Football Daily - PL Review: Spurs in free fall, goals galore as Arsenal hold firm

Episode Date: March 1, 2026

Arsenal break records with their set-piece brilliance to go 5 points clear while North London neighbours Tottenham edge further into a relegation scrap. Would Spurs getting relegated be bigger than Leicester winning the title?!Elsewhere, are Manchester United and Liverpool settling into the Champions League spots? Have Burnley been robbed of a chance at staying up? And what is going on at Newcastle?Everton, meanwhile, could be in a shout of a European spot after yet another win on the road.Timecodes: 01:00 What made us love the Premier League this weekend 03:19 Arsenal stay top by 5 points — is it fair to call it boring? 07:35 Chelsea lose their heads and the game... again! 12:40 City keep the pressure on Arsenal 14:20 Are Tottenham in free fall, and is Igor Tudor making it worse? 20:00 Would Spurs getting relegated be bigger than Leicester winning the league? 21:30 Reaction from Igor Tudor on Fulham having a 'home referee' 23:30 Is Harry Wilson underrated? 24:40 Newcastle imploding in the league despite Champions League progress? 31:30 Everton's excellent away record and European hopes?! 35:08 Break 36:35 Manchester United up to third, will they finish there? 39:12 Carrick's record is better than any manager since...? 40:20 Was it right to give a red card AND penalty for Lacroix's foul? 43:40 Liverpool set-piecing their way to a Champions League spot? 45:28 Burnley's VAR heartbreak v Brentford 47:20  Do the Premier League need to do something to protect the 'product'?

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explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world. This isn't about quarterly earnings or about tech reviews. It's about what technology is actually doing to your work and your politics, your everyday life. And all the bizarre ways people are using the internet. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. The Football Daily Podcast, Premier League Review with Rick Edwards. Hello and welcome to the Premier League review. Arsenal break records with their set piece,

brilliance to go five points clear, while North London neighbours top the edge further into a relegation scrap. Our Manchester United and Liverpool settling into the Champions League spots now have Burnley been robbed of a chance at staying up and what is going on at Newcastle. Lots to get into, joining me to dissect it all,

former Premier League striker, Clinton Morrison and the Telegraphs Northern Football Writer, Luke Edwards. Evening, fellas. You're good? Even in. Very well, thank you, Rick. We're delighted to hear that. Let's start by saying the one thing that remind us why we love the Premier League this weekend. Who wants to start? Jordan Pickford, brilliant save to deny Sandovali.

The save is a brilliant save. But I assume it's the celebration you like. Yes. You may be surprised to learn that I am certainly somebody who enjoys goading people. Yeah, you love a bit of a shot. And that, doing the muscle flex in front of the Gallagher end as a Sondland boy, it was brilliant. And, you know, I think even Newcastle supporters begrudgingly just went, do you know what? All right, fair enough.

Fair enough, you deserve that. It is a brilliant save. I mean, it is a brilliant save. Yeah, the celebration made it for me. If you can't give it out at the home of your bitterest rivals who chant rude songs about you every time you play them and have inflatable dinosaurs in the stands mocking your short arm. If you pull off a world-class save like that, ram it down their throats, Rick. Flex those tiny little arms. Clinton, how about you?

Mine's not a moment. Mine's a game. You know what? The Burnley-Brenfrey game sums it all up for me this weekend, where I thought half-time the game was over. The booze were Burnley were all over the place. I know in the end they lose the game, but they didn't deserve to lose the game. But I would probably get onto that.

But that just typifies the Premier League for me. It's so unpredictable and you just never know what's going to happen. And that is why it's the best league in the world, in my opinion. A lot of goals yesterday in particular. Very enjoyable. For me, it's actually, it's just, well, it's two things. One sort of serious and one less serious. I'll let you decide which is which.

Chris Richards, Crystal Palace, Defender. That headband and hair combo was electric. It was so good. Is that the serious one? No, no. That's the serious one. And then the less serious one is Iwobe's finish. with just side foot from outside the box

just sort of a solid pass directly in off the post that's a I mean I just it's a cracking goal isn't it? Definition of crisp precision and the fact it goes in off the post I always love the sound of a ball going in off the post but side foot from there I don't know it's it's much harder to do that

than you realise as well I've just seen it I think it's exactly as hard as I think it is in that I've just seen I've never seen anyone do it I've just seen it. You're absolutely spot on. It is a young Clinton Morrison finish, but yeah, it's fantastic. Oh, right. Absolutely zero chance could I get it in from there? No way.

I was a six-yard book. I was going to say, you're not ever outside the area. Exactly that. You know me too well. It was a great finish, though. So that is a great shout. Let's get into it then. We'll start with the final game of what was a very dramatic Premier League weekend. Leaders Arsenal.

Remain five points clear after that 2-1 win over their London rivals, Chelsea. Manchester City, cope with Harlan's absence to win at Leeds on Saturday evening had to dig in for that. I mean, really big celebrations from particularly Gabriella at full time. And there was a point in this game when it looked like that they might drop points. Yeah, absolutely. I thought Chelsea looked like the better team at the start of the second half,

the more threatening team. They obviously got the goal back, the equaliser, just before half time. I think that knocked Arsenal a little bit, and you could tell. But I'm getting slightly taught. I mean, I've stuck up for Arsenal, and you can't be bad champions, and you can't play ugly football. But it was a game of set pieces, wasn't it? And there is a bit of a worry that are we getting into a situation

where football's now turned into hockey? You know, we like the penalty corners thing, that's like the most obvious source of goals. And I've got no idea how you referee corners anymore either, because there was just chaos. Every game now was just chaos. It's just bodies. It's like holding, grappling, people falling to the floor,

goalkeepers complaining about being fouled. It is all very messy, but Arsenal came through it. Their set pieces were once again brilliant, particularly the first one. I love the first one with the deep ball in. And it's Gabrielle's header, isn't it, at the far post? That's brilliant. But yeah, it wasn't a great advert for the beautiful game, but nobody will care about that at the moment.

Arsenal had just got to get the job done. They were obviously under pressure with Man City getting their, you know, their three points against Leeds on Saturday. So a tough fixture on paper, a tough game for them, but they came through it. And yeah, they'll be absolutely delighted about that. Yeah, I mean, something I think you have to give a lot of credit for, for both teams actually, is that the delivery for those set pieces is so good, Clinton. Like, they're absolutely whipping it into an area that is so hard to defend.

Yeah, Bruce James and Declan Rice between them. And, yeah, I get what Luke's saying about, oh, it's, it's. It's slightly dull. But I think you have to say it is not easy to do what they are doing. No, that's why all these, they've got so much set piece coaches at the moment as well. This is why they're so vital. They're so vital to everything. But they still have to go and do the delivery.

And I think the two players you've just said, Reese James and Declan Rice are probably two of the best deliverers in the Premier League. They always pull it on the money. I think Saka does it on the other side as well. Yeah, they're just great, great deliveries into the box. And that's just the way it is at the moment. And I get what Luke's saying. I'm with Luke.

I like the perfect goal where it's a beautiful football. But do you think Arsenal fans will care on these players if they win the title by scoring the lows and set pieces? But I do agree with Luke. I am one of those. And it is a thing that's coming to the game because I'm not going to be honest with you. When I was playing,

wasn't a lot of goals from set pieces. But what I say now, which is a bit different, is the balls in are good. But no one does man-to-man marking anymore. It's always zonal. And I always think that's the hardest thing to do, because if I'm going to, if I'm attacking it with Luke and Luke standing still and I've got the run on him, I'm going to have the advantage over him because he's jumping from his

Yeah, I was going to say Clinton, even if I had the run on you, you would, you would still get a nice guy. You're a nice guy. You know what I'm trying to say though? I just think that's why set pieces are so crucial at the moment and they're so detailed. I heard on the training ground nowadays, you could work for like half an hour, 45 minutes on just doing set pieces. Like it's so big in the game at the moment. So, and that is why Arsenal could win it. Yeah.

16 goals, Arsenal have scored from set pieces. And I think Liverpool are on a run of seven consecutive goals from set pieces. So it is a huge, huge part of the game. Huge part of the game. It's not going to be for the purists and people are going to take pot shots and take swipes to Arsenal if they do emerge as champions. But as we've said before Clinton, who cares? You've got to be effective.

They haven't won the title for how, God knows how many years. So, you know, they're getting it done. They're getting the job done and if that is a weapon they've got and they score a lot of goals from it then they're going to manipulate games to suit them and that's how they're winning games that's fine.

I would say though not for the first time Chelsea lost the game themselves really. Just five minutes of pure just sort of clown show. So firstly, Sanchez. No, it's true though. I don't know what Sanchez is.

What's he moaning about for the goal? What is he moaning about? Sanchez is nowhere near it. just doesn't know where the ball is and he's sort of like floundering around and then desperately tries to make out that he's being fouled and when you watch it back, you're like, mate, the last thing you want to do

is get people to scrutinise what you were doing before that one is yet. You don't want to replay. No, just say, yeah, good goal, good goal, let's carry on. Do you know why he does that? It's because he knows he's made a mistake. No, I know, but then everyone's going to watch you be useless. Yeah, exactly, mate.

I agree with you. You highlight a big mistake you make. He's hoping there's a foul in it. I think we've said it. a lot of times now, for Chelsea to be serious contenders, is he good enough? And I just don't think he is. Obviously, he's a very, very good goalkeeper,

but you need absolute top goalkeepers. I mean, look at that, David Riah today made a couple of unbelievable saves. That one that would have been an own goal of whoever it was, he clawed out when he's being, like, manhandled in it from a corner. I mean, he's sensational. Yeah, title winning teams need elite goalkeepers. Yeah, and Arsenal have one and Chelsea don't. City have one.

City have one. Liverpool have one, probably. Liverpool. Yeah, Liverpool have one. Have one, although he's not quite at the peak of his powers, I would say. Manchester United think they've got one. They think they've discovered one. I think they might have.

He is good, isn't he? But yeah, so you've got Sanchez. He's better than Sanchez for sure. Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I think I might be. So you've got Sanchez doing that, and then you've got Netto getting sent off. Granted, if I'm being kind

which I'm not massively inclined to be, the first, I can't quite see what's gone on for the first yellow card, it's dissent. Descent, yeah, it's just, you know, so... You've still got it, Rick. You've still got the yellow card. No, I know, I know, I know, I know. But then that tackle on Martinetti was in, was nuts. And then to berate the referee afterwards, what are you,

what are you possibly saying? It's such, it's a scissor, a scissor foul. Yeah. It's horrible. It's a fowl, three minutes after he's been booked. Yeah. And he's running down the touchline and he's leapt in and that's a tackle. That's ninth red card this season for Chelsea. Unacceptable.

It is. And I don't know what, I just do not know. We've spoken about a number of times because it's insane now. I mean, people are getting sent off. But I don't know what you do about it. But it sort of has to. Well, yes, it's a head loss.

And it's a type of head loss. But there's nothing the manager can do. No, I mean, it's been a number of different managers who haven't been able to solve this. No, you can't solve it because it's so difficult to solve. It's players, didn't. got experienced players, it's ill discipline. He's in a national netto. He should know better than that.

Not to leave your team down to 10 men and you're playing against one of the best teams in Arsenal. And you're right. At one stage, I thought Chelsea would go on and win it when they made it one-one because it was nervous at the Emirates. Yeah. There were nerves. And it's not an isolated incident. So there's a problem in that dressing room. And it's a serious problem. And I need to get to group. Well, it's costing them. Yeah, it's costing them. Because you don't have to be a genius to work out that you're not likely to win many games

for 10 men on the pitch. And they keep doing it. And I just, it's the fact it's three minutes. It's like you've got a stupid booking for dissent. Okay, but you know you've got that. Breathe, calm down. Breathe, calm down. And don't scissor kick somebody on the touchline. And then the audacity, the cheek to be complaining about it.

Yeah, you can't complain. Go and take your medicine and get off the pitch. Just shut up. Get off the pitch. You know what? I'm watching the TV now and they're showing the replay of Timbers Go. Oh my gosh. It looks even worse in slow mode. what Sanchez is

what is he trying to do for the goal I don't know what he's doing I've never played in goal and I can guarantee I would come and punch everything in front of me and done much better than that

or move my feet it's embarrassing goalkeeping I never had to be too critical if you had been flapping about like that just keep quiet exactly

looks like a fish on a riverbank so yeah and the thing about fish on a riverbank is they don't then afterwards say hold on Yeah, it is embarrassing.

But also, I mean, Chelsea's still, even with 10 men, they did have that late flourish, didn't they? And I think you saw the tension and felt it in Arsenal's performance at the end. And there must have been hearts in mouths when Delat puts the ball in. And Pedro's just, I mean, he was well offside. It's not a controversial decision. No, no, no. But, I mean, still, even so, for those few split seconds,

when you think they've thrown it away again. Well, also, that Garnacho ball that could, again, another great save from David Wright, really hard. I mean, if Jeo Pedro gets anything on that, it's probably a goal. It's a goal. And he also had the mistake against Walsreyer as well,

which makes it even, you know, the absolute calamity there. But then he's got them the three points today. Definitely got them the three points. So now, yeah, Arsenal five ahead. City of 1-4 on the bounce. This is the first weekend in a while, isn't it, that we've had both.

Arsenal and City winning. Semenya and Gaii clearly very good signings. And City will just feel they're still there. They know Arsenal are feeling the pressure. They're doing what they need to do and they'll just keep doing it. I think Gae and Semenya are the two best signings in the window. They feel like they've been at Man City for years. Semenya's adding assists and goals to his game.

Gai is just fitted in at the back like he's been there his whole career. And this is why I feel at the moment, I know even though Arsenal are still five points clear. I don't know. I can see something like City doing it because defensively now. You wavering Clinton. Are you wavering now? I am starting to waver.

Do you know why? Because defensively they look strong. Even though Leeds had some good chances in the first half away, if they were a bit more clinical, but then City just looked nice and solid. And you look at Arsenal. This was a big game for Arsenal, which they overcome. It doesn't matter how they scored goals or how they won it.

They managed to get the three points. But I actually still think it does come down to when the two play each other. massive game and then I'm starting to waver to World City at the moment. The emotional pressure is more on Arsenal, isn't it? The emotional pressure is Arsenal have led the league all season. They haven't won the title

for so long. They're the best team as well. They've got the best squad. They've certainly got the best squad. Best squad, yeah. And then City have just done what City do and look it doesn't you know, it's really nice when you can just go out and buy Gehie and Semenyo in January, isn't it?

Of course. I mean that that's a nice, that's a nice boost your squad when you're trying to chase down the leaders. To the other side of North London then, Tottenham's situation is really serious. I know we already knew this, but they lost 2-1 at Philham on Sunday.

Could have been more, frankly. Fullum were really good. Tottenham were awful. They're four points off of the relegation zone. And they're in, and I think this is fair to say, absolute freefall. They've equaled their longest winnest streak in the Premier League. It's 10 games now

without winning. And when you listen to E. George Judah, he said, we were not good, we lacked everything, attacking and defending, phillom were much better. There are problems here, big problems. Well, yeah. But I don't know. I saw what my managers are coming out and saying it quite so stridently, Luke. Yeah, he's done a variation of the can't attack, can't defend, can't score goals, can't play football.

I mean, if you look at what he's actually said, that he's basically saying his team's rubbish. Yeah. And he's doing that after two games. And he did it after the first game. Now, this guy is coming to replace Thomas Frank, who... It's a different sort of energy, isn't it? Yeah, we try to defend Thomas Frank, but with the benefit, we just take a step back, do we think Tottenham would have been more likely to stay up under Thomas Frank or Iger Tudor,

who they've brought in, who just seems to be scorched earth policy, I'm going to slag off absolutely everybody, all the players. I mean, they look vulnerable, they look fragile, they look like a team that's forgotten how to win games, I think their confidence must be low. And I do have to query Clinton whether a new manager coming in and being that volatile, that sort of aggressively critical, what sort of impact is that going to be happening on a team and a group that are all probably pretty shell shot from what's happened already this season.

And usually, that's quite a good question, Clinton. Yeah, he's done well there, hasn't he? But I think it needed to be shaken up, but because that's a, that's the discipline. I'm talking about players like Romero, who's letting their team down, he's still suspended when they play Tottenham on Thursday. I feel there's a lot of ill discipline at Tottenham as well,

and getting involved a lot with the fans. We know the fans are entitled to their opinions and players are never happy getting criticised, but if you're not delivering, you've got to expect that. I do think he's changed it today. I think he's gone to a four, and Igor Tudor never likes to go to a four. He always likes to play a three.

So I think he has gone to a four today, which at the end of the day, he's listening to outside noises because everyone's saying Tottenham don't have the players to play a free at this moment with Romero out suspended. So I think they're banging trouble. I thought this was a game this weekend where I thought to myself, Tottenham need to go there and get points because it's a, but then Fulham are in good format of moment.

I think the job, Marco Silver. And we're talking about managers. That's who I, Tottenham could have gone for. I know he's still under contract at Fulham, but someone like a Marco Silver. I just think it's a gamble going for a manager who's not had the experience in the Premier League to get you out of trouble. and they've got a huge, huge football match on Thursday night against Crystal Palace. And if they don't take points for them,

and West Ham and Forest might not pick up points, but West Ham have got a good game, even though they go to Fulham, which is a tough game. But it's all to play for at the moment. I mean, the best thing that's happened to Tottenham this weekend is that West Ham, Nottingham, Forest and Leeds have all lost. So they haven't actually made their situation any worse in the league. They've still got that slight cushion.

But you would have to say, on recent evidence, West Ham are playing better than Tottenham. Leeds are playing better than Tottenham. And actually, Nottingham Forest haven't been great. Probably still better than Tottenham though. But you still think they're better than Tottenham. So if they're not alarm bells ringing now and the players have got to get to grips it,

they are in a relegation fight? Are they equipped to do the things that need to be done in a relegation fight? Are they equipped to win by any means necessary? Because at the moment you have to question the last 10, they are. Exactly. And you have to question the manager and you have to question the players

and you have to question the people above them who are making these decisions. It is a mess. So here's my question and I think you probably apply this to just as equally to Forest, maybe even Newcastle,

though not quite as much, but do they have to start prioritising the league? Because I'm just thinking about what Beto Pira said. He was like, we cannot play 90 minutes, 90 minutes, 90 minutes, because we can't play at that level. It's three days after three days.

It's not easy when we play Europa League and travel every day. time. The tarness is not only physical, it's mental too. Now clearly the fans are loving being

in Europe, whether they're forest fans or Spurs fans or Spurs fans have done much better in Europe. But if they just cannot deliver,

if the schedule is too much, when do you say, okay, we need to stay up here. I think Tottenham are there. Yeah? Tottenham are there.

Well, the thing is, Tottenham are not going to go and win the Champions League, are they? No. Although it would be the most Tottenham thing ever if they won the Champions League

and got run against it. No one thought they were going to win the Europa League last year and that's what Ange did didn't he? No but they thought they had a chance they put their chance yeah they did but he put all these eggs into the Europa League now I think at your spot I'm like all the eggs in the league yeah well you say all the eggs into the league because you got

Athletical Madrid next and your next three games are tough you've got who they've got they've got I tell you the Tottenham I've got Palace and Liverpool and Forest yeah wow there's that forest game the Forest game is the one the Palace and Forest games are huge aren't they yeah of course they have to

point. They have to. It's always difficult to say, prioritise this competition or that competition. I think they are at that point where because they haven't got, they haven't got relegation clauses in the players' contracts, so they don't get a drop in money. The financial hit for a club with Spurs' outgoings would be massive.

And that stadium, that wonderful new stadium they've got, playing in front of $45,000 there is not going to be great. So they've got to stay up. But they are, you know, there are so many. flags for that. If they get relegated, that is bigger than Lester winning the Premier League. No. Yes, I do think that. Absolutely. No, I do. I do. I love you, Clinton, but that is nonsense. No, I do. I do. I think that. Look how big Tottenham is of a football club. Them going to the championship.

And that they got the best, that would be the best stadium in the championship by a country mile. They got the best stadium in the Premier League. It's huge. Leicester, come on. Lester, Leicester, let's almost relegated and then the following season won I don't know, I don't know. I'm here for your debate. You two can get me on that. I'm here for the debate, but let's do it. Let's throw it out there.

We can ask. Yeah, but I'm exactly. Big clubs have gone down. Like, you know, look at, look at where Shepard Wednesday are now. Look at where they were in the 90s. Attenville went down. Villa went down. This is Tottenham with that stadium.

I get it, though. Leeds are probably having a word about it. You know, let's leave it because I'm not getting into that. Killing is enough. Yeah, yeah. I agree with you too. Yeah, don't put this in. Clinton, you've had a bit of a sandwich moment there, I'm afraid.

Flapping around and then drawing attention to it. Yeah, let's not put that in. Let's forget about it. No, please keep that in. It's all in. It's all in. Well, I am quite enjoying Igor Tudor's sort of post-match stuff. So let's have a listen. I didn't like the referee today.

It was like too much Homer. team referee. I didn't feel well with this. All the game, all the game, all decisions were on this side, but especially the goal, this is for me in madness. I don't give, you know, that's mean that he don't understand the football, you know, like, you don't have feeling what is wrong and what is right. Well, I think he's going to find out quite quickly. You can't really do post-match interviews where you talk about home referees. I think they'll take quite a dim view of that. I basically don't think he has a point about the goal. There's a bit of a push before the ball drops to Harry Wilson. He finishes it very nicely. But he's right to be upset because

it was much more of a push than the push that was given on Gabriel in the Arsenal game. You're still banging on about that? No, no, but that's why he's thinking it, isn't it? He don't like that. That's why he's thinking it. He's like, well, hold on. Well, the lack of consistency, yes, granted. And we're going to get onto the Cunia penalty. later than we talk about Manchester United and we have a slight disagreement about that as well it is subjective it is inconsistent it is infuriating

but does he really have a point for me no no I think his point is about consistency I don't think anyone's looking at thinking he's going to go out of favour let's moan about the referee because we just lost a game yeah and philom you know Philan were really good I thought created loads of chances

emerald smith row could have had a couple I thought they were they were terrific I mean granted against a team that looks so easy to play through, but nevertheless. Your telegraph colleague, Luke, and this week's winner, a fighting talk, Tom Gibbs wrote this about Spurs at full time, which I enjoyed. A broken mess of a team, slumped on the turf, bent double, breathing hard, or staring blankly into the middle distance with hands on their hips.

Yeah. It's a nice picture, unless you're a Spurs fan or a Spurs player. Harry Wilson, just quickly, he has now the most goal involvements in the Premier League since the start of December. Only Harland has had more. has had 14 since then and Harry Wilson, six goals and five assists, just about to go into the World Cup qualification playoffs as well with Wales. And he's just banging form.

He's always been a lovely player. Can we say he's underrated? I don't think this is the season. This is the season, I think you can probably get rid of that tag. Yeah. Because those numbers that you've just talked about are phenomenal. Yeah. And stunning.

And it's the type of goals he's scoring. That's the thing, isn't it? he's become to Fulham. Yeah, he's really blossomed, fine footballer, and I think he will, God, I hate saying this, but I'm going to say it anyway. I think he'll be on the radar of a lot of clubs. No, but you know where he will be, Luke?

He's out of contract, and I don't think he's signing a contract. So there'll be a lot of clubs I'm looking at him. The same of his manager. I think they'll both be gone in the summer, and I know it's hard for Fulham Fulham fast to take, but he's a top player. Harry Wilson only scores, goal of the season goes usually.

He's fantastic. It's got great technical ability, and there'll be a lot of big clubs looking at him. Let's talk about Newcastle then. Got their first ever Champions League knockout place secured. But domestically, third consecutive home league defeat, they're sort of imploding a bit, aren't they? Well, that's the words Eddie Howe used.

We're imploding. So yes, I think it's perfectly fine for us to describe it as that. They keep finding new ways to do it as well. I mean, I still don't actually think they're playing terribly. They're not playing well, but they're not playing terribly but then just the manner of six league games only Tottenham have got fewer points

it's a terrible it's a really bad run yeah it is but it's like the Brentford game they get back to two all and then concede a third late on the manner in which they lost to Everton I think it's got to be one of the most painful for any supporter and certainly manager as well the fact they they fell a goal

behind Everton's first corner terrible defending of a corner but okay you accept that that can happen with the season of set pieces we know all that they then get a guy goal, St James's Park kind of erupts and there's this feel-good factor. And obviously anyone who watched Newcastle play at St James's Park knows that getting the fans behind the team is integral to everything they do. And then Nick Pope, I mean, not for the first time this season.

I don't know what he's doing. He just tries to gather a pretty tame shot from McNeil and then sort of drops it back into the middle of his goal and Beto has a tap-in and that's two minutes later, two minutes after the equaliser. That then sucks all of the energy out of the state. stadium. They then make really hard work, Rick, of like, laboring. Do you know what I mean?

Like, they're really laboring. They get to two all. The stadium erupts again. 73 seconds later, Anthony Gordon gives the ball away deep in his own half and Everton score a third goal. It's really poor from Gordon, isn't it? It's really poor.

It's really poor. And Anthony Gordon got booed off. Yeah. Like, I mean, it was so, it was so, the emotions were so high. There's so much anger. And it is, yeah, they're in a really, really difficult position in the league.

And I think, you know, you talked about there, Rick, about Tottenham, do they need to prioritise the league rather than the Cups? I think you're getting to the point now where Newcastle will be all right. They'll be fine in the league. But I think they have to prioritise the FA Cup against Manchester City and the Champions League because those are the two things that can save their season. I think in terms of getting, certainly getting into the top six, I think that's gone for.

Yeah, that looks. I mean, also they can't keep a clean sheet. It's 12 games since they kept to clean sheet. Yeah, 12 games. They've kept three in their last 29 games. I can't defend. and they've got a goalkeeper in Nick Pope who, what has happened to in this season, I've no idea.

I mean, it's almost funny that he was considered a rival to Pickford for the England role and, you know, Pickford made that exceptional say. Well, if Pickford was playing for Newcastle, that result, Newcastle win that game. Yeah, exactly. And we're talking about elite goalkeepers right at the top of this podcast. Newcastle did have one in Nick Pope. I'm going to say elite elite, but he was a brilliant shot stopper, amazing shot stop.

It had to be a really good finish to be. You don't have to do much to score against Newcastle anymore. No, it doesn't seem like it. So they're in a rut. They're in a bad to pay. And, you know, until they've got really tough month, I mean, this month is going to define the whole season. They've got Manchester United midweek.

Then they've got Man City in the Cup. Then they've got the two legs against Barcelona in the Champions League. And then to round it all off, they've got Sunderland at home. It's a lively few games, isn't it? If any result is going to just bring everything crashing down. it is losing at home to Sunderland. So they've got to come out of this month, you know, with some positive results.

Eddie Howe was coming in for some criticism. You notably came out in defence of him, Luke. That had kind of settled down. I did wonder yesterday about him making these kind of bold positional changes. So Gordon up front, Volta Marder in midfield and then Joe Linton out on the left. And it wasn't really working.

and then he moved them all back into their traditional positions after about half an hour. And you think, I don't know. And they scored immediately. They scored immediately, are having done that tactical shift. Right. So why have you started with something mad?

Overthink. Well, Gordon has worked at Centre Forward. So he has been good. Volta Marda is a massive problem. I don't know what Clinton thinks, but I know Alan Shearer has sort of criticized him on match of the day, but he's not suited as a Centre Forward. in the Premier League. Zero touches

of the Emerton box yesterday. No shots. It doesn't look like scoring. Doesn't look like getting on the end, anything. Can't hold the ball up, can't run him behind, can't win headers. There was a cross in the first half which you appeared to actually duck out of rather than attack the ball. So they've tried to, because Bruno's injured,

they've tried to sort of think, well, he's quite good at the ball with his feet and his passing's pretty good, so we'll stick him in midfield. I think that experiment needs to be scrapped because he can't run, he can't tackle. Yeah, I mean, he's not a midfielder. And he's not a midfielder. So they've got a big, big problem with him

because he's not being good at Centre Forward for weeks now, months even. And this experiment with trying to turn him into a midfield, Everton just swarmed all over him. And he just looks too slow and ponderous. So, yeah, it's a big problem, but it didn't work. And Joel Linton wasn't happy on the left. And he looked better when he's moved into the middle. It was just a – and I think that set the tone, Rick.

I don't get what you're saying. They started badly, and that just made them angsty all game. That's what I mean. And that is on Eddie Howe, I think. I wonder if I'm absolutely clueless. Remember after about sort of five or six games this season, Volzabardo was my favourite signing. He was everyone.

But he was really good at the start, wasn't he? He was fun. You're right. He was good. He was outstanding. He was scoring goals and he was a good target man. But the thing is, is how Newcastle want to play. They need their number nine to stretch him behind.

And I think that's someone like what Isat used to do, obviously. And they brought in Vista to do that, but he can't. get a run against before he picks up injuries. And that is why I think Eddie Howe is playing Anthony Gordon through the middle to use his pace. And also because Harvey Barnes has probably been better in the Premier League than Anthony Gordon has on that left-hand side.

So you're trying to fit him into it. But you can't play Joe Lennon on the left. No way. I think that goes back to like Steve Bruce days where I feel they were doing that. And then it had to change and he brought him into midfield. And I thought Joe Lennon was outstanding in the midfield. It's hard.

And I agree with what Luke's saying. He's trying to find a place for Volt. Tomada to play as a number 10 because he's good with his back towards goal, he's neat and tidy, but in midfield you've got to be able to cover the pitch up and down and he can't do that and he has to be better in the air. He has to be better

when crosses coming to the box. He's a big target man, he needs to go and attack the ball and he's, maybe Alan Shira could help him and teach him a finger out to, you know what I mean, about heading the ball because he was one of the best to do it. I'm starting to think that maybe they shouldn't have sold Isaac. On

Evanton, second best away record in the league behind Arsenal. Got 24 points for their away games. And Jared Brantwick was talking about their sort of European ambitions and he was quite open. He's like, yeah, that's all right. We want to be in Europe and we've got to, why not believe he said? And actually, because, not that I think Everton have been brilliant this season, but a lot better than they've been in past seasons when they've been sort of in relegation battles.

and it's so tight in there, you wouldn't put it past them, particularly with that away record. I think they got an excellent chance. Yeah, excellent chance. I don't know about you, Clinton, but I think they got an excellent chance. David Moyes admitted it after the game as well.

He said, you know, he talked about West Ham, narrowly avoided relegation one season and the next season they qualified for Europe. The season after that, they won the Conference League. So, Everton, there's no reason why Everton can't aspire to do something similar. And I thought they were really good against Newcastle, really, really clever. The only problem they've got, Clinton,

and it's the home form, isn't it? Because the Hill Dickinson Stadium, wonderful stadium. Yeah, it's crazy. They're not as good at home. Yeah, Luke's spot on. I think everything he says. Before, when you do like predictions, they were my surprise package because I thought David Moyes,

the signings they made. And you know what? They're doing all right this season. Bramphoid's been out for the majority of the season. He's coming back. He's come back. He looks brilliant. And what they've struggled to do is score goals.

But both of the strikers scored against Newcastle in Beto and Barry. And that's not being disrespectful. If they had an out and out number nine, Evan would be a lot higher because they create a lot of chances. Drewsby Hall, really good player. Eleiman and Jai on the right-hand side,

I've always think... I like in Jaya. He's a good player. He's very good. He can go to another level as well. He's a very good player. And Jack Grealish is missing, but the young boys come in

and done never so well, Armstrong. So they've got good talented players. But yeah, they look good. They could surprise a lot of people, Evan, and finish in Europe. Just look at the table. Sorry, it's so, tight. Everton are on

40, level on points with Fullum and then you go all the way down to Palace in 14th on 35 so five points across how many teams is that? Seven teams. So Bournemouth, Brighton Sunderland you've got to say are basically now just happy to stay up

probably because they're in a bit of fruitful. Newcastle need to do something but any of them string together a few wins and they could, I mean Bournemouth had come right back into it haven't they? Yeah, that's the thing what nobody's doing this season, Rick, is putting those runs together. No.

So it's win one, draw one, lose one. Everybody's done it. Apart from Arsenal and obviously Manchester City now, and Manchester United at the moment. They are in a great run of form as well. But nobody's been able to do that. If you can put three wins together on the sphere, you completely transform your league position.

And that's what they're all be clinging to. That's what all the managers will be looking at. So in Eddie Howe, you know, obviously getting a bit of Chris and maybe under a bit of pressure, of course he is, but it'll still be thinking in the back of mind, We win three games in a row and we're back into the top eight. Well, we're going to talk about Manchester United and Liverpool shortly. First, though, here's your halftime teaser.

And this is an absolute gimmy. You will actually get this and you'll get it immediately. And I'm just trying to build your confidence, lads. With Tottenham currently in big trouble, who were the last member of the current Big Six to be relegated and what season? So obviously you know where the Big Six are. But Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham.

Answer coming next, plus more analysis. This is not the future we were promised. Like, how about that for a tagline for the show? From the BBC, this is the interface, the show that explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world. This isn't about quarterly earnings or about tech reviews. It's about what technology is actually doing to your work and your politics, your everyday life.

and all the bizarre ways people are using the internet. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. From a small village on the banks of the River Nile. Everybody call me Muhammad, but you know, short name or nickname, they call me more. To the biggest stages of world football. Sala is more than just a player. He's an icon, a symbol, a king. Muhammad Sala represents a dream for Egyptian.

for Muslims, for Africans. More than just a football player, he gave us hope. I'm Kelly Kate. This is Sporting Giants, Mo Salah. Listen on BBC Sounds. On the Football Daily podcast, Premier League Review, with Rick Edwards. Welcome back to the Premier League review. Before the break, I asked the extremely easy question.

Who were the last member of the current Big Six to be relegated and the season? Luke says easy. It is really easy. And the answer is... Land City. And what was the year? It was late 90s.

98. I'll give it to Clinton because he was closer. 2001. But yeah, I mean, I'm just trying to, like I say, I'm just trying to build you up a bit because you're so bad at those teasers. Yeah, but the year wrong. It wasn't late 90s at all.

No, but it was close. I've got to give you something, haven't I? Let's talk United and Liverpool, Both have had struggles this season, but both now on good runs, particularly United. United now up to third with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. Liverpool put five past West Hamfield, three points behind them in fifth. So let's start with United.

Not convincing, particularly in the first half, they were not good. But this is the first time they've been as high as third since 2023. The momentum, we like to talk about momentum. Momentum is there. Carrick has got them playing. Well, Chesco is scoring a lot of goals, seven and eight now. And you think that they are now

pretty much sort of nailed on to get a European place. Yeah, I think they'll finish third. My honest opinion is they'll finish third and Liverpool will finish fourth. That's my, I know we'll get on to Liverpool, but they'll finish third. I just think they play one game a week

and it helps them. They're not in Europe, so it's helping them. And I was at the game. And in the first half, Palace by far the better team. Obviously, it changes. I know we talk about when Laquois gets sent off

because they look flat, but once the one player I look at them and when it's not going well for Man United, who can drag them? It's Bruno Fernandez. Watching him live, wow, he is a player, by the way. He has got everything, all the tools to be one of the best there is. And that's how much I rate him.

Watching him live, I thought he was fantastic. And it was good to see, man, I shouldn't say it was good because against my old team, but Cessco scored a great header. And he led the line ever so well. It was a big cool Michael character leave Ahmad because Cessco's been knocking on the door and I thought he was outstanding

and I thought second half they were really good and gave it a good goal so they're in good form so that's why I think they'll finish above Aston Villa because Villa I think will concentrate on Europe. Yeah and then faltering a little bit. Exactly. I completely agree about Fernandez.

I was thinking that as I watched the game. It's like without him United would struggle. He's so consistent. And he could have sold him in the summer, Rick. I know, I know. But he's so consistent. consistently excellent and so consistently, I would say, sort of head and shoulders above everyone

else on that team. Like he drags them through. He really does. He's one of those force of personality players, isn't he? Who moulds games to his will. I think he's obviously really enjoying playing for Michael Carrick as well. And they were in trouble at half-time, you know? I was watching the game. Michael Carrick jogged off down, you know, into the tunnel. Quite impressive speed for somebody of his age. I think he knew it was a big half-time T-talk. But they came out and were much, much better in the second half and deserved to win. And I will, Michael Carrick has now won 23 points in nine games. Here's a little teaser for you.

Who was the last new Premier League manager to take 23 points from his first nine games? Honest Lott? New. Got to be close. That was a good shout, though. Not Pet Guardiola. No. Give us a clue, mate.

Oh, oh, oh. He's not working anymore. No. He's not working. He's not working. He was working recently. Yes. Very recent.

He lost his job twice in quick succession. Oh, that's a big... A favourite of this podcast. Sean Deutsch? No! I'm just saying that. No.

But he managed Nottingham Forest. He managed Nottingham Forest. Oh, Ange. Ange! Ange! How rubbish are you at these? Hang on. This is brilliant.

You're even worse than we are. Anj at the world. Did Ange win that many at the start? At Tottenham. Fair play. Yeah, they thought not. Yeah, they were going to win the league, didn't they, Rick? Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They got massively over-excited, do you remember it? It was like the best manager we've ever had and the greatest impact anyone's ever made on the Premier League. It's cute when Spurs fans get excited. On the penalty and red card then,

because that was the... Whilst it's absolutely fair to say that United were much better in the second half, that was the turning point. And I don't know. When I first watched it, I just thought, well, contact definitely starts out. the area. So my gut was, so that's a free kick at the edge

just outside the box. And then I thought, maybe, and then maybe a red card, because it does look like a clear goal scoring opportunity. Penalty and red card always just seems really harsh, doesn't it? And then there is the question of whether it was a foul at all in the first place. I sort of think it was. You think no, Luke.

I think Cunia has made, how did we describe it? I said it was the feather pillow side of soft. Yes. I think Cunia's very cute. Yeah. I think he... But he gets pulled, doesn't he?

Like his hand on the shoulder, he gets pulled. I think he's got his hand on the shoulder. I think he does an absolutely brilliant job of arching his body in a way that makes it look like there's been a pool. And he waits until he gets into the penalty area to do it. Once it's given on the field, VAR aren't going to overhaul. return it. I think we just have to put, I don't think it is a penalty. I don't really even think it's a foul, but we just have to accept those sorts of decisions. I know Oliver Glastner isn't happy about it because there is a, there is a train of thought that Manchester United,

big clubs get the benefit of those decisions, particularly at home. I would tend to agree with Oliver Glasner in that. But once it's given, it's not going to be overturned. And unfortunately, once it's given, he is, he is denying, he hasn't tried to play the ball and he's denying a goal-scoring opportunity. But I think CUNYA has been very, very clever to, I'm not going to use the word

con, earn that red card. I think, yeah. I think a lot of people, players will go down. I think La Cuea, when he looks at it, he shouldn't,

should just let him go. So I can understand why the penalty is given. My take on it is Cunia, the bull's getting away from him and Dean Henderson is closer to get the ball.

So it should be a penalty, but should it have been a red card. I don't think Cunia's that quick that he gets there before Dean Henderson. because when they slowed it down and when he went down the ball was going away from him

Is that why he's gone down then? Maybe. You think that's played into his thinking? What would you do Clinton in that situation? Be honest now. If I'm not getting to the ball, I'm going to go down because in theory I'm going to get a penalty

and I'm going to get Laquois sent off. So you know what? You can be critical, but it's good centre forward play and I think Lequire has to say don't touch him, just leave him and let him go one-on-one, 11 against 11 and just back Dean Henderson

who made some good saves to make the save. but I've been in situations that defenders have and instantly you just react to want to pull on the shirt so yeah it's a difficult decision I do think I was like you Luke

until I slowed it down and I looked at it and you could see it and then he does pull him outside and then he doesn't let go and then he pulls a little bit again and that's when they look at the second bit of contact but I did agree with what you're saying

I didn't feel the first... Did you see the end zone of Fay one for Sunland when he gets absolutely wiped out from behind and the referee says it's like properly like smashed into from behind and the referee just goes no penalty and then you see a penalty. It's too inconsistent.

It's too inconsistent. I agree. I think we just have to accept that we're always going to be moan about inconsistency. Yeah, of course there is. both of those things were very distant. I think Liverpool have been in really good form. Everyone was questioning them, would I on the slot make it into...

And you know what? And I'll throw this out there. They have a chance of winning the Champions League because I think in Liverpool are up and firing over two legs and a one-off game. They can beat anybody. That's my honest opinion. If everyone's fit and firing at the moment without a shadow.

And they are scoring goals from set piece. He's a threat, Virgil Van Dyke when the ball comes into the box. The delivery is good. And they look good. Don't get me wrong. problems and, you know, can have a go in there. I thought that West Hampton causes them a lot of problems. A bit through

sloppiness. And it feels mad to say it when you get hammered 5-2. I think Westdown were all right and shouldn't be disheartened by that result. And that's what I said, but Liverpool good going forward. The boy up front, Eckertique. Wow. He's a joy

to watch. What a sign in he's been, by the way. They're outstanding Liverpool. They look good. And Vitz is obviously injured at the moment. He'll come back into that. I think it's important. Yeah, that will help the team. So I think Liverpool will finish fourth this season and got a good chance of picking up silverware in the Champions League.

People might think I'm crazy, it's my opinion. Yeah, West Ham, you think on the evidence of what I saw yesterday and the results have been having recently and how they're playing under Nouno. And then you look at Forest and you look at Spurs and you think, yeah, they're still in with a chance of escaping relegation. Burnley, the chances are not getting relegated. They're pretty slim, not helped.

by what was, as you said, Clint said at the start of the pod and a crazy game and you just, you really felt for them because they didn't they just didn't deserve not to get something out of it. It's been a really hard testing difficult season for them,

hasn't it? And we've talked a lot about Burnley and I'm glad we have talked a lot about Burnley on this podcast in the last few weeks because there is a tendency sometimes to ignore stories like that. But poor Scott Parker came out when he was really emotional a few weeks ago and I felt dreadfully sorry for it. him and this has been calls for him to go.

That was just a chance. At the end of this really difficult, miserable season, knocked out the FA Cup, weren't they? And that should have been something that whatever happened this season, that should have, they should have won that game. And it should have been just something to cling on to. Yeah, just a beautiful game. Yeah, a beautiful game, a beautiful win, great spirit, come back.

Turfmore would have been electric and they were denied it by borderline, overzealous interventions from VAR. Handball's not clear and obvious, is it? No. And they've had that ruined by... Have we sort of lost the idea of giving the benefit of the doubt to the attacker? Because that seemed like a classic example. I was like, well, I don't think you can see.

Yeah, I agree. And it's just really must be so hard for them to take that. And they just deserve something good, Rick. Do you know what I mean? They just deserve some happiness. And it was ruined by what modern football has become with, as I say, overzealous, heavy touch VAR. But also it took so long.

I mean, I think JJ, what the part owner said, if it takes 10 minutes, it's not clear and obvious, which is fair. It was pretty obvious. If it takes more than a minute, too, yeah, yeah, yeah. 90 seconds at most, it's not clear. I don't think it was, it was,

but it would have been three or four minutes. And the thing about that is, and this is a sort of wider point, is given that the Premier League is a product. And you can kind of argue about whether it should be or not, but it is. It's a product that you are trying to sell. And it's just really bad for the product.

It's really bad for it. So you have to change it, don't you? We're getting more BAR, aren't me, according to the rule changes that are coming in? I don't mind it, but it's the inconsistent. That's annoying for me. And where we ever get... Just scale it back. Yeah, because you know what?

The handball, I think it's so harsh on Ashley Barnes, so harsh. And they took too, and they're taking too long to make decisions. It's not right. It's not right for the game at this moment. And I feel like referees are not. referee in the game anymore. They're waiting for their mate to tell them. Yeah, of course, exactly.

Okay, that is, I think, probably all we've got time for on the Premier League review. Thanks very much, Clinton. Thanks, Luke. Thanks, mate. I'm Rich Hall, and this is Sports Strangest Crimes presents Confessions of a Super Bowl streaker. When people ask me what I do, I say to them, well, by day or by night.

The story of one man's mission to conquer the Holy Grail. of streaking the Super Bowl. Mark Roberts is too lively for this body. He's just like the entertainer. Mark pushes the boundaries of what is socially acceptable. No chance, Texas. It's really strict, but then the more of those about it. And I thought, I'm gone.

What are you about? Sports Strangers Crimes presents Confessions of a Super Bowl streaker. Listen on BBC Sounds. This is not the future we were promised. How about that for a tagline for the show? From the BBC, this is The Interface, the show that explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world. This isn't about quarterly earnings or about tech reviews.

It's about what technology is actually doing to your work and your politics, your everyday life. And all the bizarre ways people are using the internet. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.