07/10/2012 Match of the Day 2

A classy, cinematic start to a Match Of The Day 2 with four

different Premier League script to bring you. It was all action at

White Hart Lane, and St Mary's was full of suspense. Anfield was

animated, but we start at St James' Park. This one sells itself. The

rumour is that Manchester United are struggling at the back. That's

not good news when today, they are against Demba Ba. But Manchester

United still pack a mighty punch, whichever combination Fergie plays

whichever combination Fergie plays up front. At ringside, Jonathan

Pearce. A day rich in promise of a

swashbuckling, piratical plundering for the big hitters. In the absence

of Coloccini and Taylor, Williamson, alongside Perch, could be hard

pressed at the back for Newcastle. Five changes from the team which

beat Bordeaux on Thursday. For Manchester United, De Gea keeps his

place after a good performance in midweek in Europe. Evans is fit

after his dead leg. Carrick, Kagawa and Welbeck are recalled to a

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 59 seconds

down the road. It's a lovely sight, Williamson, and the goalkeeper had

to save with his feet. Manchester United have started the game the

strongest. United take the lead! To be honest, it has been coming since

the kick-off. Jonny Evans! In A- game dominated before the kick-off

by talk about the big scorers, and it is a centre-half who opens the

scoring! He came from a long way out and easily lost his marker.

Newcastle let him go. Manchester United are ahead. And they have

started the game very well. Here we go again for Manchester United.

Raphael! Newcastle simply cannot get into the game. Newcastle came

into this game unbeaten in the last three meetings between the clubs.

Manchester United beat them just a few days ago in the League Cup.

Harper was in all sorts of problems against Welbeck and Son, that

Welbeck simply cannot score. What a let-off for Steve Harper. The back-

pass should have been easily alongside him, called Robin van

Persie, but he decided not to use Manchester United's top scorer.

Wayne Rooney is there spare man, between the lines, and that's a

He is fuming about something right at the start of that move. And he

was caught very badly. Rooney, who has not scored this season. He has

10 in 18 games in his career against Newcastle. Wayne Rooney!

Harper a atones for his earlier error. At the moment, Manchester

United are playing arguably their best football of the season so far.

And it is two! And it is the captain who got up from the back,

Patrice Evra! It is his first goal in two years, his second in 3.5

years. And Newcastle, at sixes and sevens. They simply cannot deal

with Manchester United. He wanted it more, he got across his man, and

Demba Ba should have done better. Jonas Gutierrez clearly saying, who

is supposed to be picking up Evra? Well, he has let him go, and as a

consequence, he scores. Both goals wide. He has been put into a more

central position, Jonas Gutierrez, and Hatim Benaud offer has been put

out on the left. Newcastle have changed their formation, and it

nearly paid off. -- Hatem Ben Arfa. Some space now for sand on. But he

working with Alan Pardew. Demba Ba, fouled by Carrick, who got the

wrong side of him. Newcastle have not forced the Manchester United

goalkeeper into a save. Maybe now. That was Cisse, whose shirt was

being pulled by Patrice Evra, no question about it. How is that not

goalkeeper came, but did not get there. Off the post and away. A

corner kick his Newcastle's only reward. Looking to test the

goalkeeper, who got nowhere near it. Was the whole of the ball over the

line? De Gea had to make the save, and did. I think few teams could

have resisted Manchester United in the opening 15 minutes. That was

Ben Arfa, and Manchester United switched off, giving him too much

time on the ball. Was this over the line? Well, even there, it is

if he meant it, it was brilliant. Van Persie was at the far post.

Harper saying, Newcastle did not press the ball. When Rooney found

Cleverley, did he really expect this would happen? Looking at it,

he may have gone for it, in which case it was a magnificent strike.

Tom Cleverley, his second senior goal for Manchester United, his

the Roy Hodgson Tube story, has the ball? It is put out of play by

Valencia. Van Persie and Cabaye were running together, and van

Persie pushes out an arm. The Frenchman, furious. The game has

long been won by Manchester United. They simply could not afford to

give Manchester United a two-goal lead within the first 20 minutes.

Newcastle United had a lot of possession after that. They might

have been given a goal, but Cisse's effort was declared not to have

crossed the line. It was Tom Cleverley who wrapped up the

Cleverley who wrapped up the victory. Everyone speaking about

all of the strikers, but it was two defenders who got the opening goals.

Yes, and they have only scored twice in their career. You take it,

because winning big games like this is important. It is not easy coming

to Newcastle. They make you work. We handled most of the aerial stuff

that was thrown at us, Ferdinand and Evans were terrific. I was

pleased with the result, and for most of the game, with the

performance. The two goals, I was furious, but after that, I thought

we did all right, we were terrific. We perhaps could have got a goal

ourselves. We came out for the second half in a great frame of

mind. We had a great opportunity to score. I looked at the video, and

certainly, the hall macro ball was not over the line. Did you mean it?

Yes, well, you can see that I had looked up and just seen Harper off

his line of it. Whether somebody gets up and heads it, or whether it

goes straight in. I suppose it is a good finish. And you scored against

them in the League Cup as well. I wish we could play them every

week. But generally, I feel like I am getting into goalscoring

positions. I do not think he tried a shot, I think it was a cross, but

They have gone and, thinking, we're not great defensively and we will

really go with them and that is exactly what Manchester United dead

and they must be applauded but in that first 15 minutes, this was the

first goal. It was great from Manchester United's point of view.

But Williamson, the centre-back, saying he isn't my man. You deal

with that. He just goes past 10 and he is in. Newcastle, that was a

poor goal. But look at Patrice Evra, that was a good run. He was

determined not to get picked up. Manchester United, does first 15

minutes, those two goals, they were excellent. If you just saw the

score line in the paper, I suppose 3 - 0 might look great. We don't

have goal-line technology. We have to make do with you two. That is a

point of conjecture. Papiss Cisse gets that and I thought it wasn't.

The all thought that was then but you know what, you kind of think it

was in from there, but he is a World Cup referee assistant and he

said no, and he was right, there it is. Unless he is 100% certain, you

cannot give it. The argument is, why on earth are we sat you never

the -- nearly every single week, saying, where is it? Other sports

look at this. They laugh at us. It is a billion-pound business. It is

great in many ways, but with that, that is hopeless. If just do it,

what is the problem? They are laughing out loud! Laughing at you

and me! Nobody laughs at me! Newcastle did play their part but

even as United went into that second half, they were just -- just

very in control? Everybody knows that Man United have struggled for

clean sheets. They had to deal with Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba, very

physical players and we saw that they dealt with the headers well

and they competed very well and they are dealing with two guys who

are very good physically and good at holding the ball up and running

in behind. They had to deal with the physicality of the game, first

and foremost. Making sure that he is doing that and clearing the

lines. Jonny Evans was also big and strong and powerful and again,

doing the defensive work first. He wins another header but the main

thing was he had his team mates around in doing their bit. And Tom

Cleverley worked hard to make sure that nothing came from that. That

is something I could see right through the game, Wayne Rooney,

tracking back, not even his man, he went past three players to make

that challenge. That was the focus of their play. Working in bunches

and Wayne Rooney gets back and Tom Cleverley gets back and they have

done that for all the game. They invite that ball in but look how

quickly they get back and they have the quality to break quickly and

Wayne Rooney is looking for Danny Welbeck. That was the quality they

showed throughout the game. They took the sting out of the game and

when playing away from home like the Sports Direct arena, they must

make sure they have to get hold of that. And they launch another

attack and they did that consistently with power. They

treated that today like it was a Champions' League game, away from

home, don't do anything stupid, when we get the ball, we will play.

Newcastle at home are a real handful. Wayne Grady was brilliant

today and he would have been proud of that finish from Tom Cleverley,

but did he mean that? I am sorry, I am not having it! Really not. The

ball in from Wayne Rooney, that little look. He could not have put

that in a better place. This is the first one, this is the one common

out. He is looking for Van Persie, he isn't looking at the goal at

that particular time. And it goes in. I would have said I meant that,

too, even if I did not. We are not let readers but that will not stop

us. We don't have the budget, but after he scores the goal, look at

this. We think... Well, Jason Roberts, thinks, he says, no way

did I mean that! He yes! We have got you! A you sure?! Three out of

four games, controversy, Alan Pardew has been talking about this,

and it is Van Persie who has history against Newcastle. He does.

With Arsenal previously I remember that incident at one stage last

year. He flat palms in just a little bit. I don't know if that

was something that happened previously. Perhaps a previous

encounter. I would not think he was in trouble, just a little bit

naughty. But to look at on Monday morning but some things might be of

interest. Match of the Day 3 will be online and on the Red Button

from tomorrow morning with more football chatter and for a good

reason, he will find out later, there is a People's quiz and Match

of the Day 2 is on the iPlayer if you want to relive anything,

especially Goal of the Month and B are not on next week, international

week. Later tonight, there is live NFL, the New York Jets against the

unbeaten Houston Texans on the Red Button and the BBC Sport website

from 1:30am this morning. To the capital city and again between two

of the youngest managers in the Barclays Premier League. On paper,

it is a backer, Aston Villa has only one win in the last 12 league

visit to White Hart Lane but Paul Lambert's men can draw inspiration

from their hosts, who broke their long Old Trafford ducked last week.

Spurs looked like a top unit following that victory in

Manchester. If only they could stop leaking goals at home. Aston Villa

will hope for something with the returning Darren Bent sure to

figure. A record of just three league wins in the last 25 outings

simply has to improve. Watching this, Simon Brotherton. Andre-

Villas Boas has made a big call by dropping in Brad Friedel in favour

of Hugo Lloris, the French international who makes his Premier

League debut. His presence in goals brings to an end to consecutive

starts from Brad Friedel, who has not missed since 2004. It is the

only change to the side that won at Old Trafford last week. Aston Villa

are unchanged following the draw with West Bromwich Albion last week,

meaning Darren Bent, who secured a point after coming off the bench

last week, is among the substitutes once again with Christian Benteke

was a great chance for Jermaine Defoe. The flag has gone up on the

far side so it would not have counted. Really threatening the

Aston Villa goal. Jermain Defoe back was completely on the wrong

That is twice in the opening six minutes that Tottenham were just

one inch away from taking the lead. There is a subdued atmosphere ahead

of the game and since it has started, actually. That was not a

great idea. Aston Villa have been awarded the throw in. Neil's

Warbrick would suggest that Gareth Bale was guilty of simulation. He

did not touch him. He should be booked by the referee for that.

Beaten by dense it. It did not quite run for Dempsey. Away comes

Gabriel Agbonlahor. Racing forward. Christian Benteke, he has acres of

space on the right. And Christian Benteke forcing a save from Hugo

Lloris. Here is the only real save that the new Gold Cup or -- new

goalkeeper has had to make so far. Defoe, he has been in great form

this season. Unable to add to his four Premier League goals this time,

a chance for Christian Benteke. In the end, it was rather a straight

forward for Hugo Lloris. Early promising signs from Aston Villa in

the second half. That was a good shooting opportunity. Paul Lambert

in search of his first away win as was aimed at Gareth Bale. In

towards Christian Benteke! He should have scored. What a chance

for Aston Villa. I doubt there will be many more as good as that

between now and the final whistle. Hugo Lloris was lucky to get away

with that. It was in the general direction of Gareth Bale. Quickly

intercepted. Christian Benteke with the free header. He could not died

at home. Aston Villa, just on whisker away from taking the lead,

here. Jermaine Defoe. Gareth Bale is ahead of him. Tottenham, so

close to going ahead. The shot just Gabriel Agbonlahor with the

clearance, that results in a Tottenham corner. Gareth Bale will

take this one. That was a good touch from Jermaine Defoe and it is

in! Tottenham ahead. 12 minutes into the second half, Steven

Caulker at the far post, as the corner came over, in from Gareth

Bale, Jermaine Defoe with the shot. It strikes Steven Caulker on his

hail and because the ball was going wide, that will be his. An

unorthodox first-ever goal for Tottenham Hotspur for Steven

Caulker. And they lead 1 - 0. Just one win from their opening six

matches. Five points from six games. Paul Lambert has got options on the

It is only one way traffic, now. Nearly midway through the second

half. Darren Bent beaten in the air by Steven Caulker. Gareth Bale.

Some space. And Falkland Dead Sea. Tottenham carrying a real threat,

Aaron Lennon. 2 - 0! He finds the bottom corner. And Aston Villa will

have to dig very deeply if they are to get anything, here. Three-

quarters of the way through the game and Tottenham heading for a

4th straight league win. Aaron Lennon, he has threatened

throughout the afternoon. He finds the bottom corner. The first goal

in nine months. And one that Tottenham in the space of 10

minutes in this second half. Tottenham shouting for handball,

but they will not get it. It struck him right on the shoulder. There is

no way the poem -- referee would give a penalty for that. Aston

Villa have got four victories in 20 Premier League visits before today.

Oh, that was a great chance for a third goal. Clint Dempsey knows it.

Lennon, having swapped wings with at in the penalty area. Bennett has

had a bit of a problem here after that challenge. Villa have already

made their three substitutions. The structure has been called for

straightaway. Let's have a look at it again. Villa will have to play

the final 13 minutes with 10 players. Let us hope it is not as

serious as it looks. Tottenham, totally in control of this. That

was Gareth Bale. Keeping Brad Not a great game at White Hart Lane

this afternoon, by any stretch, but Tottenham were the of all three

points. I think it was the best home performance so far. We were

very consistent throughout the match. We played with great

intensity. Extremely happy. The players have put in an immense

physical effort. I thought we were well in the game. They'll really

good side, no doubt about it, but I thought the pivotal moment was the

header. How is Jo Bennett? He is OK, he has got a bit of a gash on his

leg. But we have got the international break now, so

hopefully he will be back. I was fortunate, that it went into the

back of the net, but it is my first Premiership goal like, so I am

delighted. How did Brad Friedel take it? Obviously, he was

disappointed, but he is a great professional, he ended up accepting

the decision. I am sure that he will be back on the team as soon as

possible. Sandro and Dembele were amazing again. We have talk about

that a lot. Second best start for a Premier League season for Spurs,

and they seem to have clicked. they have got great pace in their

attacks. But Aston Villa were tracking back, doubling up, really

well, especially in the first half. It was a feature of their game. You

have to work extra hard to get back to counter the pace of Tottenham on

the wings. Here, in the second half, they are still doing the same job,

but starting to get a bit deeper, and Tottenham are getting a bit

more joy at penning them back. Now, it is even harder, because they are

getting tired, they cannot get back and double up. Lennon is able to

start hurting them. This time, he gets it again, and he really

punishes them. It is really hard to stop that kind of quality, when

they are getting the ball consistently. Here, fuller macro

getting tired, and Spurs show what they are good at. I think with

Tottenham, and her agree with all of that, but what they will miss

over the course of the season will be Van der Vaart, just something a

little bit different, when the game is really tight, someone who drops

off and picks the ball up. Apart from that, they are up there.

the subject of the word drop, Paul Lambert does not drop players, he

just wrests them, but Darren Bent, splinters in the backside again.

Well, he came on and scored against West Brom last week. Today, he

played the other striker up front on his own, and this was a

fantastic chance. You have got to hit the target. But away from home,

he might work a bit harder, he might run the channel's better. But

if you want a goal, you would rather have Bent. It is one of

those things. Probably a mixture of the two would be great. If you had

missed that, would you be up night with it? You would be. It is not

that he had to make any particular movement to get away from anybody,

it is virtually a free header. He knows that chances like that, you

have to put them away. More important, it was at 0-0, it was

massive. Controversy of the day - it seems diving, it does not really

matter who you play for, where you are from, we can find it wherever

we look. Yes, but there is a bit of the funny side to this. He nicked

the ball away, and you think, my goodness, what have the goalkeeper

done? The answer is, absolutely nothing. He was a million miles

away. What is that all about? Great dive. At least he got his kicks

dirty. We should not really enough. But he is laughing. The referee is

in the wrong place when he goes for that. We were all watching it, from

the camera angle we had, we all said, what has the goalkeeper done?

We did, but you have got to see the lighter side of football sometimes.

All the action from yesterday, and highlights of the Liverpool-Stoke

match to come, but now,, we are of 10 points already -- 10 goals

already, but they let in six in one game against Arsenal. Fulham are

deadly in attack, with 13 goals already this season. Only

Manchester United have scored more. Fulham have won three and lost

Trulli. -- three. Southampton have been conceding plenty of goals so

far, an average of three per game. That is unsustainable at any level.

More of the same today would set the alarm bells ringing.

Southampton are not helped by an injury to the Uruguayan guest on

Ramires. Daniel Fox is back in defence. It is 10 years since

Fulham last lost to Southampton. Alex Kacaniklic comes in on the

left of midfield. It is a fixture which the Southampton manager,

Nigel Adkins, must have heard down in his diary as one from which they

need to take something. That is a Magnussen got his head on it. It

has gone behind for a corner. It is in! Southampton are in front

through Fonte! Less than four minutes played! First in the

Premier League for Joe's a Fonte. - - Jose. It might have come off his

shoulder, but you do not see too many Southampton fans complaining.

good ball. Lambert! Unlucky. Excellent combination between

Lallana, Rodriguez and Lambert. Hangeland was appealing for offside,

but it was he who was playing him onside. Seven years ago, it was

them have got a man on the back post, and he has kept it out! It is

another corner. It was Riether who blocked from Puncheon. That is why

you put a defender on the back post. In comes the corner. The goalkeeper

goes down, and that will not count. That is interesting. Jason Puncheon

momentarily thought he had scored. How much contact was there? Oh, my

goodness me. Well, I would suggest that any player other than a

goalkeeper would be laughed at if he claimed a foul for that. Ten-

year is in age separates the two of them. One of them played for Bayern

Munich, one of them played for Tranmere rivers. Adam Lallana! Not

much of an angle, and it was just behind Davis. Mark Schwarzer raises

his hand in apology. Fulham are giving Southampton plenty of

encouragement today. If it is not Hangeland, it is Schwarzer. Half-

time approaching. Fulham will be looking for an improvement, that's

found its way to Lambert! Schwarzer makes the save. Damien Duff has

gone down and got himself a free kick. Lambert had lots of room. He

just tried to go for power to the near post. It was a comfortable

save for the goalkeeper. He would have been unhappy to be beaten at

the near post. John Arne Riise... Rodallega was on the edge of the

He was very aggressive. And off the post! Hooked out by it may you

should have. -- Yoshida. That is as close as full-on have come to a

goal. Still forward. Hugo Rodallega. Amazing save! Brilliant stuff! And

there is at hand ball as they came back in. Well, you can argue about

the possibility of a hand ball but not about the quality of the Save

Richardson. Driven by d8 macro. Own goal! -- d8 macro. It is one - 1.

As you can see, the shot was definitely going wide. That is an

own goal. But the second own goal. This season. And the third that

Southampton have scored this season. Who needs to win more? Looking at

the league table, you would suggest that it is Southampton. They are

queuing up! Frazer Richardson! It is in! And Fulham might just have

nicked it! Lovely ball. He found Sascha Riether. With just 2.5

minutes left to play. It was definitely onside. That was a very

good finish from Kieran Richardson. That double deflection on the way

in. Slightly wrong-footed. That is a goal from Richardson. His first

for Fulham. Was Ecott? Morgan Schneiderlin is caught. Red shirts

aplenty in the box. And it has gone and! They have done it! D6 macro.

It is 2 - 2. -- Fonte! Mark Schwarzer could not get down. Two

goals, one at the start and one right at the end. Southampton are

level. Deep breath then, we have taken a point in the Barclays

Those two goals from the set play, it is pleasing to get the point but

disappointing by the second half performance, far too much was from

the open field position. We did not do anywhere near as much in the

second half. In the second half, we played the football from the back

four to the midfield and we put them under pressure and we score

goals and that is exactly what we did. It is very disappointing.

goals, are you disappointed that in the end you have come away having

to settle for one.? Very disappointed, I would have

preferred the clean sheet. To be fair. For me, two goals, we had a

point and in the end, we have to take the point and learn from that

because we cannot keep making these mistakes. The equalised from a

free-kick. Just one second before they were awarded that, there was a

similar challenge. You cannot say something in England because they

will keep my mouth shut. That was a foul for us. It was a free kick,

everything would have been fine. And it is even worse two seconds

later. I am very pleased that you saw that as well. They always say,

I am not going to say anything and immediately say something straight

after. I would not be betting on any no scores from Southampton.

score goals. The thing about that is, they have no fear going forward.

The movement is excellent and they have players who will get their

heads up in certain positions so it isn't a great worry. And I think

they have surprised a lot of people, people like Paul Lambert are

surprised and everyone has got, not sure, can you score goals? Don't

know. In the Premiership? He can. And Alan Lallana is also a very

good player. He knows what he has got in terms of the team going

forward. They are definitely going to create chances and they have

gone into the Premiership with that same ethos. It is refreshing to

think that they think they shelled out score the competition. It might

leave them open at the back and it does. They have conceded 20 goals.

20 conceded already. Fulham also deserve credit? Not for the first

half, they were well full. In the second half, I don't know what was

said at half-time, this was their only chance in the first half. But

that purely was down to Southampton, and the problem is, in terms of

defence, they just seemed to knock off and it isn't only the team as a

whole, it is also individuals doing that at certain moments. I mean,

they are absolutely all over the players on too many occasions and

until you can get that certainty from the team, defensively, for

Nigel Atkins, he must go into games and think, I have got no idea what

is going to happen. We know we're going forward but defensively, it

just does not happen and in the end, the fallen man gets on to it, and

for a long time, Southampton were such a better team. But balls like

that... Teams are not having to work that hard. To get in behind

Southampton and also to create chances and ultimately, to score

goals. Looking at Fulham, traditionally, what is the average

age that a player would have to start looking at retirement at?

Over 30. These days? It changes. we need to re-evaluate that because

the average age in full-on was over 30. In your situation, 34? And you

are fit and you still have got pace. We are living longer. What is the

average lifespan of a footballer? It has increased. Differences in

diet and the way we go about things but the experience of Fulham has

help them stay in the game and that is something that they have brought

in as they have got an older, they have an older squad but older

players are allowed to stay in the game. It did not start Burley well

but in the second half, they kept themselves into the game and got

themselves back. Clever players who played international football, they

get to about 30 years old and retired from international football.

If you play eight international games a year plus all that

travelling, they think they might get another one or two extra years

on their contract. He you try telling a Northern Ireland fan that

that is clever. We will go without. Tens of goals still to come and

Beatles fans should stay with us until the very end but now at

Liverpool. 53 years ago. Macmillan was Prime Minister, the first mini

rolled off the production line and Elvis was the King and the Borgias

beat the Reds in Division Two. Today was the 50th top-flight

meeting between the two teams at Anfield and first up to break their

duck, they made to overcome a side still buzzing after thrashing

Norwich last weekend. But the battlers are not in bad shape,

having brushed Swansea aside last time around. Watching in colour was

Alistair Mann... 1959 Bosnia Bill Shankly began to turn Liverpool

into what he called a bastion of invincibility. What would he make

of their current home record of just two league wins in Anfield in

2012, that is probably unrepeatable. If they are to win number three,

Luis Suarez will have played a significant role and he has already

scored more than half of their goals this season. Seven more

colleagues were resting from the starting 11, who lost on Thursday.

Peter Crouch will make his 9th attempt to score a Premier League

goal against Liverpool since he left in 2008, Charlie Adam is

another ex employee involved today. Michael Owen has been ruled out by

a training-ground injury. When you look at the bench of Stoke City,

they have a much stronger line-up than they have ever had. Luis

Suarez has gone down from that challenge by Robert Huth. Michael

Kightly, that was a good ball. Luis Suarez is OK, meanwhile. I think it

was pointing to a mark on her stomach by the stands. Robert Huth.

He goes down with the studs on his stomach. Whether that was

deliberate is something only he himself will know. And he has set

at too short. And he was blocked by Pepe Reina. That was a gift from

Nuri Sahin. Liverpool's reluctance to hit anything from the dead-ball

situation nearly cost them. There is no reason at Stoke should come

here with anything other than a positive approach. They finished

11th, Twelfth, 13th and 14th since they were promoted. The challenge

is to get that top 10 finish. Nuri Sahin. Bin towards Luis Suarez.

Getting beyond Cameron. He went back at 10 at has gotten around him

for a third time. I think that was going towards the corner of the

goal, actually. He did well, at least one is. He seems to have

taken on Cameron once too often. Sterling got in the way of that.

Three teenagers in the starting 11 today. As they were with Norwich

last weekend. Pepe Reina has given that ball away. That little chap

was dealt with, well. The philosophy of Liverpool under

Bridgen Rogers is they should this batch of -- is that they should

play at the back and to give that to the Stoke player and it bounced

into the possession of Michael Kightly and his first shot was

blind for the goal. Pepe Reina atoned for his error. He doesn't

want to become the first Liverpool manager to suffer three straight

home league defeats. Manchester United have recently triumphed

recently. Luis Suarez. This is in shooting range and what a shot it

was! And that was an excellent stop from Asmir Begovic. You cannot

leave that amount of time and room for Steven Gerrard, because you

know he can hit them accurately and that was swinging towards the

corner. And Asmir Begovic did well. That was an optimistic attempt.

Back again. And towards Daniel Agger. Just beyond the post. He did

well, there. His first shot was blocked and then that clever little

poke into the area. Daniel anger on this stretch, he just likes the

outside of the post. As close as we Sterling has done well. Here's

Suarez. Steven Gerrard! Well, he never quite looked settled, and he

just drag it a couple of metres beyond the post. Sterling really

boxing them in. Glen Johnson! Good save by Begovic, who was able to

keep it within his possession. It and Steven Gerrard has possessed it

throughout his career, the weighted pass. Johnson was the latest

beneficiary, and perhaps he ought it, and what an opportunity this is

for Stoke. Walters and Wisdom have stayed down. Two Liverpool players

converged, neither of them got to it, and Kightly was unable to pick

going! All the way! Oh, unlucky! That would have been fabulous.

Initially, he lets the ball do the work for him, losing Nzonzi. The

tricky feat, weaving his magic, up until the very last moment, when it

slides off the side of his boot. Otherwise, it would have been a

has hit the outside of the post. It all came about because of Agger's

ambition. He kept on going, I don't think he intended to pick out

Sterling, but Sterling hit it first this is a game which Liverpool

challenge was half a second before Sterling. Steven Gerrard is

frustrated I think with himself, not Sterling. Suarez, well, there

was never an angle to score. Only a player like Suarez would have tried

to score from that position. And you could say, only a player like

Suarez might have scored. But not on that occasion. Sterling... Still

going. Great play. And then he was caught by Whitehead. Now, white had

will get himself booked. Such a lovely player to watch, Raheem

Sterling. If he is doing this at 17, what on earth is he going to be

like in two or three years' time? Into the last minute. Martin

looked as though it was going to drift out for a goal-kick, but

Martin Skrtel had other ideas, and Suarez could not quite reach it. Is

that the last opportunity for Liverpool? It just brushed the post.

Still a first victory here at Still a first victory here at

Anfield in the Premier League eludes Brendan Rodgers. That was

our first clean sheet. We have made mistakes in other games, but today,

we made no mistakes, we were just unfortunate we could not get the

final ball. Charlie Adam will be disappointed he did not take that

opportunity early on. Sterling was up to ride the challenge is very

well indeed. Yes, for a 17-year-old, he has been fantastic. It was a

really good test for them, playing against proper men today. They

created enough, they showed enough courage on the ball. We just could

not find the final pass in the area. Two players got booked, saying that

they were deserving of that? No, we were disappointed with the amount

of bookings we got. We were disappointed one or two of the

Liverpool players were not booked. I thought Suarez today, again,

there have been banging the drum about people who fall over, and the

one in the second half, it is an embarrassment. Decisions are made

on the Monday by the FA. They should be looking at this, give him

three games, and he will stop falling over. He puts enormous

pressure on the referee. Let's get straight to that. If you are

Brendan Rodgers, you might say, his reputation precedes him. Definitely

two sides to that story. He had a running battle with Huth all

through the game. This was a particularly strong challenge. You

would like to think he has not seen him, but he has definitely stamped

on him. You do not want to see this on the football pitch. There is no

doubt that he has collected. Liverpool will say, he has been

treated badly, and he did not get a free kick or anything. He has

actually marked him. It was definitely not a dive. But as the

game develops, the two of them start to leave a bitter on each

other. Yes, it is like anything, the problem is, for me, today, the

referee, no bias or anything, he should have dealt with Huth in that

very first tackle, and then he would not have been able to make

that tackle. We would all agree with Tony Pulis that this is

laughable, and we did laugh, when we were watching it. I don't know

what it is. But it is the whole thing with him. Some people

actually thing now with Suarez, it is boy cries wolf. Now, as a

referee, looking at Suarez in the box and thinking, did he or didn't

he? As the game gets faster, how much of it is guesswork from the

referee, and how much do you think some decisions are based on

reputations? I think referees are human beings, and they will have

perceptions about players. One thing I would say is, there is a

difference between going down when you have a challenge than it is to

actually go down when no-one touches you. I think that is what

we want to get out of the game. Players are going to anticipate

challenges and go down. I think you have to say, our referees are as

good, if not better, than in any other league. From their point of

view, and we have seen it today, with the goal which was and, at

Newcastle, if you're not 100% certain, you cannot give it. Three

of the best players in the Premier League doing these dives today, and

as for Stoke, we get bored talking about them, because they deserve

what they get. They do. They have even got themselves into Europe.

They are very difficult to play against. But for me this has for me

against. But for me this has for me being a major problem for Liverpool

for a long time. Liverpool do not, one enough occasions, get lots of

people into the penalty area. Look at all the Stoke players. Where are

the Liverpool players? I get what Brendan Rodgers is trying to do. On

this occasion, they just make the wrong decision. The boys Sterling

has made the wrong decision. But that for me is a problem. You can

have a passing game, but you have got to get people into the penalty

area. Otherwise, you're trying to thread the ball through the eye of

the needle, and it becomes too easy to defend against. This time, they

get round the back, but nobody was in there. That's where you score

your goals. But at the start of the season for Stoke, hats off to Tony

Pulis. An absolutely bona fide Premier League side. The best thing

about them, from the point of view of the manager, they very rarely

change. And that is good enough to change. And that is good enough to

keep them in the League, which is an achievement. Roberts is ready to

cause controversy with his choice of Goal of the Month. First,

yesterday's action. Wigan took on high-flying Everton. West Ham had

their work cut out against Arsenal. And West Brom have a 100% home

record so far, and they were record so far, and they were

welcoming appeal. -- they were welcoming QPR. Shane Long...

Chasing into the channels, and that is a good ball in. That is a

magnificent opening goal! Good run by James Morrison, and it's

another! Another individual mistake has cost Queens Park Rangers, and

the bottom club are in real trouble, following that second goal from

Zoltan Gera. Queens Park Rangers are back in the game! Taken on the

chest by Adel Taarabt, and that is a very, very good,. Mulumbu 0 to

Morrison. Good football. Mulumbu is the score. And that was the best

move of the game. Granero! Oh, what a lovely goal. Queens Park Rangers'

best player on the day has scored a delightful goal. One last attack.

It is loose! Oh, it is over! Hoisted over the bar by Bosingwa!

He has done really well, and Diame has scored! That is a brilliant

goal. It is Mohamed Diame's first for West Ham. Here's Olivier Giroud,

and Arsenal are well stocked in attack. Podolski... And there is

the equaliser, and at last, Giroud has scored for Arsenal in the

Premier League. That is a lovely piece of play by Cazorla. And here

comes Walcott. Arsenal have taken the lead! Theo Walcott has put

Arsenal into the lead for the first time in the game. Cazorla! Oh, I

say! The little man has produced a goal which will surely clinch the

game. Santi Cazorla is going to be nothing short of an Arsenal

restart! Making progress in the middle. What a finish! Could this

be, that was Franco Di Santo. Nikica Jelavic. He went down too

easily that time. If he thinks he was pushed. Another one down.

Leighton Baines to take this against his old club. He usually

has a day die from the spot. -- dead alive. He scores. An English

man who knows how to take a penalty. The first game, the 100% on records,

Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the fortress of the Hawthorns. 100%.

And they have beaten Liverpool. They beat Everton at them everybody

knows they have done a great job with Steve Clarke. If it was a

tough job to get. We all looked at this and Scott, and not quite sure,

absolutely found stochastic -- outstanding so far. The board backs

Mark Hughes 100% and they say he is the right man although he is the

favourite to go first at the moment. No wins away yet. Not even a draw.

He will be disappointed and that will be hurting and that will mean

that the team will be working hard to get things right. They will be

doing a lot of defensive work because that is what he does and

when you are shipping goals like that, you don't have a chance to

play. Exam at West Ham. 11 points from seven. -- Big Sam. He is a

good motivator. And to get someone like Andy Carroll, to get those

performances. He is in a good position to start this year. Did he

drive you well? Did he get the best out of Jason Roberts? At times. The

best thing is he has got this way of playing I'm going about it. It

is effective and that is the way it has been for a number of years.

have enjoyed some West Ham games. The three clubs that came up, the

world and his wife would have gone for the best chance, West Ham,

because of the manager. Absolutely. Now the rest, starting with the

league leaders going into and coming out of this weekend. Hard to

know what you'll get with Swansea and Reading and yesterday we were

treated to a very unpredictable game at the Liberty. Back in

Manchester it was a tale of two unbeaten sides with Manchester City

showing why they are the champions of England. And the champions of

Europe remain unbeaten in the Premier League as they take on

Norwich. John Terry not looking terribly comfortable in the penalty

area. There could be a chance. Norwich City are ahead! What a turn

up at Stamford Bridge! Here comes Chelsea. Branislav Ivanovic.

Fernando Torres! 1 - 1. And that lead lasted for less than four

minutes. No. 6 of the season for Fernando Torres. John Ruddy was not

about to reach that. Towards Fernando Torres. Away by Martin.

Fernando Torres going for this. Frank Lampard - 2-1! This could

open up for Chelsea. Fernando Torres. Still with Juan Mata.

Beautifully done. That was a sensational goal. Chelsea walked

that in and they made it look so, so easy. Players of real quality.

Oscar. Looking for Fernando Torres. And finding Branislav Ivanovic. He

scores! And what a strike. It never looked set up for a left-footer.

But Aleksandar Kolarov is just so capable. That was a lovely ball.

Carlos Cuellar scores. James Milner is on this. And it is three. That

little deflection. It skimmed the top of Craig Gardner's head. Pavel

Pogrebnyak made the run. Would you believe it? Blocked by Williams.

Hunt! 2 - 0. Extraordinary. Two efforts on goal and two goals for

Reading in the first half. Pablo Hernandez again. Wayne Routledge.

Surely this time? At last, for Swansea. His 5th Premier League

goal. Miguel Michu. Wayne Routledge! 2 - 2. Wayne Routledge.

He gets the equaliser. We know the cliche, 2 - 0 up, it finishes 2 - 2.

That feels like to feed but listening to the manager talking

afterwards, and not sure he share that. He seemed quite happy with

one point. I am sure the players would have been got it? Really

disappointed in the dressing room but the amount of chances that

Swansea created, it was probably fair. But we felt that we could

hold on and take the points. Something we did regularly last

season. Sam and sparky, what about Brian? He is laid back. He trusts

the players and that means the success that we have got. We will

continue to do the things that we believe to be right to stay in this

position. He is so slick, not saying anything that will get him

in trouble in the training ground. Man City, we have seen more of what

we have come to expect from them as they start moving through the gears.

If you watched all of that game, we had David Silva, the better players,

they played yesterday and some of them were not very good. But they

just hate that at the right time. The unbeaten record gone for

Sunderland. And there is a fab four finish after Jason Roberts handles

the pressure of September's Goal of Wonderful strike. From a world-

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 59 seconds

That is what they have signed. A the run from Demba Ba. Beautiful!

succeeded. Fantastic finish! Back in the team, backed with the goal.

And for the first time this - 1 immediately. And that was two

goals in one minute and that was The one that stood out. Just

confirm that. Ben Afa. That was a fantastic strike. That ball would

still be travelling now. Over the shoulder. Why haven't you pick

that? He scored the second goal which came off hand and I guess

that happens. Yes... I thought better of that. For me, definitely

that one. That was a grudge! The Beatles will sing us out after a

recap of this busy day in the Premiership. United boxing

Cleverley at St James's Park with Newcastle out for the count after

10 minutes. Speed demons Spurs had this 2 - 0 win against Aston Villa.

The Saints Go marching In and Out and in and out again, that was a

roller-coaster again with Fulham. And Luis Suarez Stokes fires as the

Potteries leave Anfield with a precious point. The table... Six at

the top 71 this weekend with Everton making do with one point,

meaning the Manchester clubs moved hand-in-hand above them. Not much

to report elsewhere. At the bottom, one point for the St Paul's and

above Reading near the bottom with the three basement clubs still

awaiting their first win this season. The alternative table this

weekend is about set-pieces. Percentage of goals conceded from

set-pieces. All the stats are accurate but we're not trying to

make a sweeping statement, just taking a sideways view at things.

City are weakest at the back so far when the ball goes dead, but maybe

a surprise to see Stoke City, so good at scoring at set-pieces, also

in the top three at conceding them. But they won't care as they've only

let in a meagre five goals this season, only one behind Chelsea.

It's all much of a muchness mid- table, but a look down at the

bottom and only one team remain unbreached from dead ball

situations, despite being top of last week's foul count. All three

promoted clubs are in the bottom five, and something also for Mark

Hughes to smile about, three worst defensive records so far, but well

on top of the set-pieces. In the spirit of one BBC, we depart with a

nod towards BBC Two last night and its brilliant documentary on the

Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour film. You can catch it on the iPlayer all