Football Daily - Premier League Review: Amorim unrest and advantage Arsenal

Episode Date: January 4, 2026

Are Ruben Amorim’s days at Manchester United numbered after his insistence he’s there to “manage” the team not coach? Clinton Morrison and Luke Edwards join Rick Edwards to discuss the unrest at Old Trafford and dissect the best of the weekend’s Premier League action. Chelsea’s late equaliser against Manchester City means Arsenal extend their lead at the top of the Premier League. They’re six points clear thanks to what Mikel Arteta called an “immense” performance from Declan Rice, his two goals helped them to a 3-2 win at Bournemouth. Harrison Reed’s wonder strike may have denied Liverpool a win at Fulham but is Florian Wirtz’ goalscoring form the only bright spark for Arne Slot? Plus, Wolves finally have their first win of the season, what does that mean for West Ham and Nuno Espirito Santo. Timecodes: 01:37 – Amorim unrest at Manchester United 12:46 – Manchester City drop points against Chelsea 22:10 – Arsenal’s strong start to 2026 30:51 – Harrison Reed denies Liverpool a win at Fulham 37:10 – Newcastle pick up back to back wins 41:30 – Tottenham’s poor home form continues 42:16 – Wolves finally get their first win of the season

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Bring more gear, carry more passengers, face greater challenges. Welcome to the world of Defender, with seating up to eight, ample cargo space, and legendary off-road capability. It's built to make the most of every adventure. Learn more at landrover.ca. On the Football Daily Podcast, Premier League Review with Rick Edwards. Hello and welcome to the Premier League review after the first weekend of Premier League action of 2026,

joining me to dissect the weekend's action, the telegraphs Luke Edwards, and Tooting's finest former Premier League striker, Clinton Morrison, evening fellows. Good evening, Rick. How are you? Evening, Rick. All good. How's you been, mate? Yeah, not bad. Obviously missed you, Clinton, for like it's been a while. I will say, Happy New Year. I don't want a load of detail here. Just in one sentence, in turn, how was your New Year's?

Steve. Clinton. Very, very, very good. Party time. That's perfect. Luke. Went to bed at 6 a.m. New Year's Day. Have some of that. Life in the old dog yet. Maybe I want one more sentence because actually you are way too old to be doing that. What was going on? Are you so old you can't sleep anymore? Just relive in former glories. I went to a house party and I came back. Got in at six? No, I didn't get in at six. I got in a half past three. But then I would just...

Oh, then two and a half hours of watching Last of the Summer Wine repeats. Yeah, basically. I might have those off on the sofa. I might go. But that's good. Look, that's good going. Thank you.

That's good going. All right, and that's enough New Year chat, I think. We're going to talk about the title race shortly. Arsenal now, six points clear of Manchester City after this weekend's games. Going to start with Manchester United, though. Their struggles continue with a one-all draw at Leeds, came from behind to get a point at Ellum Road,

this after drawing with Wolves on Tuesday. But the thing that everyone, I think, wants to talk about is Ruben Amarim. So after the match, he was asked to be he felt he still had the confidence of the board. Guys, to stop with that, and I notice that you receive selective information about everything, I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United. And that is clear. I know that my name is not Tushel, it's not Conte, it's not Morino, but I'm the manager of Manchester United. And it's going to be like this for a...

18 months or when the board decided to change. So that was my point. I want to finish with that. I'm not going to quit. I will do my job until other guy is coming here to replace me. Well, look, I mean, you don't even need to listen to the words that he's saying to know that it's quite explosive because you can hear the furious tapping of keyboards from the journalists have been like, what now?

And, you know, I think, I mean, everything moves so quickly, isn't it? But there was only a couple of weeks ago that we were saying, oh, I think Ruben Amory is just starting to find his feet a bit here. And now, under a, I mean, yes, under a bit of pressure. But that kind of press conference, that kind of statement is not going to help his position at all. I mean, we've seen what happened to Enzo Moreska when he came out and said, I mean, it was a bit lively of what Moreska said, but still it's ballpark, isn't it? Yeah, look, it's been the season of the managerial hissy fit, isn't it?

We remember Nuno at Nostigam Forrest talked his way into the sack. Oliver Glasner has had a few pops. He's still in position opposite Crystal Palace. Then Enzo Moreska has done basically signalled that he wanted out. And now we've got Ruben Amrim. Look, I listened to that and I've read the comments in full. He is effectively challenging them to either sign players this month or sack him. He doesn't sound like a manager.

to be there anymore. I'm not sure his heart has been in it for some time, if I'm honest. And he is picking a fight mainly with Jason Wilcox, the sporting director.

Yeah. You mentioned the sporting director specifically, doesn't he? Yeah, if you listen to the whole clip. Yeah. You do your job, I'll do mine. Yeah. And I understand.

I think the frustration really is borne out. They were in a position to bid 65 million pounds for Semenio this month. They made a pitch for him. he wants to go to Manchester City so he's not coming to Manchester United

I think from Amarine's point of view that money seems to now have disappeared and he appears or is alluding to the fact he's been told he said before the game that they're probably not going to be any incoming so he's very very frustrated about that but he is picking a fight that history tells us that generally managers lose

because sporting directors are so powerful and they have the year of the owners and look Ruben Amarim Manchester United is six in the league they're doing okay but he's not powerful enough and hasn't done good enough job to pick these sorts of fights

with people above him and win so yeah very very volatile situation it'll be fast moving but yeah he really has sort of lit the fuse there isn't he and he's fired shots in the direction of the board I'm fascinated to see where it goes I didn't know he said that about Jason

Wilcoe you do your job and I'll do my job there's only ever going to be one winner and that listen I can understand his frustration because as he says there, you know what, I'm not the coach. So basically he's the manager. He wants to make a decision of what players he wants coming through the door. That's what he's basically saying. Because when you're a coach, you just get the players

and you have to just deal with them, coach them. Like they are doing at Chelsea, they just want to coach. But he wants to be the manager having choice. And he's right, you should probably be going for people like Samanian. You were, but he decided to go city. So surely now there must be money left where you can go sign a midfielder because they're crying out for a cent of midfielder. Yeah.

They wanted that just before the window. So I understand him, but Luke hits the nail on the head. Ruben Amarin, you cannot come out and say that because you are not doing that good. You are doing all right at the moment, but since you've been at Man United, you have not been a success. And let me tell you, the board have backed you where a lot of people wanted you to lose your job. So you have to be careful what you wish for. And you've seen it with Nuno, you've seen it with Enzo Moreska. There's only one winner.

And that is the owners at the end of the day. Yeah, he sounds really fed up. and that kind of narrative of, I'm not going to quit, it's almost like an invitation to get rid of me, isn't it? Yeah, well, they want paying up, didn't they? I mean, being sacked is a very lucrative business in football management. They all have these contracts that protect them. They get a huge payoff.

And I think he said last season, didn't he, he would quit. I think that's where the language change is. He said he would quit if he didn't think he could take the team forward. There's obviously a lot of problems behind the scene. It's just a question, you know, can Jason Wilcox and Ruben Amaran and patch things up. Can there be some shuttle diplomacy behind the scenes at Manchester United

this week to smoothing things over? Will they have a recruitment meeting where they say, as Clinton said, they need a midfielder, that they can have that meeting and say, look, we've got another target, we'll try and get them. But I just don't think he's strong enough

as a manager to pick that fight. And are Manchester United that enraptured with the job he's done, that they're just going to let him effectively tell the sporting director and recruitment team to do it. do their job. And the other thing to add is, he was given the title head coach when he came in. Well, that's what I was going to say. I thought he was head coach. Yeah, I mean,

he literally is head coach. Yeah. So, so. So, sort of do, do you, do you? But now he doesn't want to be the head coach. He wants to be the manager. And yeah, it's going to be really interesting. You don't get to just sort of promote yourself, do you? No, you don't. As much as we'd like to in many walks of life. But it's just whether they can smooth things over. I'll be doing the Monday night club. Yeah, well, exactly. Yeah. I mean, I'll replace Mark Chapman. I mean, I can't do that, do you know what I mean? I'm not capable of doing it. I don't feel like you're massively in line for that, but okay.

Gabby Logan? I mean, I'm just, my point is. I can't, you know, I can't just opt. Yeah, you replaced Gabby Logan. It's not like for like, I'll tell you that. No. There's an article on the BBC Sport website that says the head of recruitment at United

had spoken to Amarin back in August and asked him to change his, adapt his system. And I think, you know, the head of recruit, no, of course managers hate that. And actually, the head of recruitment shouldn't be telling the manager what to do with his system. You should be letting him get on with it. Like I actually have some sympathy for his thing of, I'll do my job, you do your job, let's all try and work together, but stay in our lanes. That's not unreasonable, is it? You know who's meant to say that, us, look, we can say.

that, but not the head of recruitment. You're meant to be singing off the same hymn sheet, and they're not at the moment. They're not. But this always ends up ending bad for me. Do I think he'll still be in a job? I think you will last at the end of the season, unless Man United have someone lined up at the moment,

but you can't keep coming out in the media and these managers having goals at the people above them. I get it, you can be frustrated, and the questions come and you want to answer them, but no, it can't be doing that. It only ends one way. I think, Luke, that, The job of Manchester United manager has been such a poison chalice for so long.

I actually think now maybe slightly less so because they have backed Amram. I know he wants money now in the January transfer window, but they definitely backed him in the summer. They stuck with him when things were going badly. And that's sort of what has been missing in previous United manager's ten years probably. So I think it's slightly, I would guess it's slightly more attractive than it was, given what's happened with Amram, even though it's soured now. Yeah, I mean, Sir Jim Ratcliffe said he was going to be our manager for five years, didn't he? And if you remember, that coincided with the upturn in form that they had.

And an upturned in form that prompted Jason Wilcox to appear doing all the media rounds, by the way, doing, you know, he was suddenly interviewed. He's now disappeared again. Is it attractive? Of course, it's an attractive job. But it's mid-season. They had this problem when they got rid of Ten Hague, when they should have got rid of him in the summer. They're then sacked in mid-season. Then they bring Amarin in mid-season. They've got a lot, they've got a lot of questions to answer. There will be a lot of frantic

meetings going on behind the scenes at Manchester United. So Jim Ratcliffe will have to get involved. Jason Wilcox has already seen off, if you remember, Dan Ashworth, who was the sporting director, are fingers going to be pointed at him? I mean, that's not beyond the realms of possibility in this. Is Amarin picking a fight that maybe puts the pressure on Wilcox a little bit? I think he's very emotional character, isn't he? We know that. We've seen that in the way he's handled media duties. Is this just another emotional outburst that the Manchester United

hierarchy can shrug off? I don't think so, but they might limp on to the end of the season. I think the problem they've got is he was brought in to be that manager who was going to rebuild the club. You know, you've got the minority owner who's in charge of the football side

of the business saying he's going to be our manager for five years. Well, the other interesting thing he said there, Ramrim is 18 months. He's basically said, I'll be here for 18 months, unless I'm sack sooner. So he's not committing long term. So it's opened up a viper's nest really and it does make you wonder what an earth has been going

on behind the scenes at Manchester United the last few months. People seem to be from the outside looking in. There doesn't seem to be a lot of unity. Doesn't seem to be a lot of collective responsibility. There seems to be people knifing each other in the back and the manager has just done it very, very publicly. Yeah. A word on Leeds

who are now, unbeaten in seven, eight points clear of the relegation zone. I mean, Marcus, did a fantastic job. Brilliant, fantastic. You know when it was from that Man City game? I know they went and lost, but he had a change of shape.

He played two up front, and Calvert Lewin has hit some purple patchy, where he's been outstanding, to be fair. But they find the shape. Even when they go to Liverpool, they leave Calvert Lewin on the bench, but they still manage to go there, cause a few problems,

create chances, and defend ever so well. So full credit must go to Daniel Farker, because I thought that week that he had coming out where he had the likes of Man City and Chelsea, I thought you're going to get sacked. at the end of that week but he's done ever so well and now you think Leeds are going to stay up

because I don't know if we're going to talk about West Ham or anything but they're banging trouble at the moment but I think yeah Leeds will stay up now and I think huge credit must go to Daniel Falker because you've got to remember at the start of the season

everyone was saying he's not even going to keep his job after getting them promoted for the championship they stick with him and then he had loads of money to spend as well it's like his best signing will probably be the free transfer of Dominic Calvert And his goals will keep them in the Premier League. So fair play to him.

Next three Premier League games for Leeds, St James' Park, tough one. Fulham at home and then Everton away. Get some points there, I reckon. It's all right. Okay, let's talk about the game that we just finish watching. Chelsea coming from behind very late on to draw with Manchester City

in their first match since Enzo Moreska's exit. Tijani Rinder's open the scoring for City. with a goal that he had no right to score really I still can't quite watch the replay a couple of times like that's a decent finish and then injury time scruffy very scruffy injury time equaliser from Enzo Fernandez but they all count

and ultimately a really really big goal for Arsenal who now are six points clear in the title race and it's back to back draws to start 2026 for City and I don't know Clint says I was watching you could hear the crowd

getting a bit nervous almost like they knew that something like that was coming like Chelsea were pushing yeah they were good Chelsea were good in the second half he made a few changes the young manager and I thought

they were fantastic in the second up and I always looked at the game and say Man City need a second goal and I've said that all season because what Man City when they've been good the previous year

defensively attacking wise they've been good defensively this year I think they're open as soon as they've lost the likes of cardio they're just more vulnerable aren't they

yeah more vulnerable and then obviously Even though they had Rodry back, it was pleasing to see Roderio went off, then Ruben Diaz, and it was always going to be a struggle. And I just thought they were anxious. Everyone was anxious.

You see when they could see, Pep looks to the heavens and thinks, not again, because that is now, I'm not saying it's not going to be over because there's still loads of football to go. But Arsenal, I've had an unbelievable weekend because it's been fantastic for them. And Mansit will be disappointed,

just the lateness of the conceding of the goal. But it feels like for me, they always need to get go too new up. and then you think they're going to win the game because they're conceding too many goals at the moment. The other thing, and I know it's a drum that we've all been beating for a while, is if Harland isn't scoring, that is a big problem for them. So he's gone three games now, which for him is a lot.

Before I let Luke come in there, you know what? I actually, you must be thinking exactly what I was thinking. When I was watching the game, I was thinking, if he's not scoring, who else is going to chip him with goals? That is why they need to get the Semeno deal done 100% because he will add more goals to them. He single-handedly does it for Bournemouth, so he will definitely do it for

Man City when he's getting more chances. So they need to get that deal done as soon as possible. But then you look at the attacking strength that they have City. So obviously they've got Harlem, but Cherokee looks like, and we've talked about it on the pot already, looks like a real player. He'll chip in with goals.

They can get goals from midfield. Rinders have scored. How many scored in the last he scored three or four in the last three games? Something like that. They've Docu, you know, had a really good start of the season as maybe not so good in the last of few weeks but he's got goals in him like they have they should have goals coming from elsewhere

shouldn't they look? It's never been a problem for a Pep Guardiola team before, has it? No. We've never really encountered that. You get sort of Bernardo Silver pop up with them, you know. Yeah, and in the gaze of Rahim, Sterling, you know, the winners of John. Foden, yeah, exactly.

They normally pop up with goals, but for some reason the year they've just started. looking really stodgy. I saw them play Sunderland. And yeah, they had a bright second half, but they looked vulnerable against Sunderland as well. There is just a fragility about them. And we were all assuming that, you know,

that relentless pressure, they ended the year in such brilliant form, winning games of fun. And, you know, they looked like they were going to apply this sort of relentless pressure on Arsenal. And they just got off to a bad start to year, but because Arsenal are just doing what Man City

have done before and what Liverpool did last season, and they're managing to win the games. There's grind on, yeah. They're grinding on, and City of wobbled first. And it is only a wobble. As Clinton said, there's a lot of football still to be played, and Harlan presumably will come back into goal-scoring form, and they're very, very capable of putting a run of five, six, seven wins together.

But there is just something about this city team that doesn't inspire the same confidence. Yeah, but the run that you just mentioned there, you say five, six, seven games and you think, yeah, maybe. But the city of previous seasons, you thought they could go 10, 11, 12 on the balance. And they would win 3-4-0.

Yeah, and you cannot see that with this city team. No, you're not. There is something that they are not quite that vintage class. And I think, I've said it all season, and I'm going to keep saying it, I think that's what's opening the door to Arsenal, because in the past, city would have kept that pressure up,

and they've now given Arsenal, crucial breathing space you know six points they know they can afford they can afford to slip up and still remain top of the league obviously they've got to play Manchester City as well

but it really has handed the advantage at the start of January to Arsenal and I think Pep will be concerned I think he will be worried because that you know well you could see for his reaction at that equaliser yeah and he was and you know they invite

I thought Chelsea deserved it as well and we should we should just give a little shout out to Callum McFarlane who you know Made some tweaks for the second half. They worked. You've got the opportunity of, you know, a lifetime stepping up to be interim manager

and they've scored a late equalizer at Chelsea. Whatever the future holds for him, that'll be a really special day for him. The worry for the Chelsea hierarchy is they'll just be thinking they don't really need, they don't need a manager, they just need somebody to name the team and you can go out and draw it at Manchester City.

So that's another box of frogs that have opened in terms of the management structure of Chelsea. You know what I'd say about this week coming up? It's a massive week. because Man City played Bratton at home and obviously Arsenal have Liverpool. I know it's not the same Liverpool, but you always think them Arsenal-Liverpool games are very good.

And let me tell you something, if Liverpool can have a say where this title is going, they'll try to cause an upset at the Emirates. It's going to be difficult for Liverpool. Obviously, they've got a few injuries and hopefully EKK's back for the midweek game. But I think this week is so, so crucial to the title race, for sure. Yeah, watching Liverpool is like watching

a slow-motion replay of an entire match. Liam Resignia is the frontrunner to take over as the Chelsea manager currently managing Strasbourg I mean look I don't think I have any particular view on this I just don't know enough about him as a manager I know he's well regarded but beyond that I can say what he almost certainly won't be manager I mean he'll definitely be

You know what Luke's saying and I know Liam and Liam's a fantastic coach. When he had, Wayne Rooney was with him at Derby, he speak to a lot of people and he's brilliant. He's detailed on stuff on the training pitch. It's brilliant. I thought he's done a brilliant job at Hull as well. Now he's doing a good job at stress. But

I've said it many of times. You know what Chelsea want? And this is not being disrespectful. They want a yes man. They want someone to say basically these are the players we're signing. You do the coaching. We'll have a debrief after the game to speak about not to tell you what team you should pick

or what substitutions you should do, but basically if I wouldn't be surprised if that was it actually yeah maybe but if the medical team because you know recently when you've seen Cole Palmer getting the hump about coming off that's not Moresco wanting to do the deal do the sub it is the medical team basically saying he's in the red zone and for me

if the player feels all right and that's why Reach James don't play regular because they're managing his minutes and basically what can you do as a manager because they're the decisions that are being made at the moment but I do think Leon Rasini the only thing is you look at him and you say say, I think he's a brilliant manager.

I think if you're young enough, give him an opportunity. The thing is, is, will the fans want him? It's not a big enough name. It's not a fancy name. They don't want a big name, do they? I don't think they want a big name. They don't want somebody who's going to challenge them. No, the fans probably do.

No, the fans, I mean, I mean the fans, yeah. The board don't want no one. Luke's right, yeah. They don't want to be challenged. They want to, they, you know, you've got the sporting directors and the co-owners going into the dressing room after every game. I still find that odd. It's really odd.

I don't think that a lot of, head coaches slash managers are going to appreciate that because particularly if you've lost and you know you want to talk to your players and you've got to explain yourself to the to the sporting direct that word again sporting directors and what to chelsea i mean chelsea just want they've got their model and we've said it before their business model is in danger i would say have been more important to them than what happens actually in the football you know the fact that every you know they love the recruitment don't they they love getting in you know,

pile in this, stop piling loads of young players and long contracts and then, oh, aren't we clever because look, we're breaking, we're managing PSR

because we sell these players on, we loan them out, we've got multi-club ownership, we've got players out of Strasbourg, we're signed players from Strasbourg, loan them back. It's clever business, but is it a clever football club?

I don't think it is, and I think it will be Resignia, I think he will go in there, it makes sense, because he's already at Strasbourg, it's one of their other clubs. I'm really interested to hear what Clinton said about

and being an excellent coach there, that's exactly what they want. They want someone. Take the players at Clinton said, we'll sign the players for you, you turn them into a winning, successful football team. Well, Moreska did that for one season, and then he grew tired of it. It is in danger of becoming an impossible

job at Chelsea, I think. That's four managers they've gone through since the takeover. Last chat, Arsenal then, came from behind to beat Bournemouth on Saturday to, yeah, extend that lead at the top of the table. Two massive goals from Declan Rice helped them to the win. This is Mechel Arteta.

Immense. Every hour it was important for him to be able to be available for the game. We didn't know for how long. At the end, he was available. He was available for 96 minutes, and he helped us massively with the two goals to win the game. Could you have imagined being in such a good position when you turned into the new year, when you started the season? You must be absolutely delighted with the position that you're in. Yeah, we are in a really good position. But, yeah, we're going to play nine games now this month, you know.

So you need to maintain the level of focus. energy and desire because every game is massive and you have to take it game by game. Are you enjoying the season? Are you enjoying all these challenges? What do you get from it personally? Yeah, I enjoy every single day, especially, yeah, because the company that I have around me, the staff, the players, everybody around the club, devive the energy that I feel. So we need to enjoy the journey. Really terrific performance from Declan Rice, Clinton. Yeah, he's some player, to be fair. He missed the midweek win over.

Aston Villa and everyone's a bit worried will he be out long term? But he's fantastic and he said it was hour by hour we were watching him but if Declan Rice is fit he's one of the best around. I thought he was brilliant he covered the ground and you know what he's doing more this season? Adding more goals to his game. So that just for me makes him

the complete midfielder and I think that's with Zubimendi. I was going to say that Zubimendi because he's doing a lot of what you might describe a sort of grunt work. Yeah, he's doing the dirty work. Yeah. Frees up Declan Rice to go forward and O'Diard could pick the passes. And yeah, they're in great

format at the moment. Even though they started off shaky where Gabriel gives Evan Nielsen the goal and you think Bormath... It's a lovely assist. I really enjoyed it. I did enjoy that. It's so casual. It was brilliant. And just sweep it into the striker and off you go. I didn't know what he saw, but fair play to him. He gets the equaliser as he does

and he's always a threat, Gabriel. He enjoyed the equaliser. It was. But it was one of those where you're thinking could Bormath gone get an equalizer? But I think Declan Rice is on a different, different level at the moment. Him and Kaisado are probably the two best for me in Europe at the moment in that position for sure but even Declan

I think adds more goals sorry then well as you know I named him as my Premier League player of the season so far Declan Rice last weekend Stephen Gerardesque that's just what I wanted to say about his great shout that Luke by the way he's got better and better every season for Arsenal

and he is having that sort of influence now on one of the best teams in the country if not the best team in the country which of course Stephen Gerard never actually managed to do because he didn't play for the best team in the country No, he did not. That's as much praise He could have done.

He could have done. Anyway, that's a whole other topic that we won't. Who knows how he came to that decision in the end? Maybe we never will. We'll just leave that. But yeah, no, absolutely brilliant Declan Rice. And Arsenal was just doing that thing

that champions do, finding a way. I mean, they blew Aston Villa away. We said last weekend, huge test for them, Aston Villa, the Informed team, the Premier League, they beat them comfortably, and then they go away to Bournemouth, not at their best.

I think Artetta was frustrated, wasn't he, with the first half performance in particular, make mistakes, but still win the game and that was largely down to Declan Rice is brilliant. Bournemouth are,

they're not in trouble exactly, but this is no wins now in 11 games and potentially losing Semenio. It is a bit concerning, isn't it? Yeah, real loss of form and this is always the danger

when you have that model where they started the season brilliantly and they were sort of defying it all, weren't they? But they sold three or four of their best players last summer. That catches up you eventually. Doesn't matter how good your coach you are,

doesn't matter how good your recruitment is, you can't lose that many players in one summer and then, you know, to cap it all off, Semenio sort of carrying them on his shoulders at the start of the season. And then since when October, we've been hearing the, you know, reading about his release clause,

that's leaked into the public domain to make sure that there's a bidding war for him in January and then he looks like he's going to leave. What that does for a dressing room dynamic, Clinton, that must be very tough for them. I was just looking at the pictures there. They got Tottenham, Bright and then Liverpool. So they have some tough games. They have some really, really tough games. It depends what Tottenham turned up, to be fair.

Is it Tom home or away? No, they've got them at home and Tottenham are good on the road, aren't they? You know what it's like. So, yeah, if it was away, they'd probably fancy their chances. Yeah, you're right. But I think Luke hit the now on the head. When you lose like three of your back forward and then also the goalkeeper Kepa went to Arsenal as well. They were doing so well.

They were doing so well. You know what it is? They started the season ever so well, picked up a few injuries and stuff. Evan Nilsson's just come back. They had a few other injuries. Cliver's just coming back. I think getting up to form. But then now you're going to lose your best player in Semino.

So I think Bournemouth need to do a bit of business in January. It's too much. It's too much. It is too much for any team to absorb. You can't lose that many of your good players in one, you know, a space of a few months. You can and then hope to be successful. It's never happened in football before and it never will happen. I'll tell you what, Cruppy is very good.

I love that goal. Oh, the Cruppy is a player, by the way. I'm not saying they got a replacement for him, but they do have some good players who come off the bench and made an impact. And that strike, it's not the first time we've seen that. It's a great strike. So it might be an opportunity for him to go and showcase his talent. but they do need help.

I don't worry about Bullman for the relegation battle because I do think they have enough. Well, because there's three absolutely terrible teams. Well, I didn't want to say that, but yeah, you're spot on. We're going to talk Liverpool who had denied a win very late on at Fulham

and a first win in the season for wolves in a moment, but first, it's your favourite bit of the show, look. Half-time teaser. Arsenal are the 16th Premier League team to win 15 or more. of their first 20 games in the season. Only four teams have done that

and then failed to win the league. Can you name them? Obviously, you can't look, but Clinton might be able to. Answer on the way after this. From a small village on the banks of the River Nile. Everybody called me Mohammed, but the short name or nickname, they call me more.

To the biggest stages of world football. Go for the Kana! Mal Sala! Sala is more. than just a player. He's an icon, a symbol, a king.

It's six still! And Sala rips off his shirt! Mohamed Sala represents a dream for Egyptians, for Muslims, for Africans. More than just a football player. He gave us hope.

I'm Kelly Kate. This is Sporting Giants, Mo Sala. Listen on BBC Sounds. The Dakar Rally is the ultimate off-road challenge. Perfect for the ultimate. Defender, the high-performance Defender Octa, 626 horsepower twin turbo V8 engine and intelligent 6D dynamics air suspension.

Learn more at Landrover.ca. On the Football Daily Podcast, Premier League Review with Rick Edwards. Welcome back to the Premier League review. Before the break, I ask, can you name the four Premier League signs that won 15 or more of their first 20 games in the season, but then failed to win the league? so come on. Luke, get your terrible guesses out of the way. Newcastle United. No. Oh, that was my only...

It won't be Arsenal, will it? It is. Manchester United? Yes. Any idea on you? So Arsenal was 22, 23. Are we talking Premier League era? Yeah, Premier League, Premier League.

Oh, right, okay, so it wasn't the one when Leeds picked them, you know, but football did exist before the Premier League. No, no, no, no. But we were going to scratch that one. What about... Well, I did say Premier League... Premier League sides. All right, okay.

Arsenal chased them down, didn't they? In 03, 04. Yeah. Yeah. It ain't Tottenham, is it? It's not that season. No, it is. It is.

No, no, not Leicester one, though. No, not the Leicester one, okay. No, it's 1819. Oh, not the one, they got food poisoning at the end of the season. Did they get, was that, was that poison lasagna? Yeah, that was the lasagna game, wasn't it? What was it? I thought that was, I thought that was longer.

if you've done that. I'm going to have a look. And there was another team we also won that a bunch of games at the start of that season and didn't win the title. You're a friend of mine, Liverpool.

Because that's the season that Liverpool finished one point behind City. Spurs finished 27 points behind City. Wow. Wow. In fourth. Let's talk about Liverpool then.

Have you seen Harrison Reed's 97th minute equalizer? Yes, I've seen it. go on Luke over to you you say it first come on even as a Liverpool fan you've got to enjoy that

as a strike it's unbelievable that is just the classic case player picks up ball you know what I'm just going to give this a good old

I'm going to give this a good old tonk and it flies into the top corner and I love the fact I heard his postmatch interview and he said yeah you ask the boys I've been working on that in training

every Friday I'll be yeah and I bet nine Five times out of ten, that went high over the cross model. I think that's kind. And your teammates are saying you can go and fetch that one. You know what I mean? But what a strike and what a moment for him as well.

It actually goes in the top corner. It's top. It's top. It's top. And you know what? You're looking at it. Two Ellison's aren't saviate. That's exactly what I'm thinking.

And I'm thinking Gapol is good enough to win any game. Exactly. And Gapult scores you're thinking, oh, Liverpool go on there and get the three points. And then he just has a shot. And you know what? Every Liverpool player and probably the Liverpool fans and Alison saying,

go on, then have a shot because it's got to be something spectacular to beat me. But, yeah, he won't score another goal like that in his whole career. No. No. And you've got to be pleased for him because what's a thing that must be. The only thing I'll say is,

as he got the ball and I was watching, I did mutter to myself, why is no one anywhere near him? Close him down here. And that's not to take anything away for him because, as we say, he's just not really scoring from there. But there was no Liverpool player anywhere near him. No, if I was playing and we conceded like that,

I'd be like, any danger of someone going to get put pressure on him. But then everyone would be saying, but, mate, we didn't think he'd pull it in the top goal like that. We got one of the best goalies in the world, and he couldn't even say it. Percentage-wise, you should be all right there. But they weren't. Liverpool, yet to win when they conceded,

first this season and if Liverpool had won it because Gakboe scored in the 95th minute I think it would have been really harsh on Fulham Fulham were

I'm not saying that Fulham deserved to win but Fulham definitely deserved to get a point I thought yeah I agree do you agree Luke I let you have that

do you agree or not I do I was just going to bring on a slot sort of again his postmatch interview where he sort of complains about he didn't seem very happy but I think

he's not very happy with... Things are Liverpool, these bad habits that Liverpool have got into, you know, the opposition team has one chance and scores and then they're sitting late goals. But they are eight games unbeaten Liverpool. So it's... Yeah, yeah, yeah, but do you know what?

So I'm on, you know, a few Liverpool WhatsApp chats. I bet you are. Yeah, and in one of them, my friend made the point he was like, I genuinely think that Liverpool have looked worse since they went on this unbeaten. And I think there's something I'd say. Like they have not,

previously when they were losing games and it was awful. They weirdly weren't playing that badly. It did feel like they were getting a little bit unlucky. Whereas now they are bad to watch. Do you know what it is? I've got a lot of Liverpool fans.

I look at it. There's no intensity. Oh my God. It's slow. You remember on the Yogan clock when they lost the ball? Bang, they would spring and get it back. They would play at pace.

I don't know what it is with Arnold's slot. And a few of my Liverpool friends are running out. patience with him and I'm like really won the Premier League last year and they were like no doesn't seem happy

Lucas's interviews isn't it I agree with you after there's something there's something something not sour about the way everyone's talking he seems fed up yeah yeah yeah I think it feels like

they can't quite work out why it isn't working I don't think anyone has any any answer they're just like well we should be we should be doing better than this why aren't we but they're getting paid all of them quite a lot to figure

of that out. Yeah, exactly. The Vert's goal, he didn't celebrate because he thought he was offside. And you look at the lines and you're like, yeah, he's offside. And then VAR comes back and says,

No, he's not. He's not offside. And you look at the line that they've drawn. It just doesn't make... Let me tell you something. That guy's offside. Yeah, that line was like what I did at school with my...

And my ruler's lines were never straight like that. They were wonky. But you know what it is? They used to call you Bendy Ruler at school, didn't they? They used to call me Bendy Ruler. But I did think he was off-side, so I don't understand how that. Fuller Mustfield agrees when they look at that. They'll probably be making a complaint for sure.

Well, I see the lines of the pitch. I mean, if I've got a really bad groundsman or groundsperson who mows the lines in the pitch, which I presume a straight. There must be. Clinton, you weren't mowing them, are you? It probably was me. I was there a few weeks ago. Sorry.

Him and his ruler. In the ruler. but yeah there probably is an explanation from people who know lots about VAR and the lines but it just doesn't look right because I can't imagine it doesn't look right at all and there's lots of conspiracy theories now about Livarpo not from me but then we'll be conspiracy

It was quite a nice finish and you know second goal after getting his first one last month I suppose that is one positive for Liverpool He's the only positive I'll take from Liverpool at the moment. It's him. Everyone questioned him, would he be a good player? I'm not saying that. And Eckatee, I think.

No, sorry. It's because he wasn't playing. Heke's been outstanding. I think the partnership between Vets and Ekatikeke is looking good. I think when they're both on the same pitch, they're both on the same kind of wavelength. And I'm kind of gutted for Isak because I think the goal he scores against Tottenham. I know I'm harping back to a few weeks ago.

I think that might have kick-started his arm season at Liverpool. You do have a few injuries. I think you need Mosella back as soon as possible. We've got that drama, that drama. I'm not really looking forward to that, actually. But I think they are missing him. I do think they are missing Mosella because I just feel they're a bit light going forward

at this present time with the injuries they've got. Luke, you were at St James's Park earlier for Newcastle's 2-0 win against Palace. Back-to-back wins for Newcastle. Just the second time they've done it, I think, this season. and that, well, Eddie House of it, is a big step forward. It is, and they ground it out today, and it was a strange atmosphere. I think, you know, the fact that for a lot of people, the Christmas holidays end on Monday morning,

some will be listening to this on their way to work. It was a flat atmosphere. They weren't at their best, but they deserve to win, but they really ground it out. And I think actually Newcastle haven't had enough of those wins this season. They haven't been able to win ugly. and it's the start of, you know, Eddie Howe himself has described it as a pivotal season-defining month

because they've got the Carabal Cup semi-final, they've got Champions League games, they've got FA Cup as well. If they win all their home games this month, Newcastle, when we get to February, could be in the knockout rounds of the Champions League for the first time in their history. They could be close to a second successive Carabal Cup final.

They would probably be in the top six in the Premier League and suddenly you're thinking this is enough a really really good season for Newcastle so that was why they just had to get this win done and they deserved it they did and a special shout out to who I'm going to nominate

as one of the finest young players emerging in the Premier League this season Lewis Miley still 19 playing out of opposition at right back he was phenomenal I think he completed 100% of his passes he's going to be some player

really is and yeah that was a really important momentum changer I think for Newcastle to get that win today and there's nothing wrong with winning ugly like you have to do that sometimes you have to do that sometimes and the crowd the crowd stayed with the team in the end it was a difficult uncomfortable sort of ugly game but they won and that that ultimately is all that is important

for them Clinton do you think Volta Mada and Visser will work together up front or are they just going to rotate? It can work but I don't think they'll play them together. I can't see it. Maybe some games where you might, I don't know where you feel like you're going to dominate possession.

Or if you're chasing a game. Or if you're chasing, yeah. Definitely if you're chasing, you'll probably put Volta Mado in the 10 and play Visa up front. But I think it would be rotated. And at the moment, he looked frustrated Volta Mado, when he only came home with 15 minutes ago, and the camera kept going to him and Newcastle needed a goal.

But obviously, they played a lot of football. And as Luke said, they've got a lot of football going. But they've got players that are out of form at the moment. And one player, two players in particular, Luke alluded to, Miley is a player, by the way. You can play that young man anyway. And Bruno Gimerush steps up at crucial moments and always scores important goals for that football club.

I think he's outstanding. So I agree with Luke. I've said it all along. Even though Newcastles away from him have been rubbish this season, they will finish in the top six and win a trophy this season. And it will still be a fantastic season. But you know what those fans do expect? And they have got some good players.

Everyone's starting to get back to form. It was fitness. It was good to see Liver and Mento come on the pitch as well. You've got Trippia back on the bench. So, yeah, there'll be a force to be reckoned. It's an interesting thing with Newcastas, because what constitutes a good season? Because if they get top six in one and another trophy,

it is literally their joint most successful season for 70 years. So if they get into the Champions League again, they'll do something they've never ever done before. They've been the Champions League, you know, two successive seasons. So it's like they are changing their history. They are doing historical things, things that aren't normal. for Newcastle football club. Yet there is this kind of...

But there is still expectation, isn't there? Yeah, there's this kind of blaseiness. Like, oh, we're in the semi-finals of the Carabelle Cup again. Yeah, you hadn't been in one for 20 years until Eddie Hale became manager. And yes, of course, he's been backed by money. But these are not normal. They're not usual.

And it is a slightly strange time where there is a section of the fan base that is sort of taking these things for granted. And I just don't quite understand why when you've got the eighth highest wage bill in the country, top eight is a good season for you. and they are well on course to do that again and potentially, you know, win another trophy.

So, yeah, it was just important that they won. You know, there was just a little bit of negativity creeping in. There's a bit of negativity in the crowd today, but they won, and that sets up this crucial month perfectly. Just very briefly, don't need to discuss it particularly, but spurs still dismal at home. Some of them came from behind, got the one-all draw, meaning that in the last 10,

spurs have only won twice at the... Tottenham-Hotspur Stadium. And the contrast in home and away form is actually nuts. So only Burnley, West Ham and Wolves are won less at home, and only Arsenal have taken more points away. I just don't know. It's not good enough. I don't know how you can explain it.

No, it is remarkable, but it's ultimately, said it week after week, if you're not winning in front of your own supporters at home, you're going to be in trouble. And Thomas Frank doesn't seem to be any closer to solving that particular conundrum. Yeah, although he did. He did say he liked the first half and they just needed to kill it off and they didn't. That's the story of their season.

Yeah. Now, I do want to spend a bit of time talking about Wolves and West Ham. Rob Edwards side finally got their first Premier League win at the 20th time of asking, convincingly beating West Ham 3-0. I mean, we're still miles from safety, 12 points off safety. West Ham, though, now four points from. safety and Nuno apologized to the Westtown fans after the match called the performance embarrassing and it was I mean it was absolutely pathetic from Westtown although the only caveat I'll offer is

they could very easily have had one or or even two penalties quite early on yeah I'd agree with you they probably could have but then when you don't get get given those penalties you are in a relegation battle it's your it's your livelihood on the line you could be getting relegated to the championship. Surely in that first half or when you're playing against Wolves, you run around. You're playing against, literally, and Wolves fans won't like me saying this or will know, they're the worst team in the Premier League at the moment, Wolves are going to get relegated. Their challenge now is to beat Derby's record, not to stay in the Premier League because

they're running out of games and not got enough points. And West Ham go there and basically roll over. You let Wolf score three goals against you and you don't even look a threat apart from maybe the two penalty claims that you want. Nowhere near good enough. And you know what? he'll come under pressure, you know. It wouldn't surprise me

if Westdam hierarchy make a change because what's being said now by the fans is they're having to go out the hierarchy but what happens usually is you have a go

at the hierarchy, the hierarchy go. Yeah, we know what. They've already done it once. Yeah. They've already done it once they've already gone I think they might do a forest.

What do you? Yeah, what do you think do you think it could be a change again because it's nowhere near good enough? They pulled that lever once the sector manager and brought in another manager they've got a brief little uptick

and then it's still gone quickly sour because the problems at West Ham extend beyond the manager or the head slash head coach the problems at West Ham I've called it a zombie football club and I stand by that the ownership are unpopular the recruitment's bad

and I'll say you're this West Ham fans because you are in a bleak bleak situation now if you think the Olympic Stadium is bad now to play and watch football in imagine how bad it's going to be in the championship with 25,000 empty seats Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Like, they are in a really dire situation in West Ham. They might just still have enough. But if you were looking at the two teams down there that you wouldn't expect to be there, well, I mean, I would expect West Ham to be there. But Nottingham Forest, they're struggling a little bit again now as well. They play each other. They play each other on Tuesday. Exactly.

If West Ham are going to do it, yeah, West Ham are going to do anything. They need to get something from that game. Well, not just get, they need to win that. Yeah, they need to win. We certainly can't lose it. Certainly can't lose it. Forrest are on a horrible run now as well, so they've lost their last four, I think. So that's a huge game.

Massive, massive. And if West Ham and Nuno were going to do anything, they need to show a reaction. Because when your manager comes out and says it's embarrassing, we know. That's a soft word to use embarrassing. I would have said disgrace. I can do it. I'm in the media. He's the manager.

I would say it's disgraceful. There's got to be a reaction. If there's no reaction to that, Nuno is in really, really big trouble because we know what West Ham's owner. Clinton said it. We know what West Ham owners. will do, if they think they're going out the Premier League with a whimper, they won't be afraid to sack a second manager in the season.

Now, here's something I wanted to put to you about wolves. I know they haven't picked up points, but they have in their time under Rob Edwards, shown some signs that they are not absolutely diabolical. Is there any way,

any way that they can claw themselves back? I don't think so. In my honest opinion, No, I don't think so. Don't get me wrong. They put up performances against Arsenal and Liverpool where they went there and they've done all right and were hard to beat and obviously the good result against West Ham.

So you can see Rob Edwards over the last three or four games and making them very, very hard to beat. And they're trying to, as I said, trying to break this Derby record. But not that hard to beat, if you know what I mean, though. Trying to make it difficult so they're not getting beat three or four. But, no, no, there's absolutely, I give them zero chance. And that's not me being disrespectful to Wolves. I just don't think the players that they've got there are good enough

and I just don't think that's another situation where I don't think the managers have been backed in the transfer window but I don't expect Wolves suspect. Oh, they've done terrible business. Yeah, they've done terrible. But I don't expect them to do business now because they'll be playing in the championship next season. So what kind of players are you going to bring in?

So I give them no chance. I think it's a bit of respectability that they need. Yeah, ask me again if they put together another win. If they put two or three runs together on the spin, then that gap will close. Yeah, yeah. You can't see them. I can't. I can't. But I'm just looking at the table

and forests have looked awful. West Ham look awful. Burnley look awful. Wolves have certainly looked awful, but they're just showing some signs. And I just thought, well, maybe. There'd be a hell of an escape. Wow, it'd be the greatest escape ever. He deserves manager of the year. Rob Edwards, if he does that. Oh, wow. Friend of the podcast. Rob Edwards, manager of the year. I'm not. know what if no i i think that's an absolute i think that's a shoe in if he keeps them up i don't

think it needs to be a conversation imagine the humble pie i would have to eat as well you won't you won't have to eat humble pie it's not going to happen it'll be knighted mate if he does that oh that would be a good story yeah i think i'm i'm with you can't really see it happening but i just you know never say never another little win for wolves if they got next Hang on, I'm having a look Do you know what? Everton, they've got Everton away.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, they're probably not. Okay, fine. Do you want to talk about anything else? No, I think that's probably, yeah. No, I ain't we're done. All right. Luke wants his dinner, mate. He's just talking about his dinner.

He can smell his dinner. You can see his nose twitching, so he's desperate to get out of there. What have you got for your dinner? It's a dish, it's a dish I made up myself. It is chicken, red onions, a bit of garlic, bit of chili. Then you put white wine, tarragon, cherry tomatoes.

Glad I asked. What? You're making me hungry, I said. Yeah, but Rick said something rude about it. No, I didn't. I just said glad I asked. As soon as I asked, he started list the ingredients. The ingredients?

I just want to go home. Okay, well, look, chicken, tomatoes and tarragon, basically. Okay, fine, sounds nice. Well, enjoy it. Clinson, what are you having for your dinner? Do not answer. Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much.

That's all we've got time for on the Premier League review. The Monday Night Club will be your next episode on the football day. That's the opening. That's the opening goal, and she is able to just pick her sport. Pass the best goalkeeper in the division BBC Women's Football Weekly The latest news, insights and analysis from across the women's game

Lucy Bruns, welcome back What one lioness do you think would make the best rugby player? Me? Listen With the BBC Sounds app