Football Daily - PL Review: ‘Boring’ FA Cup final but thrilling relegation scrap?

Episode Date: April 26, 2026

Is a Man City-Chelsea FA Cup final boring? Should the attitude of Chelsea’s players be questioned as they won at Wembley after Liam Rosenior’s mid-week sacking?Interim boss Callum McFarlane answers that question as former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison and the Telegraph’s Northern football writer Luke Edwards join Rick Edwards to analyse and debate the key talking points from the weekend.Does this prepare Southampton well for the Championship play-offs and did Leeds show enough? As well as analysis of the FA Cup semi-finals, there’s discussion on the thrilling Premier League relegation battle as Tottenham FINALLY won a game in 2026 to briefly jump out of the relegation zone… but only for four minutes. West Ham also won late on to set up a fascinating final four games of the season. Are Leeds and Nottingham Forest safe, and could even Newcastle be dragged into the conversation?Plus, Arsenal get back to winning ways, and Alexander Isak scores for Liverpool, but were they lucky to beat Crystal Palace?Timecodes: 01:56 How can Chelsea play so differently within a single week? Should the players’ character be questioned? 03:50 Is there any excuse for getting a manager sacked? 06:15 reaction from Callum McFarlane 07:36 An amazing day for McFarlane himself 08:50 Who should be the next Chelsea manager? 11:20 Were Leeds overawed by Wembley? 13:00 Is this a boring FA Cup final? 16:45 Analysis of City’s win over Southampton — will it help Saints going into the Championship play-offs? 19:00 Reaction to Coventry’s promotion to the Premier League 20:15 Tottenham finally win! How fun is this relegation battle for the neutral? 23:40 Antonin Kinsy’s redemption 25:10 West Ham’s late winner — how good is Callum Wilson’s finish? 27:20 Could Newcastle be dragged into the relegation battle?! 31:10 The half-time teaser 35:30 Fulham for a European spot? 36:30 Did Arsenal show enough against Newcastle? 41:02 Alexander Isak scores for Liverpool! But were they lucky against Palace?

the Football Daily podcast. Premier League Review with Rick Edwards. Hello and welcome to the Premier League and FAA Cup review. Manchester City reached a fourth consecutive FAA Cup final where they'll play Chelsea, who sat their manager on Wednesday but beat Leas at Wembley on Sunday. In the league, City leapfrogged Arsenal in midweek by winning at Burnley.

Arsenal are back at the top after a tight home win over Newcastle. Spurs climbed out of the relegation zone for four minutes. with their first win of 2026, but West Ham and Notting Forest also won much more drama still to come. Analysis on all of that with former Premier League striker, old gravy shoes and Nostradamus, Clinton Morrison, and the Telegraphs Northern Football Writer, Luke Edwards. Hello, both. Hello, everyone.

You didn't have a nickname for me there, Rick. I was expecting Humpty Dumpty. I'm just going to go straight into, I want you to talk me through the video you sent us earlier. That's all I want. I would have got £250 for you being framed. that video in. Yes, you would. Yes, you would.

The video is, is me on a swing. The rope is straining, by the way. You can, you can, you really, like, it's not designed for a man of your girth. Oh, brilliant. And my son's trying to not score points by hitting me with a tire. I skillfully dodge with a swerve maneuver. I'd say luckily dodge, yeah. Like a ninja sort of went underneath it, but then in going underneath it, I lost balance.

And the swing tipped me. me off into a heap on the floor with my wife filming and my son, who is 11 and has reached the cusp of Dad isn't a superhero anymore, absolutely fell to the fore. He must have reached that easy to go, by the way. Cackling with laughter, which I was very proud of. First rule, first rule of something like that is you laugh first, you check if they're okay second, and my son has learned that rule. It was already sensationally good, but your son's reaction did make it. And we'll start with the FA Cup. So, Liam Rossini, sacked as Chelsea manager, on Wednesday. I think we knew that was coming. Interim boss, Callan McFarlane, overseas,

a semi-final win at Wembley today. Another just mental week in the Blue Co-Chelsea era, in the Blue Co-Chelsea era, but they are now FAA Cup finalists. The thing that I guess was most striking about this game for me is that they basically sort of stopped playing because they didn't fancy Resinia much and then as soon as he's gone they start playing again. It says quite a lot about the power

that their teams have and this I think is a thing that has been true at Chelsea for a really long time Luke. Yeah, I think, yeah, you've hit the nail on the head there. Thank you. Next question then.

Let's move on. Let's move on. No, it is, and it's great that they've got to a cup final. A soap opera We'll have a broader discussion about whether it's great in a minute But yeah, carry on

No, but it's a soap opera season for them It's been all, you know, changes in managers, there's been managers talking themselves out of jobs There's all Liam Rossini went in there, was mocked and derided pretty much from the start The players obviously didn't fancy him

Like you said And if you compare that performance To the defeat of Brighton Where there was no effort, no fight, no determination, and then you fast forward And because they've got a changing manager They suddenly switch it on.

I think that's, damning of the players. I think that's damning of their mentality. I think that damning of their character. And almost, how dare they? You know, think they wield that power. How dare they decide they can turn it on and off when they want because they don't want the manager?

Well, in the league, they're supposed to be going for the Champions League. So the Brighton game wasn't just a meaningless fixture where it didn't matter if they lost. But it seems it was more important for them to show that they didn't have any love or support for a senior. And then they turn up in a cup semi-final and show all the things that they didn't. I think it's funny. I know exactly what you mean.

I think from the player's perspective, I don't know if you've ever been in this situation, Clinton, where you know that a manager is not doing a good job and it will benefit the club and you as players the sooner that they are gone. Is there any excuse for that? No, I don't think there's an excuse. You're paid by the football club.

Whenever you've got a disagreement, I don't like the manager. But what I will say... But if the football club is doing badly under that manager, and they really were... Well, then that's going to happen. And evidently, the manager is going to lose his job. but the players have to have a look at themselves as well because they've been nowhere near good enough.

And it is player power at the moment. Player have the power. They know they sign these eight, nine-year contracts at Chelsea and they see out the manager way longer than what the manager is going to be. The manager can say they sign a six-year deal, but that means nothing nowadays, in my opinion, in my honest opinion for a manager. So, yeah, it's disappointing.

Yeah, definitely not Chelsea, that's for sure, because managers have struggled at that football club big time. So, yeah, it is disappointing that Liam's lost. his job but he's a good coach he'll come again but yeah the after I watched that performance against Brighton let me tell you I knew the writing was on the wall for him especially when the players went over to the fans and stood there oh yeah yeah yeah I was like just go down the tunnel what are you doing like and also his reaction after that as well like he was obviously

incredibly frustrated because he wasn't getting the best out of them and he could feel that they were almost like withholding it from him on the flip side that though Clinton you will have been in situations where a new man comes in and I know No, Callum of Final isn't a new man, but there's a new energy. And you up it a bit, maybe not consciously. Yeah, and you know he's not the manager. He's into him. So I feel like the players basically run things anyway.

So what it says to me is I'm not saying they're doing it all their self because he's obviously after pick the start in 11 and implement his kind of style there. But they've got good players there. And they should be doing a lot better than they're doing at the moment. Yeah, it was a good performance against Leeds. I didn't think Leeds were at their best. But credit to Chelsea, they get the result. and they're now in the FA Cup final.

But whatever happens, it's going to be a bad season for Chelsea, regardless, because they're not going to make it in the Champions League. And Chelsea Football Club, with the money they've spent and the ambition they're meant to have should be making Champions League football. But they do have a final against a team that are in great form. So it's going to be difficult. Well, let's hear from Callow McFarlane then. Our reporter Rob Schofield asked some questions about the player's characters.

No, no, I wouldn't question their character. I think their character is being questioned because of the results. And football's, we're playing against top teams. You have bad moments. You get into a rut. The momentum is so important. We've seen it with some of the best teams in the world. You can go on losing streaks.

And people are too reactive to the result. That group's got massive character. You don't beat PSG in the Club World Cup. You don't beat Barcelona. And there's loads of other games. You don't come out of that spell and show that performance. The character shouldn't be questioned, but I understand why. But that group's got a lot of character, a lot of mentality,

a lot of winners in that changing room. And I was really happy. we could show that today. Did you sense in the days leading up to this that you would unlock that, that you'd found it going into this game? Were you confident on that? I was very confident going into the game. You never know, because they have a plan and we have a plan,

and they're going to be highly motivated, and it's a game of football. It's a very random game. But I was confident going into the game that we could win, and I knew there would be tough moments, and I thought they came through that, and I'm really proud of them. Just a final one from me. I know you don't like to make it about yourself, but it must be an incredibly proud day for you as a professional.

Oh, yes. It's the best day on my career. by an absolute mile. Got family at the ground, got all in my life along Chelsea fans. Yeah, stuff dreams are made of, you know. Congratulations, Callum. What on.

It's worth saying, actually, what a great day for him. And you've got to be made up for it. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I mean, I exactly same emotions. I heard that on the radio, I thought, no, good on him. And to talk some emotionally about it like he did there

and a family full of Chelsea fans. It's a wonderful day for him. And he deserves enormous credit as well. but it still comes back to the players. There's a new manager arriving at Chelsea this summer, right? He'll be looking at this situation. He'll be looking at some of the players. He'll go back through the games.

You'll analyse them. It'll look at the players who down tools might be too strong, but maybe went through the motions. You maybe didn't put 100% in. Who threw the previous manager under the bus and played to get him sacked. He'll be looking at it. And you can't just sit there and say,

we've got great characters in the dressing room because you're judging your character by your body. behavior. And the behaviour under a senior wasn't good not. I think they've got

strong characters which is slightly different to good characters, isn't it? Yeah, that's the one. Strong characters, yeah. You've got Enzo Fernandez who scores the winning

goal today. Brilliant. Great. Good goal. He was very good goal. Really well-worked team goal and a great header. Brilliant run.

Fane to go near post, goes far post, brilliant. But he's been openly talking about wanting to go and fluttering and his eyelashes at Real

Madrid and wherever else might come in for him in the summer. He was supposed to be the captain. Yeah, yeah. Any early shouts then for who will end up, well, who should be and who will be the next Chelsea manager?

There's a lot. There's a good candidate. I think there'll be a lot available in the summer. Iiola, obviously, from Bournemouth. He's leaving Bournemouth. I think Marco Silva might be leaving Fulham, so that would be interesting because I think he's a very good manager. There's a lot.

I heard today maybe not, it's not going to happen, though, I don't think. But would Frank Lampard take it back at Chelsea? I don't think I think he should do at Coventry but it's not a bad shout he's had a fantastic but for me Frank Lampard I think would do be at Coventry next season

so yeah there's a lot of names there Glasner's gone into the mix but because what you've got to realise is Chelsea basically the owners do everything they sign the players so what you need is not a manager you need a coach you need a coach that's going to coach those players

and not get involved and we'll say yes but you need a yes man well that's it basically that's it because not you couldn't get someone like They can't anyway, Unai Emery, because he brings in his own people, he signs players.

He wants control. Would you effectively like to be an international coach where you don't get to choose any of your players? We tell you who you're playing with. That's what it is there at that football club. And most managers won't like it, but they're going to have to get on with it. And it's still Chelsea Football Club.

It's still a huge football club. It's still a good job to have if you can get the players buying into what you want to do as a manager. I think Iriola, for me, what he's done at Bournemouth. So for me, it'd be the top candidate at the moment. Yeah, come and have a long drink from my chalice.

What's in the chalice? Oh, no, let me throw another one. It's poison. I throw another one. You two might like this. I throw another one into the mix. Maybe says Fabragas. I was going to throw him into the mix as well,

so I'm very glad that you throw him into the mix before me. Yeah, not a bad one. Would he do it? Here we go. It feels a bit early. If I look at, yeah, but if I look at what's happened to Resina, it feels like there's a similar level of experience between those two. But do you know where it is, Rick, where he would get more praise because they would respect him

because of what he's done at Chelsea before and what he is as a footballer. So he'd earned a respect. But I understand exactly what you're saying at this moment. They want a big name, isn't it? And Cess was a big footballer and doing well at Como. So it could be different. But I think what Luke said, Iriola's the standout one for me. I think he's a top manager.

On leads, didn't give quite enough, did they? They had that big, in fairness, big, big chance right near the start. Aronson through

and Sanchez made, I think, an excellent save with his feet. But, you know, they kind of, they huffed and puffed a bit in the second half,

but Chelsea were reasonably comfortable, I think, Luke. Yeah, a team that's used to playing in semi-finals and at Wembley, groups of players

who are used to playing on that stage, playing against, perhaps a collection of players who aren't used to those sorts of games. They were second best in the first half, that early chance apart. And Chelsea, actually, I was really impressed with Chelsea in the first half. I thought they were pretty dominant and could have gone on to get the second goal. But then Leeds is to say, Huffton Puffey is maybe a bit unkind.

I thought they did a much better job on Chelsea. They stopped Chelsea playing a lot more. They got into some really good positions. There's Calvert-Lewan-Hedder springs out to mine. Sanchez made another really good save. didn't he in the second half. And look, Sanchez has had his critics this season,

but he's probably got them. If you think the saves he's made, he's actually got them to the final. So he deserves a bit of credit. But yeah, I just think Leeds maybe, just maybe froze a little bit. It was a much bigger deal for them

for the football club and then their supporters than it was for Chelsea. And I just think that maybe got the better of them a little bit because they didn't give. They've been so impressive in the league, been playing so well, and I've really found this formula

that has got them out of relegation danger. I don't think we saw that version of Leeds today. and I think that might have been, might be unfair, but a little bit of stage fright, perhaps, in terms of being at Wembley in the semi-final where they haven't been for a long time.

Let's talk about the final then. I've already kind of alluded to this, but after what has been a pretty thrilling FAA Cup this season, like there's been some rounds that have been stellar, and then the excitement of, and we'll talk about the game a bit more, but like Southampton getting that goal against sitting,

you're thinking, wow, Southampton in a final, they're flying in the league, and we end up with just Manchester City, Chelsea, you know, two of the biggest clubs of the last 10, 15, 20 years in the final. You even referenced it there with the Leeds fans. Like, you can't think of it like this really, but it would mean, it would obviously mean so much more to Leeds and the Leeds fans to be in an FA Cup final than it will to the Chelsea fan.

And that's just true and that's not a criticism of Chelsea fans. and I think some of the criticism of the fact that you know, City didn't take all their allocation of their semi-fires probably unfair. I mean, they're just so used to it. And it's expensive and it's in London. Like, I kind of think, well... I think, Rick, I think you make a great point.

But it's just, it's expensive. It's in London. But it feels like that's Man City's second home, doesn't it? Yeah. We've been there so many times. It's not a thrill. It's not a novelty. There's no novelty.

There's no novelty. There's no great day out. There's no novelty to this final. You just sort of go, oh yeah. It's a bit of a shrug of the shoulders final in that respect. I totally agree with you. And for the great classic ingredients for a great FA Cup final, you need an underdog and you need a favourite.

Yeah, I agree. You need... That's why last year was so good, because, you know, if we think of the great FA Cup finals through the years, and I'll pluck one off the top of head, Wimbledon, or Coventry winning in the 80s. Yeah, yeah. And then, you know, obviously the Crystal Palace won,

Wiggin winning, beating Manchester City. you know, they're Leicester beat in Chelsea. These are the great cup finals. They're the ones you really get excited for because that's the magic of the cup. Whereas this feels like two big beasts, two clubs who sort of look at the FA Cup and it's not a priority for them,

but they get to the final anyway. It's not particularly special. It's probably going to be marginally more special for Chelsea and Manchester City because look, Manchester City have got to four in a row. No, I don't think anyone's ever done that before. No, it's the first time in history. They're dominance of the cup competitions

as well as the league. and this stranglehold they've had on English football. I don't think he's good for the product of the Premier League as a whole because they are just hoovering up trophies every year. They're in line now to do another domestic treble. They've reached every FA Cup semi-finals since 2019. So what you're saying about their supporters is right. It's all getting a bit by Munich, couldn't it?

It's a bit by Munich, a bit PSG. And I don't think that's good. And then Miguel Delaney of the Independence made a really good point as well about this Cup final. And he said that it's also, you know, we can't ignore this. It's between two clubs, one who've been punished for breaching financial, primarily financial rules in Chelsea and another Manchester City who are seven years on, you know, they deny any wrongdoing and they're stringently, you know, firmly deny they've done anything wrong, but they've still got these 115 charges for financially irregularities hanging over them.

So it just leaves a slightly sour taste, which, I don't think it's great. I want sweetness and light in the FA Cup. I want those romantic stories. I want the underdog taking, you know, taking on the Giants and this epic footballers are going to have that. But bar, you're at a winning, that's what everyone wants. Yes, exactly.

And wouldn't it be great to have a journalist like Miguel Delaney, someone who offers real insight and value on this pod? On the game itself... I'm just not... I'm just not... I can't, I can't let... I just can't let that hang. I just can't let that slide.

Well, you are going to. because we've moved on to talk about the game. Zathampton were, like, really up against it. That city were battering away at them. But then, I mean, there was excitement of that Sienza on the left. The left side. He's good. And when he scored that, I know it was offside,

when he scored that goal, I was excited. And then when they scored their goal, that is an absolute banger. I'm sure everyone will have seen it by now, but it's so good. And the feeling then you were like, wow. but City just they're just a machine

like they can when they need someone to step up there's always someone I know Docu's goal is fairly lucky but they get a luck a big slice of luck as well which they don't need can I be honest

I can't be honest but you know what you've got pretty much every advance which going they've got on the bit they could have scored four or five by then they could have they could have

but to be fair the winning goals fantastic I don't have you had that Have you seen Ryan Cherke's reaction to it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just the hands on hips. He's like, I can't believe he's done that. That's not what we've brought him to do, but it's a great strike.

Finazazzo scores a brilliant goal for Southampton. And I think Southampton, Tonda Eckhart, the manager, huge praise to him because the job since he's gone in there, he's been fantastic. They're now concentrating on trying to get promoted back to the Premier League so they can play back to the next season, do you know what I mean? They'll go in now to those playoffs, having a, A, being the form team

and B, having had that Wembley experience. Wembley trip, yeah. Like, that feels like, I mean, you never know with playoffs, obviously. But they will go in, I think, probably as fairly strong favourites because they just look like a great side. You're right, because if you look at the likes

that are up there, Millwall, Middlesbrough, they've been there all season. So if one of them dropped out or, yeah, both of them could drop out. Well, I mean, Middlesbrough will be gutted that they're not getting. Yeah, Middlesbrough have been there the whole time. So you need to get it.

get that former Southampton. You're right though, every year there's a team that just comes from nowhere and it's Southampton at the moment. But I think you made the good point of playing at Wembley because I feel like other players get nervous playing at Wembley but they've had the experience of playing against one of the best teams in Man City. So, yeah,

really good. That was a really good man. They did yourself really proud Southampton. I think they've had an outstanding season. They are my tip to get promoted out of the playoffs but you know, strange things have happened. So as things stand, it will be Southampton against Borough in the semi-final. finals. And just, I know we've touched on them, but Coventry, just one of those teams you think nice, very nice to, and this is just me, Shyamage, nice to have them back in the Premier League. Nice to have them back in the top flight.

I agree with you. They started to suffer. I was at the game today against Rexham and the fans were, there's a great atmosphere. They deserve it. Frank Lampard said it many of times, done a brilliant job. Can't forget what Mark Robbins has done to that football club over the years where they struggled and had to ground share at Northampton and things like that. So, Yeah, they've suffered. But to be back in the Premier League where they belong, I think they've been outstanding. It's not a fluke when you finish top of the championship, playing 46 games. It is a hard league. You know, it takes a lot out of you. And they've had a few ups and downs, but you've got credit the owner went and brought in a few players in January, which Frank wanted. And they were the best team by a country mars.

So credit to them. And it's good to see Frank Lampard back in the Premier League managing. I think he thoroughly deserves it. And doing well, yeah. When were they last in the Premier League? 25 years ago? Yeah, 25 years. Yes, mate, you're right.

Okay, let's move on to the Premier League then. A win for Tottenham after 118 days. It was genuinely very exciting and great listening to Five Live. Because you've just had that kind of final day of the season type chaos for that like four or five minutes. Spurs out the relegation zone and then West Ham get that through Callum Wilson get that goal. And I did think this is actually. So from a neutral perspective, having this excitement at the bottom, and then the title race, I know there's only two teams in it, but also being going to the wire, is good look.

It is definitely good. Well, this is, yeah, we want drama. We want intrigue. We want, we want tension and storylines to emerge from that. And, yeah, you're exactly right. Top them weren't great against wolves. I mean, they were not great. No.

But they found a way. And, you know, every fire needs to spark. and that could be it. Polignia's goal could be it. Scrappy goal, far post, tap it in, bang. And you sort of think, and suddenly,

you know, you put yourself in top of them, they get the goal finally. They're playing against the worst team in the Premier League. They think, right, and then they get news of the result filters through

from Upton Park that everything of equalized late on. Yeah. Happy days, hallelujah, celebrations. And then West Ham, to their credit, to West Ham's credit,

find a way themselves to get a goal. And it is, I was watching the Sunderland Forest game on Friday and I actually wrote in the telegraph that it felt like that result for Forrest over Sunderland, who were, forests were brilliant by the way, Sunnland were dreadful, but Forrest were absolutely brilliant, blew them away, four goals in the first

half, absolutely fantastic, and you're sort of thinking that result, you just thought, that is now going to be one of the big boys. I mean, you looked at it and you thought that's going to be the gap they've opened up. Yeah. It was eight points over Tottenham on when Sotland kicked off. It's going to be Tottenham or West Ham will go down. I don't know whether

the fact that Tottenham and West Ham of both one maybe drags Forrest back into a little bit. I I don't think so. But whoever out of Tottenham or West Ham gets out of it now, I think they've got to win at least now two of the remaining four games of the season. At least two. And again, you still look at the form guide. You'll say West Ham are more likely to do that than Tottenham.

Yes. But, yeah, although the new manager, yeah, it makes it slightly more complicated. They've got a lot of injury spurs as well. Simon's been out now as well. There's a lot of Slanky as well, haven't they? So they're depleted Tottenham, but they needed to show something. They needed to ignite this survival fight And they did at least do that against Wolverhampton ones

It was just a massive kick It was like clawing up, wasn't it, out of a cliff? And then you get to the top, and then Nuno Espirito Santos is just stood at the top And just stamps on your fingers and just sends you back down again. It's just a bit like that. And I think there's going to be a lot of drama down there. I still make West Ham my favourite to get out.

Yeah, I mean, Leeds are going to have a sayer, aren't they? They play both Spurs and West Ham. Yeah, they're right. I think that, I mean, West Ham got Arsenal, imagine for West Ham fans, I was talking to a West Ham fan about this, you beat Arsenal, derailing their title chances,

and possibly also sending spurs down. That's like, that's your best. It actually doesn't get better than that, I don't think. If there's some, if there would be some way of it being bad for Chelsea as well. Yeah, chef's kiss that for West Ham. Yeah, it's really nice. Because we like nice stories,

redemption, narrative. Kinski's save was lovely given the absolutely awful night he had in Madrid, which was not that long ago, was it less than two months ago. It just, I liked it. No, it's great, yeah.

He deserves it, don't he? He's had a bit of a nightmare. And I think since Ficario's got injured, I think he's done alright in the last previous games, for sure. So, yeah, it's moments like that. We said it when he, what happened in the Champions League, it can either make you or break you.

And hopefully it's made him and made him a stronger person and he can come back and have big moments. He probably never thought he was going to play for Tottenham again this season because Vicario is the number one. But he's been out injured and he's grabbed it with both hands. So credit to them. And going back to it, I think what Luke said is right,

that was not pretty from Tottenham. I listened to the game on Five Live. It sounded like they were terrible. I couldn't create anything. But it's all about getting the three points. They managed to get. But you know, this is football. Because at one minute, they're buzzing

because Everton have equalised and then in the next minute they deflated even though they've won because Callan Wilson scores the winner and that's just the way it goes at the minute. I think, you know, the same position didn't play great but just mentally just I think

getting that win is big for them. West Ham, I think the manner of that win will give them a huge amount of confidence there because when Everton equalise you just thought, ah! And to get that, to keep pushing, Jarra Bowen obviously involved because of course that's big look. Yeah and can West Ham fans stop leaving before the game ends as well?

Because it happened in the FA Cup as well, didn't it? And I saw when Dewsbury Hall puts the ball in, quite a few leave. Quite a few just go, I've had enough. But again, they find a way. And the fans that stayed in the stadium really stayed with the team as well. And we haven't always said that about West Ham. There hasn't always been that synergy between supporters and team. been a bad-tempered season, a couple of seasons really.

But they stayed with them, and I just want to take a special mention, and Clinton will appreciate this. How good is Callum Wilson's finish? Because I know it looks simple. It looks easy, yeah. But it's bobbling ball. He has to run onto it. It's in the last minute.

There's a goalkeeper and a defender on the line, and he very cleverly, just an old pro, he puts it into the turf first very deliberately, so it bounces up. How difficult is that, Clinton? Yeah, it's difficult. brilliant but everyone I spoke to you said oh he should score I said Jay you would say that because

that's what you've never been in that position so you've all done it at goals or on five a side but not in a big game where thousands are saying you need to score so it's experience he's got he scored big goals I've said it listen Clinton have you ever scored in a power league in Mill Hill in the cage

I've done it many of times don't worry about that Rick and I have celebrated and I've also missed that Callum Wilson chance in the Power League so I understand but he's at big moments for them I think the Tottenham game a few months ago where he scored the winning goal and then this one against Evan

I think it's a big one. He's going to go right down to the wire because if you look at it on paper, West Ham actually have the tougher fixtures. But the thing is, you mentioned it earlier, momentum with West Ham is better. But this win for Tottenham could lift them. And I was going to say what Luke was going to say.

I did think Forrest might be out of it. I'm now 50-50. I still think they could be out of it, but it's 50-50. Yeah. But I think, again, off the back of that result, such a resounding and they're in you know you look at their last they've won their last six games one three drawn three forest yeah the only thing is the Europa league semi-fam but it's not the only thing it's an

advantage to be fair i think it helps i think it helps you know here's something for you you won't like it um oh great is there any way that newcastle and news coming with that i knew i knew i saw his fake like that i thought he was a little i'm just looking at that i'm looking at the table, I'm looking at Newcastle. And I'm thinking... So are Newcastle fans? No, I know. I'm just thinking, well, if suddenly, I mean, require Deserby to do something pretty

amazing with Tottenham, win three and Newcastle don't win a good game for the rest of the season, I can sort of imagine that. I think a lot of the more pessimistic Newcastle supporters can also imagine it because it's, you know, it's eight defeats in 12, five defeats on the spin. They don't look like a team's going to score a lot of goals at the moment. They were better against Arsenal, but again, they didn't, you know, they didn't get a result when even a point, but actually in those circumstances you're just talking about, a point would have felt pretty good. There's a lot of pressure now on Saturday's home game against Brighton. That is for sure.

I don't think, I don't realistically see there in any imminent threat, but they are in free fall and the season has exploded. And there are players there who, you know, have been accused of already having one hour on leaving. So huge pressure. There's a board meeting at Newcastle this week in which Eddie Howe will meet Chairman Yassir Lauro Mayan and be asked to explain where things are gone wrong. I think we're going to know a lot more about the future in terms for the manager after that.

Yeah, it's a very tense and nervous football club at the moment and a very angry one, actually, if you go on social media at the moment. I'm angry with you mainly. Let me just put this to you then. So Brighton Home could easily lose that. Forest away Very easily lose that West Ham at home

West Ham fighting for their lives And on way better form than Newcastle And then full them away Yeah but you could name any team in the Premier League at the moment And we would say that's a tough game for Newcastle I think that's true But I think you've got two teams in there Who really really need wins

And are And have got momentum behind them Equally if they play like they did against Arsenal They're going to have no problems whatsoever They're going to win games You've got to get a point. They should have got a point. The Vissar chance. Actually, Clint, if we're going to praise Callan Wilson's finish, I'd love you to talk me through what Wissar was playing.

I don't know what's going. I'm watching it thinking this is a goal. Volta Mada's ball is like, muh, muw. It's unbelievable from Votamada. He's been criticised. The ball from Bautomada is outstanding. It is harder to do what Vista done. It's harder. It's harder to do that. Because you've basically got to get, you've got to look up at the sky. Exactly. Get on your back.

Get your pitching wry it over the bar. I don't like to be critical of players because I know it's that I actually do. I am going to be critical of him. It is a terrible, terrible miss. Even if he miss hits that, it goes in. You know what? That's what I'm saying, shin it in. And then he's moaning.

He's not starting ahead of Sula. Almost better if he didn't make contacts. It's like it's embarrassing, but it's not as in bouncing. No, it's a bad thing. It's still traveling now. It's not even come down yet. Well, for a man who doesn't like to slag players off, he did a good job there.

Absolutely two-footed Joanne Bitter. Have you seen, Artetta's reaction is good, because he's like, I cannot believe this guy's let us off, he must be an Arsenal fan, or he really hates City. But that's something of Newcastle's problems this season. They sign two strikers in Worcester and Volta Martin, none of them score goals.

Neither of them score goals, sorry. Willa Sula's so raw, you know, he's a project player signed two and a half years ago, who remains a project player, Now, that is a big problem for the huge huge problem. Right at the start where he completely missed the ball when he was through. Yeah, that was a shame. Okay, we're going to talk a bit more about Arsenal, Newcastle,

and Liverpool's win against Crystal Palace shortly. But first, half-time teaser. Fulham's burnt Leno has now started every one of their last 146 Premier League matches. Longest ongoing run for any player in any team, the sixth longest in Premier League history. How many of the five players would long? Runger runs, can you name? I'll guess at one, maybe. The answer's next plus plenty more. Five live sports. So here's the first ball of this series.

All the cricket you laugh. Shave for L.B.W. Ouch. Lives on BBC sounds. Smash straight back down the ground. This girl. Here ball by ball coverage of the biggest competitions on the domestic and international circuits. It's a fourth wicket and it's the huge one.

Settle down. Soccerning. Cricket on five-life sport. Oh, I've living every ball of this. Listen on BBC Sounds. On the Football Daily podcast, Premier League Review with Rick Edwards. Welcome back to the Premier League Review with me, Rick Edwards and Luke. What's your surname? Edwards as well, isn't it?

And Clinton Morrison. Before the break, I asked you to name as many of the five players. Forgettable. When it's the same surname as mine. with the longest runners starts in Premier League history. Phyllans Burnt Leno has moved into sixth after starting 146 consecutive games. I'll be a goalkeeper again, because they're the ones who got long.

Yeah, that's good thinking, Clinton. So give me a name. Shea Given. Shegiven is absolutely wrong. Oh, wow. Shock. Go on, Clinton. No, not Schmicholka.

That's way too long, and that's way too far. That's not that far. Peter Schmack. This is going to be a long one. Peter Check. No, God. Phil, Jockey, Elker. No

James Coleman Gariff Barry No James Milner No Oh well I'm just trying to think of Let's break What club did you play for

What Clinton is it? It's close It's close What club do you play for Okay so there's a bunch Of course there are Of course there are You chose a session

Alison No Pepe Rainer No Yes Pepe Reini 383 Stephen Gerard

No Jamie Carragagher. No, I mean, look, I tried to give you the hint. When Clinton said goalkeepers, like, yeah. Yeah, but you said there's three at Liverpool. Oh, so it's more golfers. Yeah, but if Liverpool only have one goalkeeper? Oh, sorry, sorry.

So it's more at Liverpool, not Bruce Grobler. That's way too far. I don't remember it playing in the Prem much. Exactly. What do you think? Ray Clever. Alison. Pat Jennings?

I mean, it's pathetic. It's absolutely pathetic. You have a point to be. experts on the game of football. That's your job. David James. David James twice. Did a run of 166 and a run of 158.

You can never get rid of David James though, can you? No. And he'll tell you about that as well. He'll tell you about that as well, Jamie. Of course you will. Yeah, so he's in at number four. So we've got another goalkeeper who played in Liverpool. Oh, for ever and then.

Well done. Not pick. You're on fire. Pickford. Pickford's played a few. Yeah. but not enough. Everton, what is it?

Nigel Martin. No, he leads, he's leads, he's leads. I'm trying to think. I don't know. I don't care about goldiebers. I know you're trying to think. I can hear you thinking. Luke? Anything?

No. I've got nothing. Clinton, you were very close when he said Schmichael. I've got one. I know who it is. Go on. I thought of him. He's a bald.

He's a baldie, isn't he? Brad Friedel. Yes. Very good. That's a good child. 310. But he didn't play for Everton. No.

This is really going to do my head in. Okay, didn't only... Oh, no, no, no, I know, I know, stop, stop, I know. Tim Howard, Tim Howard. Yeah. Cool, Clinton, you're so dumb, you should have got that. And then, and then, number five, and it's the second longer than anything else we do on this show.

Yeah. You were very, very close with Peter Schmeichael. It's Man United. Van Dusar. No, close. You couldn't get much closer. Caspar. Thank you.

Sorry, mate. Sorry. 149. Oh, my God. I would never have got that. That's hard. I'm sweating. Fulham, big win over Villa.

Villa's still going to be fine. They'll qualify for Champions League. But a real chance of European football under Marco Silver now for Fulham, Coonson. Yeah, definitely. You know what it is as well, Rick and Luke, which I heard. So if Villa finished fifth and win the Europa League, that means six plays in the Premier League now is Champions League, isn't it?

And it's looking more than likely that Villa will finish fifth. So now they've got to go on and win the Europa League. so. But, yeah, as you said, for Fulham, I think the job Marco Silver's done. That's why I mentioned him in the Chelsea tour earlier. I think he stocks going to be high. I think he probably wants a change because he's not signed a new contract yet. I don't understand why it's took so long. But I think he'll be, he's done a brilliant job there at Fulham.

I think they've got some top players. Everyone knows their role. Yeah, they're just a very good team who's got a very good manager. And if Fulham, if he does get them into Europe, it might be a different conversation at the end of the season. but I think he's done a fantastic job, Silver. Arsenal got back to doing what they were doing earlier in the season, which is just getting it done 1-0, if needs to be.

Yeah. Great strike from Ebreche Eza. And it made me laugh because they'd done two of those short corner routines and the Arsenal fans were getting really hacked off. You can tell. They're like, hold on, we're really good at scoring from corners. Just get it in the mixer. And so when they did another short corner,

you could just feel the crowsy. being like, Arthur, and then Esays is like, yeah, I'll take care of it from here. It's a beautifully worked goal, actually. It is a beautifully worked goal. I think you'll be asking questions if you're Newcastle, United Manager Eddie Howe about why

they were allowed to have two goes at it before the third chance when they whips it into the top corner. But it was slightly different. It was slightly different, but a variation on the theme. I think they thought they were going to do the same thing again and that, but anyway, yeah. But Arsenal were

Ooh, stodgy. Very, very stodgy. As Clinton said earlier in the podcast, Newcastle were the better team. I heard Mikhail Arteta say they dominated the game afterwards. I'm not sure who he was trying to convince there himself, his own players or the supporters, because they didn't. It was, as it was against Bournemouth. It was very anxious, very tense inside the Emirates.

But they held on, albeit against a Newcastle team that seems to have forgotten how to score goals. They did hold on. could have with a bit more composure with a final pass from Jacerez, our old friend Toilet Duck, they could have got a... Apparently the crowd,

my brother-in-law and father-in-law were there yesterday, so the crowd absolutely lost their minds when Yon Jokkeres failed to find. It was a three-on-one, I think. Yeah. And he passed it to the one. It was pretty...

And there was a lot of space to play it into. Yeah, there was a lot of space, and he could have played it at various points before he passed it to the one where it would have been an easier pass. it was pretty much the worst possible execution of a three-on-one counter-attack that I've seen. But they did get it done. They did.

And Artetta's celebrations at the end, you know, they've now put down the marker to Manchester City. They've done all they could possibly do, which was win the game. Yes, they could have extended their goal difference by a bit more, which would have been useful. But it just wasn't a performance for that. They were not free-flowing. They didn't cause Newcastle a lot of problems. I think Newcastle had the highest XG at the Emirates this season more. shots and any other team this season.

Again, Arsenal's just 0.6. I mean, I hate XG, but 0.6. We don't like XG. But it was that sort of game. Arsenal were not at their best, far from it, but they got the job done and they have taken

a small advantage in the title race because they got the points on the board. I sometimes enjoy Pep's mind games. I don't think I'm massively enjoying this one when he's like, I'd say the Premier League's almost gone. We're back to second.

We'll see. Shut up, Pep. No one's buying that. You know Pep's delighted with the position there, England. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Man City are in a brilliant position at the moment. They've clawed this back. I remember a month and a half ago,

Arsenal probably could have been 12 points. Everyone was talking about the quadruple. And now they might not come away with any trophy. I still think you're probably looking at it and it's a difficult one because Man City don't play Evan until after Arsenal played Fulham on that Monday and Arsenal played the Fulham on the Saturday. So it could be six points,

and you'd rather have the points on the board. But I think Man City, The way they're playing at the moment, it looked like the two games that I look at and think to myself, difficult is ever in a way and boom with away. Other than that, I think Man City could go on and win every game. So it's going to go right down to the wire. Talking about goals scored, I think Man City will score more goals than Arsenal. I just think in them attacking options, they've got more creativity and more goal scorers than Arsenal at the moment.

So that is why, at the moment, if you ask me, I'd just go for Man City. But, yeah, it's a fascinating title. And I think if Man City win it, this will be the best one that they've won since Pep's been there, just because of how far behind they were and how everyone wrote them off. I'm still hanging with Arsenal. Come on. No, I understand why, Luke, you're hanging with them. I'm not going to knock you on that.

Because, you know why? Sorry to interrupt me, mate. The reason I think that is because you're right, the games they've got, Arsenal could go the whole season and win every single game. It's the fixtures you do fancy them in it. So I totally agree with you. But then I look at it against Newcastle and think, Vista scores, they drop. the points again. They're playing Fulham next week

or in good form. That's a real test for them. Any London teams are going to be right at it to try to beat Arsenal, I think. Let's finish things off on Liverpool then. Three wins in a row. Liverpool don't feel like a team that have just won three on the bounce.

It does take a bit of pressure off on the slot. They're probably good for Champions League qualification now, but they were, I'd say they were pretty lucky to get the win against Pallet. Palace were really pushing them and I think the better team. But a goal for Alexander Isak, first Premier League goal at Anfield, a mere 236 days after signing.

I mean, I suppose, good weekend to end bad runs for Isak for Spurs. Yeah, not worth every penny of his £128 million fee because he scored a goal against Crystal Palace. Well done, Alexander. Not that I hold any really lingering animosity to make you forced your way out on Newcastle. I'm a bigger man. than that. I've let it go a long time ago.

You're a big man. I've seen you hanging on a rope. Close that swing. Look, Liverpool again, they got the job done and the slot was under pressure, wasn't he, as well? And you can only win football matches. That's all you can do when you're under pressure to silence all the noise. And he's managed to do that, as you say, three games unbeat, and they're looking good for the Champions League. All the mood music now is that he's going to get a chance to put things right next season and have another tilt at winning a title

or, you know, doing well, winning the Champions League. So it's been a disappointing overall season, particularly when you think of the amount of money they spent last summer. Things haven't worked out with a number of their new signings. But, yeah, it's ending with, I think, you know more, Rick, it's ending with a bit of positivity,

isn't it? You can give Salary's nice grand send-off now, wave him off into the distance, the Egyptian king. I mean, he might be out for the rest of the season. Oh. Yeah. So, yeah, that's not so good. Oh, you just to wave goodbye to him.

Yeah, true, true. I mean, he doesn't do much on the pitch anymore anyway. So if he just comes on, hobbles on, you wave goodbye to him, it's not a problem. I think final two minutes of the final game at Amfield, whether he's injured or not, just bring him on. Let him have a little wave. Yeah, I mean, I'm sweaty and I've laughed a lot. And that tells me, it's been a good, solid Premier League.

Thank you, Clinton. Thank you, Lou. More analysis and debate coming up on the Monday. Five Live Sports BBC Women's Football Weekly The latest news, insights and analysis from across the women's game Dame Serena Vigman

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