The Premier League weekend always delivers tactical masterclasses and surprise heroics, but few results sent shockwaves through the footballing establishment quite like Nottingham Forest’s gritty, highly impressive 2-2 draw away at Anfield.
Following a turbulent start to the campaign that saw Oliver Glasner’s side suffer consecutive defeats to Leeds United, the doom-mongers and critics were out in full force, predicting a long afternoon against the reigning heavyweights. Instead, Forest produced a tactical masterclass on Merseyside. While marquee names like Morgan Gibbs-White grabbed the official headlines with a sensational goal and an assist—supplemented by strikes from Alexander Isak and Victor Munoz for the hosts—it was a different star altogether who captured the attention of high-profile pundits.
Troy Deeney’s Glowing Verdict on James McAtee
When former Premier League striker Troy Deeney dropped his coveted Team of the Week selections for BBC Sport, he bypassed the obvious goalscorers to shine a brilliant spotlight on midfielder James McAtee.
Operating in a central midfield partnership alongside Xaver Schlager—stepping into the side while Ibrahim Sangare was sidelined—McAtee put on an absolute clinic. Playing slightly out of position in a deeper central role, the former Manchester City prospect completely shocked Liverpool’s vaunted midfield with his composure, tactical discipline, and progressive brilliance.
Deeney did not hold back in his praise, highlighting how the young technician dictated the tempo of the entire match:
“He absolutely ran the game at Anfield from start to finish,” Deeney raved. “Getting on the ball in the pockets, half-turn, playing forward. He was the reason they were any good, and he’s very, very good but won’t be spoken about in the same breath as the goalscorers.”
Why This Performance Marks a Turning Point for McAtee
For McAtee, this watershed performance at Anfield validates the immense faith placed in him by Glasner and the club’s hierarchy. That confidence was further underscored by the club’s business on transfer deadline day; with Forest opting not to bring in additional central midfielders before the window slammed shut, a massive vote of confidence was handed directly to the squad’s existing engine room.
McAtee now knows unequivocally that he is one of the first names penciled onto Glasner’s team sheet. Against Liverpool, his seamless link-up play and telepathic understanding with Gibbs-White and Dan Ndoye operating in the advanced number 10 spaces caused endless headaches for the opposition backline.
If McAtee can harness the massive wave of confidence generated from running the show at one of the toughest stadiums in world football, his ceiling in a Forest shirt is limitless. As the City Ground faithful look ahead to the rest of the campaign, their midfield metronome is officially ready to take center stage.
