Archie Gemmill, with his energy and spiky aggression, was crucial to the team's performance.

For all their present enterprise in the league Liverpool found it hard to shed old European habits and for much of the time approached the game with something of the caution that they always reserve for an away match abroad. Souness, the biggest simple influence on their play this season, seemed oddly uncertain of himself and, once or twice, gave the ball away when he was not under pressure. Ten minutes into the second half, Bob Paisley, the Liverpool manager, replaced McDermott with an extra striker. Johnson, but not until Dalglish began embarking on long lone runs at the middle of the Nottingham defence did Liverpool seem likely to score. Indeed Peter Shilton's first serious save of the night did not arrive until the 70th minute when Dalglish, turning smartly past Lloyd, released a shot that the goalkeeper did well to push over the bar. Forest took the lead after 27 minutes with a goal which recalled some of their best movements of last season. Bowyer collected a ball out of defence from Burns and aimed a low pass towards Woodcock, sprinting through on his right; Hughes, distracted by the run, took his eye off the ball which went through his legs, with Liverpool's cover completely blown Woodcock calmly drew Clemence towards him then squared the ball to Birtles who was given virtually an empty net. At that stage, Forest seemed well capable of going further ahead before the game was an hour old but they lost some of their rhythm in the second half and it says much of the enduring resilience which Clough has given them that they were able to come back and score at the last. One player from each side was booked - Lloyd of Forest and Souness of Liverpool.

Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough said "Birtles did well. We have not been hiding him. He has been in the reserves. Two years ago he was laying tiles and if he doesn't score on Saturday he could be back there"

Liverpool dream of a hat-trick of European Cup triumphs may have vanquished in that searing moment, three minutes from time, when Nottingham Forest full back Colin Barrett volleyed an unstoppable shot past Ray Clemence. Up to then, the destiny of this first round tie was well balanced with Liverpool more likely to get an equaliser than Forest grabbing what could prove to be a decisive goal. A one goal deficit to tackle at Anfield on September 27 would have been a target well within their reach. But two goals down is a mighty tough task to overhaul. Few people at Forest last night will give much for Liverpool's chances of scoring three against a Forest side which came alive against the European Champions after a stuttering start to the season. I may be in the minority but I believe Liverpool have the quality, courage, and will to win to still beat Forest. And the second leg promises to be one of those epic European occasions which Anfield stages at regular intervals. To catch Forest and beat them, Liverpool will have to play as they have done in sweeping to the top of the league so brilliantly. Anything less must mean the end of Europe for this season. They were outplayed and out-run by Forest for more than half of last night's first leg. Forest must have kidded the football world with their indifferent form so far but, suddenly and unexpectedly, they recaptured much of the style and glitter which brought them the title last season. I was one who underrated them by comparison with the way Liverpool have been playing. They pushed Liverpool on to total defence in the first half by their pace and first-time attacking bursts with McGovern, Bowyer, Woodcock and Birtles all putting immense pressure on a Liverpool defence that has rarely looked so uneasy. I have not seen Liverpool on the rack to this extent since Dynamo Dresden pressurised them in East Germany last season. And when Liverpool fought back in the second half and began to play with more composure as Forest lost the fierce edge of their pace, they could not find a way through because of the man-to-man marking. It gave them no room for those flowing attacking moves which have been such a feature. Key to the match was that Forest had McGovern and Bowyer breathing down the necks of Graeme Souness and Terry McDermott so that the usual Liverpool midfield control was non-existent. Souness, booked in the 11th minute for his first tackle, made little impact as he struggled to find space and time.

And with the midfield command stifled by Forest's destroyers - and how well they did their job! - Liverpool could rarely get going. Forest were full value for their first half goal from Birtles, a 22 years old local boy playing only his third senior game and making a big impression. There was just the suspicion of offside when McGovern pushed the ball through to him as the scorer had yards of room to spare. Ray Clemence had to save superbly from Bowyer to halt other Forest raids which threatened to engulf Liverpool with their pace and fluency. The only time Liverpool fought their way out of their defensive web was when Steve Heighway made a good cross to Jimmy Case, who headed over the bar. Liverpool did much better in the second half which began with ex-Red Larry Lloyd being booked for a foul on Heighway. They fought their way back into contention mainly through the efforts of Kenny Dalglish, who fought a one-man battle up front, but was helped when David Johnson came on in place of McDermott to give more attacking strength. But Liverpool's men up front were so tightly marked that they could not find gaps. They were reduced to crossing hopeful centres into the middle where Lloyd and Kenny Burns were masters in the air. Forest seemed to be content with their one goal lead as Liverpool pushed forward with more purpose in the last half hour. Peter Shilton made a magnificent save from a brilliant shot by Dalglish - Liverpool's best effort. Archie Gemmill, whose close marking of Ray Kennedy was another key feature, played at right back and did a great job for his team. At this stage it was Forest on defence but then, with time running out, two clearances by Jimmy Case and Phil Neal bounced off Forest men, the ball was deflected through to Birtles on the left and off he went. From the centre, Woodcock headed the ball down and Barrett, who had not stopped going forward from the half-way line after Case's clearance had hit him, caught the ball on the volley and that was that. It was a fantastic finish to a match of pulsating interest and entertainment - one of Liverpool's toughest ever games in Europe and one which proved Forest are a class team and back to somewhere near their best and could march on to something big again this season on this form. Conditions: fine, pitch good.

I do not think Nottingham Forest have the know-how to win the European Cup. That is why Liverpool must bounce back from 2-0 behind in the second leg at Anfield if the trophy is to stay in England. If Bob Paisley's team can survive, they are good enough - and more important, experienced enough - to hit the jackpot a third time. Forest are European novices by comparison. The rest of Europe is scared of Liverpool's consistency in combating strange conditions and unknown opponents. Forest do not inspire the same awe. It is a reputation that cannot be gained over-night. Whereas almost the entire Liverpool team is battle-hardened in Europe, only a few of the Forest players have briefly taken part with previous clubs. The fact that it is a different business from domestic football was underlined by Bob Paisley after the midweek defeat by Forest: "We treated it as a league game, trying to equalise instead of being content with a 1-0 score against us," he said.

Brian Clough said: "To have beaten Liverpool anytime is an achievement but, tonight, I am as pleased with the performance as with the result. We played it with a little fire and a little enthusiasm. We competed with the best side in Europe. Our performance in midfield was decisive but it is not all over yet. Liverpool are well capable of scoring two goals at Anfield."

I fancy it was a costly error. Forest, so efficient when in defensive mood, are capable of withstanding the Anfield onslaught to preserve their lead over 90 minutes. Then they will have the chance to make me eat my words by reproducing First Division form against the best the Continent can offer. Manager Brian Clough had a ready answer for the critics last Wednesday: "People forget we are the champions of England," he said, "we were not going to let any team make a mess of us in our own backyard - even Liverpool. We may not have been playing well recently, or beaten anyone 7-0, but we were not on the floor. There was a gap between Liverpool and Forest, yet I knew it could be bridged and my team proved it." There is still a lot to prove, not so much at Anfield, but after, if Clough is to realise his great ambition.

Bob Paisley said: "It is going to be an uphill struggle now."

Alan Kennedy said: "We are all sick and the boss has given us a rocket."

Phil Thompson said: "We played as if it were a League game instead of sitting tight."