Match Of The Day 2025 12 20

NovaStream

Watch Match Of The Day 2025 12 20 - NovaStream on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00:00Oh, what a goal!

00:00:02Oh, look at that!

00:00:04Absolutely phenomenal!

00:00:06Rooney Alcott!

00:00:08Welcome to Match of the Dead.

00:00:30MUSIC

00:00:50Good evening, there are eight Premier League games to show you tonight

00:00:53and we'll find out who will occupy the number one spot at Christmas.

00:00:57Speaking of number ones, we're in safe hands tonight.

00:01:00If they say a pundit is for life, not just for Christmas,

00:01:02well, we've got two keepers.

00:01:04Joe Hart and Shea Given are here.

00:01:06And there was fog on the tines, specially for us this evening.

00:01:09At St James's Park, Newcastle in 12th met Chelsea in 4th.

00:01:13Six points separate the two teams

00:01:15and both won their League Cup quarter-finals in midweek.

00:01:18Steve Bauer is your commentator.

00:01:22Eddie Howe recorded his 100th win as Newcastle manager here on Wednesday.

00:01:26Only Kevin Keegan reached that milestone quicker.

00:01:29But his defensive headaches are increasing.

00:01:31Tino Libramento is the latest name to be added to a list of six defenders out.

00:01:36He is thankful today, though, that Lewis Hall is fit to face his former club.

00:01:41Jake and Ramsey is also in.

00:01:43Visser, Barnes, Joe Linton and Alanga are all substitutes.

00:01:47Chelsea, who've lost on their last three Premier League visits to St James's,

00:01:51welcome back Moises Casado after suspension.

00:01:54He replaces Enzo Fernandes, who drops to the bench.

00:01:57It means another star for Cole Palmer and Alejandro Garnaccio.

00:02:01Esteval is still out injured.

00:02:04Chelsea have won four of their eight away games this season.

00:02:09Newcastle beaten just twice here in the Premier League.

00:02:13Trofana got a little fortunate there.

00:02:17But Gordon didn't give it up.

00:02:19Give a rush.

00:02:21Quickly out to Murphy.

00:02:23In towards Valtemada.

00:02:26What a save by Sanchez.

00:02:28And Valtemada with the follow-up.

00:02:31Just past the three-minute mark.

00:02:35Newcastle lead.

00:02:38Early delivery was crucial for Murphy.

00:02:42What a save this is.

00:02:44But Valtemada couldn't really miss.

00:02:47Nick Valtemada scores his eighth Newcastle goal.

00:02:52And the hosts have the early lead.

00:02:56Three minutes and six seconds the timing of the goal.

00:02:59That is the earliest that Chelsea have conceded all season.

00:03:02Gimmaras.

00:03:04Arthur Murphy.

00:03:05Gordon is bursting into the penalty area.

00:03:08Ramsey's there as well.

00:03:11Still Murphy.

00:03:13Cucurea in the way.

00:03:15No corner.

00:03:16Romano Augusto is still down in the penalty area.

00:03:20Good build-up.

00:03:22Into that attack.

00:03:23Here come Newcastle again.

00:03:24It's Gordon.

00:03:25And it's tipped over by Sanchez.

00:03:28And Chelsea are furious.

00:03:30Because Malo Augusto would have been marking Anthony Gordon.

00:03:34Sanchez has been shown the yellow card by Andy Madley.

00:03:37This is the incident.

00:03:38They're coming together.

00:03:40Brilliantly tipped over in the end by Sanchez.

00:03:44Because that was travelling.

00:03:46Ramsey for Newcastle.

00:03:48He's now scored in all nine home Premier League games this season.

00:03:52That was Trafana on Gordon.

00:03:54Well, Eddie Howe, six days ago, in the derby, did mention the word attitude.

00:04:00It's been bang on so far.

00:04:03And a stark contrast from Newcastle.

00:04:05Haul into Gordon.

00:04:07Now, all the cavalry have gone forward.

00:04:09This needs to go in.

00:04:10And it does.

00:04:11Fatimara!

00:04:12And the double!

00:04:13Two for him, two for Newcastle.

00:04:25Inside the first 20 minutes.

00:04:27Anthony Gordon, the provider.

00:04:33Wicked delivery.

00:04:36What a superbly composed finish that was from Nick Valtamana.

00:04:42And his team lead 2-0.

00:04:48Cole Palmer.

00:04:52But again, they hunt in packs.

00:04:56And win it back.

00:04:57And get a free kick.

00:04:58A yellow card as well for Alejandro Garnacha.

00:05:03I think the Newcastle bench have just seen that tackle again.

00:05:05And they are deep in conversation with the fourth official.

00:05:08Didn't like it.

00:05:12The rush to Gordon.

00:05:18Can Newcastle get numbers in the box?

00:05:20Haltamana!

00:05:25He thought that was his moment.

00:05:27And so too did the majority of St James' Park.

00:05:30Never scored a senior club hat-trick.

00:05:34He was inches away from doing so there.

00:05:39Newcastle had more shots on target in the first seven minutes of this game than the entire derby last weekend.

00:05:47And that very much says it all so far.

00:05:50Can Chelsea change the narrative?

00:05:54Palmer.

00:05:55First time he's been in that kind of area and he's been farmed.

00:06:01Jacob Ramsey the offender.

00:06:04Free kick which Chelsea hope will be a profitable one.

00:06:07Rhys James.

00:06:09Oh it is!

00:06:11It's outstanding from Rhys James.

00:06:14And the Chelsea captain has reduced it to 2-1.

00:06:19And he's given them the perfect start to the second half.

00:06:23This angle will show you even better.

00:06:25Over the wall.

00:06:26Dipping.

00:06:28Clip off the post into the bottom corner.

00:06:30Game on at St James'.

00:06:33Gordon.

00:06:35Newcastle pick up the pace again.

00:06:38Gordon goes again.

00:06:41What's the referee doing here?

00:06:43Goal kick.

00:06:45They are obviously having a look at it.

00:06:47Peter Banks agrees with the interpretation of Andy Madley.

00:06:51Goal kick.

00:06:53Now Newcastle have got a scamper back.

00:06:56Neto.

00:06:57They're four on four.

00:06:59It's still Neto.

00:07:00Is it opened up for him?

00:07:02Garnaccio.

00:07:04Back to Neto!

00:07:05Denied by Ramsdale.

00:07:07It's still alive potentially for Chelsea.

00:07:10Riley with the defending for Newcastle.

00:07:13It's a brilliant watch at the moment this game.

00:07:18Anthony Gordon for Newcastle.

00:07:19Who has Hall bursting on the overlap here.

00:07:23Oh, and he's ignored him.

00:07:24He's gone inside to Ramsey.

00:07:26And then Gordon's cross.

00:07:28No problem for Sanchez.

00:07:30Lewis Hall raises his arms in frustration.

00:07:33Ciao Pedro away from Ciao.

00:07:37Chance for 2-2.

00:07:39And one he takes, the Brazilian.

00:07:41From two down.

00:07:43Chelsea are level.

00:07:45And his first touch with his head.

00:07:47Just wrong-footed Malik Ciao.

00:07:48And on Wenxiao Pedro, who kept his call to get his sixth Chelsea goal.

00:08:03And Newcastle, who remember, have dropped 11 points from winning positions this season, have been pegged back again.

00:08:10And quite selfishly, that's one of those pulsating affairs you don't want to end.

00:08:17To Nali.

00:08:19Visser.

00:08:21Here's Harvey Barnes!

00:08:22Cornet.

00:08:25What a recovery from Rhys James.

00:08:28In a situation where he had to time that absolutely correctly.

00:08:35He did.

00:08:36No foul on Gimmaras.

00:08:46Here comes Garnaccio for Chelsea.

00:08:48Tried to squeeze into the near post and Ramsdale equal to it.

00:08:54Gimmaras furious, he didn't get the free kick here.

00:08:57But on went Chelsea.

00:08:59And Garnaccio just tried to catch out the Newcastle goalkeeper.

00:09:02And no exaggeration to say, there has not been a single lull in this game.

00:09:09He's gone again, Gimmaras.

00:09:11It's Harvey Barnes!

00:09:13They were all up around it.

00:09:16All the Geordie supporters celebrating.

00:09:19But Harvey Barnes is still wondering how he hasn't made it 3-2.

00:09:27Gimmaras.

00:09:28Gimmaras.

00:09:30Over the top.

00:09:32Rhys James.

00:09:33Barnes hasn't given it up!

00:09:37Andy Madley is looking at his assistant, who is unmoved.

00:09:41Andy Madley is now waiting for Peter Banks to have a look at this.

00:09:46Rhys James on Harvey Barnes there.

00:09:48The interpretation is a small pull, but the ball is bouncing out of Barnes' control into the goalkeeper.

00:09:57So the on-field decision remains.

00:10:00We played so well today.

00:10:02An outstanding performance, especially in the first half.

00:10:04I thought we dominated the game.

00:10:05Chances were there for us.

00:10:07Athletically, considering we played on Wednesday night, we were magnificent.

00:10:09Devastated for the lads that we didn't get the win.

00:10:13Very proud of the players in this stadium.

00:10:152-0 down, half-time.

00:10:17Not many teams can do what the players have done.

00:10:20The goal we scored at the beginning of the second half helped a lot.

00:10:23In terms of confidence, in terms of everything.

00:10:25But even after the second goal we scored, we had some chances to win the game.

00:10:30They had also some chances.

00:10:31So, nice game for the people at all.

00:10:34Your goal eventually has got the point.

00:10:35I mean, it wasn't a conventional one, was it, from Robert Sanchez?

00:10:39Yeah, I told him in the half-time to play this kind of ball on me.

00:10:43Because I know I could do something different because I'm always in the 1v1.

00:10:49And then it happened, I could control the ball in front and I scored a brilliant goal.

00:10:55There was a big call on a penalty.

00:10:57Chalaba on Anthony Gordon.

00:10:58What did you think of that?

00:10:59Yeah, I thought it was a stonewall penalty.

00:11:01I thought the defender went in with too much aggression.

00:11:04I think anywhere else on the pitch that's a free kick.

00:11:06So, I'm really disappointed it wasn't given.

00:11:08Well, Enzo Mareska said it.

00:11:10It was such a fun game between these two sides.

00:11:13However, Eddie Howe really unhappy at the end of it with some of the decisions.

00:11:17Are Newcastle right to feel a bit aggrieved at the end of that game, Shea?

00:11:22Yeah, I think I can understand.

00:11:23Some of the decisions I actually disagreed with myself.

00:11:26I think Eddie Howe's angry at the end, especially with the penalty shout.

00:11:28I felt it was a penalty.

00:11:29We'll have a look at it here.

00:11:30Now, there's a few decisions actually the referee had to make today.

00:11:32And a few tough ones.

00:11:33It's not easy, don't get me wrong.

00:11:34But the first one comes in the first half, Kelly.

00:11:36And I think this is a really nasty challenge from Garnaccio.

00:11:38If you watch this slowly, he doesn't make any attempt to play the ball.

00:11:41He goes over the top of the ball and clearly, you know, high up on Ramsey's shin.

00:11:45And I think, you know, VR didn't intervene.

00:11:47But I think that's a really dangerous tackle from Garnaccio and gets away with that one.

00:11:52This is the one Eddie's really angry about after the game.

00:11:54You know, Gordon's got ahead of Chalaba and he's made no attempt to play the ball.

00:11:57And you could argue he's going shoulder to shoulder.

00:11:59But even if you watch his right leg and Gordon's left leg, he comes right across him.

00:12:03And for me, I don't think that's a difficult decision.

00:12:05I think that's a stonewall penalty.

00:12:06And not given again.

00:12:08This is in the 95th minute, Kelly.

00:12:10And I'm not asking for James to get sent off.

00:12:12But I think he clearly pulls his arm back there.

00:12:14And they have another opportunity to score from that position.

00:12:17So you can see and understand, I think, why Eddie Howe's angry with the decisions.

00:12:21I suppose you could argue that he could have been miles ahead in the first half.

00:12:24But again, these small incidents make a big difference.

00:12:26Yeah, they were so good in the first half, Newcastle.

00:12:29And by contrast, Chelsea were pretty poor for the first 45 minutes.

00:12:32And yet, things seemed to change at half-time.

00:12:35It wasn't just that Chelsea got back into the game with the goals.

00:12:38Their whole approach was different.

00:12:39Yeah, Newcastle came out of the blocks.

00:12:41They got so much stick last week against, obviously, the local rivals in Sunderland.

00:12:44They had a really poor performance.

00:12:45And then from the first moment, Eddie Howe said, actually, in the pre-match stuff,

00:12:48he goes, we need a reaction from the game.

00:12:50And we've seen that from the very, very first minute today.

00:12:52They were on the front foot.

00:12:53They used the crowd again to get them really behind.

00:12:55Watch this for a press.

00:12:56We didn't see this last week.

00:12:57Gordon jumps.

00:12:58Valtomata jumps.

00:12:59And you see Murphy on the opposite side.

00:13:01They're playing on the front foot.

00:13:02You see the back four squeezing up.

00:13:03The midfield are joining.

00:13:04This is Lewis Miley.

00:13:05Jumps in the right back position.

00:13:07A high press.

00:13:08And just keep an eye on Anthony Gordon.

00:13:09He has a press at James here, right?

00:13:11Misses the first one.

00:13:12He goes, I'm not happy with that.

00:13:13Go back.

00:13:14Nicks it back off James again.

00:13:15And again, now they're in the front foot.

00:13:16They're playing in the final third.

00:13:18Playing forward.

00:13:19Getting the ball right to Murphy.

00:13:20I love Murphy.

00:13:21Puts early balls into the box.

00:13:22Gordon should probably score at the back post.

00:13:23Brilliant save from Sanchez.

00:13:24And the big man, Nick, on the spot.

00:13:26Around Christmas time.

00:13:27It's a fantastic finish from Valtomata.

00:13:29But again, Chelsea, you did say they were poor Kelly.

00:13:31And you're right first half especially.

00:13:33But Gordon has nothing else in his mind.

00:13:35But get this ball wide.

00:13:36Get the ball into the box.

00:13:37And it's fantastic centre forward play from Valtomata again.

00:13:39And it could have been and probably should have been 3-0 out of sight.

00:13:42We look at Guimari.

00:13:43How free is he?

00:13:44The Chelsea players are all pointing.

00:13:45No one's doing anything from a Chelsea point of view.

00:13:47Which plays into Newcastle's hands again.

00:13:49Brilliant pass out to Gordon.

00:13:51And again, what they say.

00:13:52Gets it out of his feet.

00:13:53Pits a brilliant cross into it.

00:13:55And Valtomata don't think he's ever scored a hat-trick in his senior career.

00:13:58And might not get a better chance.

00:13:59It's a brilliant chance.

00:14:00A brilliant cross from Anthony Gordon again.

00:14:01And a 3-0 couping out of sight.

00:14:03Joe, you think Mureska had a word at half-time perhaps?

00:14:05Yeah, I think he's questioned a lot about his team there.

00:14:07As you say, they were so bad in the first half.

00:14:09But Reece James, captain of this team.

00:14:11That is a brilliant free kick.

00:14:13And you won that just after half-time.

00:14:15Feel for Aaron Ramsdale.

00:14:17He's got two of the best takers in the league lining up there.

00:14:19So he can't go early.

00:14:20Can't gamble.

00:14:21That's brilliant.

00:14:22But we talked about João Pedro.

00:14:24Just talked in his interview.

00:14:25Said to Robert Sanchez at half-time.

00:14:27I can isolate João.

00:14:28Get that ball into me.

00:14:29Excellent movement.

00:14:31And honestly, this touch.

00:14:33The agility.

00:14:34Absolutely beautiful piece of play.

00:14:37And then to compose himself.

00:14:39Ramsdale one-on-one.

00:14:40Absolutely fantastic.

00:14:41And I talked about Reece James taking the game by the scruff of the neck.

00:14:45Scoring a 30-yard free kick.

00:14:47That's all well and good.

00:14:48But we'll be playing in the defence.

00:14:49Late on in the game, you need moments like this.

00:14:52Bang!

00:14:53Never gave up.

00:14:54Barnes took that touch.

00:14:55And as soon as he took it, great opportunity.

00:14:57And a huge moment.

00:14:58Winning a point for his team on the road.

00:15:00Massive performance in the second half.

00:15:01Huge performance from him in the second half.

00:15:03And a really entertaining game all round.

00:15:05Now, Tottenham were looking to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest last

00:15:09time out when they took on the champions, Liverpool.

00:15:12Steve Wilson watched this one.

00:15:14There have been 206 goals scored in Premier League games between these two.

00:15:21That's a league record.

00:15:22Nine of them were scored when they met here on this weekend last season.

00:15:26Six of the nine hit by Liverpool.

00:15:29If anything, the margin of Spurs' defeat at the City ground last weekend actually flattered

00:15:34Tottenham rather than Forest.

00:15:36Thomas Frank makes one change today.

00:15:38Richarlison dropping to the bench.

00:15:40Lukas Bergwahl is in.

00:15:42Liverpool have been clawing back some kind of normality in a five-game unbeaten run.

00:15:46Salah's departure for AFCON has taken the spotlight of that particular selection dilemma.

00:15:51Sabasai is fit.

00:15:52Gomez is not.

00:15:53So the return of Conor Bradley from suspension is well-timed.

00:15:59Tottenham did win their last home league game against Brentford here.

00:16:03But that's one of only four successes in their last 22 Premier League games on home soil.

00:16:13Simons has caught Virgil van Dijk here.

00:16:18And the card is coming out for the Tottenham man.

00:16:23But it's really poorly timed by Xavi Simons.

00:16:27Left studs right down the Achilles of Virgil van Dijk here.

00:16:30That is very painful.

00:16:33Well, this is taking a while, this check.

00:16:37And Stuart Atwell is asking John Books to go and have a look at this.

00:16:43This does not bode well for Tottenham's Xavi Simons.

00:16:49Well, it never looks better in slow motion, that is for sure.

00:16:52After review, the Tottenham number seven with studs catches the Liverpool player on the calf high.

00:17:02It's an act of serious foul play.

00:17:04My final decision...

00:17:05Xavi Simons is sent off.

00:17:08And Tottenham Hotspur are down to ten.

00:17:13And he looks pretty upset as he makes his way off the field of play.

00:17:20One Dutch team-mate on another.

00:17:25I don't think footballers darn socks these days.

00:17:30Kerkis for Gravenberg.

00:17:35Florian Wirtz.

00:17:39Wirtz!

00:17:40Good save!

00:17:41By Vicario and Eketike couldn't quite reach it.

00:17:44Florian Wirtz, personal wait for a Premier League goal, goes on for the moment.

00:17:50Liverpool making a change at half-time.

00:17:53Conor Bradley, who got a knock just before the break, is replaced by Alexander Isak.

00:18:05Romero's forward ball hit.

00:18:06McAllister.

00:18:07Eketike.

00:18:08That's nicely done.

00:18:09Florian Wirtz.

00:18:10And Alexander Isak scores for Liverpool.

00:18:13At some cost to himself.

00:18:14He's put Liverpool in front.

00:18:15His team-mates are really concerned for him here.

00:18:16They're waving medical staff on.

00:18:17But this might be the breakthrough that Liverpool wanted.

00:18:18Isak popped it off to Eketike.

00:18:19That's a nice ball into Wirtz.

00:18:20And Florian Wirtz will have his first assist in the Premier League for Liverpool.

00:18:23However, Isak has clearly hurt himself quite badly here.

00:18:48Liverpool have the lead, but they have an injury issue.

00:18:55Thomas Frank and Justin Cochran, deep in conversation, assessing their options.

00:19:02And Kolo Mouane looking for Johnson.

00:19:05It's actually come back to Kolo Mouane.

00:19:07This is a great little run.

00:19:08And it's come off the crossbar.

00:19:11Archie Gray.

00:19:14Bergwahl.

00:19:16Spence.

00:19:18And Alisson.

00:19:20Well, it's a super run by Kolo Mouane.

00:19:25As he hits the shot, it takes a huge deflection off Kerkhez.

00:19:29And comes down off the bar.

00:19:32But that's encouragement for the home fans.

00:19:36Sob a slight.

00:19:38Frimpont.

00:19:43And the deflection on the cross.

00:19:48Eketike!

00:19:49And it's struck in.

00:19:52Liverpool have a second goal.

00:19:54Tottenham protest.

00:19:56Cristian Romero's been shown a yellow card for protesting too much.

00:20:00Liverpool just celebrate.

00:20:02Well, Romero feels, I think, that Eketike has pushed him in the back as this cross came in.

00:20:10There's a deflection on the cross from Frimpont.

00:20:16Is that a foul on Romero by Eketike?

00:20:19The header drops in.

00:20:22And the goal will stand.

00:20:25It's a foul on this shot.

00:20:41Free kick is drilled in.

00:20:42And a hit Kerkhez.

00:20:43Van Dijk did well to win that header.

00:20:46It's gone out for a corner.

00:20:51This, in the 82nd minute of the game, is Tottenham's first corner of the game.

00:21:02There's a real sense that this corner represents maybe a last throw of the dice for Spurs to make it difficult for Liverpool.

00:21:09Richarlison goes down.

00:21:10It's a big deflection.

00:21:11It's a big deflection.

00:21:12Joao Palinha.

00:21:13And Richarlison scores!

00:21:24Richarlison against Liverpool again.

00:21:26Well, this was beyond Struffy, but Spurs won't care.

00:21:30Well, Liverpool had a lot of opportunities to deal with this and didn't.

00:21:35Richarlison finds the corner.

00:21:38Richarlison put the ball in the net.

00:21:41Went to go and retrieve it.

00:21:43Got involved with Eketike.

00:21:48Kanata.

00:21:49Free kick.

00:21:53Ploughing through Romero.

00:21:55Just needs to be careful, Cristian Romero.

00:22:00And I think the referee has shown him a second yellow card here.

00:22:06Cristian Romero is going to be sent off.

00:22:12And Spurs will finish this game with nine men.

00:22:17That's why Cristian Romero got a second yellow card.

00:22:20Odderbeer for Tottenham to Richarlison.

00:22:26Nicely into Odderbeer.

00:22:28Whipped across!

00:22:29Alisson!

00:22:30But Johnson...

00:22:31On the ground inside the six-yard box.

00:22:35And John Brooks blows his whistle.

00:22:40And Liverpool have won a dramatic game.

00:22:44Tottenham continue to protest.

00:22:46Richarlison has shown a yellow card after the final whistle for dissent.

00:22:51A dramatic game in which Tottenham finished with nine men.

00:22:56But Liverpool's XI were left hanging on.

00:22:59But they have won it by two goals to one.

00:23:02Three points away at Spurs is very nice.

00:23:08And it's a difficult game to go to.

00:23:11It's a good team to play against.

00:23:12And we need wins to let the league table look a bit better for us.

00:23:17And eventually that's what we did winning over here.

00:23:21Difficult game.

00:23:23But we had the control.

00:23:25That was a bit difficult in the last part of the second half course.

00:23:28They pushed and they scored.

00:23:30But yeah, we kept the result.

00:23:33And we go back in Liverpool with the win.

00:23:36That's the most important.

00:23:37First and foremost, I'm extremely proud of the players.

00:23:40Extremely proud of the team.

00:23:42I think they gave everything.

00:23:44Showed an unbelievable mentality.

00:23:46The players on the team responded today through...

00:23:49Several setbacks was immense.

00:23:53The first one is the first red.

00:23:56Which I think is...

00:23:59I've seen it given before.

00:24:01But I don't like.

00:24:02I don't think it's a reckless tackle.

00:24:04I don't think it's an exceptional force.

00:24:06And then the second one goal is a big mistake.

00:24:09Two hands in the back from the striker.

00:24:11As far as I know, the law of football is not allowed to do that.

00:24:14And then I think the second yellow to Cucci.

00:24:17I think you have a little feel of the games.

00:24:19Two big boys fighting.

00:24:21Well, Thomas Frank praised the mentality of his players there.

00:24:25And in fairness, towards the end of the game,

00:24:27even when they were down to nine men,

00:24:28they looked as though they might well get that equaliser.

00:24:31But they were down to nine men, Joe.

00:24:33Is there a discipline problem?

00:24:35Or was there a discipline problem in this game, do you think?

00:24:38Look, there's no doubt about it.

00:24:40They put a really good fight up.

00:24:41But at the same time, there was so much ill-discipline.

00:24:44And you can't have that against a very good team like Liverpool.

00:24:46You make it difficult for yourselves.

00:24:48Tottenham actually started well.

00:24:50I don't agree with Thomas Franky.

00:24:51I think Xavi Simons.

00:24:52Look, he'll be disappointed.

00:24:53There's no way he's gone out of his way to nail his fellow countrymen there.

00:24:56But that is such a dangerous thing to do.

00:24:59Dangerous tackle.

00:25:00He's caught him on the back of the Achilles.

00:25:02For me, it's absolutely a red card.

00:25:05I know he looks perplexed when the decision's given.

00:25:07But 100%.

00:25:09And you see Richarlison, even here, they're fighting.

00:25:12They're scrapping for their lives.

00:25:132-0 down.

00:25:14And they managed to get themselves a goal.

00:25:16A really important goal.

00:25:17But just this little bit of petulance here.

00:25:19And we just see it all the time.

00:25:20You don't need to do that.

00:25:21You can get yourself a yellow card.

00:25:23Just get yourself back up and get back in the game.

00:25:25And from the moment Romero got that yellow card,

00:25:27I felt like another one would come.

00:25:29You could bank on it almost.

00:25:31And there, Kanate's just baited him.

00:25:33And it's right in front of John Brooks.

00:25:35He's got no other way that he can do here.

00:25:38He has to give him a second yellow card.

00:25:40And that's down to nine, making it even more difficult.

00:25:43I just can't believe they just totally lost control.

00:25:46And for me, this is the worst.

00:25:47I really don't like this.

00:25:48Ben Sankor is absolutely cheap shot on Kerkhez.

00:25:51He's hitting really hard there.

00:25:53Fellow professional.

00:25:54No need for that.

00:25:55And Richarlison, after the game, just still not giving up.

00:25:58Getting himself a yellow card.

00:26:00Yeah, it just all looked a bit wild out there.

00:26:03It was a bit wild.

00:26:04But from Liverpool's point of view, they get the win.

00:26:07Arnaslott said it's important to start making the league table look a bit better for Liverpool.

00:26:12And in Hugo Ecotique, they've found a player who they can rely on to score in the big moments.

00:26:18I think, yeah, it was a good, I mean, he's a brilliant header.

00:26:20I thought, I mean, Thomas Frank wasn't happy after, was he, Kelly?

00:26:22He thought it was a foul.

00:26:23And it's interesting because me and Joe were sort of off air thinking, Joe thinks it's not a foul.

00:26:27Sorry, Joe thinks it's a foul.

00:26:28I think it's not.

00:26:29You see Romero has a look at him here.

00:26:31Fringpong's on the ball at the top of the picture.

00:26:33It takes a little nick, actually, the cross off Spence.

00:26:35But I just think Ecotique gets up early.

00:26:37Hang time.

00:26:38I know we've seen in the past a Shearer or a Drogba or something.

00:26:40We've seen him purring over the defender.

00:26:42He's got the running jump as well over Romero.

00:26:44And, yes, you could leave her maybe with his hands.

00:26:46I think the referee, John Brooks, has actually got it right.

00:26:49VAR didn't get involved as well.

00:26:50And maybe, Joe, you think not so sure?

00:26:52Yeah, I just feel like the hands on the back just gains an unfair advantage, in my opinion.

00:26:57But I can understand why they're given and not given.

00:27:00So they're allowing a little bit of contact.

00:27:02But the scoring run that Ecotique is on is much more significant

00:27:07given the injury to Alexander Isak.

00:27:09And we don't know what the prognosis is with him.

00:27:11But he was walking off on the ankle that we think he injured.

00:27:15How important can it be, particularly in the absence, we imagine, of Isak?

00:27:19Yeah, I mean, it's a big loss if Alexander's gone off injured again.

00:27:21He's had a stop-start campaign, hasn't he, to his Liverpool career.

00:27:24But Ecotique, he looks the real deal, doesn't he?

00:27:27A brilliant striker.

00:27:28And he'll have to step up.

00:27:29Obviously, Mo Salah's left as well to go to AFCON.

00:27:31So Ecotique will have to stay fit as well.

00:27:33Because it's a big loss if Alex is out for a number of weeks now as well.

00:27:37Now, we will see the top two, both in action very shortly.

00:27:40Before that, though, we're going to go to Elland Road,

00:27:42where Leeds were unbeaten in their last three,

00:27:44before the visit of Crystal Palace,

00:27:46who've won more games on the road than any other team in 2025.

00:27:50Stephen Wyeth is your commentator.

00:27:53Rediscovered excellence at home gets an appraisal from the Premier League's happiest of travellers.

00:27:59Leeds' recent tweak and approach can be considered tried and successfully tested.

00:28:04Just one change tonight.

00:28:05Brendan Aronson in place of Al-Tanaka.

00:28:07Dominic Calvert-Lewin aims to score for a fifth game in a row.

00:28:11None of the 11 that started for Palace in Europe 48 hours ago are required to do so again tonight.

00:28:17Instead, Eddie Nketiah for Ismail Assar now at AFCON,

00:28:20and Will Hughes for the injured Daichi Kamada,

00:28:23the only changes from Manchester City on Sunday.

00:28:26It feels like the November international break came at a good time for Leeds.

00:28:32They've scored ten goals in five games since it.

00:28:36As many as they had scored in the 11 games that preceded it.

00:28:41Macafor reacted as though caught.

00:28:47Pino has done a brilliant job of finding Wharton.

00:28:50He's now striding forward and returning it to Pino.

00:28:55Mateta.

00:28:57Nketiah!

00:28:58Good save, Lucas Perry.

00:29:00Pino for Mateta, for Nketiah, who could have helped it on once more,

00:29:07but went for goal through the legs of Pascal Stroud.

00:29:11Nketiah flanked by two.

00:29:14Loses out, Aronson.

00:29:17Jadon Bogle coming out by outside him.

00:29:19Aronson opted not to use that option.

00:29:21And then Mitchell sliding in, took a really big gamble.

00:29:25Mitchell went sliding in to try and win the ball.

00:29:30But did he take ball or opponent?

00:29:33That has been checked and cleared, and it will not be a Leeds penalty.

00:29:39Here goes Okafor.

00:29:49Lacroix.

00:29:51He's done an awful lot of defensive coverage in his first half.

00:29:54He's sliding across to concede the throw.

00:29:56Something that Leeds clearly feel that they can take advantage of.

00:30:00Launched by Ampadu.

00:30:06Off ahead of Richards, Calvert-Lewin.

00:30:08At the second time of asking, does the necessary?

00:30:12In the sort of form that he's only once previously experienced,

00:30:18Dominic Calvert-Lewin scores for a fifth Premier League game in a row.

00:30:22You'd have expected him to take the first chance as it came back to him off Dean Henderson.

00:30:28He made absolutely sure with the follow-up.

00:30:36Oh, Spak's done superbly and found space and delivered across.

00:30:40It's been beaten away by Henderson as far as Stroup.

00:30:43The deflection could have gone anywhere.

00:30:48And Henderson, having punched it away, knew he would have been powerless to deal with the ball as it was returned.

00:30:56In from Ampadu.

00:31:00Aronson didn't make the necessary contact.

00:31:04But neither did Nketiah.

00:31:08Palace are rattled.

00:31:10What's going to do with the long throw?

00:31:16Helps on, Calvert-Lewin!

00:31:18He's got two, Leeds United have got two.

00:31:23And just ahead of half-time, they are in a position of real authority.

00:31:29Is there anyone anywhere at the moment that can resist Leeds United at Ellen Road?

00:31:35Out of the Premier League's bottom three at Christmas.

00:31:45Would be a wonderful achievement.

00:31:48Following promotion and something to build upon for Daniel Farker and Leeds United.

00:31:55Behind it goes, off-climb.

00:31:59Oh, Leeds corner.

00:32:01Stack with the corner.

00:32:04Aronson returns the ball with Interest.

00:32:09Stack with it!

00:32:10Well, you know things are going.

00:32:13Leeds United's way when Ethan Ampadu scores.

00:32:16That's his first in the league for them to make it 3-0.

00:32:21And Palace know that their race is run now, surely.

00:32:25Well, Ethan Ampadu has been such a huge influence on this game for the goals he has created.

00:32:33Now he's scored one.

00:32:35And with the sort of instincts that Dominic Calvert-Lewin himself would have been proud of.

00:32:41Look how alert he was to the possibilities.

00:32:44Goodmanson's throw.

00:32:48Okafor.

00:32:52Brodon.

00:32:54Deflected just wide.

00:32:57An insatiable desire from Leeds United to keep scoring.

00:33:02Palace could be on the receiving end of a hammering if they're not careful.

00:33:08Stack's corner.

00:33:10He's gone deep with it.

00:33:11Just about repelled by Henderson and a real scramble in the aftermath.

00:33:15How is it not 4-0?

00:33:184-0. Once again, the corner's causing all sorts of problems.

00:33:23That looks destined to be a Pascal-Straut goal.

00:33:29You have got to go all the way back to January of 2002

00:33:34for the last time that Leeds scored three or more goals

00:33:37in three successive top-flight matches.

00:33:41It's Chris Wharton-Legg. Ucce is in here

00:33:43and has collided with Lucas Perry, and it's a penalty.

00:33:48Christentos Ucce got himself into a threatening position.

00:33:53It was just a hopeful ball forward by Wharton,

00:33:56but it turned into so much more than that.

00:33:58Ucce brave to make sure he got there first.

00:34:03Deveni against Lucas Perry.

00:34:06He converts to give Crystal Palace something meagre to celebrate.

00:34:12Just his second in the Premier League.

00:34:15Showed the necessary composure.

00:34:17Send the goalkeeper tumbling in the opposite direction

00:34:20to where he wanted to place the ball.

00:34:23Deveni.

00:34:27Finding Drake's Thomas.

00:34:31They couldn't score again, could they, Palace?

00:34:35It's time to make things interesting.

00:34:37In towards Deveni!

00:34:38Who struck the post when he might have given Leeds a scare.

00:34:44And it was a very presentable chance for him to add to his penalty of a few moments ago.

00:34:50He's fouled by Borna Sosa, followed by Richards, but intercepted by Grueb.

00:34:56He's fouled by Borna Sosa, surely, has he?

00:35:06Well, Thomas Bramall's just waiting to see if he gets any assistance in terms of this being in or inside,

00:35:13outside, outside or inside the penalty area, penalty.

00:35:18The location of the foul is being checked.

00:35:20And it would seem as though the contact was before Grueb entered the 18-yard box.

00:35:33It will be a free kick instead of a spot kick.

00:35:36It's nowhere near as good an opportunity as one from 12 yards, but...

00:35:45Stack!

00:35:48That is quite exceptional.

00:35:51Leeds do have a fourth goal.

00:35:54They can finish the game with further celebrations.

00:35:58Anton Stack knew exactly what he wanted to do.

00:36:01Over the wall, wrong footing, Henderson.

00:36:04No penalty kick.

00:36:05No problem for Anton Stack.

00:36:09Instead, gloriously dispatching the free kick to make it Leeds United for Crystal Palace 1.

00:36:17If you concede four set-play goals, I think it's embarrassing.

00:36:21So, we lost and we couldn't have conceded two or three more from set-play.

00:36:25So, I think they had almost no chance from open play.

00:36:28But every single throw in, every single corner was dangerous.

00:36:31And we just didn't defend it well.

00:36:34And we have to change this.

00:36:35It's complex when you don't have the best individual quality.

00:36:37Then you need to find a plan, how it works.

00:36:41And the Leeds are doing really well.

00:36:43But it's not the time right now to sing the high praise of Leeds United.

00:36:47We are in a good position.

00:36:48But with 19 points, we won't achieve our goals.

00:36:50We have to keep going.

00:36:51Well, Daniel Farquhar talked about the fact that Leeds United needed to find a plan.

00:36:56Oliver Glasner said what it was, which was set plays, Joe.

00:36:59Oh, my goodness me.

00:37:00The threat from set-pieces today, Leeds.

00:37:03Ellen Robe was absolutely rocking every time I throw in.

00:37:06Ampadu here.

00:37:07You see him sending absolute missiles into it.

00:37:09And we've highlighted Calvert-Lewin versus Wharton.

00:37:12Really, really sharp.

00:37:13Round the back.

00:37:14Loses his man.

00:37:16This man's on fire at the moment.

00:37:17You can't give him two opportunities from that close.

00:37:20An excellent start for Leeds.

00:37:22And they were looking so threatening.

00:37:24As we highlight Wharton and Calvert-Lewin again.

00:37:26Ampadu sends one in.

00:37:28And Beal, who actually gets himself two assists today with an excellent header.

00:37:32He's really on fire at the moment.

00:37:33He looks deadly in front of goal.

00:37:35And, like I say, Leeds look really, really good going forward.

00:37:39Talk about Aronson highlighted on the edge here.

00:37:41Just helping it back in.

00:37:42And Beal gets an absolutely world-class touch here.

00:37:46And Ampadu, who was heavily involved in creating the first two goals,

00:37:49gets his name on the score sheet.

00:37:51Excellent performance from him.

00:37:53And a lovely poke.

00:37:54Taking the game.

00:37:55Putting him 3-0 up.

00:37:56And it looked comfortable from there.

00:37:58They were really, really good today.

00:38:00Really impressive from Leeds.

00:38:01And it's been really impressive for them in terms of their attacking numbers

00:38:05since they moved.

00:38:06It was a half-time in the City game, wasn't it?

00:38:08That they moved to the 3-5-2.

00:38:10Just look at the difference.

00:38:11Yeah.

00:38:12Honestly, I've done quite a lot of Leeds games this year.

00:38:14And even when they've lost, I think they've not been bad.

00:38:17But, like you say, since that change, they've been excellent.

00:38:19Scoring goals quite freely.

00:38:21And Daniel Farker can be really pleased with his team.

00:38:23They're looking like they're in a really good moment.

00:38:25What about Dominic Calvert-Lewin?

00:38:26He also is in a really good moment.

00:38:28Good enough, do you think, to put himself in Thomas Tuchel's thoughts?

00:38:32Oh, he's going to be in his thoughts.

00:38:33Of course he is.

00:38:34He's proven that when he's fit and when he's firing, he's scored six goals in the last five games.

00:38:38I've seen him interview recently about how good he feels about his game.

00:38:42We've talked about Danny Welbeck.

00:38:43Harry Kane, of course, is going to be there.

00:38:45Oli Watkins.

00:38:45But a fit Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a great option to have.

00:38:50Now, Manchester City, with six wins in a row in all competitions,

00:38:53began the day two points behind top-of-the-table Arsenal,

00:38:57who had to wait until the late kick-off.

00:38:59Visitors West Ham were without a win in their last five.

00:39:02Commentary comes from Simon Brotherton.

00:39:08With top spot within touching distance,

00:39:10Manchester City go with the same starting 11 as at Crystal Palace last weekend.

00:39:15Erling Haaland is three goals short of 150 for the club,

00:39:19nine of them so far coming in six matches against West Ham.

00:39:23The visitors are without both full-backs,

00:39:25Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El-Hajimalik Juf,

00:39:27which opens the door for Kyle Walker-Peters and Oli Skarles,

00:39:31while Max Killman is preferred to Konstantinos Mavropanos,

00:39:35who drops to the bench.

00:39:37It's a bright but chilly Saturday before Christmas in Manchester.

00:39:42Nico Gonzalez, nicely done.

00:39:46Foden, Haaland!

00:39:50Second chance to shoot, and he wasn't about to miss.

00:39:54Alphonse Areola having saved the first one.

00:39:57Manchester City haven't taken long to score at all.

00:40:03It's the tenth goal he scored against West Ham.

00:40:05And it's goal number 24 of the season.

00:40:13Five minutes played exactly.

00:40:15Manchester City won, West Ham United nil.

00:40:19So West Ham finding themselves in a hole again already here.

00:40:23Three wins so far this season for the Hammers.

00:40:26Nine defeats.

00:40:27And here comes Ryan Scherke.

00:40:32Scherke's delivery into Haaland.

00:40:35And that, for a moment,

00:40:37looked as though it was going to be 2-0

00:40:38inside the opening ten minutes.

00:40:41Lovely play.

00:40:43And the sort of opportunity

00:40:44that Haaland often buries.

00:40:48Foden who skips away from Fernandes.

00:40:54And Haaland makes a beeline for the penalty area.

00:40:57West Ham very much on the back foot.

00:40:58Bernardo Silva.

00:41:00Here's Rinders.

00:41:03And Magasso able to take it off.

00:41:05And Rinders look to be caught in two minds there.

00:41:09West Ham can't clear their lines.

00:41:11González.

00:41:13Foden busy foraging around

00:41:16in the vicinity of the visitors' penalty area.

00:41:21And crowd sensing something might happen.

00:41:24Rinders with the shot.

00:41:25Block made by Areola.

00:41:28West Ham's goalkeeper called into action.

00:41:32Sprung to his right to make the save.

00:41:36Bernardo Silva.

00:41:38Bit of a chase for Ryan Scherke,

00:41:40but he'll get there.

00:41:43Support from Mateus Nunez.

00:41:47They're working pretty well together,

00:41:48those two, on the near side

00:41:49in this first half.

00:41:51He's twinkle-toed Scherke.

00:41:56West Ham will be able to get the ball away here

00:41:58with Fernandes.

00:41:59That didn't last very long.

00:42:02They're lining up to get it off Scherke.

00:42:04They can't manage it.

00:42:04Manchester City walk it into the back of the net.

00:42:07Superb.

00:42:08Rinders with the finishing touch.

00:42:11The brilliance of Ryan Scherke.

00:42:13aided by Erling Haaland.

00:42:17And Rinders rifling it home.

00:42:21But here, West Ham again,

00:42:23failing to get the ball away.

00:42:26Quick, skilful play from Ryan Scherke.

00:42:29The touch from Haaland.

00:42:31And the finish from Rinders.

00:42:33It's his third goal of the season.

00:42:36And makes it 2-0.

00:42:38With six minutes or so remaining before half-time.

00:42:42Fair to say, at this stage,

00:42:43Manchester City in complete control of the game.

00:42:47Here is Crescensio Somerville now.

00:42:53Almost picking out Bowen.

00:42:55Excellent block.

00:42:57West Ham.

00:42:57Vaya Fernandes put it into the crowd behind the goal.

00:43:04Well, Donnarumma's had nothing to do all afternoon.

00:43:06But then suddenly, brought into action.

00:43:10Fernandes blazing it over the top.

00:43:12Well, they might not be too full of Christmas cheer.

00:43:18But plenty of West Ham fans have made the journey.

00:43:21To support their team, as always.

00:43:24It's Bowen trying to get in.

00:43:25And he's got past Donnarumma.

00:43:27But the angle was just a little too acute.

00:43:32But Jared Bowen.

00:43:33Proving what a threat he can be,

00:43:35given half a chance.

00:43:36Perhaps slightly less than him.

00:43:39They've actually drawn the last three matches away.

00:43:41West Ham.

00:43:42O'Reilly.

00:43:44Not an easy one for Foden to control.

00:43:47Advantage West Ham.

00:43:49Paqueta has it.

00:43:50Somerville racing forward.

00:43:52Bowen as well.

00:43:54In ahead of O'Reilly.

00:43:56It's Jared Bowen for West Ham.

00:43:59Oh, and it's just wide.

00:44:03Well, we've seen a lot more from them

00:44:04in the opening ten minutes of the second half

00:44:07than we saw in the whole of the opening 45 minutes.

00:44:09Here come West Ham.

00:44:13Three quarters of the way through the match.

00:44:16Foden takes it away from Potts.

00:44:20That's a lovely pass from Nunez and Savino.

00:44:22It's his first touch since coming off the bench,

00:44:25sending it forward.

00:44:26The touch from Lewis.

00:44:27Haaland doesn't miss chances like that.

00:44:31And surely it's game set and match for Manchester City.

00:44:35Two goals here last season against West Ham back in January.

00:44:39Two goals so far this time round as well today.

00:44:42Manchester City 3-3, West Ham 0.

00:44:49Haaland's onside as the ball is played towards him.

00:44:54Todibo and Walker-Peters.

00:44:56It deflects off the pair of them

00:44:57right into the path of Haaland.

00:45:01And that's spelt disaster for West Ham.

00:45:06Well, this one really has gone to form so far this match.

00:45:11Lucas Paqueta sending it in.

00:45:13Here's Somerville.

00:45:15Good block there by Donnarumma.

00:45:17He may have saved it with his face, actually.

00:45:21Well, Donnarumma, who was called into action early in the second half,

00:45:24was required to make a save here as well.

00:45:26Well, it's going to be seven wins in a row in all competitions

00:45:31leading up to Christmas for Guardiola's team.

00:45:36Savinia looking as fresh and lively as one would expect.

00:45:40Lukasa.

00:45:42Big day for him.

00:45:43First Premier League appearance.

00:45:46Foden.

00:45:47Whoa, that was a stinger of a shot.

00:45:52Well struck by Phil Foden.

00:45:53And saved by Arreola.

00:45:59Klasa combination with Savino.

00:46:03And now Lewis.

00:46:04Good ball in.

00:46:05It's Savino!

00:46:06Denied by Arreola.

00:46:09Lovely swift attacking play there from Manchester City.

00:46:14Almost prizing open West Ham's defence again for number four.

00:46:18Lukasa.

00:46:29Now here goes Haaland.

00:46:31This is the chance for the hat-trick.

00:46:34And it was a nearly but not quite moment for goal number 150 in a Manchester City shirt.

00:46:41Almost a perfect end to an excellent day for Pep Guardiola's team.

00:46:46But it stays at 3-0.

00:46:48I'm really happy at positioning the table.

00:46:52It doesn't matter what first or second today.

00:46:54Important is we are close top of the league.

00:46:57In the Champions League we are there.

00:46:58Semifinals, Carabao Cup.

00:46:59But we have to improve.

00:47:01We try to have a game plan the way we want to do things and improve our game.

00:47:06Of course, Man City is a very good team.

00:47:08And they are playing good football.

00:47:10It's difficult to control and contain them.

00:47:13It's not the proper moment to judge.

00:47:16But at the same time, realising that we need to do much better.

00:47:20Classic Erling Haaland, wasn't it really?

00:47:22Scores twice and looks really frustrated and fed up that he hasn't got a hat-trick.

00:47:26Well, it doesn't matter.

00:47:27Listen, Erling scored goals all the time.

00:47:29But today, help us to do that incredible pressing that you had was thanks to him.

00:47:33And that was really, really good.

00:47:36Well, the pressing Pep Guardiola just described as incredible.

00:47:39And certainly in the first half, Joe,

00:47:41the levels of intensity that Manchester City showed felt reminiscent of Peak City.

00:47:46Yeah, it really did.

00:47:47They absolutely smothered West Ham.

00:47:49They gave them absolutely no chance.

00:47:51We look at how the midfield lined up.

00:47:53I feel like they're starting to understand their game.

00:47:55Gonzalez especially, Rinders, Bernardo.

00:47:58Here we've got Silva and Gonzalez highlighted.

00:48:01Holding midfielders, looking to progress the team.

00:48:04Always looking forward.

00:48:05How can they link up?

00:48:06Working together as a pair.

00:48:08And as a home supporter, this is what you want to see.

00:48:10Your team just gradually pushing up the pitch.

00:48:13Looking, threatening.

00:48:14Probing.

00:48:15Working together as a team.

00:48:16See them.

00:48:17We highlighted them before.

00:48:18Look how they've developed their play up the pitch.

00:48:21As they're just slowly, Manchester City know they've got confidence in each other.

00:48:24But in that point where they're knocking it round and just the relationships that are starting

00:48:29to develop, putting Foden in here.

00:48:32But what I couldn't understand in the first half is how much space they gave Haarlem.

00:48:36You can't give him two opportunities like that.

00:48:38There he is, the robots backscoring again.

00:48:40But what I loved about Manchester City today wasn't that, you know, they had the ball taken

00:48:45off them, but West Ham just had no chance.

00:48:47As soon as that ball was turned over, City, the press was absolutely suffocating.

00:48:51And the great thing I love, there was so much dynamic work getting the ball back.

00:48:55But once they do win it again, they're so composed and so threatening.

00:49:00Build up over here, getting it out.

00:49:01So threatening, as I say.

00:49:03Not afraid to lose it.

00:49:04When you've got a press like this, you can take chances.

00:49:06You can be more expressive.

00:49:08Cherky has got the freedom to go at teams because he knows when it turns over, he's got

00:49:11five of his teammates backing him up, turning it over.

00:49:15And like I say, back to being composed.

00:49:17Back to doing what they do best at home.

00:49:20Making West Ham work.

00:49:21Tiring them out.

00:49:22Completely effortless when they're in possession.

00:49:26Reinders found himself in some really good positions.

00:49:28Testing Areola here.

00:49:30Good save.

00:49:31But it just felt inevitable that another goal was coming.

00:49:33Talked about Cherky not being afraid to try things because he knows he's got the press.

00:49:37Not a great ball in, but he knows.

00:49:39Not a problem.

00:49:40My teammates are going to win me that ball back and get it to me in a really dangerous position.

00:49:44Look at that press.

00:49:45Front foot.

00:49:46No thought of retreat.

00:49:47Get that ball back.

00:49:48Cherky with magnificent feet here.

00:49:50Talked about the space Harlem was being given by the West Ham players in the box.

00:49:54You can't do that because not only can he score, he's an unselfish player.

00:49:58Reinders capping off an incredible move.

00:50:00They blew them away in the first half.

00:50:02The suffocating performance.

00:50:04Yeah, and we found a new stat for Erling Haaland and he's joined top of that one as well,

00:50:07which is goals scored before Christmas.

00:50:09It's 19, one of four players to do that.

00:50:12But at the other end, and he won't necessarily get the spotlight shone on him in many places.

00:50:17We never do, Kelly.

00:50:17We never do.

00:50:19Oh, I've got the smallest violin in the world down for you.

00:50:22Look, Shiji Todoromo, who's just been voted the best goalkeeper in the world.

00:50:25So he has been very much in the spotlight.

00:50:27Yeah, I mean, he has not a lot to do, but this is brilliant.

00:50:30He gets a brilliant touch to come off.

00:50:31And he's six foot six, six foot seven, whatever height he is.

00:50:34How quick he gets up off the ground here.

00:50:35Absolutely unbelievable to make the block.

00:50:38He's a fantastic goalkeeper.

00:50:39I think when he came on the market, Hugo Vianna, new to the club, obviously,

00:50:42the sporting director, thought, we can't turn this down.

00:50:4526 million.

00:50:45I love this save as well.

00:50:47It doesn't matter as a goalkeeper how you keep it out, Kelly.

00:50:49Take it in the mush, whatever it takes, as long as the ball doesn't go in the back of the net.

00:50:52And look at Pep Guardiola, he loves Donnarumma, he's a fantastic goalkeeper.

00:50:56And if a club wants to win the Premier League, and I'm sitting next to one here right next to me,

00:50:59they have to have a top goalkeeper, and in Donnarumma they have one.

00:51:03Nuno did say about West Ham, you can't judge us too harshly on that game,

00:51:07because Manchester City were so good.

00:51:10But they will be judged on this next run of fixtures,

00:51:14and this is where West Ham's situation could be, or season, could be decided.

00:51:18Well, in recent weeks they have had a tough run, there's no doubt about that.

00:51:21And of course going to Manchester City is always a tough afternoon,

00:51:23but them fixtures you look at on the screen there, they have got an opportunity.

00:51:26And I do believe in Nuno, they've got to manage to get them out of trouble.

00:51:29Well, Pep Guardiola said that league position didn't matter, but they did go top with that win.

00:51:34So how would Arsenal reply after being replaced?

00:51:36It was an eight o'clock kick-off for their first visit to Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium.

00:51:41Guy Mowbray was there.

00:51:42Being number one at Christmas isn't what it used to be, or in Arsenal's case, never was.

00:51:49They've had top spot on December the 25th, four times in the Premier League.

00:51:53They've never gone on to win the title.

00:51:56Accompanying Jack Grealish onto the pitch tonight, eight-year-old Georgie.

00:51:59Grealish paid him a surprise visit at his primary school in Bootle recently.

00:52:04Reward for his bravery, supporting his mum after a cancer diagnosis and having lost his dad and grandmother.

00:52:12Everton have gaps to fill, with in-form Kiernan Dewsbury Hall out injured,

00:52:15and Idrissa Garnagay and Illiman Njai away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

00:52:19Tim Iribunum, Charlie Alcaraz and Dwight McNeil come in.

00:52:22It's McNeil's 100th Premier League game for the club, and first start this season.

00:52:28For Arsenal, also three changes.

00:52:29That's from last Saturday against Wolves.

00:52:31Ricciardo Calafiori is back from a ban.

00:52:34Martin Odegaard back to captain the team.

00:52:36And Leandro Trossard back in a fixture.

00:52:38He's scored in in both the last two seasons.

00:52:44Raya.

00:52:46He uses his skills to get the better of Thierno Barry, but it looked risky.

00:52:51Here's Saka.

00:52:56Timber goes with him down the outside.

00:52:59The Arsenal move just loses a little bit of momentum, but they're picking it up again now.

00:53:04Odegaard.

00:53:06And it's headed wide.

00:53:08A move that started with the skill of David Raya.

00:53:13Couldn't be finished with an adept bit of strike play from Victor Jokeres.

00:53:18Odegaard.

00:53:22Saka.

00:53:27Saka finds Timber, who'd stayed onside, and that's looped up.

00:53:31Oh, it nearly went in.

00:53:32Was it a foul in there?

00:53:34Arsenal claim a push.

00:53:35They've got a corner.

00:53:36It loops up off Mikelenko, and then Jokeres trying to fling himself at the ball.

00:53:43I think he's already falling before O'Brien makes any sort of contact.

00:53:48Corner it is.

00:53:50Nice in.

00:53:51Calafiore with a towering leap, but was it towering enough?

00:53:55Arsenal are asking for something else.

00:53:56They think there's a handball in there.

00:53:59I'll tell you what.

00:53:59O'Brien jumped with his hands above his head.

00:54:02Oh, that is handball.

00:54:04Almost certainly Arsenal are going to get a penalty here.

00:54:08After review, Everton 15 commits a handball offence.

00:54:13My final decision will be penalty kick.

00:54:16We hear it regularly, don't we?

00:54:19We don't know what handball is anymore.

00:54:22Well, that is.

00:54:26Now, Victor Jokeres has been entrusted with this for Arsenal.

00:54:32Jokeres scores.

00:54:34All the frustrations of not having scored since returning from injury

00:54:38were smashed out of the park there.

00:54:41Pretty close to the middle and Jordan Pickford's hands,

00:54:44but no stopping that one.

00:54:46Troussard to Saka.

00:54:58Saka.

00:54:59Timber pulls it back for Saka.

00:55:02It's a goal line block from Tarkovsky that keeps it 1-0.

00:55:08That look for all the world as though the Gunners were about to double their money.

00:55:16And that's intercepted.

00:55:19And what a chance this could be for Barry.

00:55:22Zuby Mendy with the challenge.

00:55:24Evan held for a penalty.

00:55:25They don't get one.

00:55:26I think if there was a foul, it probably took place outside the box.

00:55:37Much, much better from David Moyes' team, though.

00:55:39Wouldn't fall for Barry.

00:55:43Saliba and Barry jostle with one another.

00:55:47Calafiori wouldn't come down for Grealish.

00:55:50Thunder towards goal by Alcaraz, but it's well wide.

00:55:54And Everton go to the referee again and say, how about this time a penalty?

00:55:58It's Cherno Barry who went down and has stayed down since.

00:56:02He was holding on to Saliba.

00:56:04Saliba then kicked the ball in the air.

00:56:06He kicked Barry as well in the process.

00:56:08But we've got disappointing news for Everton fans, though.

00:56:11The foot-to-foot contact has already been checked and cleared, is the message from VAR.

00:56:18We've got a proper contest on now.

00:56:21Absolutely imperative for Everton that they do not allow Arsenal to score the next goal.

00:56:28Timber.

00:56:30Odegaard.

00:56:33Saka.

00:56:36Timber back to Odegaard.

00:56:38Now it's Declan Rice.

00:56:39This is a lovely Arsenal move.

00:56:42Rice finds Trossard and Trossard hits the post.

00:56:45That was the moment to Auburn win the game.

00:56:50Look at the space that Trossard's got.

00:56:53We've seen him do that before.

00:56:54Everton have seen him do that before.

00:56:56And it really did look as though he was going to score for Arsenal away to Everton for a third season in a row.

00:57:02Dare say for a moment, Jordan Pickford thought he had.

00:57:05Tarkovsky had it and lost it.

00:57:10Martinelli.

00:57:16Garner.

00:57:18Rule.

00:57:19Straight to Calafiore.

00:57:21Calafiore to Marino.

00:57:22And Tarkovsky, well he put it past Pickford, but thankfully for him he put it past the post as well.

00:57:33Tarkovsky just wasn't expecting that, let alone Pickford.

00:57:35Saka, oh it's vicious.

00:57:41Pickford gets a hand to it.

00:57:42It was going straight in.

00:57:46One goal settled it.

00:57:47And Arsenal will go into Christmas on top of the Premier League.

00:57:57We knew it was going to be a really tough match in the second half, we should have scored the second or third goal to be more relaxed.

00:58:03But when you don't do that till the end with 1-0 and this type of teams, you know that it can be tense.

00:58:09Any player now knows that putting your arms above your head is liable to be a penalty kick.

00:58:14So I've not really got anything for him which is positive.

00:58:18I'm thinking, what did you do it for?

00:58:19In the same box, second half, you have more than one shout.

00:58:22There was one particularly strong one.

00:58:23Did you feel that just went against you?

00:58:26Well, I think they said it was insignificant contact.

00:58:28Well, I don't know.

00:58:30We'll need to watch a few others there and see if they're right.

00:58:32How does it feel to be top at this stage, nearly halfway?

00:58:35Yeah, that's what we want.

00:58:37But we know how long this is going to be and how difficult it is every single game.

00:58:42So take it game by game that we've done from the start of the season and carry on the good form.

00:58:46Let's take a look at a couple of the instances because David Moyes has got no sympathy really for Jake O'Brien.

00:58:53And it wasn't just the penalty incident.

00:58:54But he had a sort of strange minute full stop.

00:58:58Yeah, yeah, he did, Jake.

00:58:59A bit scrambled, it feels like, for a minute.

00:59:02We thought maybe, like, when you've seen this first incident live,

00:59:04we thought maybe that's the penalty.

00:59:05He's pushed Jokers in the back.

00:59:06He and I am on the back post here, Kelly.

00:59:08Does he go through the back of him?

00:59:09Maybe just not enough.

00:59:10I know it goes to VAR.

00:59:11They said, no, not a penalty.

00:59:13But you just see here he comes in.

00:59:14I don't know why Jokers would go to the ground there, not head into an empty net.

00:59:17But anyway, he seems to get away with this one.

00:59:20But, I don't know, 30, 40 seconds later, the corner comes in.

00:59:23And you see we circle Jake around the back again.

00:59:26And he just jumps to Kelly.

00:59:27And he's, I don't know, I mean, David Moyes, his own manager, said,

00:59:30like, I don't know what he's thinking.

00:59:31I don't know if he thinks he's playing Gaelic football back in Ireland.

00:59:32But he's jumped up with two hands in the air.

00:59:35He gets a touch on it.

00:59:36It's a mad moment from Jake, to be fair.

00:59:37And the ref's left, we know, opportunity.

00:59:39It's a clear penalty.

00:59:40And it's the right decision.

00:59:42Yeah, the right decision.

00:59:43Jokeres scores the penalty.

00:59:45And that proves to be the decisive moment in the game.

00:59:47Yeah, brilliant penalty.

00:59:48It's a fantastic penalty.

00:59:49It really is.

00:59:49And the player of his standard, he gave Pickford absolutely no chance with a finish.

00:59:54Yeah, it was a really good penalty from Jokeres.

00:59:58But could Everton have had a penalty of their own?

01:00:00Look, I think there's a lot more than significant contact in this.

01:00:02I'm really strong on this here.

01:00:04You know, people will argue it's not a penalty.

01:00:06But Saliba, Barry gets the ball before Saliba.

01:00:09And for me, it's a clear penalty.

01:00:11I don't understand maybe the laws of the game anymore.

01:00:13But this is a clear penalty.

01:00:14Barry gets the ball.

01:00:15Saliba kicks through the back of his foot.

01:00:18And for me, there's plenty of significance in that.

01:00:20Look, he kicks it through the back.

01:00:21And for me, it's inside the box.

01:00:22I don't think it's an actual difficult decision.

01:00:23I really don't.

01:00:24Sam Barrett, the referee, said no.

01:00:26But I do believe that for Jokeres,

01:00:28Sam, at least come and have a look at this.

01:00:30For me, that's a penalty all day long.

01:00:32They may have had the benefit of that decision in particular,

01:00:36according to Shea Jo,

01:00:38but it's a really significant win for Arsenal

01:00:40because it means that they are top at Christmas.

01:00:43They came through a really difficult test against Everton.

01:00:46Is this a new look, Arsenal, do you think?

01:00:49Look, that's a massive win

01:00:50because that was a tough game tonight.

01:00:52They've obviously took that moment of madness,

01:00:54scored the goal, stayed in front.

01:00:56A few difficult decisions for the referee,

01:00:57but ultimately it's about winning,

01:00:59especially at this stage of the season.

01:01:00Being on top of the league

01:01:02because they know they've got a dominant Manchester City

01:01:04breathing down their necks.

01:01:05The only problem is

01:01:06that they have been here before, Shea.

01:01:09They have been top of the Premier League table

01:01:11at Christmas

01:01:12and they haven't yet won it

01:01:14when they've been top at Christmas.

01:01:15Is that a note of caution

01:01:16or is it an experience that they can lean on?

01:01:19Well, you hope Arteta and the Arsenal players

01:01:20have turned off for this segment,

01:01:21but look, there'll be question

01:01:23until they get their hands on this trophy.

01:01:24There's no doubt about that.

01:01:25There's a big blue lorry coming behind them

01:01:27in Manchester City.

01:01:28Pep Guardiola and his squad,

01:01:29as Joe rightly said before,

01:01:30are powering again, back up the speed.

01:01:32It's going to be a great race

01:01:34and Man City will push them all the way.

01:01:36It is going to be a great race

01:01:37and there's still more games to come from today,

01:01:39but there's just one Premier League match

01:01:41that take place tomorrow.

01:01:43Manchester United go to inform Aston Villa.

01:01:46You can listen to live commentary

01:01:47on Five Live and BBC Sounds.

01:01:49And then Chappers is joined by Wayne Rooney

01:01:51and Dion Dublin for Match of the Day at 10.30.

01:01:55That's on BBC One and on iPlayer.

01:01:57Also on iPlayer,

01:01:58check out the new Mo Salah documentary.

01:02:01And there's live tennis on the 26th of December.

01:02:04Irina Sabalenka takes on Nick Kyrgios

01:02:07in the Battle of the Sexes.

01:02:08And remember, no matter what your festive schedule is,

01:02:12it's easy to say,

01:02:13this Match of the Day and all the others

01:02:15over Christmas and New Year

01:02:16will be available on BBC iPlayer.

01:02:20Now, Wolves are still without a win

01:02:21and they're on the worst run in their league history,

01:02:24having lost nine straight games.

01:02:26The club's executive chairman, Geoff Shee,

01:02:28stepped down from his role this week.

01:02:30Brentford with the visitors to Molyneux.

01:02:32Tom Gale is your commentator.

01:02:36Wolves remain the only English professional side

01:02:39still yet to win a match this season.

01:02:41Jose Sarr starts after 11 straight league games

01:02:44on the bench.

01:02:45Just the one goal so far for Hee Chan Hwang in 2025.

01:02:49But he scored three in his last four against Brentford.

01:02:53The visitors away form will concern Keith Andrews.

01:02:56It's one win and seven defeats for Brentford.

01:02:59After missing Wednesday's League Cup defeat at Man City,

01:03:02Igor Thiago's fit to start.

01:03:04Only Erling Haaland has more than the Brazilians'

01:03:0611 league goals this season.

01:03:09Before kick-off, a period of silence to remember

01:03:13and honour the life of former Wolves player,

01:03:1521-year-old Ethan McLeod,

01:03:17who passed away on Tuesday.

01:03:19CR tossing hall to the high one.

01:03:30Cray вами is Australian.

01:03:31Looking for Hwang.

01:03:32Tossling with Collins.

01:03:37Wolves are still going.

01:03:39Deflects and goes over!

01:03:41Kelleher almost ended up right beneath his crossbar.

01:03:47Excellent recovery from the Irish goalkeeper.

01:03:50The alertness of Quivine Kelleher keeps it at 0-0.

01:03:56Rob Edwards did stress when he took the job.

01:03:59The amount of goals Wolves were conceding was a huge problem,

01:04:01and they are keeping things a lot tighter of late.

01:04:04Limited Arsenal to just two shots on target last weekend,

01:04:08but ultimately it did end in defeat.

01:04:11Janot has it, looking for keen Lewis Potter.

01:04:14Thiago's free, he tried to play it first time.

01:04:17He'll get there again.

01:04:18Is the shot on? It is!

01:04:19And it's palmed away by Jose Sarr.

01:04:24It's the closest Brentford have come so far.

01:04:30Well, it's been a frustrating watch this season,

01:04:33the fans are keen for their voice to be heard.

01:04:36but they are not happy with the hierarchy at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

01:04:44Keane, Lewis Potter.

01:04:47Prachy comes across.

01:04:51The armour look.

01:04:55Andre's header.

01:04:56Only two, Lewis Potter.

01:04:57Cross shot it!

01:04:58And what a save!

01:04:59Jose Sarr keeping it at nil-nil.

01:05:06What can Brentford do this time?

01:05:09First time ball from Yarmoluk.

01:05:12Flicks on to Sharder and again!

01:05:13A really lively start to the second half from Brentford.

01:05:21So this was...

01:05:22...Sharder's first effort.

01:05:24Should the German do better?

01:05:27It was quickly followed up.

01:05:29Yarmoluk's ball in.

01:05:30The flick on and...

01:05:31...met on the volley by Sharder.

01:05:34Either side of the keeper and I'm sure that's...

01:05:36...hitting the back of the net.

01:05:38Yanof spots Thiago.

01:05:46Ball bounces awkwardly and it's finished...

01:05:48...by Keane, Lewis Potter.

01:05:51Brentford finally break through Wolves' resistance.

01:05:55And it's the first Premier League goal of the season...

01:05:58...for Keane, Lewis Potter.

01:06:00Wolves have had to hang in at times, ride their luck...

01:06:04...but as soon as this ball bounces, it's awkward.

01:06:06And it goes over the top of the helpless Krejci.

01:06:11McKeane, Lewis Potter is alert...

01:06:14...and that is a neat and tidy finish from him.

01:06:17Wolves nil, Brentford one.

01:06:23Gomez.

01:06:25Marnet, good first touch.

01:06:28Shame about the second, straight into Damsgaard.

01:06:31Wins it back though, the teenager.

01:06:33Damsgaard stayed down.

01:06:34Marnet's cross towards the back post.

01:06:37Wolves' header!

01:06:40There's been a notable injection of freshness into the Wolves' attack...

01:06:45...since Matthijs Marnet's come on.

01:06:47Picks out the Norwegian.

01:06:49And he's awfully close.

01:06:51Yarmuluk.

01:06:54Yarmuluk.

01:06:58Krejci looking to clear.

01:07:02Damsgaard on the slide.

01:07:04Yarmuluk has it.

01:07:05Brentford have it back.

01:07:09And they're looking for more here, the visitors.

01:07:11Damsgaard.

01:07:12His cross.

01:07:13Two on the stretch!

01:07:14Keane, Lewis Potter!

01:07:15That is it.

01:07:17That is it.

01:07:18Home supporters are heading for the exit.

01:07:21It looks as though Brentford have wrapped up what is only a second away win of the season.

01:07:28And it's Keane, Lewis Potter at the double.

01:07:36Gomez.

01:07:36Bwank delays the cross.

01:07:47Looking for Marnet.

01:07:49Into Doherty.

01:07:51Kelleher doesn't get there.

01:07:52Penalty!

01:07:55This is the replay.

01:07:56Marnet's first-time ball in.

01:08:00And does Kelleher get a touch?

01:08:02No, it's clear from that angle.

01:08:03And is this a lifeline for Wolves in the closing stages?

01:08:12Strand Lawson is denied!

01:08:16And for me, that sums up Wolverhampton Wanderers.

01:08:20No conviction with the spot kick.

01:08:22This is Teane from the Norwegian.

01:08:25Full-time.

01:08:26Wolves nil.

01:08:27Brentford two.

01:08:30They've played the sixth game now on the rub.

01:08:32The previous five games, it's been a draw at half-time.

01:08:35So there would have to be that element of patience,

01:08:37but trying to do the right things consistently.

01:08:40And hopefully that brought our rewards.

01:08:42And I think we did that in the second half.

01:08:44It wasn't loads in.

01:08:44It started to make a couple of saves in an early period of that second half.

01:08:48And we tried to address that.

01:08:52Again, we're not in a threatening position from the goal they scored, that first one.

01:08:55But we've managed to gift that.

01:08:59And then from there, it's tough for us at the moment.

01:09:02This is the worst I've felt in a long time.

01:09:06We're just lacking that belief that we can actually win the game.

01:09:09It's like we're afraid to, we're scared to win the game almost.

01:09:11We need to do some soul-searching and have a look in the mirror

01:09:15and just figure out what we want to be remembered for at the club.

01:09:19Do we want to be remembered for fighting all the way to the end of the season?

01:09:24Or do we want to be remembered for being cowards

01:09:28and taking maybe the easy option out

01:09:33and maybe trying to leave in January

01:09:35or letting other people, not fighting and training,

01:09:39letting other people take your position and stuff like that.

01:09:42So we need to figure out, we need to look at ourselves in the mirror

01:09:46and figure out how we want to be remembered at the club.

01:09:49We've had games where we've played well.

01:09:50I mean, I haven't quite got the points.

01:09:51But I think it was similar again last season.

01:09:54It was something away from how I can't really put my finger on what.

01:09:59But yeah, like I said, going to Christmas to get away from time is brilliant.

01:10:02And just finally, two goals so you can have a couple of days off now,

01:10:06a bit more extra turkey.

01:10:07I wish, Lasse Gaffer now.

01:10:10Yep, good performances as just expected.

01:10:12At this time of year it is going to be busy.

01:10:14Keane Lewis-Potter though, the stand-up player for either side.

01:10:17Yeah, a bit of magic from him, wasn't it today?

01:10:19He had a brilliant performance and it's mad.

01:10:21His two goals today is the same amount of goals he scored

01:10:23in the last 69 games, would you believe?

01:10:25Yeah, he was just brilliant.

01:10:27He really was.

01:10:27There was a difference between the two teams.

01:10:29You know, again, threatening the line here.

01:10:31We see him, Kelly, you know, getting on the ball, backing it up.

01:10:33Just everything he did, he seemed to be lively.

01:10:35And Keith Andrews spoke really well after the game about him as well,

01:10:38what he brings to the club.

01:10:39Again, he sort of wanders into them positions.

01:10:41And no Wolves player at any stage thinks he'd get near him

01:10:43or pick him up or anything.

01:10:45Again, brilliant ball in for Shada.

01:10:46Good save from Sa, of course.

01:10:47But again, he's all in the right areas.

01:10:49Keep an eye on him here.

01:10:50Kreutche goes tight.

01:10:52And just keep an eye on his movement after.

01:10:53You know, he's just creating space between the lines,

01:10:56trying to upset the back five of Wolves.

01:10:58And just natural ability to pick up spaces and little pockets

01:11:01and no one really gets near him.

01:11:03You see here now, the defender drops off him and he comes alive.

01:11:06This is a nothing kind of ball, to be honest,

01:11:08and Kreutche should deal with it.

01:11:10But take nothing away from Lewis Potter,

01:11:11he gives a brilliant finish.

01:11:13It looks like he's scored all his life with a finish like that.

01:11:15Again, look at the space.

01:11:16There's no one in a Wolves shirt anywhere near him.

01:11:19Nearly a lack of respect to him, actually,

01:11:20because he's, you know, maybe a smaller figure on the pitch.

01:11:23But again, he gives his way to Damsgaard.

01:11:25Brilliant ball from him.

01:11:26Look at all the Wolves players.

01:11:27Joe mentioned before, not latching on inside the box.

01:11:30You know, space doesn't score goals.

01:11:32Players do.

01:11:33And you see Keith Andrews come back to his old club today.

01:11:35But it's all about that man, Lewis Potter.

01:11:37A fantastic day for him.

01:11:38From Wolves' point of view, though,

01:11:40they're beaten again today.

01:11:42They've only got two points all season.

01:11:44They're four points below where Derby were,

01:11:46which is the record-worst points total in a Premier League season.

01:11:49There were fan protests at the game.

01:11:51Their executive chairman has stepped down this week.

01:11:54It feels like a really difficult moment for the club.

01:11:56And that was certainly echoed in Matt Doherty's comments

01:11:58when he was quite pointed in his criticism.

01:12:02It felt as though it was aimed at certain individuals,

01:12:04saying, I don't want us to be remembered as cowards.

01:12:07I don't want people to be looking to get out in January.

01:12:09I don't want people to be shirking their responsibilities.

01:12:11But how do you do that when the club is in the chaos it is?

01:12:16Well, look, I know Matt on a personal level.

01:12:18I felt for him there.

01:12:19He looked poorly.

01:12:20I wanted to give him a big cuddle.

01:12:21But on a professional level, you've got to step up.

01:12:23You've got to shake it off.

01:12:24You've got to stop thinking about you, your ego,

01:12:26what's going to happen in January, like he said,

01:12:28and get in the trenches.

01:12:29Wolves are in the trenches right now.

01:12:31And the least you can do is put fight, get your shirt on,

01:12:34wear the badge with pride,

01:12:36and fight for your supporters and your team.

01:12:37And that's what Matt Doherty is trying to say there.

01:12:39He's trying to get his team rallied.

01:12:41Like I say, I want to give him a cuddle,

01:12:43but this is big boy time.

01:12:45You need to step up.

01:12:48Burnley were six points from safety

01:12:50and on a run of seven straight defeats

01:12:52when they went to Bournemouth,

01:12:53who were involved in an Old Trafford epic on Monday night.

01:12:57Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum.

01:13:01The bad.

01:13:02She's a bust of touches.

01:13:03Sabino, quite brilliant finish.

01:13:06Saburo.

01:13:07Oh, smoke him in here.

01:13:09This is Evan Nielsen.

01:13:11The second equalizer of the game.

01:13:13Bournemouth are in front.

01:13:17Three, three.

01:13:19Jepening roar at Old Trafford.

01:13:22Here's Mateusz Cunha.

01:13:24Four, three.

01:13:25Yes.

01:13:28Kruppi!

01:13:30They've made it 4-4.

01:13:33Bournemouth refusing to bow down.

01:13:36Hoping for more of the same at the Vitality, Chris Wise.

01:13:40There's been 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4 scorelines

01:13:43in Bournemouth games this season,

01:13:45so why not dream of a 10-goal thriller?

01:13:47From the Cherries team that started Manic Monday,

01:13:49there are two changes.

01:13:51Lewis Cook returns from suspension

01:13:52and is straight into the team

01:13:54to replace the injured Tyler Adams.

01:13:56David Brooks also makes his first start for a month.

01:13:59Christmas in the bottom three,

01:14:01a guarantee for Burnley.

01:14:03Scott Parker returns to the club

01:14:04he won promotion with three and a half years ago,

01:14:07but the relegation worries at his current team

01:14:09are intensifying already.

01:14:12Six Burnley changes,

01:14:13some enforced,

01:14:14others not,

01:14:15as Parker seeks solutions.

01:14:17It's only less than two months ago

01:14:22that Bournemouth were the closest team

01:14:23to the then-leaders Arsenal in the Premier League.

01:14:27Nobody has fallen further down the table

01:14:29in that time than the Cherries.

01:14:33Brooks,

01:14:34Evan Nielsen,

01:14:35lovely,

01:14:36David Brooks again,

01:14:37that would have been a really nice Bournemouth goal.

01:14:42Excellent understanding

01:14:43between Evan Nielsen and those who play behind him.

01:14:52Is that a foul on Kluivert?

01:14:54Either that or he lost his balance there.

01:14:55Kluivert thinks he was tripped.

01:14:58Walker's going to try and go past Sanessi.

01:15:00Walker perhaps has got past Sanessi.

01:15:02And in the end,

01:15:05just didn't have the legs to keep going,

01:15:06but that's Fleming,

01:15:08that's Laurent across,

01:15:09and that's Anthony in.

01:15:10But the flag is up,

01:15:12and it's not going to count.

01:15:14And Anthony thought he had his moment

01:15:16against his former club.

01:15:19It started with Kyle Walker rolling back the years,

01:15:21getting at Marcos Sanessi.

01:15:23There is a VAR check taking place.

01:15:27I don't know why there,

01:15:29delaying too much on this.

01:15:30Unless, of course,

01:15:32they're looking at who actually played the ball there

01:15:33to Josh Laurent.

01:15:35Does it come off a Bournemouth player?

01:15:39They've had a quick look at that,

01:15:40and they've determined that

01:15:41Chris Kavanagh, his team of officials,

01:15:44got it right initially.

01:15:45So the Burnley breakthrough on hold for now.

01:15:51Diakite,

01:15:53Evan Nielsen on the move.

01:15:55Touched by Worrell.

01:15:58Sanessi,

01:15:59sharper to it than Fleming.

01:16:00And in for Brooks,

01:16:02who puts it over the bar.

01:16:04And that,

01:16:05of all of them,

01:16:05is the best chance so far for Bournemouth.

01:16:08Burst beyond the Burnley back line.

01:16:10It was tricky

01:16:10because it was coming over his shoulder.

01:16:16Diakite.

01:16:20Brooks for Tavernier.

01:16:21That was really nice.

01:16:23This is Junior Kruppi.

01:16:24He'll be guilty of overplaying it.

01:16:27And then the slip,

01:16:27and Semenyo punishes that moment.

01:16:31There's the Bournemouth breakthrough.

01:16:34Antoine Semenyo again.

01:16:37An eighth Premier League goal of his season.

01:16:39But when the luck is against you,

01:16:42as it feels it is for Burnley right now,

01:16:44that's what happens.

01:16:47Tavernier working it towards Junior Kruppi initially.

01:16:51And then Laurent just loses his footing.

01:16:54And unfortunately for him,

01:16:55he lost his footing right in front of Antoine Semenyo.

01:16:59The one he got at Old Trafford

01:17:01was his first in more than two months.

01:17:03He's got two in less than a week.

01:17:05And Scott Parker's faced with the familiar problems again.

01:17:10And that goal from Antoine Semenyo, by the way,

01:17:11was the very first shot on target

01:17:13that Bournemouth have had this afternoon.

01:17:17One by Cook,

01:17:18and then collected by Trezor,

01:17:21who has Truffair right behind him.

01:17:24And Trezor gets Burnley the corner.

01:17:26Now a bit of attacking thrust,

01:17:27and all of a sudden Burnley are having

01:17:29a decent final five minutes.

01:17:32Short one from Lucas Perez.

01:17:34Marcus Edwards.

01:17:36Oh, that's a lovely ball!

01:17:38There's the goal for Burnley!

01:17:41And for Armando Broya!

01:17:45Right on the 90-minute mark.

01:17:48That's the time to get your first Burnley goal.

01:17:52Barely been in this game, Burnley,

01:17:54but a bit of thrust towards the end.

01:17:56And it's brought some rewards.

01:17:58It's a free header for Broya.

01:18:00Five yards out.

01:18:02And very well guided into the corner as well from the Albanian.

01:18:07Well, Burnley are going to need a few more moments like that,

01:18:09but that's certainly the foundations of moving things in a positive direction again.

01:18:14So we go into stoppage time at 1-1 and there will be five minutes of added time.

01:18:19And Bournemouth, who have looked comfortable, if not necessarily menacing at times,

01:18:26now find themselves back where they were.

01:18:29Lewis Cook with the Bournemouth corner.

01:18:31And the flick on and over the bar it goes.

01:18:35Sanessi was close.

01:18:37Burnley survived that scare.

01:18:40The losing run is at an end for Scott Parker's team.

01:18:44There was no denying.

01:18:47We had massive pressure on us and mainly down to the run.

01:18:50I don't think it's down to the points tally we've got so far this year,

01:18:52because I see it still, we're still right in it.

01:18:55But the actual run, which we've been on, we needed to stop that really.

01:18:59Our reaction after the goal, which was an unfortunate goal, was slip,

01:19:03was then an incredible reaction.

01:19:04So we needed some fighters today.

01:19:06We needed a spirit about us,

01:19:08which I never, ever put in question with this group.

01:19:10And they give me every bit of that today.

01:19:12Everything is costing us now a lot.

01:19:14To get one point, you have to do a lot.

01:19:16And in the games that position is better than you, you get nothing.

01:19:21The ones that you think you are better, you have the best chances,

01:19:24you just get a point.

01:19:25And okay, one point, one point is better than losing,

01:19:28because you have to value every point.

01:19:31But at the end, I think we are the team with more draws in the Premier League.

01:19:35So we have to find a way to go to the three-point,

01:19:37to put ourselves where we want.

01:19:40Well, it might be just a point from Bournemouth's point of view,

01:19:43but it was a late, late equaliser for Burnley.

01:19:45It was a first goal in two years in the Premier League for Breuer as well.

01:19:49How significant, though, could that goal be for Scott Parker?

01:19:52Hey, look, it's going to have to be significant.

01:19:54You know, that's off the back of seven losses in the Premier League,

01:19:57a lot of pressure mounting.

01:19:59No one expected Burnley to really be flying this season,

01:20:01but they're in a difficult position.

01:20:02That's a great header from Breuer.

01:20:03You know, first goal in two years, 40 games,

01:20:06and there's some fight in him, there's some spark in him,

01:20:09and that's what they're going to have to take from that game.

01:20:11Two home games coming up, big moments for Burnley.

01:20:13And they're looking for a spark at Bournemouth.

01:20:16They've not had a win in eight Premier League games.

01:20:18So when you see someone like Antoine Semenyo,

01:20:21again with the significant goal for them,

01:20:23how important is it that they keep hold of him in January?

01:20:26Yeah, well, look at that graph.

01:20:27You know, third highest scorer in the Premier League.

01:20:29All the goals are coming from this guy.

01:20:31I know he's got a buyout clause in a week or so's time,

01:20:34first of January.

01:20:35It kicks in for 65 minutes.

01:20:36Numerous clubs looking at him.

01:20:38It would be a worry from a Bournemouth point of view

01:20:39if you lose your star man,

01:20:40because he scores most of the goals.

01:20:42Let's be honest, he's a brilliant, brilliant player.

01:20:4425, he's in the peak of his career as well.

01:20:46So it'll be interesting to see what happens in January.

01:20:48Can they keep him?

01:20:48That's not a graph, by the way.

01:20:50What is it?

01:20:51It's just a list.

01:20:53Brighton in 10th began the day three points

01:20:56behind eighth place Sunderland.

01:20:57It was the first top-flat meeting

01:20:59between these two teams since 1983.

01:21:01Jonathan Pearce was at the Amex.

01:21:06Two Christmas riddles.

01:21:08How will Brighton end their barren nine-game run

01:21:10without a December victory?

01:21:12They're without Duncan Gomez,

01:21:13suspended for Labour, who's at AFCON.

01:21:15And Van Hecker ill from the team beaten at Liverpool.

01:21:18Sunderland have lost twice as many players

01:21:20to AFCON as any other Premier Cup.

01:21:22Masuaku, Reinildo, Sadiqi, Talbi and Torre have all gone.

01:21:25Onin suspended.

01:21:26They're down to bare bones.

01:21:28In come Hulme, Gertreide, Rigg and Adingra

01:21:31five months after he left Brighton,

01:21:33having been a popular figure here.

01:21:37Here's Ruta.

01:21:40That's for the Minta.

01:21:42The Percos on the far side.

01:21:45And he looks for him.

01:21:46It's a clever spun pass.

01:21:49Best cross of the game so far, that.

01:21:53And Brighton have a foul.

01:21:57That'll be the offender.

01:21:59It's a lovely cross here by Ankuba, isn't it?

01:22:02Tried the spun crossing,

01:22:04looking for the run of Maxim de Cajta

01:22:06coming in from that left.

01:22:07No more Alderete.

01:22:15Weefa.

01:22:17Tricky border player in there,

01:22:18that's a bad back pass as a chance for Sunderland.

01:22:21But Bruggan redeems the situation,

01:22:22and away.

01:22:24In the end by Karioglu.

01:22:26It was nearly given away by Brighton-Hove-Albiot.

01:22:28Untidy here.

01:22:31Weefa.

01:22:32Played Hinchwood into trouble.

01:22:33That's a bad pass.

01:22:36But Bruggan came up very, very quickly.

01:22:42Hugh.

01:22:44High for Brobby.

01:22:45He's got between the centre-backs.

01:22:47The goalkeeper's come out.

01:22:49Couldn't get a claw on it.

01:22:50Brobby.

01:22:51Blocked again.

01:22:52Brighton are wobbling.

01:22:54Sunderland are on top.

01:22:58Look at the space for him.

01:23:00Goalkeeper came.

01:23:01Couldn't get a glove on it.

01:23:03And it's blocked.

01:23:04Combination there, I think, of Coppola and the goalkeeper.

01:23:10Brighton, A, need to pass it all more accurately than they did in the first half.

01:23:14And B, up the tempo of their passing.

01:23:21Dingra finds Lefay.

01:23:22It's a good ball back in the mix.

01:23:23It's Alderete.

01:23:24Good save.

01:23:26Strong save.

01:23:29Elmar Alderete denied by a fine piece of goalkeeping.

01:23:34A little bit of fortune.

01:23:36And the woodwork helped him out.

01:23:45A little bit of Oskagli.

01:23:47Intelligent ball.

01:23:48Veltman back into the middle.

01:23:49Oh, a big chance.

01:23:50Yassin Ayari.

01:23:51One of Brighton's best chances of the game.

01:23:55Well crafted that.

01:23:57Poorly executed in the end.

01:23:58And skied by the 22-year-old Swedish international.

01:24:05They lack any sort of penetrative power up front.

01:24:09And it is a worry.

01:24:09Kenny Welbeck is suffering back spasms at the moment.

01:24:13Not part of the squad.

01:24:14Here's Grudu can open up a defence and does so again.

01:24:18And the shot was a good one from Yassin Ayari.

01:24:21Rising.

01:24:22Now he's had their best moments in the second half.

01:24:2965 minutes gone.

01:24:31Mordi Mukherjee.

01:24:34It's a set of fair away.

01:24:36Oskagli struggling a little bit.

01:24:37First time ball and needs to be cleared away.

01:24:39It wasn't.

01:24:40It was a decent shot on goal in the end.

01:24:43By Romain Mundl.

01:24:44Just on as a substitute.

01:24:46Of course, the stretching save.

01:24:51Not too sure Brighton have done enough over the 76 minutes to win the game.

01:24:55I don't think Sunderland have done anything wrong.

01:24:58Reserved to lose it.

01:25:01Here's Veltman.

01:25:02Might have had a go.

01:25:04Pulls it back.

01:25:04They've got him behind here now.

01:25:06It's ball.

01:25:06Baili Mukherjee.

01:25:08Lent off the ball over it went.

01:25:12Pulled back to him.

01:25:13By Shalampos Kostrelas.

01:25:16And he's had three good shooting chances in the game.

01:25:19And he's put them all over.

01:25:20He's headed up, but not away by Mukherjee.

01:25:29Ballo.

01:25:30Ooh, he's overrun that.

01:25:31And that's going to be a challenge that's looked at.

01:25:36It's a yellow card for him.

01:25:39He caught Kostrelas there.

01:25:42It was the follow-through that could cause him problems here.

01:25:46That's been confirmed as a yellow card only by the VAR.

01:25:50Ruda rode the challenge.

01:25:55Could have released to Kostrelas.

01:25:58Does release to Ayari.

01:25:59This time he does hit the target.

01:26:01Rebounds off the chest of the Sunderland goalkeeper.

01:26:04Skipped inside his man.

01:26:06Kept his shot down low, but straight at keeper roofs.

01:26:09We are frustrated, definitely.

01:26:14But we have to understand that Sunderland, they were a good side today.

01:26:19They played well.

01:26:20They did the basic things right.

01:26:22So we have to realize that there are big opportunities we miss if we only play for phases of the game good.

01:26:31And that's something where we have to take responsibility.

01:26:33I think we played well, probably 65, 70 minutes with the opportunity to score.

01:26:39We didn't.

01:26:39I think it's always important when you go away, especially against a strong side, to seize those opportunities.

01:26:46It wasn't the case.

01:26:48After that, Brighton pushed, which I think is normal.

01:26:50And we were a bit on the edge, but still a good point.

01:26:53A good point at Brighton.

01:26:55They're sixth in the table heading into Christmas.

01:26:58It's a newly promoted side.

01:26:59How impressive have they been?

01:27:00Yeah, brilliant.

01:27:01I would go as far as to say a great point, actually.

01:27:03Brighton's a tough place to go.

01:27:04We highlighted these two at the back.

01:27:06I think they were absolutely brilliant today.

01:27:07You need a strong defensive unit away from home.

01:27:10And Ballard and Alderetti today were absolutely immense.

01:27:12They really were.

01:27:13Everything that Brighton threw at them, they were dealing with.

01:27:15You see, you know, Ballard scanning, heading balls away.

01:27:18And again, I think these two have played together the last five games together, Kelly.

01:27:21And it feels like they're really building up a strong understanding.

01:27:24You know, you see here, Ballard's back on the line.

01:27:26He's going to defend, help the keeper if it comes back in again.

01:27:28And again, they're readjusting.

01:27:29They're never too far apart.

01:27:30You see the way they've circled them together.

01:27:32Five or six yards apart, you know, organising, heading.

01:27:35And I love Dan Ballard.

01:27:36He's absolutely brilliant in there.

01:27:37He goes and tacks him.

01:27:38He had head your granny.

01:27:39He really would.

01:27:39He's absolutely brilliant in that position.

01:27:41And he's a...

01:27:42It is the season.

01:27:43It is the season.

01:27:44But again, you know, obviously, with two goalkeepers out tonight,

01:27:48but as a goalkeeper and you've got two defenders,

01:27:50I want to head things, clear things, block things away from home in the Premier League.

01:27:53That's invaluable.

01:27:54And up to six in the league is just a phenomenal season.

01:27:56Let's take a look at the Premier League table then.

01:27:59Arsenal are top at Christmas for the third time in four years.

01:28:03But the last time they turned a lead at this stage into silverware was 78 years ago.

01:28:08Manchester City are two points behind

01:28:10and they've gone on to win the title on the past five occasions

01:28:12that the Christmas leaders have been overtaken.

01:28:16Very little festive cheer for the bottom three, though.

01:28:18Winless Wolves were already cut adrift.

01:28:20Burnley and West Ham are now seven and five points respectively from safety

01:28:24following victory for Leeds.

01:28:27Thank you very much to Joe and to Shea for joining me appropriately for this time of year.

01:28:31We had a double from St Nick, one from Reindeers and an informed Christmas Cherky.

01:28:35But Arsenal heading to Christmas top of the tree.

01:28:38Good night.

Category

Transcript

Comments

Recommended