- 6 hours ago
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Oh, look at that!
00:02Absolutely phenomenal!
00:04Rooney Oco!
00:06Welcome to Match of the Dead.
00:30MUSIC PLAYS
00:48Evening, it may be Christmas week, but the Premier League doesn't stop.
00:51Two games for you on tonight's Match of the Day,
00:54as well as all the goals from the festive period.
00:57Just like myself, Joe Hart and Danny Murphy, I have no idea what day it is.
01:01We begin with Sunderland against Leeds,
01:03the first time these two have met in the Premier League since Boxing Day 2002.
01:08Steve Bowers at the Stadium of Light.
01:14The managers that day, 23 years ago,
01:16were Howard Wilkinson and Terry Venables.
01:19Both clubs now are more than on course
01:21to ensure this fixture happens again next season.
01:24Sunderland have only one of two unbeaten home records left intact.
01:28They play their second match without their six players away at AFCON,
01:32and they've suffered a further blow today with an injury to Dan Ballard.
01:36So there's a Premier League debut for Dennis Sirkin in a reshuffled back four.
01:41Brian Broby has two goals in his last three games here.
01:45Leeds have just four points away from Mellon Road so far,
01:50but their switch to a back three has changed their fortunes dramatically.
01:54They're unchanged from the side that beat Crystal Palace 4-1.
01:57Dominic Calvin Lewin aims to score for the sixth successive Premier League match.
02:03Prior to kick-off, Captain Granit Xhaka carries a Sunderland shirt
02:11in honour of club director Patrick Truer, who passed away on Christmas Day.
02:16And there will be a moment of remembrance prior to kick-off.
02:21Alton Baker, got one, check-off.
02:48Bolden under good pressure, and there he goes to press, so too did Brian Brobick.
03:05And Roden has stayed down after that challenge from the Dutchman, more the way his right
03:14and his ankle went over, and he felt it straight away.
03:19Which is right after he's played the ball there.
03:28Goodness.
03:35Ampadu initially with the poor touch,
03:41still recovered, the foul by Le Fay.
03:46Sunderland's turn to have everybody back.
03:49Floated in by Stack, Odorate beaten in the air.
03:54Still haven't got this clear, that was Ampadu in towards Calvert-Lewin, Okafor!
03:59Reflected on the way through.
04:00And that was an uncomfortable one for Sunderland.
04:08This ball was bouncing and bobbling around, and eventually Okafor's effort hit Mukweili.
04:15Okafor!
04:23And a dingra...
04:25with the closing down, and Roden's in war pain.
04:31And I think it's the same right ankle from the previous challenge earlier on.
04:36This challenge earlier on, and the look of concern on Daniel Farker's face says it all.
04:42It is.
04:46He's rolled it again.
04:56Matingra.
05:02Sankin.
05:06.
05:10.
05:11.
05:12.
05:14.
05:15As he pushed off then he winced with pain.
05:18.
05:23Mukieli's throw.
05:24.
05:26.
05:27.
05:28.
05:29.
05:30.
05:31.
05:32.
05:33.
05:34.
05:35.
05:36.
05:38.
05:39.
05:40.
05:41.
05:42.
05:43.
05:44.
05:45.
05:46.
05:55.
05:56.
05:57.
05:58.
05:59.
06:00.
06:01.
06:02.
06:03.
06:12.
06:13.
06:14.
06:15.
06:16.
06:17.
06:18.
06:19.
06:20.
06:21.
06:22.
06:23.
06:24.
06:25.
06:26.
06:27.
06:28.
06:29.
06:30.
06:31.
06:32.
06:42.
06:43.
06:44.
06:45.
06:46.
06:47.
06:48.
06:49.
06:50.
06:51.
06:52.
06:53.
06:54.
06:55.
06:56.
06:57.
06:58.
06:59.
07:00.
07:01.
07:02.
07:03.
07:04.
07:05.
07:06.
07:07.
07:08.
07:09.
07:10.
07:11.
07:12.
07:13.
07:14.
07:15.
07:16.
07:17.
07:18.
07:19being 1-1, and he couldn't believe it.
07:24Alderete.
07:28Comfortable for Biol.
07:31First of the touch on Lafayne.
07:33In the ring trying to set Brobby away, goalkeeper hesitated.
07:38Brobby's effort cleared in the end by Biol.
07:43The big question is whether there was any connection
07:45between Pires the goalkeeper and Brobby the striker.
07:49It looked minimal on first viewing.
07:53Certainly the interpretation of Tony Harrington, the referee.
08:01Lafayne, and here goes Odingran, look at the room he's got to run into.
08:08Brobby's pulling away!
08:13And he knows he should have done better.
08:17Leeds were wide open here.
08:19Oh, that's a let-off for Leeds.
08:23Brian Brobby with two goals in his last three games at the Stadium of Light.
08:27Off the crossbar when it should have been under it.
08:31And this has been checked and cleared.
08:33And you would say correctly so.
08:43And to do for Leeds.
08:43Leeds.
08:52So compressing.
08:58Leeds did that well, though.
09:01Stack.
09:02He scores for the sixth league game in a row, and the first player for Leeds United to do that in the top flight for Leeds.
09:19For 65 years.
09:21And it all came from that move from the back.
09:25And watch the movement of Calvert-Lewin here in between the two defenders.
09:29Beautifully found by Aronson.
09:31It's a fabulous team goal.
09:35And Calvert-Lewin's incredible streak in front of goal continues.
09:39Six in a row, seven goals in that time, and he's got Leeds back to 1-1.
09:46Just the second touch of Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the Sunderland penalty area.
10:07Don't worry about that.
10:08That's where it's ended up.
10:12Okafor.
10:13Flicked on by Aronson, over Calvert-Lewin, in came Bogle.
10:20It wouldn't quite fall for him.
10:22He almost chested that goal with Jadon Bogle, who's never ever scored a Premier League goal.
10:29Look at this, it wouldn't quite sit down.
10:32And he couldn't believe that that wasn't on target.
10:35And Leeds make their domination count here with another goal.
10:43Here goes Goodmanson.
10:45And Perdue.
10:47And Perdue.
10:51His effort blocked by Serkin.
10:53And it is a point apiece.
10:58Sunderland's unbeaten home record is still intact.
11:01Leeds extend their unbeaten run to five games.
11:05Sunderland won, Leeds won.
11:07I'm a bit in between, if I'm honest, because we were by far the better team, have dominated
11:16each of these statistics and should have probably won this with game, missing a bit the clinical
11:21edge in their box.
11:23And for that, yes, definitely a good point.
11:25Can't complain too much.
11:27Again, great mentality to come back.
11:29But it could have been three.
11:31And for that, I'm not dancing on the table tonight.
11:34Yeah, tough game, as expected, because we knew before that Leeds were a good side in good form.
11:41And they are still in good form.
11:42So they showed great quality on the pitch today.
11:45We started well, I think.
11:46We scored.
11:47Even at the end of the first half, we had the opportunity to score the second goal.
11:50I think it was a key moment, because after that, I think when they changed their structure,
11:55we struggled a bit to find our references for the build-up, for the high press.
11:59So they were dominant at that time.
12:01We found the energy to switch the momentum sometimes, even at the end of the game,
12:04we had the opportunity to be a bit more dangerous.
12:08But I think it's a fair result at the end.
12:10What about the goal?
12:10What a team goal.
12:11Every single outfield player touched the ball.
12:13In fact, no, every single player touched the ball, because it started with a goalkeeper.
12:17Yeah, I think we've shown that we can mix our game up
12:19over the past few weeks.
12:21You know, we can be direct.
12:22We can play football, which is good versatility within the team.
12:26So a good goal scored.
12:29Six in a row you've scored in now.
12:31The last Leeds player to do that in a top flight 65 years ago.
12:33I mean, how good a feeling is that?
12:35Yeah, it's always a good feeling to just be scoring regularly, you know.
12:40I'm in a good moment at the minute, you know.
12:41My timing's good.
12:42And I think as a team we're gelling a bit more and things are going well for us.
12:48Both teams scored good goals.
12:50Let's start with the Sunderland one, which had an element of Joe Rodon's injury playing into it.
12:55Yeah, he took a few good hits in the first kind of 20 or so minutes.
13:00But Joe Rodon, he's such a warrior.
13:03You know, he's not missed a game for two years.
13:05He's got a great mentality.
13:06Exactly what you want from your centre-half.
13:08You want him playing no matter what goes on in the game.
13:11And that was really tested for him in the first half.
13:14You see, on the front foot, Sunderland looking to set the tone,
13:17making the stadium a light, an awful place to play.
13:20Unfortunate, but he really gets hit hard there.
13:22Broby doing his job.
13:23Adinga again, closing down, wins the ball.
13:26But look, Joe Rodon takes a really good hit there.
13:29And you can see he's in a real lot of pain.
13:31On the same ankle.
13:31To get that hit twice in a row, that's when you think to yourself,
13:34you come off and you're chatting with your physios,
13:36can you play on? Yes, I can.
13:38Just give me a minute.
13:39This is two minutes after coming back on.
13:41Doesn't really challenge for the first one.
13:43But this from Granit Xhaka.
13:45Beautiful pass into Adinga.
13:47And look, of course, Joe Rodon doesn't quite get up with his team.
13:50He's the one playing him onside.
13:52Beautiful touch and he can't quite get out to him.
13:55If he's fully fit, does he get to that? I don't know.
13:57But look, I've got to celebrate this goal.
13:59This is an absolute bit of genius.
14:01Xhaka, beautiful reverse pass, disguise on it.
14:04This touch, Adinga sets it, makes it unsavable.
14:07Outside the post, curling back in.
14:10Brilliant goal.
14:11And that was the tempo that Sunderland set in the first half.
14:14I think it's worth saying as well with Rodon,
14:17as a manager and as a teammate of his,
14:20you want that attitude.
14:22Somebody's desperate to stay on the pitch.
14:24Like you said. To try and play through it.
14:26Because hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn't it?
14:28Oh, well, maybe she...
14:29But you are right.
14:30I suppose everybody wants somebody to try and play through it.
14:33They'll get more benefits from that throughout a season
14:36than they will get hurt.
14:37Yeah, if you've got a group of players with that same mindset,
14:41you've got a good group.
14:42The other thing that that injury did was it deprived Leeds of
14:46one third of their back three, which has been really successful for them
14:50over recent weeks.
14:51Daniel Falker deserves great credit for the decision he made.
14:55He changed the system when the substitute happened from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3.
14:59And it completely changed the momentum of the game in Leeds' favour.
15:03It's a system that didn't work initially at some stages early in the season.
15:07And he's had a lot of credit for getting a strike partner,
15:09like to Calvert-Lewin.
15:10But this was exactly the right time to do it against the way Sunderland set up.
15:14They kind of matched up.
15:15Here you can see the run from Harrison.
15:17He joins Calvert-Lewin, he's playing to the right of him,
15:19Okafor to the left.
15:21And Sunderland back four were now occupied, completely occupied.
15:25And they should have equalised with this chance.
15:27And then the attacks just came time and time again.
15:30Okafor actually seemed to enjoy it more on the left.
15:33He got more of the ball.
15:34He could see the pictures ahead of him.
15:35He's running at people, which he's good at.
15:37He had runners off him.
15:39And all of a sudden, Leeds were in control.
15:40They looked like their home team.
15:41I know Sunderland have got players missing, etc.
15:43It's unfair enough.
15:44But there's the system change.
15:46There's the 4-3-3.
15:47And as you can see, the front three there,
15:49occupying that back four, stopping Sunderland's full-backs,
15:52having plenty of the ball, which they did before this.
15:54I think Aronson, if he goes a bit ahead of the full-back,
15:58he gets himself in.
15:59Aronson again in that inside right position,
16:01in between the centre-half and full-back.
16:04Chance at the back post for Okafor if he anticipates the cross.
16:08Second half, more of the same.
16:10Wonderful goal, brilliant move.
16:13Good passing, crisp.
16:14Stack as well, what performance he had as well,
16:16playing in the middle of the pitch.
16:19And we talked about final product,
16:22or end-product final pass, I should say.
16:23That was a brilliant ball and a great finish from Calvert-Loon.
16:26Calvert-Loon was on fire at the moment.
16:29And then just after that, they had the best chance to go and win it.
16:33When the ball comes in, you can see the full-backs are occupied
16:36by the wide men, the two forwards either side.
16:38So Bogle gets in, tries to stomach it into the back of the net.
16:41But credit to that man, because he's had his doubters in the past,
16:45and even been talked about lack of tactical awareness.
16:48Today, bang on.
16:50And these numbers represent the change.
16:52It really is good.
16:52That's a real dominance against a team who are good at home.
16:55Just the thing on that front three, is the key to it then,
16:58that even if one of them is wide, the other one is close to Calvert-Lewis.
17:01Yeah, they both played close to him.
17:03Sometimes, I think, when you play a 4-3-3,
17:05if they stay really wide, the forward gets isolated.
17:08But what it did with the full-backs of Sunderland coming in with the danger,
17:12it also allowed the full-backs to bomb on.
17:13It was perfect timing to do it, and a brave decision from it.
17:18Daniel Farker says he isn't going to be dancing on the tables,
17:21although I think if my team had scored a goal like this,
17:23I'd be on that table and dancing.
17:25You've never danced on a table.
17:27It was a long time ago, Daniel. A long time ago. Joe.
17:30All serious, no, this is a brilliant goal.
17:33And this is a team that's absolutely brimming with confidence.
17:37Good turnover, 1-0 down, no panic, looking to build into the second half.
17:42Obviously, had that tactical rejig that Danny's touched on,
17:45but at no point are they forcing anything.
17:47Making angles for the goalkeeper.
17:49They all look comfortable in possession.
17:51Pass here into Okafort, a little bit of spice on it,
17:55and then stack this ball here. Brilliant.
17:56That's every player, apart from Calvert-Lewis, touched it now.
17:59Aronson attacking, Calvert-Lewis getting into the area
18:02where he's been so good this season, finishes it with a plumb.
18:06Absolutely brilliant team goal, and that's a team brimming with confidence.
18:09And we will all have seen, I am sure,
18:12that the graphic that has done the rounds this week
18:15of Dominic Calvert-Lewis this season only being able to score in a straight line.
18:20That's where all his goals have come from.
18:22The one today is that one that's just on the right of that straight line.
18:26But we also had a look at where he scored his goals in his most successful season at Everton,
18:31and whilst it isn't a straight line, Danny, it is still, with the exception of two, two and a half,
18:38all within the frame of the goal.
18:39Yeah, it's intelligent runs, knowing where to be, anticipating the crosses,
18:43but simple messaging, isn't it, for any young forwards out there?
18:48Stay central.
18:50Don't go wandering when you're not in the game.
18:52Stay in that position.
18:53And also, the other thing I think is important as well,
18:55is that the team you're playing in knows your strengths, where you want the ball.
18:59The ball goes in early from Leeds, doesn't it?
19:01Yeah, exactly.
19:02And I think it's a dream for a wide man.
19:04You know you can just beat your man and get it in.
19:05You've got someone who's looking dominant, looking dangerous in the middle, and that threat's always there.
19:10Just one, because we've done a lot of praising of Leeds here, maybe understandably so,
19:14just one on Sunderland, because they are depleted by AFCON.
19:17They've got six players away.
19:19They didn't have Ballard today either, who's been integral this season for them,
19:23and they've still come away with a point.
19:25They are going to have to dig in at times through this period, aren't they?
19:28They're still unbeaten at half.
19:29They can be very proud of that performance.
19:31They had players today who haven't played many minutes.
19:33Adingra was a threat the whole way through.
19:36They've got a really good squad.
19:37They've got players who are match winners.
19:40Xhaka's still leading the team.
19:43They had moments in the game, but what they've done this season,
19:46and what they continue to do, is a breath of fresh air, really.
19:48Yeah.
19:49Right.
19:50Spurs have only won once in the league in the last two months.
19:53They travelled to a Crystal Palace side who did the double over them last season.
19:56Jonathan Pearce was there.
19:57Those two Palace wins last season were as many as they'd achieved in the previous 22 meetings.
20:05Both of these needing to end their end-of-year slumps.
20:08Palace thumped at Leeds and then dumped out of the league up on penalties at Arsenal.
20:12Spurs with two league defeats in a row and just 36 points in 2025.
20:16Oliver Glasner makes four changes to the side beaten at Arsenal.
20:21Dean Henderson, of course, returns in goal, maintaining his league over present record.
20:25Klein replaces Kambo at right wing-back.
20:27Leveni is preferred to Nketiah.
20:29And with Richards injured, Hughes comes into midfield and Lerma slots back into defence.
20:35Tottenham are forced into their two changes with Romero and Simmons
20:38both sent up against Liverpool.
20:40Danso and Richarlison start for them.
20:48Porro.
20:50Can get it over the top for the run of Bergbauer.
20:53Springs back to Kudus, Bergbauer.
20:57Kudus with the run.
21:02Porro.
21:03Good work by Tottenham.
21:04Richarlison against Toronto play Tottenham league with a very good goal.
21:09They've hardly had a kick of the ball.
21:12And with 16 minutes gone, Richarlison puts them ahead.
21:15Just see if Bergbauer's on or offside there.
21:21I think he looks offside in the build-up.
21:23It's going to be checked.
21:25Comes out to him from Kudus.
21:27Gives him the return.
21:30Porro comes into the line.
21:31It's a lovely cross in.
21:32Richarlison might be offside.
21:34Well taken goal.
21:38Naked eye shows to me that Bergbauer's offside.
21:41It is being checked now.
21:42Goal has rolled out.
21:51There's a lovely move by Tottenham.
21:53But it won't count.
21:54And it would have been harsh on Crystal Palace.
21:56Mateta.
22:02Real handful for Dancer.
22:04And he's got away from him.
22:05And into Devaney.
22:07There's a little spin.
22:08He was hoping for contact from a Spurs player.
22:10Lerma to Warton.
22:11Cool under pressure.
22:13Mateta.
22:13Goes for goal through the legs of the defender and wide.
22:17But a clever effort this.
22:19Really is up for it today.
22:21Jean-Philippe Mateta.
22:24Thomas Frank.
22:25Already under pressure.
22:27Three wins in 12 in all.
22:31Crystal Palace drummers behind the goal to the left-hand side.
22:35Beating out a frantic 2-2 at the moment.
22:40Colonel Moane is holding his face.
22:42Spencer's got involved.
22:44Hughes wanted to get on with the game.
22:48I think there was an accidental bash in the face there for Colonel Moane.
22:53As he falls, he just gets knocked in the face with the side of Will Hughes' knee.
22:59As he comes in to try and get the ball back off him.
23:02Bit of something and nothing.
23:04Jeremy Pinot.
23:05And now it goes to Warton.
23:09What's dangerous.
23:11He's headed back across.
23:12Goal!
23:13And it's a chance for Mateta, really, that he should have buried.
23:17A lovely header back across goal by Maxence Lacroix.
23:21Looks for Mateta.
23:23Couldn't get over the ball.
23:25And this is what Crystal Palace fans will tell you.
23:28They've been creating chances for weeks and weeks, but they haven't been taking them.
23:32They've been doing it.
23:33Bergfell.
23:34Goal and Moane getting away from Lerma.
23:37Gay's there with him.
23:38Good intervention, Gay.
23:40Tottenham appealing that he hit his hand.
23:42Big claim.
23:44We are having a look.
23:45The ball did strike an arm, but it's a supporting arm, supporting his body.
23:51Is it fair, according to the VAR James Bell?
23:55Correct decision.
23:56I think most people would agree.
23:59Porra with the corner kick.
24:00I think it's Tottenham's first of the game.
24:03Swing into the far post.
24:04It's dangerous.
24:05Needs to be clear with Charlatan.
24:06And nodded in by Gray.
24:09And this time, surely the goal will count and Tottenham will lead.
24:12Crystal Palace undone at a set piece, where their defending was scruffy at best.
24:21And for Archie Gray, it's a first Tottenham goal.
24:25Lots of defenders back in there, but they can't deal with it.
24:28The header down wasn't dealt with with.
24:29Richarlison nodded it on, and Gray with a simple glance.
24:34The three Palace defenders there that could have dealt with that far better than they did.
24:38And Gray flicked it on, and Tottenham Hotspur lead.
24:42But Crystal Palace will feel hard done by.
24:45They've bossed the game.
24:48If Tottenham hold on and get the win here, it will buck a trend, really,
24:51because when they faced opponents at the start of the day,
24:54above them in the table, they've only won one of their last 19 London derbies away from home.
24:58So, Crystal Palace were above them in the table this morning.
25:03Pino takes it back from Mitchell, spins across it, it's a good setter.
25:08Deveni over the bar, big chance.
25:12Really big chance for the youngster.
25:17Lovely work down the left-hand side, Pino and Mitchell.
25:20Lacrosse was a beaut spun in, clever headed down by Klein, Deveni.
25:25First touch took it away from goal, so he had to spin.
25:29And then over it went.
25:34One or two Tottenham players are looking tired.
25:38Pino couldn't get there.
25:46Lerma will take it long.
25:50Up in the air by Spence, Mateta.
25:57Ooh, is he pushed there by Richarlison?
26:00Is there enough contact to worry the referee or the VAR?
26:07Bit of pushing and shoving going in there, Mateta and Spence.
26:13In comes the resulting corner.
26:15Lerma's headed back across.
26:17Good touch from Pino, sensible ball wide, Wharton.
26:22Better cross in, second time of asking.
26:24It's come up to Lerma, clever headed, just one.
26:28Big chance, Phil, to Maxence Lacroix.
26:33It's been another game in which Crystal Palace have created opportunities
26:36and haven't taken them.
26:45There he's downward header, only carries to Gray on the run.
26:48Now, Takuda spins the cross in far post.
26:52Richarlison is there, and Tottenham lead, 2-0.
26:57In terms of possession, they've been second best.
26:59In terms of chances created, they've been second best, but they lead 2-0, and it's all about goals.
27:10Richarlison, ooh, is he on or is he off?
27:13This one is being checked for offside from there, he looks offside to me.
27:21And is Richarlison going to have a second one ruled out?
27:25Will it be a lifeline for Crystal Palace?
27:28Richarlison is offside when he's scored.
27:37Again, it will not count.
27:40I can't believe his fortune.
27:42Well, they didn't time it with perfection, as they should have done.
27:52Wharton picks it up again.
27:54Ucce, and of course, the corner.
27:58Tottenham this season have been cursed by conceding goals at set pieces,
28:03and by conceding late goals.
28:08Wharton in it comes, over by Gahing, and it would have counted.
28:13That's a massive chance.
28:15Goodness me, they've had some.
28:18Amounts to be a free header, really, from there.
28:22Just checked his watch, it's a victory that would take Spurs up to 11th.
28:28They're going to be on 25 points, which will be a couple of points above the number they had after 18 games last season.
28:38Here comes Tottenham.
28:39Odderberg, Richarlison back to him.
28:41Can he wrap it up here?
28:42Odderberg with a shot, off the post, and that would have done it.
28:45Good crisp drive, because it was at an awkward height for him, and off the woodwork.
28:51Tottenham close to a second.
28:52Odderberg, gets beyond Essay, takes the return.
29:05Low crossing, fizzes all the way through, Porro in space.
29:09Back it comes, Bentancur, good save.
29:14And away by Lerma.
29:18Too much space here for Porro, really, from a Palace point of view.
29:22And Henderson, that's a fine save, because I think he saw it late from behind players.
29:26And Tottenham win it.
29:29A welcome victory for Thomas Frank.
29:31But for Crystal Palace now, it's their worst run of league defeats in a row under Oliver Glasner.
29:39And their season is beginning to look in danger of being undermined.
29:45As Tottenham win this by a goal to nil.
29:48First ever senior goal, how does that feel?
29:52Yeah, it's incredible.
29:53After, I can't even remember how many appearances I've won now, but after...
29:57112, I think it was.
29:59112.
30:00I mean, I'll give myself a little bit of leeway, because I've been playing centre-back and left-back,
30:04but to be fair, I should have got a goal before this, so...
30:06Yeah, it's just an incredible feeling to get it, so, yeah.
30:09You have been under pressure, the team's been under pressure, but they did fight, and they did battle for you.
30:13They fight for each other, they fight for the club, they fight for staff, they fight for me, they fight for everyone.
30:17The fans, most importantly.
30:19I like the character and the mentality in the team today, that so much we need to improve,
30:23but I like that discipline we had, because you need to have that in the Premier League.
30:28There will be difficult games, especially away from home.
30:30Very disappointing result, but it's a little bit...
30:35Like many games this year, that if you don't score, you can't win.
30:39And it's not that we don't create the chances, we just miss them right now, and then we get punished
30:44with a set play, and that's a little bit the story that happens more or less every game.
30:49I see the effort, but to be honest, the finishing quality was not there today.
30:55Well, it was a good afternoon for Archie Gray, as he gets his first senior goal for Spurs there.
31:05Great feeling.
31:05Great feeling for him.
31:06Best feeling.
31:07I would never know.
31:09But it wasn't a go at all you, actually.
31:13It wasn't a great game, was it?
31:15But as Thomas Frank said, maybe the quality can improve, but they had a bit of something today.
31:21No, it really wasn't a great game, and it wasn't necessarily a top performance.
31:24You know, they were lacking a little bit of identity, you find with Spurs, but when you're lacking identity,
31:28and you want people to just roll their sleeves up and play for you, that's where people like
31:32Richarlison come to the fore.
31:34Now, look, there's no doubt about it.
31:36If Solanke's fit, he's leading the line.
31:37But this season, he's just been a pest, hasn't he?
31:40And he's got good numbers.
31:41He's a real threat when he gets in.
31:43He makes it difficult.
31:45Lerma filling in this afternoon for Richards.
31:47He's just pulling on to him, and if it's not for Bergveld, just being slightly offside,
31:51they can get themselves off to a really good start here.
31:53His movement's good.
31:54He's alive, he's just ready, off the back, caught them sleeping, and not ideally they
32:00go on the lot there, but here I know what he's trying to do as a goalkeeper.
32:04He wants Henderson to slide at him.
32:06That's how he is.
32:06That's his sort of mentality.
32:08He wants to win those sort of free kicks.
32:09But look, tough game, scrappy.
32:11He's really strong there.
32:12Flicks it on for Archie Gray, and he gets his big moment.
32:15Now look, Palace absolutely battered them.
32:17Possession-wise, they had lots of chances, but if Tottenham were going to wrap this game up,
32:21he was going to be involved in it.
32:23Just can't quite hold his run here.
32:25An excellent ball from Kudus.
32:27But like I say, towards the end of the game, Tottenham are just hanging on.
32:30Look at that kick from Vicario, but his awareness as Lacroix comes into him here.
32:34This is really, really good play.
32:35Sharp, Odebert, little one-two.
32:39It's not conventional, but at the end of the day, you've got to try and win yourself the game.
32:43It's a lovely pull into his stride.
32:46And an unlucky effort, but here we just see a beautiful flip around the corner of Brennan Johnson.
32:50Like I say, if Tottenham were going to wrap this game up and make it a little bit more comfortable,
32:53he was going to be involved in it.
32:55And that's Archie Gray saying thanks for the assist.
32:58And that's the difference for him this season and how much that Thomas Frank has used him compared to last.
33:05Is it a case of digging in for them this season?
33:08Is that what Thomas Frank was saying?
33:10Well, I think for now, the next few weeks, they've had such extremities of performances,
33:14some really good ones, some awful ones.
33:17When you're not playing well, as Joe said, the fans, all they want to see is you fight for everything.
33:23Even the defeat against Liverpool, with a man down, they showed character, they showed some guts.
33:29And the fans walk away going, OK, something to work on.
33:32Which was actually the big criticism of the Arsenal game, was that...
33:34And Chelsea.
33:35They just kind of sat there and waited to be beaten, was the criticism.
33:39Yeah. But Tottenham, with the quality they've got,
33:42they need to be more composed, more creative, more on the front foot.
33:47You can't play like that every week.
33:49Palace had 62% possession and dominated them for large parts of the game
33:52and deserve some credit too, even though they lost.
33:55Yeah. And you'll go look at that, because as Joe says, they sort of battered them in every way,
33:59bar actually scoring.
34:02Yeah, they were completely in control for long periods, because they played really good football.
34:08They controlled the midfield areas.
34:10It was just lacking in the final third, which, when they look at these highlights, post-video
34:16tomorrow, whenever it is, they'll feel a bit better about themselves.
34:19Because if you keep getting in these good positions, you're going to score goals.
34:23Mateta, we know, is more reliable than that normally.
34:25He's just having a little spell.
34:27This from Devaney is a chance, really should be ready and should be taken.
34:32I know they're missing Saar, who's at AFCON, who's a big player for them.
34:35And they kept probing, they kept getting in the right areas.
34:38And that, you know, we've seen Palace this season have really good spells.
34:42They're just going through a little bit of a bad one at the minute.
34:45And it's only because, when they're getting in the final third,
34:48they're not playing with this.
34:50They've not got the same killer instinct, the same conviction.
34:52This is a wonderful chance from Lacroix.
34:55He's got to be scoring that, really.
34:56And they did deserve something out of the game, you've got to be honest about it.
34:59And Gaye, who scored the winner at Fulham from a very similar position there,
35:02gets a chance late in the game.
35:03I know he's frustrated, I know he's angry, and their squad at the moment is thin.
35:08You know, he hasn't got... The bench was inexperienced,
35:11he hasn't got an abundance of options.
35:12So, they'll get through this stuff.
35:15It's just a slightly strange state, I suppose, for them at the moment.
35:19They're ninth in the Premier League, which maybe ordinarily they would have taken.
35:24But they're coming off the back of a great season last season.
35:27They've lost three on the spin now, having had a good start to the season.
35:32Do you sense there's a bit of frustration?
35:35Oh, 100%.
35:36Absolutely undoubtedly.
35:38Because they had such a good finish to the end of last season.
35:40They actually started well, they've got silverware,
35:43and you felt like they were ready to kick on going into Europe.
35:46And it just felt like the conversation was always going to be
35:48when those European games kicked in, would they be able to,
35:51would they have the squad capable to manage the Premier League and Europe?
35:54Oliver Glasder's made noises saying that he's not necessarily happy with the squad,
35:58he doesn't feel like they've backed it up.
35:59And look, when you put that out into the universe and then you start losing games,
36:03ultimately you're going to have a negative spin around it.
36:05I heard a fan on Five Live earlier saying that they were worried that
36:09they missed the opportunity in the summer to really go for it when it came to strengthening.
36:13And now they're going into a six-month period where they didn't really strengthen.
36:19Gae more than likely will go and their manager's only got six months left as well.
36:24They've got a chance of still being cute and clever in January.
36:27Maybe a couple of loans and some players who are out of favour elsewhere,
36:30they can get in because everyone wants to play in the Premier League.
36:32The problem we were talking about earlier is that a manager who's got an uncertain future,
36:38how's he going to persuade someone to come and join the journey that Palace are on?
36:42But Joe made a good point when we talked about it,
36:44some players who are just desperate to play first-team football at a club like Palace,
36:48you'll get some through the door.
36:50If they don't get any players through the door and I think they probably need at least three,
36:55then it's going to be difficult to see how the season can be a success.
36:58Would you worry about signing for a club where the manager had six months left
37:03and it was a bit unclear what was happening?
37:05It depends on the wages.
37:06It depends on what your career...
37:07LAUGHTER
37:08Never, never that, you know.
37:10I find a lot of you say that, to be honest.
37:12I was joking.
37:14Plenty of positives points.
37:16You know, they're a club that obviously they're on the back of a bad run,
37:18but they're in Europe.
37:19They know that when they play well and they get their team back,
37:21they can be a real threat in the Premier League,
37:23so you definitely want to join that party.
37:27He is that guy.
37:28There's another match of the day on Tuesday night,
37:31so you can join Kelly for that.
37:33The Mo Salah documentary, Never Give Up, is available now on iPlayer.
37:37If you've lost track, you can catch up with every match of the day
37:39and individual match highlights on iPlayer.
37:48Clever ball around the corner, Reinders is in, and Reinders scores.
37:53It hasn't taken Manchester City long.
38:01Clever ball, Igor Jesus, Hutchinson unmarked back post.
38:04Here he is, 1-1.
38:08That was a brilliant goal.
38:12Foden to try again.
38:15The game goes deep, but this time it does find the head of goal.
38:18Giovanni Olt, driven in.
38:20Scherke scored.
38:22City in front.
38:24This Frenchman is having quite an impact on Manchester City this season.
38:32Tricky one to defend, and Villa haven't defended it,
38:36and Chelsea have the lead.
38:40Chelsea had just looked a bit ropey in the last few minutes.
38:42Rodgers, great ball.
38:44Watkins, 1-1.
38:46It's Oli Watkins again at Stamford Bridge.
38:54There's Watkins!
38:58Villa have done it again!
39:01Oli Watkins sends the away end at the bridge into Delirium.
39:07Primpong fits away from Xiao Gomez and takes an Ugo Bueno and pulls it back for Gravenberg.
39:17Liverpool lead.
39:19Double Dutch.
39:19Primpong's assist for Gravenberg's finish.
39:26Hekateke.
39:30Hekateke through to Florian Virts!
39:32There's the moment he's been waiting for.
39:41Alisson can't get through, makes the first save, but the follow-up is put in by Santiago Bueno.
39:49Wolves have a glimmer of light.
39:50The wrist sack it.
39:56And Odegaard.
39:58That's a really good finish by Martin Odegaard.
40:02And the skipper scores his first goal of the season.
40:05Rice, another pace on that.
40:09I think it's an earned goal.
40:12Jorginho Rute's got the final touch on that.
40:18Rute on the half-turn.
40:19Ayari through the crowd and off the post.
40:22And the follow-up is smashed in.
40:25Gomez makes it 2-1.
40:30Lovely little flick.
40:30That's Minty.
40:31What a save that is.
40:33That looks like a goal all day long.
40:38So on last night's match of the day, Gabi said that if they'd had a goalkeeper in the studio,
40:44they'd have done four minutes on that save.
40:46And we have four minutes of chat left.
40:49We just need a goalkeeper.
40:51I just...
40:51Danny!
40:53Oh, Danny!
40:53You can resist, could you?
40:56Fill your boots, go on.
40:57Right, let's do this.
40:58Let's do this.
41:00Right, OK.
41:01So, I want to point out that Davare doesn't just make that save out of the blue.
41:06He's not...
41:06All game, he's got...
41:07He's making these movements, especially in the second half when they're pushing.
41:10Readjust him from cross to shot.
41:13That's very simple, but the movements are the same.
41:16Here he is, we see him highlighted.
41:17He's set for the cross.
41:19And there's Minter.
41:20Puts it into the middle.
41:21Readjust.
41:22Resets.
41:23Little micro movements.
41:24You'll see him highlighted.
41:25All right, it's not a good shot, but he's set for it.
41:27That's the point I'm making.
41:29Here we see his positioning.
41:30Nice and high.
41:31Ready to help his defence.
41:33Is the cross coming in?
41:34This actually is the goal.
41:35But you can't judge him for that.
41:36Look at the movement all the time.
41:38He's always getting as sharp as he can, making it as difficult as he can.
41:41This is the moment.
41:42Make it difficult.
41:43Great spring.
41:44I'm telling you, if that's on target, he makes a brilliant save.
41:47And that is the reason why, when it comes to the big moments, he's ready.
41:51Here we see, this is the option.
41:53This is why he's in the position, because the potential is to come into the box.
41:57Doesn't happen with Wifa.
41:58It goes into Ruta.
42:01Beautiful touch around the corner.
42:02Now you've got to readjust.
42:03Okay, it's now going to be a shot.
42:05I've got to make it as difficult as I can.
42:07A little check of the post.
42:08Gets himself in line as quickly as he possibly can.
42:10You're not beating me near post.
42:12You've got to go across me.
42:13Jeez, what a brilliant save.
42:15Now look, you can have all the technical movements you want in the world.
42:19Get yourself in the right position.
42:20But have you got that world-class power?
42:22Have you got that spring?
42:24Have you got the elasticity through your body to make every single part of your body count?
42:28David Rea has.
42:29Look at this.
42:30Sets, readjusts, every single fibre in his body is making that save.
42:35Absolutely brilliant save at a massive moment.
42:38And that is why Arsenal are still stopping the Premier League, because of that man right there.
42:42But isn't it, like, to the layman, to the non-goalkeeper.
42:47Right.
42:48When that last one from behind the goal, as you see the shot about to come in,
42:52you know, you sort of know which way it's going to go.
42:55Yeah.
42:56And yet Rea has to take a step the other way.
42:59First, before he then goes that way.
43:01Right.
43:02Often you'll see Rea's movement here.
43:03He's not quite sure.
43:05As it goes, that's that movement.
43:06Can he get set?
43:07Where is he going to go?
43:08Right, it's going to my right-hand side.
43:10He'll quickly assess that through his body.
43:13You'll see him splay his legs, because he has to get set as we run it on here.
43:17And you've got to create that momentum, that left foot into the right foot, which allows
43:21him to get the momentum to fly into that save and make an unbelievable stop.
43:26Because it feels, doesn't it, to you as well, that that slightly goes against...
43:31The opposite way, yeah.
43:32It slightly goes against instinct to take one step that way.
43:35It's taking everything for me not to get up right now and fly across this room, but you've got...
43:39Oh, my God, I would love that.
43:44You've got to create that momentum.
43:45So, I'm set, I'm moving, okay, I'm going to my right, so I've got to load up my left leg
43:50to then fly into my right-hand side, because you can't just...
43:53It makes sense.
43:54...drop into your right.
43:55Do it at home, you'll see it.
43:57Okay, maybe tomorrow.
43:59The other thing as well, and this is a lot from work with you and Rob and Shay as well,
44:04you do spend a lot more time, don't you, looking at the really small steps that goalkeepers make
44:09all the time on all of those clips that Joe showed.
44:11Ryan's making two, three, four, five little steps before doing anything.
44:15And it's actually all the stuff from years of training,
44:18seeing the keepers over doing that footwork.
44:20That doesn't come by accident, it's just years and years of practising.
44:23But having a goalkeeper like him, with the presence and just the trust they have in him,
44:29it just spreads throughout, doesn't it?
44:31Yeah, they do realise Arsenal are so difficult to get through.
44:34And then as a defender, I'm sure it's a great feeling to know if someone does get that chance,
44:38you've got someone, that power, that elasticity to make those big saves.
44:42Massive.
44:42Okay, next time you're on, I will get you flying across the street.
44:46I'm ready, I'm so ready.
44:46I know you are.
44:48Quickly move on, here are the rest of the goals from Christmas week.
44:51Well done.
44:52It's good.
44:55Dallon with the long throw.
44:58Valtemar is headed.
44:59It's good.
45:03What a memorable way to score your first Manchester United goal.
45:11Thiago.
45:13Plays in.
45:14Shada.
45:16Too strong for Diakite.
45:17Shada!
45:20A brilliant Brentford goal.
45:22Fired upfield, and that's turned into a really good pass for Igor Thiago.
45:29Thiago!
45:33Oh, it's in!
45:34Well, not sure if that will go down as his goal, but the scoreline now reflects Brentford's dominance.
45:43And they have a three-on-two.
45:46And they have a three-on-two.
45:48Shada making good ground.
45:51Thiago picks it up.
45:53Shada!
45:53Devastating from one end to the other.
45:58Bournemouth are punished with ruthless efficiency.
46:03Dallon.
46:05All right.
46:07Jimenez.
46:08Are we still going?
46:11Semenyo!
46:15Bournemouth have one back.
46:18Damsgaard.
46:18Pete Henderson, back in for Damsgaard, Scharder!
46:26Game, set, match, and a hat-trick for Kevin Scharder.
46:35Nicely done. Wilson sending it across.
46:39They'll get a second chance to do so.
46:42And it's Raul Jimenez again!
46:45With five minutes to go.
46:47Right place, right time. 1-0, Fulham.
46:53Irabunum for Dwight McNeil.
46:56Irabunum. Oh, so clever from Beto.
46:59And it's taken exceptional reactions from De Bravka to turn the ball aside.
47:07Jadon Anthony.
47:10There's a chance here for Burnley. Zian Fleming is in!
47:14And has come as close to scoring as it is possible to come.
47:20Before we go, let's just take a look at the Premier League table.
47:25Sunderland stays seventh after missing the chance to climb into the top five, but they do have their highest points total at this stage of a Premier League season for 15 years.
47:34Palace remain ninth. Leeds are seven points clear of the relegation zone now, and Tottenham have risen to 11.
47:43That's it from us. Thanks to Danny and Joe. Match of the day is back on what we think is Tuesday, as the season reaches the halfway point.
47:52Good night.
47:52Good night.
Be the first to comment