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00:09Welcome to Match of the Dead.
00:51Happy New Year, four games and a managerial departure to start 2026.
00:56We've been bumped off BBC One for Mrs Brown's boys, but you'll probably get more laughs
01:02out of Dion Dublin and Steph Horton.
01:04Now, Sunderland had a 100% record against Manchester City at the Stadium of Light on New Year's
01:09Day.
01:09It is a niche stat, that, as they've only played once, but it does allow us to show Micah
01:14missing a sitter just before G-Don Wong went up the other end, danced round Joe Hart and
01:20won it with the very last kick.
01:23Your commentator today, Guy Mogher.
01:27City's 1-0 defeat here in 2012 is the only time they haven't won their first league game
01:33of the year in the last 19 years.
01:36And G-Don Wong, he's still going strong, now 34 and playing for MacArthur in Australia's
01:42A-League.
01:43The Sunderland side shows one change from their 1-1 draw with Leeds four days ago, with Chris
01:48Rigg dropping out for Eliza Mayenda to come in.
01:51It's his first time in the starting line-up since August.
01:55For Manchester City, two differences from their team at Nottingham Forest.
01:58Nathan Ake gets a rare Premier League start, replacing Josko Gwardiol.
02:02And Savino comes in too, with Tijani Rinders making way.
02:09City's record when kicking off a new calendar year, mightily impressive, but Sunderland are
02:16pretty handy at the start of January themselves.
02:20They haven't lost their first league game of the year since 2018, and it's well worth remembering
02:26that they haven't lost here in the Premier League all season.
02:30As Savino tries to deliver for Haaland, and Hitroda puts it behind for a corner.
02:39City have scored the first goal in 14 of their last 16 Premier League games.
02:55Haaland helps it on, and it's turned in by Bernardo Silva, the flag has gone up, which
03:01will cut short the celebrations, at least for now.
03:06Gary Bezik with the flag felt that he had a clear sight, and he does look just off.
03:11As always, it's tight, they always are.
03:15Mukieli with Foden closing, he takes no chances, he's looking for Brobby, and there's a race
03:21on, and a battle on, between Brobby and Ruben Diaz, and Brobby's won it!
03:25Donnarumma with a great save, and Ruben Diaz puts it behind for a corner, he's claiming he
03:30was being fouled all the way there, not seen that way.
03:34I think there's a bit of holding going on, on both sides, and Brobby was just too strong.
03:38He wasn't giving that up.
03:44It's Mayenda who's going to get there, and goes shoulder to shoulder with Mateus Nunes.
03:49Now it's a ding-rah, trying to check back.
03:53Hume arrives, but Hume can't keep the effort down.
03:58And Sunderland are getting joy down the sides.
04:02Getting joy when they go over the top direct.
04:06So first Brobby and then Mayenda, just too strong for whoever was up against them.
04:16Harlow's lost out to Muchiele, but he goes back in to win the ball, and there are little
04:21duels developing all over the field.
04:24It's a great watch.
04:26Everybody's up for this, in red and white, in blue, and right around the stadium as well.
04:35And played out by Nico O'Reilly to a tumultuous cheer.
04:43He might still be goalless, but proof so far that there is very much such a thing as an entertaining
04:49nil-nil.
04:52Cherky finds Mateus Nunes, Foden across, Harland's shot saved.
04:57First chance he's had.
04:59Straight at Robin Roos.
05:04Le Fay.
05:06Mayenda sways out of the way.
05:09Petrauda's on a storming run upfield.
05:12This is Mayenda, and Ruben Diaz takes it out of the gloves of Donnarumma.
05:16Donnarumma happy with his contribution anyway.
05:21Thanked him for it.
05:22It's the other goalkeeper who's just been forced into a save.
05:25You back it from there, pretty much 99 times out of 100.
05:30Didn't take long for Sunderland to get down the other end.
05:36If nothing particularly happens in the rest of the first half, then Sunderland will have achieved
05:42the honour of restricting City to the fewest first-half shots that they've managed in any
05:47game all season in the Premier League.
05:49Le Fay, a ding-rub.
05:51Now it's Granit Xhaka.
05:53Xhaka swings it in, and it's just over the bar.
05:57Trey Hume in there for Sunderland.
06:00He had a shot earlier, he couldn't keep down.
06:03Similar story with that header.
06:07Sunderland, 28 points on the board.
06:09When you think when they were last in the Premier League in 2016-17, they only got 24 in the
06:14whole season.
06:17Spada-Silva finding Rodri.
06:20Through to Foden.
06:21Now Cherki.
06:23Savinho getting into the box first.
06:25It is Savinho!
06:27Well, that looked like a golden opportunity.
06:30Foden to Cherki.
06:32Savinho's intention was clear.
06:35And he gets in front of Hitrauda, and you think, well, he's just got to get anything
06:39on that and City are in front.
06:41He got too much on it.
06:44Rodri.
06:48Back into marshal things in the middle of the field.
06:52Here's Foden.
06:53Foden to Savinho.
06:55And Savinho might have another chance to score.
06:57Saved by Rufs, and Haaland can't put the follow-up in.
07:01He was under pressure from Alderete.
07:03Robyn Rufs called into action.
07:05And Sunderland now are being asked serious questions of...
07:15Sirkin.
07:16Sirkin, strong running.
07:19Adingra.
07:20Le Fay.
07:22Le Fay into Mayenda.
07:24Mayenda holds off Ake.
07:26Tariff by Donnarumma.
07:28It was belted his way by Adingra.
07:31The pace and ferocity of the game is just as unrelenting now as it was in the first minute.
07:43Le Fay.
07:46Through to Mayenda.
07:48Mayenda saved by Donnarumma.
07:51Really good reactions.
07:54Down so sharp.
07:57Sunderland are getting better and the stadium of light is getting louder.
08:02Tell me you've seen a better nil-nil than this all season.
08:05I won't believe you.
08:11It's a City throw.
08:12Rodri takes it.
08:14Foden.
08:16Accusations that that was a foul throw as he slammed it down to the feet of Phil Foden.
08:21Rodri.
08:22Guardiol.
08:23Saved by Rufs.
08:25Brilliant save.
08:27Super chance.
08:29Guardiol drifting into the box.
08:31He got behind Trey Hulme.
08:34Sunderland feel that Hulme was pulled to the floor.
08:37Guardiol claims that he was being fouled along the way.
08:41Shrugged him off to test Rufs anyway.
08:44Rufs ready.
08:49Mateus Nunes.
08:51Bernardo Silva.
08:54Rodri.
08:56Ake.
08:58Manchester City now.
09:00Seem as though they're getting closer to finding the gaps.
09:04It's Dokku.
09:06Hulme forced the back away.
09:08Dokku going all the way.
09:09Straight against Muchiali and then Alderete heads it over.
09:14An heroic block from Norti Muchiali.
09:18Not that he'll have known much about it.
09:20He couldn't get out of the way.
09:21But if Manchester City are going to get the breakthrough.
09:25It seems almost certain that it'll be something to do with Jeremy Dokku.
09:30Cherki.
09:34Dokku waits for it.
09:36And holds off Mayenda who's holding on to him for dear life.
09:40Cherki.
09:43Rodri.
09:49Mateus Nunes.
09:53Guardi on who goes for it and it's off the post.
09:57Absolutely intent on getting something on it in front of Alderete.
10:02Look how close it was to spinning in.
10:07Rodri.
10:11That's Isidore.
10:15Cherki.
10:15There are four in the box.
10:17Cherki towards Harland.
10:19Here's Guardiola.
10:19Goal.
10:21And Sunderland get another one away.
10:23It's Muchiali.
10:25That's with every single City sort into the Sunderland penalty area.
10:30There were so many red and white striped shirts instantly on the scene.
10:40Sunderland once more underlining that it's no fluke that they're up in seventh place in the Premier League.
10:49Guardiola's throw.
10:49Guardiola's throw.
10:49This is Cherki.
10:51And this now is Rinders.
10:54And he didn't really get a hold of it.
10:58Nice and easy for Robin Roos.
11:02We're past 94 minutes.
11:05It is full time at the Stadium of Life.
11:08The players will leave the field to the sound of red and white delight.
11:13Gigi Donnarumma is a little bit too fired up and angered by something at the end.
11:18And Pep Guardiola is out to maybe play the role of peacemaker as well here.
11:24It's finished Sunderland nil.
11:26Manchester City nil.
11:27And I challenge anybody to see a better goalless draw anywhere all season long.
11:35Well, Pep, I don't know about you.
11:36I didn't want that game to end.
11:38It was so good to watch.
11:39What's your take from it from a City point of view?
11:41Yeah, we can play 120 minutes.
11:43And after in two days, we play against Chelsea 120 more.
11:46For you, it's really, really good.
11:47Congratulations.
11:48You can say to the new rules for the referees that they like to do.
11:52But it was nice.
11:53It was four minutes.
11:53So, just in case, you know, at the end we can score one goal.
12:00So, it's a tough place to come.
12:03But, you know, the amount of chances we missed in the six-yard box.
12:08So, not in a difficult one.
12:10A six-yard box, we could not convert.
12:12The first half was more equal.
12:13We didn't do what we talk about our build-up.
12:17But, in general, it was a really, really good game.
12:22Where does this belief come from?
12:23And it just keeps on growing.
12:25Yeah, it's a question of experience.
12:28And I think the standards in our team are high.
12:32They want to get better.
12:35So, I think it's important.
12:36Because if you stay just at the same level,
12:41the league is going so fast that you will be punished at the moment.
12:45So, it wasn't the case.
12:46They are still ambitious.
12:47And I hope it will be the case for the next month.
12:51Well, Sunderland's home record is very impressive this season.
12:55They're still unbeaten.
12:56Only Arsenal also have an unbeaten Premier League home record.
13:01And Sunderland have already played the top three.
13:04City, Arsenal and Villa at home.
13:06And tonight, they defended for their lives, didn't they?
13:09They really did.
13:10I think that was the story of the game.
13:12Sunderland defending, missing Dan Ballard, missing players from AFCON.
13:15And I think Mukeleli and Aldrete were exceptional tonight
13:19in terms of the positional sense, being able to clear the ball
13:22and doing what he needs doing in them moments
13:24and not being afraid to go against Haaland in them 1v1 situations.
13:28We know how impressive he is, being able to physically out-muscle him,
13:33win the ball back in Sunderland to start them attacks again.
13:35Here again, 1v1 against Haaland.
13:37Not many centre-halves can do what Mukeleli did tonight.
13:40And even in this instance, when players are out of position,
13:43there's Trae Hulme filling in for Aldrete, who's out of there.
13:47Docku gets past his man, but there's Trae Hulme clearing his lines again.
13:51And this was the story throughout the whole night
13:52that made it really frustrating for Manchester City.
13:55And Aldrete putting his body on the line, blocking balls.
13:59City started to get really, really frustrated.
14:01And in the second half, Docku was probably a key player for City
14:04in trying to create chances.
14:06But yet again, Sunderland standing strong, being physical.
14:09Being in the right positions, putting their bodies on the line.
14:12And that's what Sunderland fans love,
14:13is that ability to show that little bit of passion
14:16and to try and keep that clean sheet.
14:18And that's what's been so impressive this season,
14:20especially at the stadium.
14:21Teams have found it really tough.
14:23And this probably sums up Mukeleli's performance here,
14:26is just that ability to put players' bodies on the line
14:29and also to get a well-earned point for Sunderland tonight.
14:32And as a Sunderland fan and a former Manchester City player,
14:35is that the easiest result to talk about?
14:38Now you're putting us on the spot, Chappers.
14:39Is that the easiest result to talk about on the show?
14:41Yeah, I think so for tonight.
14:42And look, as well as your outfield players performing,
14:46the Sunderlands did,
14:47you still need your goalkeeper from time to time.
14:50And you probably need the opposition,
14:51certainly when they're Manchester City,
14:53to be, what, wasteful, would you say?
14:55Yeah, you know, if you judge them by their own standards,
14:58you would expect them to.
14:59You know, they did create their chances.
15:01You know, when there wasn't a red and white shirt
15:03flying at them and blocking,
15:04they did create some decent chances.
15:06Haaland got a chance as well.
15:08Savino here, breaking, they got to get in there.
15:10But, you know, on this occasion,
15:11he gets there and he's leaning back.
15:13So they had their chances.
15:14You know, as much as I'm going to give City credit
15:17for all these chances that they did create,
15:19they didn't score because the keeper was on form tonight.
15:22Robin Moose was outstanding.
15:24Stood firm behind his back four, behind his back five.
15:28This one here as well, that's just a reaction save.
15:30And as a back four, if you've got a keeper
15:32that you know can get you out the mess
15:35with great saves like that,
15:36when you're not quite in the position,
15:38that's what you need.
15:39It's great for confidence.
15:40That's really unlucky from Guardiola there
15:42on the near post, very sort of acrobatic.
15:44But I've got to give credit to Sunderland.
15:47They're at home and what we say about teams that come up,
15:50make sure your home form's good, and it is.
15:52As far as City are concerned, their XG was over two,
15:55their highest figure in a Premier League game
15:57in which they haven't scored since 2022.
16:01Do you look at it as a missed opportunity for them,
16:04or are you of the opinion if you get a point at Sunderland
16:07this season, that's going to be a good point?
16:09I think if we look at Sunderland's home record,
16:10I think it's a point well earned.
16:12And I think City will overall be disappointed
16:15because of the chances that they've created.
16:16But you look at the likes of Arsenal,
16:17Aston Villa, who we've mentioned,
16:18and to go there and get a point,
16:20and we're halfway point of the season,
16:22there's a long, long way to go.
16:24City play Chelsea on Sunday,
16:27which is a huge game, as Pep Guardiola mentioned there.
16:30And we will talk about what's been going on at Chelsea today
16:33a little later on the show.
16:36Now, Fulham had won three in a row,
16:39their best run of 2025.
16:41Crystal Palace had lost three in a row,
16:43their worst run of 2025.
16:45Mark Scott was at Selhurst Park.
16:48Contrasting fortunes for the clubs
16:50since Palace's win at Fulham last month.
16:53Oliver Glasner's side coming into the return fixture
16:56without a win in five,
16:58which is their joint worst run under him,
17:00while another Fulham victory
17:02would equal their Premier League club record streak
17:05of four in a row.
17:07Both sides are unchanged,
17:08although already stretched Palace
17:10have lost the services of another player,
17:12with Eddie Nketiah out injured.
17:15Harry Wilson's Humdinger in last month's loss to the Eagles
17:18is one of seven goals
17:20in his last 11 games for club and country.
17:25Here's Gay.
17:29Gay going direct.
17:30It's intercepted by Koenka.
17:32Now it's Smith-Rowe.
17:36Good carry by Smith-Rowe.
17:38Now offloads to Kevin.
17:40Kevin got a bit lucky with the bounce.
17:42And the ball in for Smith-Rowe.
17:44Wilson beaten away by Henderson.
17:46Jimenez!
17:47A collection of chances for Fulham there.
17:51All started by Emil Smith-Rowe advancing forwards at pace.
17:57Kevin got a bit fortunate initially here as the rebound came his way.
18:00Ball was into a good area, and then on the follow-up, Raul Jimenez sends it wide.
18:08Oliver Glasner's New Year resolution is going to be trying to see his team tighten up,
18:14defending set-pieces, and put away more of the chances that they create.
18:22Pino, Mitchell, a bit of pinball, and then Gay can't slip it in.
18:28Hughes.
18:29And there it goes.
18:31First bit of positive Palace play that we've seen benefited from some slack defending when the cross came in.
18:39But Mark Gay couldn't take full advantage.
18:42Only the current top three have won more points across the last nine Premier League games than Marco Silva's men.
18:50Robinson, Smith-Rowe, set it up here for Lukic to have a pop.
18:57Gay got his body in the way.
18:58Mitchell's clearance is straight to Tete!
19:01He didn't clear the crossbar by much.
19:04Initial hit from Lukic, charged down by Gay.
19:07Not a great header from Mitchell.
19:09A very good try, though, from Kenny Tete.
19:12And had Henderson concerned.
19:16Not for the classic so far.
19:22Lerma.
19:30Play has been stopped here because Justin Deveni had a coming together with Jorge Cuenca.
19:39It's a flailing arm from Justin Deveni, but there's nothing in it despite Jorge Cuenca's appeals to the contrary.
19:54Look what, Lerma.
20:00Here's Kline.
20:02Got away from Robinson.
20:04Climb into the area.
20:05Mateta!
20:10Boy, did he need that.
20:13And so did Crystal Palace.
20:18Too weak here from Anthony Robinson.
20:21And then it's an excellent delivery.
20:25Jean-Philippe Mateta made sure it got the treatment it deserved.
20:30And in a tight game, Palace strike first.
20:40And in a tight game, Palace strike first.
21:01Smith throws after it.
21:03There's plenty of options in there, but the UK ensures it doesn't reach any of them.
21:12Robinson's throw.
21:13Mateta meets it.
21:17Kevin opens up for the hit, and Henderson has parried it to Wilson.
21:21What a block that is from Lacroix.
21:24And Max Hetz-Lacroix takes the acclaim of the fans and his teammates for a terrific piece of work.
21:33Frustrated figure, Marco Silva.
21:36It's the first time that Fulham have actually conceded against Palace at Selhurst Park in five Premier League matches.
21:44And beaten in all of the last four of them here as well.
21:48First time ball in from Robinson.
21:50Jimenez off the post!
21:53So close to scoring for a third game running here.
21:56Raul Jimenez, excellent delivery from Robinson.
21:59And he did everything right, really, the Mexican.
22:04Looks like Oliver Glasnoble will have another player at his disposal in the near future.
22:10Reports today claiming Brendan Johnson's agreed to join Palace from Tottenham Hotspur.
22:19Orton.
22:21Bringing Mitchell into it.
22:26Mitchell's cross behind of Castagne.
22:35Pinot's corner.
22:37Moleno fists it up and away.
22:39Is it in?
22:40It's somehow stayed out.
22:46Lacroix.
22:48Gay.
22:50Goal kick.
22:53Well, Moleno here felt he was fouled.
23:00But Lacroix couldn't quite get there onto the rebound and get it in.
23:04In fact, it hit his own man.
23:09Well, Palace have looked tired.
23:12And Fulham sense their opportunity.
23:16Robinson.
23:19Lukic.
23:21And Kearney with a cracker to level for Fulham.
23:30His side, back on terms, having pumped up the pressure in the last ten minutes or so.
23:37And Tom Kearney takes the acclaim after curling in a beauty.
23:43And Fulham had pushed and probed.
23:47And when Kearney found the space, didn't he take advantage?
23:54Reid.
23:57Well, it's a good ball to Raul Jimenez who took it nicely.
24:00Laid off for Kearney to try and hit again.
24:03Castagne.
24:03Oh, my word.
24:05An incredible save from Dean Henderson to prevent Fulham winning it late on.
24:13It's a pretty miraculous piece of work, this, from Dean Henderson to keep out Timothy Castagne.
24:20An astonishing stop, which might be enough to ensure Palace at least get a point out of this.
24:29Kearney.
24:31Castagne.
24:34Corner.
24:35Palace have had their issues defending set pieces.
24:38They've got one to deal with late on in the game here.
24:45Kearney clips it in.
24:47Mateta with the header.
24:51Smith Rowe has ensured that Fulham get another corner.
24:57Final minute of added time at the end of the game.
25:00Fulham with this corner kick.
25:04Flicked on.
25:05Dangerous.
25:06Could go anywhere.
25:07It's over the bar.
25:10Absolutely ridiculous.
25:12Joachim Andersson, the ex-Palace man, should have won it for Fulham with almost the last kick of the game.
25:21We did everything to win the game.
25:23I think we deserved it.
25:24I think the chances looking for the game, the chances we created, the way we reacted.
25:29Second half, after being back in score, was very good from the players and we did create.
25:36We are the team that dominate more the game.
25:38We considered a goal.
25:40We considered a goal in a moment that strange decision from the referee to straight away put us with ten
25:44players.
25:44It's not an excuse, but we should not be playing with ten men in that moment that we considered a
25:48goal because our player was in conditions to keep going.
25:50I don't understand because the rules don't say that and it's something that we should get the explanation because it's
25:56not something that is normal.
25:58It looks like we are in a survival mode right now.
26:01The squad is quite short of numbers and they give everything they have and that's where we got this point
26:09at the end.
26:10And we know now it's three more games in nine days.
26:13Nothing will change and I know that these players will give their best in every single game.
26:21We've been reading that Brennan Johnson has agreed to join Crystal Palace.
26:25Once that goes through, that's a very good option for you, isn't it?
26:30I don't want to talk about somebody we didn't announce right now.
26:34I hadn't looked, I didn't look at my phone in the last four or five hours.
26:40I was just focused on the game and let's see what happens the next one, two days.
26:45And I think it's kind of respect not talking about players who are under contract at different clubs.
26:53And so, yeah, let's see.
26:56A real poker face there.
26:58We understand that Brennan Johnson has agreed to join and that will go through shortly.
27:04That move, we'll talk about that in just a moment.
27:06But let's start with Fulham, who very much like to go down their left flank this season.
27:11Only Bournemouth go down their left flank more than Fulham.
27:14And that was the same story today.
27:16Yeah, nothing changed at all.
27:17And why would you change it when you've got...
27:19Kevin and Robinson have this kind of relationship which is, you know, one shows, one receives the ball.
27:26They know where each other's runs are going to go.
27:29Jimenez there early on with a header, which he would expect to score.
27:32But they know exactly where Jimenez is going to be.
27:35This time, he secures the ball.
27:38Unfortunately, he secures it.
27:40And then he's not where he should be in the middle of the goal to be heading that goal.
27:44But it happened time after time.
27:46You can see Jimenez in a goal-scoring position.
27:49And what they don't do is they don't refuse to cross it.
27:52Weak chances these are, but it just shows that's what they're targeting.
27:56They forced Palace players and Palace defenders out of their positions, which left gaps like this.
28:05Kearney comes off the bench, gets himself a goal.
28:07I think Marco Silva's subs today were outstanding.
28:11Castagne comes on as well, gets himself into a forward-thinking goal-scoring position.
28:16I think that's a poor finish.
28:18I'm thinking put that in the back of the net.
28:20Are you also thinking partly that's a good save?
28:23No, I'm thinking it's a really, really poor finish.
28:26That was a worse finish.
28:27That was an even worse finish.
28:29But it's just that's what they created from the left-hand side with Robinson and Kevin.
28:34Absolutely outstanding down there.
28:36Oliver Glass is saying it's not gone through yet.
28:40When they do announce it, do you think that's a smart signing?
28:43Yeah, I think it potentially could be.
28:45I think at this moment in time, Palace have had a lot of games over a short period of time.
28:49The lack of bodies and Brennan Johnson with his experience.
28:52And I think with the World Cup round the corner, I think his focus will to be playing more games.
28:56He's not really featured that much for Spurs.
28:58And he scores big goals in big moments.
29:00And that's what Crystal Palace have really lacked this season.
29:03Is that help for Mateta up front and in them goal-scoring departments.
29:06I think 18 goals last season as well, which will help Palace if it goes ahead.
29:11And I played with his dad.
29:13That's how old I am.
29:14I played with his dad at Manchester United.
29:16And I'm pretty sure Davey's going to be saying, listen, son, get yourself some games.
29:20Get yourself some games.
29:21In a World Cup year, as Steph says.
29:23Right, Liverpool and Leeds shared the points in a six-goal thriller at Ellum Road three weeks ago.
29:29Martin Fisher was at Anfield for the rematch.
29:34We'll be very lucky to see a game that matches that one for thrills and spills.
29:38But this is a fixture that has boasted loads of goals in recent years.
29:4234 scored in the last seven meetings.
29:45Three changes for Liverpool.
29:47Sir Bosley, Bradley and Robertson in for McAllister, Kerkes and Chiesa, who are all on the bench.
29:54No Dominic Calvert-Lewin from the start for Leeds, as they make four alterations.
29:59Metja, Justin and Gruev coming in, while Sebastian Bornau makes his Premier League debut.
30:07Well, Leeds United fans have happy memories of their last visit to Anfield.
30:13A 2-1 success here, back in October 2022.
30:20The all-away.
30:22Forward by Van Dijk.
30:24Awkward for Ampadu.
30:25Akatike picks it up quickly for Liverpool.
30:28Paul Jones, Akatike did brilliantly to step inside, the defender and Leeds making a real meal of getting this one
30:37clear.
30:38Fabulous work, this from Ugo Akatike.
30:42Thinking up with Jones.
30:44And then embarrassing Gudmundsson.
30:47No real power in the shot, but it caused a little bit of difficulty for Lucas Perry and company.
30:54Kanate, Akatike making the run forward.
30:58Beal struggling to keep him quiet.
31:00Akatike might be in here.
31:01Let's!
31:03Fabulous challenge.
31:05Coming in in the nick of time by James Justin.
31:10Liverpool claim that there's a decent penalty shout here.
31:14Akatike carried on.
31:16And sometimes in that situation, it almost encourages players to fall to the ground.
31:22If it goes down there, is it given as a penalty?
31:25Does his best to stay on his feet.
31:28And put for the challenge by James Justin.
31:31Wietz might have scored a second goal in quick succession at Anfield,
31:35having finally broken his duck at the weekend against Wolves.
31:45Alisson, that's a bit casual.
31:47The first-timer was on target from Ampadu, but not hit with enough pace.
31:53This was almost a hugely embarrassing moment for Liverpool's goalkeeper.
32:01Well, he's such a precious commodity, Dominic Calvert-Lewin,
32:05and with games coming thick and fast,
32:07Daniel Farker believing that he's got to be careful not to overuse him.
32:12Just now, I'm sure he'll be utilised at some stage tonight.
32:18Munson couldn't sneak it through towards Stack,
32:21and Liverpool can come again with Kanate.
32:24Robertson's delivery.
32:26But Munson was trying to head that clear.
32:29Failed, Krimpong collects.
32:32And Akatike heads it back from where it came.
32:37There's a buzz around Anfield at the moment as people discuss exactly what happened then.
32:42With Will Venom, Akatike just trying to get his head on it and force it goalwards.
32:47Sends it straight back to where it came from.
32:51There's never been a goal or straw between these sides at Anfield and the Premier League.
32:57Last time it finished 0-0 here was back in April 1992 in the old First Division.
33:05Akatike might have to do it himself here,
33:08and never got past first hurdle.
33:10Dispossessed by Ampadu.
33:13Matcha for Stack.
33:16Van Dijk reclaims.
33:18Gravenberg.
33:19Wietz.
33:21Soboslai.
33:22Shot is on.
33:23Pushed away by Perry.
33:27Possibly the first real save he's made tonight.
33:29Handball against Ampadu.
33:32And the Leeds captain booked.
33:34That will mean that he will miss Leeds United's next game at home to Manchester United on Sunday lunchtime.
33:42An easy stop for Lucas Perry to make.
33:50Kierkech.
33:53That's awkward.
33:55And it brings Liverpool a corner.
34:00Leeds have two substitutions ready, but they will wait and see what happens with this corner kick before making them.
34:10Touch off a Leeds head.
34:11He said it's another corner.
34:17Van Dijk is there!
34:20And it's wide.
34:23Quite possibly the clearest opportunity that either team have fashioned all night.
34:29Gakpo.
34:34Gakpo's still there.
34:36TK on the edge.
34:39Lining up the shots!
34:42Well, it was worth a hit.
34:46But well wide of target in the end.
34:55Gakpo's stopped by Frimponk.
35:01They'll take their time.
35:05And get themselves ready for another long throw here at Leeds United.
35:11Can they win the first ball in the air?
35:16Appeals for handball there by the Leeds fans.
35:19Fial will check.
35:20In the meantime, Sir Bosley has failed to get it away.
35:24Swung in by Gudmundsson.
35:25And it's Calvert-Lewin!
35:27Unbelievable, he's done it again, but the flag is up, it won't count.
35:32Well, the flag was up ever so swiftly there.
35:36Dangerous ball in.
35:37Bornau with the flick there, and you can see that Calvert-Lewin is just ahead of Virgil van Dijk.
35:43But for a split second there was joy for him and the Leeds contingent at that end of the ground.
35:49At a time, at the end of at a time.
35:52Got to get it in, Liverpool.
35:55Eketike.
35:57He's found an angle for a cross.
35:59But he's also found the boos of Beal.
36:03One or two, well, more than one or two boos echoing around Anfield after that.
36:08Liverpool very, very ordinary, but full marks to Leeds United,
36:12who continue this excellent run they're on.
36:15Six games unbeaten tonight.
36:17And, but for an offside flag, they might have nicked it right at the end through Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
36:23Rock solid against the ball is always important to be like this as a promoted side.
36:29And the last clean sheet was a while ago, although we had many good results and scored many, many goals.
36:33But we want to return back to this behaviour.
36:35And we did today, and for that this is the most pleasant aspect of this game.
36:41What needs to happen to break through a low block that was so well regimented tonight by Leeds?
36:46I think everyone knows.
36:49If you look at football, and especially in the Premier League, you see two ways of unlocking it.
36:53It's a lot of times an individual action, which we saw today a few times Jeremy Frimpong doing.
36:59Or, as we see a lot in the Premier League, a set-piece can unlock a low block.
37:06We were close with one set-piece with Virgil.
37:09Just impressive what they have delivered, and also a sign of our spirit and our togetherness,
37:14and how much we need each and every player.
37:15And for that, definitely also a great day for the spirit and togetherness in the group,
37:20and the Leeds can be really proud of themselves.
37:22There was a big shout there for a possible penalty, and there is a thought process that goes along the
37:27lines of that,
37:28had he gone down, he might have got the decision, but he tries to be honest, stay on his feet,
37:31and the decision doesn't come his way.
37:33What are your thoughts on that?
37:35I don't think it's a surprise to anyone that one of my players stays on his feet in a situation
37:39like this.
37:39The big question is, should we change, yes or no?
37:42So, should you?
37:43I don't think we should, because this is who we are.
37:48But I'm hoping other people change and see what we do, and what other teams do as well.
37:55But OK, it has nothing to do with the end result of today, let that be completely clear.
37:59Although, if he goes down, it's probably a red card and a penalty,
38:03I'm not sure if that's true, but it would definitely be a penalty.
38:08And that would have increased our chances of winning a game against a team that came here to defend.
38:16So, we've brought you 2-0-0s and a 1-1 so far.
38:19You can imagine what the fourth game is going to be like.
38:21But before we get to that gem, Leeds were rock solid, according to Daniel Farke,
38:28and you wouldn't disagree, would you?
38:29No, I wouldn't disagree.
38:30I think six unbeaten now, Leeds, I think, in terms of what they've done over the last few games.
38:36They have been really, really organised.
38:39At midfield, three of Greve, Ampadu and Stack have been really, really impressive,
38:43protecting their back line, but also just knowing when to go and win the ball.
38:47And I think against Liverpool at Anfield, you know you're not going to have much of the ball,
38:51but when you do, it's about trying to make them opportunities count.
38:54And Stack and Greve got the licence to go forward when they could,
38:57and Ampadu really sat in that central area.
39:00And Leeds went man for man against Liverpool, and here's Ampadu, the skipper, organising,
39:04putting pressure on Liverpool.
39:06And he's really had a chance there with Alisson, forcing Alisson to make a mistake.
39:11And I think this is what Leeds have done really, really well these last few weeks,
39:14is they've been compact centrally.
39:16They've tried to make Liverpool play around them.
39:19And this is down to Liverpool now.
39:20I think sometimes Liverpool had poor decision-makers,
39:23but look at how many bodies Leeds have in their box.
39:25So when Liverpool do cross, it's really, really hard to score against Liverpool's one striker
39:30and Eketike, poor delivery, and Leeds win the ball back again.
39:34And this midfield three of Stack, Greve and Ampadu physically outran everybody on the pitch today.
39:40We're really, really aggressive.
39:41And this is what Leeds wanted to do, is to play on the counter.
39:45This allowed Leeds to get up the pitch and really try and force Liverpool to make mistakes
39:49and try and capitalise.
39:51Frimpong does a really, really good tracking back there to win the ball back.
39:55But Leeds, and it nearly all came together in this final part
39:58when Dominic Calvert-Lewin comes on the pitch.
40:01Grewev again, all over the pitch today, really, really aggressive,
40:04winning the ball back, playing it nice and simple,
40:07cross into the box to create havoc.
40:09And Calvert-Lewin with his foot just offside, a great finish in great form.
40:13But Leeds have really, really turned a corner over the last few weeks.
40:16And Daniel Fark has done an unbelievable job.
40:18And you can see it there, you know.
40:22They have played Chelsea.
40:23They've played Liverpool twice.
40:26They've gone to the Stadium of Light and got a point there.
40:29They've demolished Crystal Palace.
40:31You know, Danny Murphy said, Steph, on Sunday's match today,
40:34he deserves so much credit.
40:36Because before Chelsea, you were wondering whether he was managing from a game-to-game basis.
40:41Yeah, they've definitely turned a corner.
40:43I think it's not just by luck.
40:44This is with very good coaching.
40:46There's a lot of organisation.
40:47The players, when they come off the pitch, have come off the bench,
40:50they know exactly what they're doing.
40:51And I'm really pleased for him because he's come under so much scrutiny
40:54when Leeds get promoted.
40:55And these last six games are more what we would like from a Leeds team,
40:59especially at home at Ellen Elrod.
41:00What would you have liked from Eke TK in this situation?
41:08I don't know.
41:10He very rarely gets it wrong.
41:13But I'm thinking to myself, I'm going for goal.
41:16I'm not going down.
41:17Right.
41:18Because I think his natural instinct is, I can score here.
41:22I've got the defender on the right side.
41:24I'm still at my side.
41:24You just stayed up?
41:25Yes.
41:26I'd have attempted to stay up and I would have stayed up
41:28and I would have hoped to.
41:30I would have scored.
41:31I thought Arna Slott's comment was great there.
41:34Yeah, I did.
41:34I thought he was really good at...
41:36He answered the question.
41:36He answered the question.
41:37Then he said, no, actually, I don't want him to change or us to change.
41:42I want other teams who maybe go down easily to change.
41:45I think what Dion said in terms of he's on the other side of the defender.
41:48So I think that's what gives him a bit of hope to get his shot away.
41:50But, yeah, I think I like what Arna Slott says
41:52and I like to see that more in the game.
41:54It's like everybody trying to make that effort to finish their chances.
41:58He talks about trying to beat a low block
42:00who either need a bit of individual brilliance or a set piece.
42:04Do you think Liverpool should be more than that?
42:06Do you want to see better patterns of play from that?
42:09I think that's a general rule of thumb, really.
42:12Yeah, that's what he was eluded.
42:13Yeah, and I think that's basically all a mistake.
42:15You know, that could be the other one you could throw in there.
42:17I don't think there's anything special that's got to break down a low block.
42:21OK, right.
42:23Edge of your seat, tied.
42:24Thomas Frank returned to Brentford for the first time
42:27since taking charge of Spurs.
42:28Steve Wilson was at this one.
42:31When Thomas Frank made his move from south-west to north-east London,
42:36both of these clubs were ringing out the old and ringing in the new.
42:40Who has benefited the most is a matter for debate.
42:44Spurs have two more points with Frank than they did at this stage of last season,
42:48while Brentford have two more points now without him.
42:52Keith Andrews, Brentford Vintage are unbeaten since the reverse fixture last month,
42:57most recently hammering Bournemouth.
42:59Only one change for them, Henderson in for Jensen.
43:02Three Tottenham changes,
43:03Joao Palinia for the injured Bergwahl,
43:06Odebert for Colin Mouane,
43:08and Christian Romero back from a ban in for Danso.
43:11Brennan Johnson seems to be on the cusp of joining Crystal Palace.
43:18Never really got the chance to bid farewell to the Brentford fans, Thomas Frank.
43:24He'll be happy to have got the opportunity to do that prior to this game.
43:29Spent nine years at the club,
43:31initially as Dean Smith's assistant.
43:35Coyote with the throw.
43:38And has that gone out a play-off hand event?
43:40It has, it's a corner.
43:42Well, Brentford used the long throw well,
43:45and that was an absolute ripper from Coyote.
43:49Vitaly Janelt is going to take this.
43:52And it's...
43:53It's gone in, Schadde's there!
43:57Vicario...
43:58Ah, the flag's gone up, it's not going to count.
44:01Vicario safe from Collins.
44:03Schadde put it in the roof of the net.
44:07But I think you will see that he is very much in an offside position.
44:13And half an hour played,
44:15and it's been the greatest half hour of football you've ever seen.
44:22Schadde Palina away to Pedro Porro.
44:26Three in the box for Spurs.
44:30Arrowed in well.
44:31Ayo got something on it.
44:32Richarlison took it on the volley,
44:34and it's back to Richarlison and wide.
44:37Well, both Richarlison and Archie Gray
44:40had opportunities to put this in the net.
44:43Really good ball in, actually.
44:48Richarlison back across to Gray,
44:50who's a little bit unlucky that his header hit Collins.
45:00And Van der Ven.
45:02With a missed kick.
45:04Brentford get a throw.
45:07Coyote can probably get it somewhere near the penalty spot from there.
45:12He's going to give it a go.
45:15Coming out by Van der Ven.
45:17And wildly off target by Yarmouk.
45:21May not surprise many to learn that he's never scored for Brentford.
45:27The game is doing absolutely nothing to dispel the stinning numbness of everybody's fingers on a cold night.
45:38Lewis Potter.
45:42That's a lovely ball for Sharder.
45:45Sharder!
45:46And taken away.
45:47But here's Henderson.
45:49And Igor Thiago, if he'd left that,
45:52maybe it would have fallen nicely for Lewis Potter.
45:57Well, certainly an opportunity, this.
45:58There haven't been many in the game.
46:00It's a lovely ball into Kevin Sharder,
46:03who did pretty well.
46:05And that little touch away from Sharder only took it to Henderson.
46:11Lewis Potter was steaming in behind Igor Thiago.
46:15And who knows?
46:16He might have had more of an opportunity to do something with it.
46:26Pedro Poro for Kouders.
46:29Trying to catch Kelleher unawares.
46:31Listen, it wasn't the worst idea from Mohamed Kouders.
46:39They've been very much better away from home this season than they've been at home.
46:4325 points gained so far, 17 of them on the road.
46:49Vivian Keller.
46:53Sharder's flick on to Igor Thiago.
46:55Back into Sharder.
46:56Yarmuluk's in a good spot.
46:58Sharder's found him.
46:59Yarmuluk.
47:00Big chance.
47:01No kind of contact, really, from Lewis Potter.
47:06That's a big opportunity.
47:08It's a good run by Yarmuluk and a good ball.
47:11And Lewis Potter could not get any kind of clean contact on it.
47:18Lewis Potter.
47:19Now, Igor Thiago running with Romero, who missed the ball and caught the man.
47:26And Andy Madley is given nothing.
47:29Now, that's interesting.
47:41Well, the home fans are not happy.
47:46Romero, it seemed to me, had a big old swing at the ball and missed it.
47:52Here's Kouders.
47:55Jao Palinha to Bentancur.
47:59Bentancur.
48:05Archie Gray wriggling inside the area.
48:07Collins made a challenge.
48:09Spurs now appealing for something and getting nothing.
48:19And Romero on Igor Thiago again.
48:24Well, Archie Gray thought he'd been fouled here.
48:27Well, you can see why he'd appeal.
48:31Well, here is Romero.
48:34He misses the ball completely.
48:36He catches Igor Thiago.
48:40And the referee gave nothing at all.
48:42And both of those incidents have been checked and cleared.
48:48Well, you can see why Archie Gray didn't get a penalty, I think, to overturn that on-field decision.
48:56Just may have been stretching things a bit, but I think Romero's very lucky.
49:00Lewis Potter, it's not a bad ball, it's not a bad ball, it's not a bad ball, Romero's header, scuffed
49:05by Odebeck, collected by Yarmuluk, clipped in by Henderson Yannelt, pushed out by Vicario.
49:13Well, Vitaly Yannelt was on the end of this.
49:16It's a nice clip ball in by Jordan Henderson, and it's a good chance that...
49:26Coyote's cross, Pedro Oparo away.
49:31Well won by Yarmuluk, Coyote with a little change of feet, and then a swivel of the hips.
49:38Spence has lost it, but he really couldn't afford to, and Igor Thiago misses the target.
49:43And Jett Spence will be the most relieved man in Hounslow.
49:49He's got to deal with that, can't lose it there.
49:53And Igor Thiago couldn't find the finish.
50:00Here's Igor Thiago, Rhys Nelson getting forward.
50:04That's a good challenge by Romero.
50:07He's found Mohamed Koudas.
50:12And Rico Henry has not dealt with that.
50:14Koudas has found Kolo Mouane.
50:17Koudas wants the return.
50:19It's Richarlison.
50:21And Kelleher saves.
50:23What, in the 93rd minute, is probably Tottenham's best chance of the game.
50:28They deserved to beat us 26 days ago at Spurs.
50:31So today was a completely different performance.
50:35We wanted to quicken the tempo in the second half.
50:37I thought we did that as much as we could.
50:40They tried to slow it down.
50:41We dealt with half of the challenge here.
50:43We know they're very strong at home.
50:45We know if you open up too much, they just run counters on you,
50:47and they're very good in their direct play.
50:50And that we just completely closed down.
50:53They only gave seven shots away in the whole game.
50:55So very happy with that.
50:57But of course we didn't create enough.
50:58I've got to ask you about the Christian Romero challenge on Igor Thiago,
51:02which, you know, he's taken a mighty swipe.
51:03He's trying to make contact with the ball, but made none.
51:06Was he fortunate?
51:09And they've always been very fortunate not to get red cards for tackles on Thiago.
51:16I don't think it's an easy one for the officials.
51:19I thought the one in the home game was a very easy one.
51:23And I'm always very respectful of the officials
51:24and understanding of the job that they have to do.
51:27But yeah, I thought he was really fortunate.
51:28I think there's two situations.
51:30I think there was that.
51:31There was a 50-50 with Christian Romero and Thiago.
51:34And I think there was the 50-50 penalty on Archie Gray.
51:37I think it's that, given that they were not at one turn.
51:39We'll look at both of those decisions shortly.
51:42But the positive for Spurs here, Dion, is that everything defensively is better under Thomas Frank.
51:50More clean sheets already this season than the whole of last season.
51:53And yet there was still some chance of boring, boring Spurs because at the other end it isn't happening.
51:59Yeah, they are playing out from the back.
52:01They're doing well, but anything in the final third, they just cannot get the ball in the back of the
52:06net.
52:07Their finishing is quite weak.
52:09They don't believe that they can score.
52:11Those people that are getting into those goal-scoring positions aren't really saying,
52:16I'm going to score.
52:17This one's caught a weak one as well.
52:19Turn shot here, nothing in that at all.
52:21It gets blocked.
52:21Kudos here.
52:23I like Kudos.
52:24I think he's a very good player.
52:25He affects all matches.
52:26But I just don't feel that this is the right time to try a 40-yard, a half-volley angle
52:33shot
52:33when your team's not playing too well.
52:36They really do.
52:36Richarlison, for me, he tries so hard sometimes that you can see he's trying too hard in his finishing as
52:43well.
52:44Doesn't quite catch that.
52:45Keeper, nice and easy.
52:47This kind of summed up the game here.
52:49Kudos has got nice quick feet.
52:50Can't even strike the ball right with his right foot.
52:53Gets everything wrong.
52:54Summed up the game.
52:54It wasn't a great spectacle.
52:56No, and they were the best chances for Spurs in that game.
53:02And that's where they rank when it comes to their attacking prowess this season.
53:07Still with the decisions then that everybody talks about, both Keith Andrews and Thomas Frank talk about,
53:13do you think Romero's lucky?
53:14I do think he's lucky, but I don't think it was enough to be a red card.
53:18I think at this moment in time he is trying to clear the ball, but he's very, very clumsy.
53:21I think this is a trait of Christian Romero that we've seen over the last few seasons is that when
53:26he gets himself in this position, he's very clumsy with his tackles.
53:29And, yeah, he misses the ball, he fouls Thiago, but I don't think there was a denial of a goal
53:34-scoring opportunity, as obvious as probably what more people think.
53:38And, Dian, I think we're in agreeance that there was nothing to come from Archie Gray driving into the box.
53:43Not at all. For me, yeah, he goes down, there is contact, of course there is, but I just think
53:47that defenders do what defenders do.
53:49They make sure that that gap gets smaller and smaller and smaller, and that's exactly how you want defenders to
53:55defend.
53:56No gap there in the first place. Good defending that for me.
53:59OK, so nothing in that?
54:01Nothing in that one at all. The Romero one, though, Chavez, I would say this, I think he's very lucky.
54:05OK. Right, let's just show you the league table.
54:10Manchester City now four points behind leaders Arsenal.
54:14Liverpool's first 0-0 draw for over two years means they missed the chance to pull away from the sides
54:19immediately.
54:20Below them, Brentford and Palace just inside the top half.
54:24Leeds' improved form has taken them seven points clear of the relegation zone.
54:29Tottenham are up to 12th.
54:34Well, before we go, we're going to deal with the news that Enzo Mareska has left Chelsea this afternoon.
54:40Nizar Kinsella covers Chelsea for BBC Sport.
54:45And we will start, Nizar, by trying to understand who made this decision, because the statement says part of company.
54:52So who drove this, the Chelsea board or Mareska himself?
54:57Right, yeah, chappers, it's suitably vague, isn't it, the language in the statement.
55:00So I'll try and bring some clarity to it.
55:03It's absolutely right to say that Enzo Mareska, he certainly accelerated it and his position became untenable because he wasn't
55:12really feeling that he was getting on with the hierarchy at Chelsea Football Club.
55:16So really, it was driven by him.
55:18It was driven in that sort of, you know, way that it was like mid-season.
55:22He was the one who pushed for it to be sort of mid-season.
55:26And Chelsea weren't totally happy with him either.
55:29We must say that because certainly he was under pressure to improve results.
55:33And I think they would have preferred an end-of-season change.
55:35But it's ended up a mid-season change, really, because it became untenable.
55:39There have been suggestions, Nizar, as well, that one of the problems here was that there were interferences in team
55:48selection and substitutions and that Mareska wasn't having that.
55:55Where are you with that?
55:57Did the Chelsea board feel like they had a right to interfere in those kind of things?
56:02Well, I think let's firstly say what Chelsea is.
56:05The club makes the big decisions.
56:07This is a club with five sporting directors and a very influential owner who's very hands-on.
56:12So the manager is probably the sixth or seventh most important person at the club.
56:16So that's what it is at Chelsea.
56:18But they say that they're not influencing those decisions in terms of you've got to pick him in this game
56:24to win the game.
56:25It's more medical, that kind of thing.
56:28Like they weren't happy with how Enzo Mareska was pushing players back.
56:31He'd just come back from injury, maybe playing too many minutes.
56:34So it just shows you that there's a lot of disagreement here.
56:37Now, Enzo Mareska would probably disagree with that as well.
56:40And he'd say he was being pressured to make changes, rotate, things like that.
56:44So those are the sort of stories we're getting out of the camps, out of the two camps now that
56:49have become totally divided.
56:50This ownership will now be moving on to their fifth manager since they took over.
56:56Is there still a belief that this project is being run the right way?
57:01Well, I think Enzo Mareska doesn't believe in it, does he?
57:04And Maurizio Pochettino similarly sort of ended his tenure here, having not totally agreed with the ownership's direction.
57:10But if you actually talk to people at Chelsea, they would say that they want to win.
57:15They have the youngest squad in the Premier League.
57:17I mean, it was very fitting that Mareska picked the youngest team in the Premier League this season with his
57:22last 11 against Bournemouth.
57:24But they still think they can win, even with that, absolutely.
57:27And they think that they'll get gradually better and better and better.
57:30And they are looking for stability, but they just haven't found it.
57:34The main name in the running to take over is Liam Rossini, who is within the same football group.
57:42Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
57:43He's definitely the frontrunner to become the next Chelsea manager.
57:48The Strasbourg project's very similar to Chelsea.
57:50So I went over there to France and saw what they're doing.
57:53And they've got the youngest team in the big five leagues, so it's very similar to Chelsea.
57:58And, yeah, he's working very well with the ownership.
58:01He's very highly regarded and things like that.
58:03But, of course, he's quite inexperienced.
58:05He's never managed in the Premier League, has he?
58:08So it absolutely would be a big step up if he came to Chelsea to replace Enzo Mreska.
58:13But very quickly, it seems like there's no other people really being mentioned in the running.
58:17Well, Chelsea do say there's others, but it just feels like there's such a firm frontrunner.
58:22And also, it's so difficult to appoint someone mid-season, right?
58:25So it's easier to hire somebody from a club you already own and give him an opportunity at another club
58:30you own, isn't it?
58:31So it kind of makes Liam Rossini the obvious choice.
58:34All right, Nizar.
58:35Thank you very much for that, Nizar Kinsella, who covers Chelsea for BBC Sport, right?
58:40Thank you, Steph.
58:41Thank you, Dion.
58:42After sitting through those four matches, we need a drink.
58:45Dry January lasted less than a day.
58:48Good night.
59:14Welcome to a brand new series of...
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