Football Daily - Premier League Review: Morgan Rogers does it again!

Episode Date: December 21, 2025

Ben Haines, Luke Edwards and Clinton Morrison discuss the weekend’s Premier League action. After Morgan Rogers scored another brace for Aston Villa in their 2-1 win over Manchester United, is he one of the most in-form players in the league right now? And how fearful should Manchester United fans be after Bruno Fernandes left the field at half time due to injury? In the weekend’s other matches, they discuss whether Arsenal’s lack of convincing wins should be concerning, and one of the games of the season – Newcastle v Chelsea. Should there have been a penalty? Plus, what does Alexander Isak’s injury mean for Liverpool, and how concerning is Tottenham’s discipline? And at the bottom of the table, is there any way back for Rob Edwards’ Wolves?TIME CODES:02:25 – Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers 10:55 – Manchester United 17:05 – Arsenal 28:20 – Newcastle v Chelsea 40:30 – Tottenham v Liverpool 48:50 – Manchester City and Erling Haaland 52:00 – Relegation Picture

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Hello everybody. Welcome along to the Premier League review on the Football Daily podcast with us this week, former Crystal Palace Forward Clinton Morrison, and the telegraphs Luke, both of whom are burning the candle at both ends at the moment. We've got two absolutely committed individuals here watching the cricket at silly o'clock in the morning and then watching the football right the way through to the very end on Sunday afternoon. How's your weekend of sport been, Luke? Well, the cricket's ruined it. So the cricket is basically ruined. Basically, the cricket is ruined like the last month, really, for me. Did you not tweet yesterday something to effect of that you would watch the game of the season in Newcastle Chelsea? No, I don't think I did tweet that, actually, Ben. I tweet a lot of things. Something to that effect? No.

No. I didn't say, no, Ben. Have I put words in your mouth there? Yes. Yes. This is what I normally do. This is what I normally do to people in football. I've just been done.

I've been absolutely done by Ben Haynes trying to put. No, I didn't tweet that. What I tweeted about the game was it's one of the worst officiating performances I've seen. And the decision not to give Anthony Gordon a penalty in the second half was one of the most blatant penalties I've seen. And I think that's where I went. I think it was a great game. It was an excellent game of football. Clinton, how's your weekend been?

My week's been all right because obviously I'm the same as Luke. Terrible in the cricket. Tottenham terrible again. Crystal Palace, terrible losing to lead. So it's not been the best of weekends. But my wheat was good because I saw Luke in Newcastle. Yeah, we did. We had a good chat and a catch-up.

We had a hug. And can I just say, Clinton is one of the nicest smelling men that I have ever come across in my entire life. That is such a compliment. He's so fragrant. He's so fragrant. He's lovely. You know, for that good behavior,

I'm going to buy one of my little aftershays for sure. I'm going to get you one, mate. Are you? You know what you need to do, Clint? I'll bring it up in Newcastle. Don't worry. I'll bring it to me. Do you remember how back in the day,

used to get the little samples off of magazines. Maybe just getting one of those little foil circles that he'd be rub on himself. It would have two sprays in it. It'll be gone. I'll get him a proper bottle. Happy Christmas. Well, wait for that in the post link.

We are going to get into all of the football this weekend. It's been a brilliant weekend of the Premier League football. But we're going to start with Sunday afternoon in Villa Park. And what a performance from Aston, Vila. It's been so impressive. They now make it 10 in a row that they've won. And I think we have to start Clinton with Morgan Rogers. We're seeing a player at the peak of his powers at the moment.

Yeah, he's unplayable at the moment. I believe, like Villa, I don't think it were brilliant. I thought they were a bit ring-rusty. I think it was Morgan Rogers that definitely got them the three points today. I thought Man United were the better team. Obviously, they lose Bruno Fernandez at halftime. But I thought the two goals, in particular, the first one. Listen, I don't know what Lenny Euro is doing.

Because if you've not watched Morgan Rogers, show him down the line. Don't show him inside to his right foot. He scored numerous goals like that this season, but let me tell you, it's still hard to go and bend it into the top corner. I loved Una Emery celebration for Rogers' first goal, where he took his jacket off and literally threw it high in the air because he knew how big it was for Aston Villa to stay on the coat tiles of Man City and Arsenal. But, yeah, he's a fantastic player.

I feel sorry for Thomas Tucal. He's got a hard decision to make who plays in that number 10 because this boy's not going away anyway, Morgan Rogers. I think technically one of the best around at the moment. And also, he's a very three-dimensional. player, Luke, isn't he, in terms of what he gives you defensively, in terms of the work rate's physicality. And then you see him, I don't know if you saw the ref cam angle of his first goal. Yes, I did. Amazing footage. I'm usually a little bit of a, I'm a little bit

grumpy with this sort of stuff. Well, you put cameras on referees for, but when you see the angle from there and you realize how effortless he makes that look and how difficult the finish actually is, it's really, really impressive stuff. Effortless is, is the word. actually. It's just the way he glides plus Yoro, totally agree with Clinton, not entirely sure what he's doing. And he sort of ambles over Yoro as well. And Manchester United were, they had a really good grip

of the game when that first goal goes in. Manchester 9, you know, we can sit there and start agonising over another Manchester United defeat and where it leaves Amarim and where it leads the Raspir decision. But I thought Manchester night were pretty good today and we're a kunya three header away in the second half from getting an equalizer where he should score.

But yeah, Malcolm Rogers, I don't think there's a more, I'm trying to think right word because I can't say like the best player in the Premier League I don't think I can go that far but I don't think there's a more impactful player at the moment in the Premier League than Morgan Rogers and what he's delivering Frasden Villa and we were talking about this before we came on so it's seven seven goals in 17 which doesn't sound amazing it's good it doesn't sound amazing though when you consider the fact that the start of the season he didn't score or assist in his first five games he was getting booed by Villa fans because there was this perception that

he'd had his head turned with the, you know, the links away and stuff like that, and Villafans are getting a bit annoyed and didn't think he was trying as hard. Well, he's now scored 7 in 17, but you take those five away, it's seven in 12. And the goals he scored today are phenomenal. It's the way he picks up pockets of space in the middle of the pitch. It's the way he does damage out wide. He does damage out in the middle. And as you say, that goal, that finish, you kind of know what's going to happen before it happens,

but how many times do you see a player to try that and put it, you know, and wide or just narrowly miss he just whips it into the top corner and and clinton's exactly right i in my lifetime i don't think in england man you know england haven't traditionally always played with a number ten anyway but now the decision for two call i was always team bellingham i always thought bellingham will automatically start but the way if morgan rogers continues this for the rest of the season if he's still playing like this in april may then he's going to have to start for england but then you got cole palmer as well you got phil phoden coming back into form and then you got bellingham as well so the four of them for that one position and all my time following England, I've never known

an abundance of riches like that. But Morgan Rogers was the reason that Aston Villa won today and that is just another really, really impressive performance. And Villa weren't at their best and still won, so you've got to be scared of a team like that. And then there's Eze you can throw into the mix, but I think Eze might go and play on the left-hand side for England. But for me, at the moment, you look at fold and he's been unplayable. There's a lot. Listen, talking about England, I know we're not talking about that, but going on to a bit of England, luck to Thomas Tuchel because you've got number 10s at the moment, I'm playing fan. But it's a good, it's a good thing.

You need that at a tournament in the heat and that you need that. But he's been outrageously good because you're right. Luke hit now on the head there when I said out at the start of the season, Villafans were booing him because he had his head turned. But you know what? You have to give credit to, Unai Emory's manager back to me. He said, I'm not going to take you out. I'm going to leave you in there and you can deal with the pressure.

So I think Unai Amrace takes on players levels to a different level. And he's on a different level. He's so excited. He just glides past players. He's one of those. I don't say this often, but I'd pay money to go and watch him play. That's how good he is. I'd pay every week to go and watch him play.

He's that much of a good player. He puts bums on seats. I think he's a fantastic individual. You have to credit his mentality as well because to go through that from your own supporters. And to me, we don't know. We don't know if he had his head turned. That was just the perception of it because he was linked with that move away. And some big clubs were reportedly interested in.

I mean, it was Liverpool, wasn't it? Well, one of them. He's come through that. And that's down to him. And that tells me there's a young man there who's got the right mentality to succeed as well, that he's gone, he's had to prove people wrong. His own supporters he's had to prove wrong. He's knuckled down.

Great man management from you know, I'm Ray, you suspect behind the scenes to get that out of him. And he is absolutely integral to Aston Villa. And it's just those players who can pop up, and he scores again in the second half, obviously, in Manchester night, I get the equalizer. Those players who can shape and define games are absolutely priceless. And I can't think of anybody at the moment who's doing that more. in the Premier League than Morgan Rogers. We talk about number 10s, and I mean, over the years, number 10s have taken very different

forms. In the past, they've been sometimes seen as luxury players. They've been seen as flair players or players that are creative. He's quite a different 10, Clinton, in terms of what he gives you, isn't he? He's very powerful. You're spot on Ben with what you say. And you know what? He's not actually playing in that kind of 10 at the moment.

Because if you looked at today, it was Anana Tillamins and Camaro. He's playing to the left of a kind of a number 10 in a little pocket. So he's not hugging the touchline, but he's into little pockets where fullbacks, Senate halves don't know or holding midfielders don't know who to pick him up. So he picks up great positions. And that's just an intelligent footballer at the moment. But, yeah, I think he's got everything going for him at the moment. Just fingers crossed, he stays fit from now to the end of the season because he's given

Aston Villa a great chance of obviously challenging. Their next four or five games are going to define whether Aston Villa are in the title race or not. But even when they're not playing well, they have players like Morgan Rogers. you can take the game by the scruff of the neck and score two fantastic goals. And he'd be probably the first one to say, at times today, he was having a quiet game and Man United were dominant. But that's where you have the bit of brilliance that he showed.

And he's a special, special player. I'd be honest with you, I'm the first one to hold, man. I didn't think he was as good as I've seen him over the last like month, two months. But he took his game to a whole different level. So huge credit to him, and I wish him all the best. We'll come on to Man United in a second. Just one more thing I just wanted to touch on there. Because you both mentioned you don't think that Aston Villa were at their best today.

No. But was it a slightly different Aston Villa today? They look incredibly direct. They look very happy to let United have the ball and then to try and get their attacking fast players to go 1V1 with defenders. Yeah, I think you're right. They had a really good start. I mean, they could have scored a couple early on. They really sort of took the game to match United.

But after that, I thought they lost. the way a little bit and it maybe was that going direct because you know there were a few groans in villa park because wotkins wasn't holding the ball up and it kept coming straight back at them and actually both times that rogers scored manchester united are on top i mean that that's why his impact is so huge because that's that breaks your soul you know do you know what i mean as a team away from home you're on top you're thinking right we've got it we got a semblance control in this football match and we and you know manchic night we're pushing to take the league and then they were pushing take the lead again in the second half when he's pounced.

So, yeah, Villa were direct, they were a bit different. I thought they looked maybe for the first time. They just looked a little bit fatigued today, Ben. They looked a little bit jaded, a little bit tired. There wasn't quite the same snap and bite about them that has been. But look, they found away. Ten games in a row winning, you know, I'm not going to throw any shade at Aston Villa today, you know.

But they had that special player. And the reason they won that game today, not because they were better than Manchester United, but they had a special player in. Morgan Rogers. Difficult to know what to make of Man United at the moment, Clinton. Isn't it always? Yeah, it always is.

It's like they hit two steps forward, two steps back, isn't it? But no, you know what? I think over recently, obviously, the last week's result, the game 4-4 against Bournemouth was crazy, but more attacking, they're creating chances. But I thought they were good today. I'm going to give credit to Man United. I thought they were good. Luke alluded to it.

Cunia's got scored ahead. I thought his goal is a fantastic finish, but it's a golden opportunity from six yards out. It's not like he's even having challenges. He sees the cross from Dogu and he's got to put the ball in the back of the net. But I thought they were good, Man United. Even though losing their best player, Bruno Fernandez, and their captain at half-time,

I still thought Martinez went into midfield and everyone was questioning. Did really well. Yeah, did well. He just sees that he could sit in front of the back three and just dictate. I think here would be like a new signing, having him back.

So, yeah, Man United are still in a good position in the Premier League, but they're going to miss Bruno Fernandez. They better hope that injury is not four or five weeks because it'd be a huge blow. They already got Ahmed away, Brian and Buemo away and they can't afford to have these players away

or if not they need that January window soon which is coming but will there be money to spend we know they want a midfielder will it have to strengthen in other areas We've spoken about the header for CUNY but I think there's another chance is worth talking about Luke and it's the chance in the first half where he sort of walks onto the ball

or kind of strides onto the ball and he feeds it just wide and perhaps the difference today is that Morgan Rogers even for his second goal the ball's a bit under his feet he manages to dig it out and he has the quality to put it into the top corner. And Cundra's not missed by much, but on a day like today,

those fine margins potentially are what of Cost Man United? Exactly. And, yeah, Cunia scored a really good goal. You know, tight angle, absolutely blast it past Martinese. Really nice finish. But yeah, those are the difference,

you know, Roger's strokes too into the top corner, gives the goalkeeper no chance, and then Cunier puts that one wide and then misses a free header. And I think Cunia's been good for Manchester United. I think I thought he was always going to be a good signing for them. those are big moments in the game and actually when you look back on it

it's probably that's the difference as you say certainly the header they get a point today at Villa Park the form there on everyone will be saying that's a really really good result for Manchester United and I'm Ruben Amarin but you know to go back to the Fernandez stuff you know it's been a really interesting week

in the in the Bruno Fernandez story hasn't it because we had that interview I love it when foreign footballers do this they do an interview back home basically where they moan and whinge and air their dirty laundry as it were and he said that Manchester United wanted to sell him in the summer and he felt hurt

about that and it's a pretty explosive interview and he used the favourite buzzphrase of the minute of players wasn't it promises were broken did he you know trust has gone promises are broken they never tell you what the promises are but there's always a promise broken now when a footballer feels aggrieved

and yeah it's interesting now because I think probably there were people at Manchester United who didn't want to sell him I suspect the money men at Manchester United, but like, we've got this huge offer from Saudi Arabia for an aging player. Yeah, he's a good player,

a really important player for us, but it's going to bring in a lot of money for us. It's really going to ease our PSR concerns. And I think Amarim has dug in to keep him, and I think Fernandez, again, has been good. I think, you know, he is one of Manchester United's undoubtedly best players. But it'd be interesting now that if he's out

for four or five weeks and Manchester United thrive, if they do well in his absence, that's probably going to push him closer to the exit door at the end of the season because there is going to be this doubt now about his long-term future at the club. Now, if Manchester tonight would do well without him, I think that's probably a transfer that's more likely to happen in the summer. If they struggle without him, which I personally think they may well do, then his stock is going to rise again. But it was an interesting timing for him to say what he said, because we didn't think there are any problems there. We didn't

think there are any issues, but he's chosen to sort of open up some old wounds, as it were. And you do have to wonder now whether he is going to be at Manchester United beyond the end of this season. Yeah, it's always fascinating. I mean, there's kind of two ways of this happening, isn't there? It's either the interview that takes place off-site, or it's when we get to the international break and suddenly players are in press conferences on international duty. You think, here we go. I'll do it. I'll do it. Yeah, I'm not spoken off to here, but I'll do it. No problem. I haven't heard from that player for three months, but suddenly there's that front and seven years. Three years. Or three years, sometimes. Or you can just do a Mo Salah.

You can do a most salaraged. Just blow everything off. Press conference. Yeah. Pop up press conference in the mix, though. Clinton, do you think United have enough without Bruno Fernandez? Who do they lean on over the next few weeks? No, I think they'll miss him. I think Luke's right.

I think I think they'll struggle big time. He's their best player. He creates all the chances. He saw the ball. He played Tesheco. He should score as well. We talk about Cunia. He should score in the first off where Martinez makes a good thing.

Just lift it over him. But it's a centre forward. He's not played a lot of football. but there's not confidence at the moment. But I think Man United struggle without him. I thought they were going to struggle with Buemo and Ahmed as well. But to not have Bruno, their best player who creates stuff, I think it's going to be a bit of a struggle.

It might open the door for someone like a Cobby Mayne, but he's not fit at the moment. We don't know how long he's going to be. I was a real shame that he wasn't fit today because I think he might have had an opportunity to play with Bruno Fernandez. But I think they're missing big time. They're in a good position in the Premier League, but I think he's so crucial to that Man United team.

So hopefully it's not too long, because if it's not too long, he could be back in a couple of weeks. It looked like a hamstring, didn't it? The way you were pulled up to him? You know what? It was a hamstring loop, but the strange thing about it is he stopped

and then he continued to all half time. That's weird. Still taking three kicks, still passing and moving, not running as much. And I was thinking, just get off the pitch. You're going to make it a lot worse. So maybe, I don't know.

Maybe it could be a little, little strain where it's like a two-week one because if it had completely gone, he would have been able to carry on for the four or five minutes after that. I do wonder whether United will, in their kind of post-match analysis, meeting on Monday where

Rumen Amar and I'll be sitting there thinking that's a massive opportunity missed. They now sit in seventh, on the flip side of that, Aston Villa, in third, just three points behind Leader's Arsenal. Now Arsenal took all three points from their game against Everton and that ensures that they sit top of the

table coming into Christmas. But I wonder Luke, do you reckon there's any asterisk there for Michel Artetta in terms of the way that Arsenal are getting through games at the moment? That's a good question. No, I don't think, I think there's a, I think it's positive. I watched them at Everton on Saturday night,

albeit while I had friends around for a party, so, you know, it was on in the background, no volume on. But I did insist, despite some friends coming around on watching the game. I was impressed with that because Everton are doing well, tough side, classic David Moy's team. Again, they weren't great, Arsenal. They weren't brilliant, you know, they hit the woodwork a couple of times. It could easily, you know, been a little bit more of a comfortable margin of victory.

But I'm just impressed at the way Arsenal have found that ability to grind results out, to go away from home, win ugly. If you're going to win the title, you've got to win ugly. They were under pressure because Manchester City had won comfortably, you know, a couple of hours before. They're away from home. It's cold. It's wet. It's, you know, it's that relentless part of the season where you never catch your breath as a footballer.

And they've gone away and they've managed to win. And, you know, what O'Brien's doing for the penalty, I think you thought he was playing volleyball. It's absolutely ridiculous what he's done. So they get a lucky break in terms of an opposition defender making a stupid decision. But they found a way to win, and they keep finding those ways to win this season. And I think that bodes really, really well. Look, we don't know how they're going to respond. We're all waiting to see how they respond in the running.

But at the moment, whenever they're challenged, they are finding an answer at the moment. And I think that was a big, big win for them at Everton. Really important victory. We all know Manchester City are going to run. be relentless in their pursuit. But at the moment, in the main, I'd say 90% at the time this season, Arsenal have come up with a positive response

whenever they've been put under pressure. I would categorise that win at Everton in that bracket as well. Yeah, I think they've had a lot of injuries and they've dealt with the injuries, but that's why they strengthened in the summer. When you lose key players, and listen, against Evan, they weren't at their best,

against wolves, they weren't at the best. That's the sign of a winning team and a winning mentality that you're not playing well, but you're still getting the three points. So it's a good sign at the moment. I do believe they're next I know we might talk about their fiction but the next three or four games are tough

and if you look at Man Cities next three or four games they're easier games and I know there's no easy game in the Premier League but you're looking at the Villa game Clinton Yeah the Villa game Yeah that's a big game And I feel they've got another tough game in their Arsenal as well so there's a lot of tough games

Villa have tough running as well but there's no easy games in the Premier League and it's always busy over the Christmas period as well and you get not a lot of time to rest but yeah the villa game when they go to the emirates that is a huge game this this period shakes things up ben yes it does it every season every season you will see what teams are made of but just because of the relentness of the schedule they've got the carabal cup quarter final against crystal palace arsenal as well on tuesday night that potentially because crystal palace are a very good team and and could upset them

in that but then potentially you've got a two-leg semi-final as well in january plus the resumption of the championship i mean the champions league they're pretty much done and dusted i think they might have already qualified so that's not going to be a huge stress but these teams these top teams in december and january their schedule is brutal and you you will when you come out when they emerge in in mid-February we'll have a real idea who the who the title favorites are i should say because yeah manchester city are going to keep the pressure on but i'm i'm i'm very pro arsenal this season i don't know you won't like that ben me being pro arsenal but i'm very and i've criticized and mocks Mikhail Arteta before, and I quite enjoyed doing so.

But on this occasion, this season, I think they're doing really, really well. And I still am going to stick with it. I still think they'll end up being champions in May. But Luke, take me into that a little bit further there, because you were speaking about the league cut. Yeah. I wonder how seriously Arsenal fans, but more importantly, Mikhail Arteta, need to take that competition,

just to potentially get them, if they can go and win that early on in the season, just get that taste for winning it. But we've seen it so many times over the years with so many managers. I know Michelatista won the FA Cup, but so many times managers of reference just how important that competition is just to get a little taste for it,

get that feeling amongst a group of winning. What they don't want to do, if you remember last season, they had the semi-final against Newcastle and we were saying exactly the same thing and then Newcastle turned them over in two games. So it's a difficult balancing act for them because in reality,

it is probably the fourth priority at the start of the season the Carabelle Cup for those top teams but they are three games away from Wembley and he hasn't won anything so I agree with you Ben it's going to be fascinating to see what he does they do have the squad strength

Arsenal to play take every single competition seriously but with the injuries mounting like Killington said it's going to be a difficult decision for him I suspect he will freshen things up we'll have to rotate for it but then you don't you know even if they beat Crystal Palace

you've then got a really tough semi-final as well. So it is interesting because, yes, they need a trophy. They do need a trophy. And that would then calm them down in terms of the league as well because you think, well, we've got silverware in the cabinet. But I still think it's probably going to be their fourth priority. So it's, yeah, it's a really interesting dynamic in terms of what they do. And that semi-final, you know, against Newcastle,

they were favourites to win that. There'll be favourites to beat Crystal Palace. There'll be favourites to be whoever it is they're facing in Chelsea. Chelsea, that's right, yeah. How can I forget that? But then even beyond that, they go into a final, they'll either face Newcastle on Man City. So it's not as if they're going to have a final

when they'll go in. I mean, at the moment, they've been very, very dominant in almost every competition they've been in. But you'd go into a final against Man City, and that would be an incredibly... Whoever wins the Carabal Cup this season is going to deserve it. Put it that way, with the quality of teams that are left. Do you know how strong their bench was?

They had Jay-Zus, they had Eze, they had Martin Ali, they had Madiwiki. They had Norgaard, they had Lewis Skelly. All those players will play. So it's not really weakening them, Ben. So you do put Arsenal down as the favourites, where Palace have had to play that squad and will have to play that same team near enough

because the squad is not big enough at the moment. He made changes in the Europa Conference, the Glasna. So you make Arsenal favourists, and then they will take it serious when they get to the semi-final. Because, as I say, it's like a London rivalry. It is like that with Palace, but even more so with Chelsea. And they do have the squad big enough at the moment. The only thing with Arsenal is defenders.

There's injuries to defend us, so you probably won't be able to make that much changes at the back. They're still missing Gabriel and Mosquero. But when they come back, and Ben White, but they look really strong. But, Clinter, I think the thing with this is, it hasn't been the case for Arsenal in the past. There's no excuses this year, Ben, with Mikko Alteta. No way.

Mikko Arteta has to win a trophy, and probably he has to win the Premier League. I don't, but that's putting a lot of pressure on him. I totally get that because he's still against, for me, the best manager there is, in Pep Guardiola. he's got the experience. But Artetta's improved massively. There will be pressure, though, to win a trophy this season.

It does need to win a trophy. Don't he does need to. Yeah, he spent a lot of money. He spent a lot of money. It's five years. It's five years. He has to win a trophy. There's got to be something tangible at the end of that.

You can't be second place FC. You can't be runners-up FC. You can't be a semi-final team. It isn't now whenever moment. But I'm still, I'm still positive about him. You know what is Luke and Ben? Talking about a better season than them last year. Oh, wow.

Here he goes. They won the trophy, though. Here he goes. I was waiting for that. I never put a valid podcast with I never put a bit on a podcast of Luke Edwards where he gets outwined up

merchant in by someone else. He knows I'm joking with him. But there is a valid argument to make. Just before we finish on Arsenal, just a reminder of those fixtures coming up for him that Clinton mentioned. So it is EFL Cup Court a final on Tuesday against Crystal Palace.

They then face Brighton at home on the 27th. then Aston Villa on the 30th Bournemouth away on the 3rd of Jan and then Liverpool next for Arsenal on the 8th

so a really busy and tough run for Arsenal but they do sit top of the tree at Christmas just before we heading to the break

time for our half-time teaser only twice has a team that topped the table by a gap of two points on Christmas Day

not gone on to win the title so one was Arsenal in 2002-3 the other now this is a tough one The other is who I'm looking for. And I'll give you a little bit of a clue

because this one's quite difficult. It's in the kind of naughties decades, so between 2000 and 2010. My name's Steve Bradnell, a sister manager of Royal Oak FC. You may have seen me online with Vinyl. Vinyl sensation. And now the BBC have given me the chance

to set the footballing world banter rights. This could be a great opportunity for us, lads, a podcast for the BBC. Can I just say, what's a podcast? Brilliant. Great start.

Well done, Bob. Brilliant. We can completely show utter transparency to Royal Oak fans. I'll use my charm. Gift it, Gab. Games got the Steve Bracknell podcast. Watch on YouTube.

Listen on BBC Sounds. On the Football Daily podcast, Premier League Review Listen on BBC Sounds Welcome back to the Premier League Review Now just before the break I said that there's only been two teams that have topped the table by a gap of two points on Christmas Day

and then not gone on to win the title Now one of those is Arsenal in 2002-3 And we've narrowed it down for the guys So it's between 2000 and 2010 And it's not one of your traditional Premier League winners Well then I know who it is Go on I think it's Tottenham

It's not Tottenham Oh wow They're not traditional I'm thinking there And it's a side That around this period kind of caught everyone's imagination and then very quickly

sort of disappeared from the title race chat and from any kind of European chat altogether Everton? No Are they in the Premier League now? They are in the Premier League now

Right I'm going to give five seconds I've never get these No You're usually good at this. We've been good at this. I'm not, no, no, I'm not, I'm not newly good at these. Hold on, he's down. I'm going to go for, who's up there?

I'm trying to think, it's not, he said ever ago. I'm going to go Sunderland. So it, what, the answer was Leeds in 2000. Oh my gosh. Never would have thought that, never. So, like, I mean, but that side, I mean, when you think about that lead side, was absolutely incredible, wasn't it? That leads team.

The Dukkah, was he playing up front? Was that that? That was the side. David O'Leary's. team. David O'Leary's team. Yeah, they were good. Lots more to come on the Premier League of view,

and we're going to try and get around as much as possible because it was an absolutely packed day on Saturday. We mentioned Newcastle and Chelsea at the top of the show, one of the games of the weekend, and very much, Luca, a game of two halves, this one. Yeah, it was a game that sums up Newcastle season, in particular, taking leading games and not being able to hold on for the three points.

Totally dominant in the first half, could have been three or four up. Volta Marder scores two. Second one is an exquisite finish, absolutely brilliant. But then misses a probably easier one, and Gordon misses one. But then Chelsea, to their credit, when there's all been all this noise about Moreska and his future suddenly popped up when he threw his hand grenade in this season about not feeling supported in his worst 48 hours. Well, a 2-0 down at half time, you're thinking,

hmm, there's a stench about Chelsea here that, you know, things are not good. But they responded really well in the second half. Reese James goal, brilliant free kick. And then the second, you know, they deserved it. They were good in the second half. But I do have to say, I don't often get hung up on VAR or I try not to. I was waiting for this. Or officiating, right?

Right, I'm going to just list them. Garnaccio studs up. When you look at Simmons getting sent off for Tottenham late that evening against Liverpool, ball very very similar waved off as a yellow card chalibur on gordon is one of the most blatant penalties i have ever seen just like you watched it in real time he just went that's a penalty he just wipes him out it's like shoulder it's not shoulder to shoulder he just puts his leg across him and you've seen gordon's body contort with the force with which he's hit if you read the laws of the game it talks about excessive force as one of the one of the factors in it i then think

Reese James is covering tackle on Harvey Barnes and I've had this argument with friends I've slowed it down, I've zoomed in to get anywhere near the ball he has to go through Harvey Barnes he has to, he takes him out as well borderline, I'll put that one in the borderline category and then Reese James

tugs back Harvey Barnes late on in the game and I'm not saying that would have changed the result it was 2-1, it was in the dying embers of the game but the explanation given was it's a slight tug yeah, it's still a tug but they just waved that through as well like saying Oh, there's nothing to see.

Yeah, you've just said it's a slight tug. So I thought, and people are accused me being biased towards Newcastle, and obviously I cover Newcastle, and I have a vested interest in that respect, but I think Newcastle, they have a lot of reasons to feel aggrieved, and at 2-1 with the Gordon penalty,

Chelsea have fought back, great chance to make it free one. That's three points for them. So it was a game, brilliant game of football, great entertainment, wonderful Saturday before Christmas entertainment, loved it in terms of the drama

and all the talking points, But officiating-wise, I suspect there will be some sort of apology issued at some point in the coming days. Okay. Can I go back to the Chalabar challenge on Gordon? Clinton, if you had to put your player hat on this one, can you make an argument for Chalabar here or not? No, no, no. I can't make a case for Chalabar there. Because I could have made a case if it was shoulder to shoulder, but he's actually leaned in on him and he's caught Andy Gordon.

For me, hip to hip, hip to hip, yeah, exactly. It's a storm wall penalty. I don't care what anyone says. Eddie Howe said it in his press. He said, maybe the other one, Jay. Maybe we could have got a few from the other ones. But with that one, it is a penalty. I don't understand.

The VAR is because it's not given on field. So what? You're there to help the referee. Make the big decision. Here an obvious error. I think Luke's spot on because that changes the game after that. Because then obviously at 2-1, Newcastle going to score and it's free one. And then they miss some big chances.

Harvey Barnes, even when he comes on, has a couple of chances. I do feel everyone's talking out of good Zhao Pedro's going. and don't get me wrong, it's brilliant. But Chial has been outstanding. It's poor defending because don't get so tight. When the header goes in there, it's brilliant from Zhao Pedro. I'm thinking from a striker's point of view, I'm clapping him and saying outstanding,

but from a defending, no. But that is a penalty. I don't care what anyone says. You see, lesser penalties given what VAR get involved. So that is a penalty for me. So I can understand why Eddie Howe and Newcastle fans and every Newcastle player feels agreed. I just want to get this in here from former referee, Darren Kahn.

What does he know? Spoke to Mark Chapman on 5-life spot. I heard it, I heard it, Ben. I heard it. Right, let's get his view on the decision. I understand where Eddie is coming from. I do think it's more a penalty than not. Once it's not been given on field,

then obviously the VAR has to review it and clearly felt that it wasn't a clear and obvious error. And I understand that point of view as well. I think if you had 100 people in the room, not all 100 would think it's a penalty, but I think the majority would. Had a penalty been given on field, then I do think the VAR would stick with that decision because I think a penalty is a credible outcome, but I do understand why a penalty wasn't given initially. Because it's subjective. That's what we're saying, isn't it?

You know, it's not a clear and obvious error. As you say, some would give it, some wouldn't give it. That's right. And therefore, I think, you know, the VAR is in a very difficult situation. And don't get me wrong, there are times as a VAR or an assistant VAR where it's a slightly more uncomfortable check complete. In this situation, I feel that had a penalty been given on field, it's probably easier to say, yes, I agree with the decision. This one, I think when the penalty is not given, is a harder decision. You need to really look carefully at that situation. Darren can speaking to Mark Chapman there, and honestly, I realise this is an audio medium, but I wish, people could see the faces that both Clinton and Luke were pulling during that, the range

of emotions on the show there, particularly once we went into family fortunes there and we asked a hundred audience members what they thought. Where are we going? Where are we going? At the start he had me and I was on side with him and that's probably the bit I heard of that, yeah, he thinks it's a penalty. Then he went, I'm telling you now, you could get 100 fans in there and there'd probably be two Chelsea fans in there and the rest would be from all different clubs. Every other fan would say that is a Stonewall penalty and the two Chelsea ones

would probably say well if it weren't given from my team at the other and they'll be disappointed as well even they probably would say it's a penalty you know what it is sometimes VAR

you can hold up your hand or a referee because as players everyone makes mistakes and just say we got it completely wrong and that is what VAR is there to do

is to help the referee the referee has missed it and he's made a mistake he is missed it VAR should be big enough to say you know what I'm going to overturn it and tell the referee

to go and look at the monitor then he makes a decision but at least he's told him to go and have a look. It's a penalty. Chalibah knows it's a penalty. All the Chelsea players know it's a penalty. The fans, Chelsea fans know it's a penalty,

apart from the referee who was refereeing on the big. But my favourite, my favourite bit of that was when you said, it's more of a penalty than not. I would have just stopped in there. It's like a yes or no. Yeah, yes, a penalty then. Just say you know, Darren, we're only teasing as well. Yeah, we are.

We are. Being asked to come on and defend referees at the moment because they have certainly got their work cut out with the way things are moving with VAR. I just want to quickly touch on Chelsea. You mentioned there that it could so easily have gone wrong for Chelsea, particularly after that first 20 minutes.

I imagine for a lot of Chelsea fans, there is both a sigh of relief but also just a little sign of, just they'll be pleased that there was some character shown there in the face of a really difficult situation after this week. Yeah, no, they needed to show that because they could have easily

have folded as well everybody knows that, you know, playing the way at St. James Park is there aren't many tougher places to go at the moment

in the Premier League than that. Two-neal down, being totally outplayed. They found the way they came back. Very big team talk from Moreska.

Always a very good sign from a manager who cast doubt on his own future at the football club seven days earlier. The players are obviously still responding

to him. They haven't sort of taken that as a message from him that he wants to abandon them or it's about to be an impending part of the parting of the way so really important for them really important for the optics but also the ambitions for the season i'm still i keep saying this

in this podcast i'm still not entirely sure what chelsea are about a month ago i said they looked like the real deal and the moment i said that they then went on this really awful run um confirming what i'd previously thought of them which was i'm just not sure i don't i don't know what chelsea are but that was a really important character is the word resilient and they show some quality as well they had a lot of quality there in the second half and that they will feel they could have scored more than two as well so great response for them and it probably just quietens down the noise a little bit for chelsea and they probably needed that after after mariska's comments the previous week just before we move on luke the expectations for for newcastle why is it that you feel that the

expectation has shifted. What, what is the mindset shift that has meant that this suddenly feels at the moment like a season getting away from them almost? Well, Newcastle have qualified to the Champions League twice in three years. So there is now a view from, from some, a section of some supporters, they should always be top five. They won their first domestic trophy in 70 years last year. They got, you know, they, they, they ended that curse, as it were. They got that out the way. They have routinely since Eddie Howe came in four years ago, reached semi-finals, finals, quarter-finals of cup competitions. They hadn't played in a semi-final of a cup competition for more than 20 years until Eddie Howe arrived. But now they've done it twice,

or three times, three times in four years. They've reached the semifinals of the Carabal Cup. So those things that were once like, oh my God, that's great, they're now almost just taken for granted. It's the same with the Champions League. It's like they'd never won three successive group games in a row in the Champions League in the entire club's history they did that in this campaign but it's like people are starting to sort of go yeah well the Champions League is easy so shrug

like where where where where where's our league form so the league position isn't good enough I think you'd all say that but I I think you've got to look at Newcastle's wage bill is the eighth highest in the league apart for me at the moment is top eight and I would still back them to get top eight this season they might be able

to do something especially in one of the Cups they might be able to go deep in the championship league knockout rounds who knows they can still have a really successful season but then you've also got this weird that's the reality of the financial situation where they are as a football club they're a top eight premier league club who are becoming a very very dangerous cup team but then you've got the sort of proclamations from the owner the Saudi arabian owner yassil al ramiyan saying we want to be number one you've got the new CEO david hopkinson I think has been a real breath of fresh air at the football club coming in and saying we want to be one in the conversation

to be considered one of the top clubs in the world within five years. When you're 11th in the Premier League and you've heard those sorts of things being said about your football club, I think it distort perceptions of where Newcastle are and I think that probably isn't overly helpful

for Eddie Howe. But having said all that, you know, there's a lot of sensible people at Newcastle, including David Hopperson. They know where they are at the moment. They know David Hopperson is talking about closing the revenue gap, which is huge, huge. They've got to double their revenue.

you to get on a par with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal. So that's what he's talking about. But I think it's just warped a little bit what people think. Like you've got people saying we want to be number one. Yeah, but we're 11th. So, do you know what I mean? There's a jarring between expectation and the reality of where they are. But I still think Newcastle will go on and have a really, really good season.

Yeah, and I suppose a lot to come over the next couple of months, just in terms of the way that narrative shifts with the eventual outcome of the league phase of the Champions League, whether they're a seeded side going into the knockouts, and then the league up as well. They're in a great spot there. And as Luke said earlier on, so much shifts over the course of this kind of next eight weeks. It'll be interesting to see where Newcastle find themselves in the new year. Let's just go on to Saturday evening. Now, I thought it was a really good metaphor for Christmas this Saturday in that we basically were absolutely stuffed after the three o'clock. And then we need to go back to the fridge at 5.30

and just get tucking into all of the leftovers and get some more sandwiches and fill back up again because the Spurs versus Liverpool game gave us so much drama and so much to talk about felt like after maybe 20 minutes that wasn't going to be the case and then suddenly the game burst into life.

Liverpool run out two one winners. Spurs finished the game with nine players and I think we have to start Clinton with just contextually this being a massive win for Liverpool to just keep things on track for them. Yeah, it's a huge win for Liverpool. They played well, don't get me wrong,

but towards the last 15, 20 minutes they didn't play well. It looked like a team that is not full of confidence and I forgot how to win football matches and a bit nervy at the back. You even got Van Dyke for the Richardson goal. He's just nervous, panicking, not clearing the ball and totally miss kicking it. And that's unusual when you see a player like Van Dyte

is usually cool, calm and collective. so that's where Liverpool are at the moment but it's a big three points for them and you know what it was pleasing for them seeing ESAC get a goal but then not so pleasing when he had to go off and he looks like he might have a serious injury so hopefully it's not too bad

that would be enormously for straight-in-front you think he gets that moment and then straight away he's coming on and yeah and for the player himself because it's been stop-started we know the issues he's had with the Newcastle not having a pre-season wanting to leave and then he's picked up a few little injuries

he can't get up to speed but he looked sharp when he came on against Tottenham. He looked like the Isat I saw at Newcastle. That finish was most of the goals he scored at Newcastle. Really good finish with his weaker left foot and he looked good and then obviously he picks up an injury. But the game was mad. The one thing I would say is Liverpool had a hell of a signing in Eckertiki.

It's kind of crazy in it because Eckerti K was linked to Newcastle. I thought that would be a really good signing. Liverpool get him to get Isak as well. But, yeah, and he's been outstanding. He's had to feel the shoes and he weren't going to be the regular number nine. but I think at the moment it's his to lose because he's been outstanding

but a big three points for Liverpool. He scores the winning goal with his head, but I think what's more impressive, Luke, it's a foul. It's a foul.

Don't worry, we'll get on to the referee in the scenes in a sec. But he sort of glides around the pitch, doesn't he? The way that he moves, he's really, really good to watch.

OK, Tiki's been better for Liverpool than he's at. It's as simple as that. The stats back that up, but you see that with your eye as well when he's on the pitch. So, you know I have a complicated history with Alexander

ESAC as regular listeners on this podcast why isn't why has anyone spoken about it don't get them started Benz you haven't got that long foot you into call everyone get comfortable listen to the new year listen to the August episodes of this podcast

they're probably available on BBC sound and I didn't agree with anything you did in the summer that is a heartbreaking thing for him because Clinton's right that was an Alexander ESAC goal that that is that is the sort of goal he's made his name scoring and it doesn't look great. I think the noise is coming out of Liverpool at the moment

is it's a serious lower leg injury is going to be sent for scans. But the word is it's going to be a lengthy spell on the sidelines. So he's just up and running, gets that goal and then he's now going to be out and then all of the problems with that that come with it, fitness, you know, picking up niggles. There have always, unfortunately,

there have been these doubts about his physical output and whether he can stay fit. Newcastle did keep him fit for the main, but actually I think he probably still probably missed a third of the games while he was at Newcastle, which people forget. He's still got that huge transfer fee hanging over him and he's now not going to play. But I think in a way, you know, Liverpool bought two strikers.

They're adamant. They needed two strikers. Well, now you can see why an EKTK has been great for them and he has outperformed ESAC. But I do, on a human level, I do feel really solid for ESAC because I keep saying this on this podcast. I think it took a lot out of him mentally what happened in the summer and what he did.

And I think he's found it really, really tough to shake that off. The fact that opposition fans are, you know, singing about him whenever he goes there and calling him rude names and stuff like that. And he hasn't slotted in comfortably at Liverpool. That could have been the real, you know, turning point for him.

But now it's sort of he will feel really low, I would imagine, because if that is going to be sort of months rather than weeks on the sidelines, that's another huge. And Clinton, let me just chuck two to you on the spurs. So firstly on the decisions, second goal and the Javi Red card. Where do you stand on those?

And then secondly, is there a question around discipline in that spurs side at the moment? The first, all right, so we'll start with the Shavis Simmons. I don't think he not deliberately goes. I feel like he was getting frustrated. He weren't touching the ball. So he tried to stamp his authority and obviously he's international teammate. He catches Vandai. When you slow it down, it's the right decision.

and he's high, he catches him full on his car, it's a bad tackle. So I think VA make the right decision. I think it's a red card. So for me, there's no issues with that. I think they've got the right decision there. The Eckertique goal, Romero, and this is where he gets sent off as well,

because he gets a first yellow card because he wants to argue with the referee. And I kind of get where he's coming from because it's a fantastic heller from EckertiK, but I do think he uses his hand on the back of Romero. He does make a meal of it, Romero. but I still think anywhere else on the pitch that is given as a free kid

as soon as you put your hand on someone to get the leverage to put a header listen I think it's a fantastic header but I do think it's a foul without a shadow of doubt so I don't think that goal should have stood and Romero you saw Ben straight away he just had head loss

he just flew into every tackle he's got to realise he's a very good defender but he's the captain of the football club he just won a three kick and then he kicks out at Cannes I don't understand it just I'm so and now they'll miss him And they need him there.

They need him and Mickey Van der Vend. They're a good partnership. So I don't know how the captain can just get headlust like that. Listen, everyone gets frustrated on the football pitch, but you can't let down your teammates. And there is a bit of a discipline problem. Not so much of all the players, but in particular, Romero, because we've seen it season upon season

where he can just lose his head. Don't get me wrong, he's a good defender, but he has to be better in situations like that. So, yeah, he deserved his second yellow card. And now they're going to miss him, man. It's a huge blow missing the captain. So I think the refereeing decisions on that day were all right apart from the Eckerti K goal, which I think maybe it should have been disallowed.

Luke, just quickly on Thomas Frank, Clinton mentioned earlier on that January would be massive for Man United. In fact, January would be a huge month in terms of the transfer window for a lot of clubs. But you have the impression it will be a really crucial one for Thomas Frank as well. It just depends if there's money to spend, Ben. Like, if you remember January, we were having these same conversations in December about it being an important winter, and then nobody did anything. And there were just some loan moves, weren't there? So I don't know what Tottenham's PSR situation is, how healthy it is.

I'm sure he would like to strengthen. I'm sure you'll see, I mean, Liverpool. I think we'll want to strengthen, certainly, again, if Isak is out for a lengthy period of time. You've then got, Manchester City did a lot of business, didn't they in January? They were kind of the only ones. But there are a few teams this year. Newcastle will try and be active, like I said. Yeah, so I think Thomas Frank needs more of his imprint on that Tottenham squad.

That is where I'm at with it. and I've stuck up for Thomas Frank and saying that it's ridiculously early to be calling for him to go. I think the problems at Tottenham are more than just at the manager's door, if I'm honest. So I think he would like to bring in some more players,

but I just don't know with January anymore. It used to be this mad month, but it has actually been pretty flat in recent years because everybody spends their money in the summer and everybody knows that PSR punishments are real. So we have seen a lot of the spending road back. So it would be interesting to see, with a Totnamar active

and I think that will probably tell you a lot about the level of support for Thomas Frank as well if they do bring in one or two players that he really feels are going to improve the squad because it's not really his team at the moment, is it? And that's the problem when you're turning over managers so frequently. Let's just touch on a couple of the other sides.

I think we have to speak about Erling Harland again, Clinton. He's just in one of those grooves at the moment where he looks so sharp and so roofless in front of goal. And Man City, quietly going about business, just two points behind Arsenal. Yeah, they're fret. I feel like we still probably make Arsenal the favourists, but I can't rule out Man City at the moment. I think they're peeking at the right time and, you know,

they're getting players back in fine form like Phil Folding at the moment. They're missing Docu at the moment, but they've got Cherkies and outstanding player. He looks really good. Folding's back to his best. And then they've got players like Riders who can come and make a difference. We started off well and then went for a bit of a rough patch. And now he's come, Nico and right, the squad is very good. It's a very good squad.

and he's like the missing jigsaw. The only thing you worry about with Man City, if he picked up an injury and fingers crossed, he don't. He's fit from now to the end of the season. But he's not normal. His numbers and the figures that he's doing, he's not normal. He must be a nightmare to play against. He's been fantastic.

And I think he could be, they always say the strikers are the difference maker. As I said, at the moment, Arsenal are favourists, but he could be the difference maker for Man City winning the Premier League because he's numbers and everything, even having an assist yesterday. Fantastic. And Pep's getting it right. And this is the time. where when he said it a few weeks ago,

the season starts now, and it is starting now for Man City, for sure. I think this is one of those things with Man City. We spoke about it with Arsenal, but we've seen it so many times in the past, Luke. It's usually, when they've won the league, I think I'm right insane, it's like February, March,

they just go on these runs of maybe 10, 15 games where they just don't skip a beat and just look relentless. Yeah, that's going to be playing on Arsenal's minds. that fact that they have done this before, that they get into these positions and then they are relentless and look unstoppable. But again, we are going to know a lot more

after this Christmas period because it's not so long ago that, you know, Man City dropped points at Newcastle, you know, they were beaten. They are beatable and they also have this decision to make, therefore, with the Carabar Cup. We talked about at the start of the podcast with Arsenal, well, they're in a semi-final. What sort of team of Man City going to stand out in their Carabar Cup?

I think they've still got work to do in the Champions League in terms of qualifying. So again, by the start of February, we'll have a better idea. But, yeah, the one team you do not want two points behind you in a title race is Pet Guardiola's Manchester City. I don't know whether people saw this,

but Clinton, did you see Erling Harland's post-match meal? No, but listen, I heard he is the best that, like, my kids love looking at his social media. It's really engaging. They said he's fantastic. Well, what was his post-match meal? Well, he just had this enormous hunker meat that he was just chowing down.

Yeah, well, that's what I hear. He's big on his meat. Yeah, I heard he's mad. Some of the stuff he eats, everyone's going to start eating and drinking the stuff that he does because I heard it's crazy, but they have to realise it's not probably what he is good what he's eating and drinking, but he is a good footballer.

It's what you do with the ball at your feet as well. Your poor kids, Clint, they're going to be sitting around the dinner table now just with massive hunks of beef. Oh, that's what he's saying. My oldest is 19. He feels he's as big as Harland anyway, but I said he's got to be out to control the football, mate.

Legend, very finally just touched on relegation places so at the moment West Ham in 18th, 13 points Burnley, 19th for 11 points but then Wolves 20th with 2 points a bleak Christmas for them Luke Yeah, bye-bye wolves

It's gone well for Rob Edwards isn't it So that's all I've got to say They're I mean They're down They're relegated Start looking at championship grounds For next season

On the flip though More positive news for Leeds. There was so much pressure on Daniel Farker. They now sit in 16th with 19 points and that is where we'll leave it on the Premier League review. Thank you so much to Clinton

thank you so much to Luke. Thanks so much for listening and have a very happy and Merry Christmas. On the next episode of the Football Daily Mark Chapman, we'll be joined by Chris Sutton, Rory Smith and Andros Townsend for the Monday Night Club. We'll see you all next time. Five Live Sports.

Match Special podcast. This is going to be the focus of some pretty serious heart-nosed cricket over the next few days. He drives into the offside. This will be his hundred. Well played Joe Root, England's finest. Runs! To always got to get back again. Jeez, wash.

Sorry. Settled down, Tuthers. Sorry, Ray. Oh, I'm living every ball of this. Listen to the TMS podcast. Every Day of the Ashes with BBC Sounds.