19/03/2017 Match of the Day 2

COMMENTARY MONTAGE: The race for the top four is well and truly on.

How about this for a finish from Sergio Aguero? Liverpool in the

driving seat now. Mkhitaryan, fabulous goal.

Three games on the way, featuring four of the top seven,

as the race for Champions League qualification intensifies.

Plus Saturday's goals and 2 Good 2 Bad.

Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy are with me.

Manchester City facing a Liverpool side just a point

COMMENTATOR: The Etihad positively pounding, crackling, for what, seen

through the prism of Monaco, just might be the biggest game of Pep

Guardiola's Manchester City career so far. City have lost their last

four league games against Liverpool but won the League Cup at Jurgen

Klopp's expense one year ago. Two changes from the Champions League

defeat with Sagna and Kolarov replaced by Yaya Toure and Otamendi.

Fernandinho playing at right back. This is Liverpool's 11th of 12 games

against the current top seven this season, and they are unbeaten so

far. Firmino is fit after a groin injury and back in the side. Dejan

Lovren is also fit but on the bench. No foul from Raheem Sterling. De

Bruyne, he has been everywhere in the first 14 minutes of the game,

the Belgian. Brilliant ball from Silva. Wijnaldum struggling.

Manchester City's throw. Fernandinho. Oh. Leroy Sane will

keep it in. Aguero felt he was fouled. Liverpool, every sinew of

their defensive strength is being tested here. Matip, certainly seems

to only have thoughts for inbreeding Sergio Aguero rather than

intercepting the ball. -- for impeding Sergio Aguero.

Raheem Sterling. Sane steaming to the left-hand side. Sterling finds

him and is going into the box for the return. Mignolet with his legs.

David Silva! Code and maybe should have been Manchester City's first

goal. Great break. Beautifully played from Sterling to Leroy Sane.

Inviting for David Silva. And the little Spaniard turns away feeling

he should have hit the target. 20 minutes played and it feels like

Liverpool have been savaged in that first 20 minutes.

Mane chases with Otamendi, and he's quicker than Otamendi. Mane in on

goal and he couldn't get a shot away. Claiming he was fouled, Sadio

Mane. He raced away from Otamendi, who was never going to catch him.

Caballero came out. Did Otamendi foul Mane? As Mane looks to get the

shot away, I think his right foot hit the back of Otamendi's calf.

Don't think you can give a penalty for that. Jurgen Klopp might be

saying, how is that not a penalty, but I actually think it's a good

decision. Expertly controlled by Raheem

Sterling on his right thigh. Clever ball from De Bruyne are to

David Silva. Tap in, surely! Fernandinho is wide! Well, Raheem

Sterling is in the six yard box, saying, surely I was fouled. Looked

a certain goal. And Liverpool counter with Firmino. Good save from

Caballero. Liverpool nearly nick the lead here. It's actually the first

attempt on target in the game for either team. Roberto Firmino. Now

Liverpool have a corner. Putting as much pressure as they can on Willy

Caballero. In goes the corner kick with real pace. Not a great fist

out. Lallana! Good save. The punch was unconvincing. Lallana hit

sweetly, but the save was very smart again from Caballero. How is it 0-0?

Pleasing build-up from Liverpool. Chants! Really important block by

John Stones to deny Sadio Mane. Excellent stuff from the City

centre-half. Well worked by Liverpool. Mane with real space but

not able to evade John Stones. That's nice. Firmino is onside.

Clichy with the challenge and it's a penalty to Liverpool. Michael Oliver

wants to talk to Gael Clichy. It's going to be a yellow card. The slip

was all-important, and Clichy, in trying to make up ground, lunges

with a high foot that was only ever likely to result in one thing. James

Milner, once of Manchester City, is going to take it. Six out of six

from the spot so far this season for Milner. And Caballero is beaten this

time. The Wembley hero could do nothing from 12 yards for City here.

Liverpool have the lead at the Etihad, and its James Milner's 50th

career league goal in his 450th career league game. More

importantly, its Manchester City 0- one Liverpool.

Emre Can making the run to make it four in attack. Lovely ball.

Firmino! Caballero with a lovely save. Could be a huge save on Willy

Caballero. Great play from Coutinho. That ball is perfect. And Caballero

won it. The stakes are high, the tension is higher.

Fernandinho floated beautifully to De Bruyne. Aguero is there! The

first chance of the game he has had, and Aguero takes it. 1-1. Scalpel

sharp. Aguero for Manchester City, who are level with more than 20

minutes to play. Lovely ball. The cross is a dream. Aguero's finish is

what you would expect. Firm, accurate, decisive. 1-1. All to play

for again. Now Coutinho is wriggling free.

Otamendi did well. Good ball, going spare. Lallana was blocked. Intended

for Coutinho. Firmino's shot, side netting. Liverpool almost got

themselves in front again. Might have clipped the outside of the

post. Aguero getting away from Clyne. Sane

ahead of him. Lovely backheel. Aguero has lost his footing. De

Bruyne hits the post. Massive let off for Liverpool. What an

opportunity this was for Manchester City to get themselves in front.

Aguero, just at the crucial moment, and then De Bruyne smacks the post.

Good challenge by Sagna, but he is Lallana. At full pelt. Firmino to

his left. He uses him. Wijnaldum for Liverpool. Firmino for Liverpool.

Lallana! He's missed it completely! He was on the side. Incredible. This

has been an extraordinary game. -- he was onside. How there has only

been two goals, I don't know. Lallana somehow fails to convert.

That's extraordinary. David Silva clips it over the top

brilliantly for Sterling. Well, another huge City appeal. Absolutely

brilliant from David Silva. Was Sterling caught? You feel this game

warrants a huge ending. Not sure either team deserved to lose it.

Liverpool suddenly on a huge counterattack. Firmino on the side.

Lallana is square and Firmino fires wide. Lallana in the middle can't

believe he wasn't used. Look at this counterattack. This is a crazy

ending to a wonderful game. End to end, so open.

Here comes De Bruyne. Milner couldn't reach it. Knocked up

dangerously. Aguero! The man they would want on the Champs blazes it

over the crossbar. -- on the chance. Guardiola can't believe it, and

neither can the man himself. A huge encounter between these sides.

Michael Oliver blows his whistle and it finishes all swear with a huge

embrace between the two managers. If it had been 4-4 no one would have

been surprised, so many opportunities were made and missed.

But it finishes Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool. It's one of those days

where I am proud the most. I had not a long career, a medium career, ten

years as a manager, and never... It's one of the most special days of

my life. After Tuesday, Wednesday was so tough for us. How we

recovered today and with this mentality to play and attack and

attack. Couldn't attack more often because Liverpool is a top team.

Between 15 and six T5 could have decided the game and we didn't. That

may be our fault, but how can we speak today about faults and

mistakes. -- between 50 and 65. It's a success to get a point at City,

and to play like this. It was a shame he did not shoot and

go, because it was a goal, but it was an unlucky moment in the game,

but they also missed two big chances at the end. It is a fair result, I

think. We are both very offensive minded teams, so obviously chances

have been created and in the end it's just a little thing if it is in

or out, and today it's just two goals. The Mane situation, it was a

red card and penalty, so it was good to see that we don't have the

situations and then we get the penalty and maybe the red card in a

game like this, that would have killed us and them. My advice to the

referees is that they have to speak to each other. They have do sit at

the table, review and talk. They have to talk, urgently to make this

better. We will come to the incidents and the refereeing in a

moment, but that was brilliant entertainment first and foremost. It

was an incredible football match. So much quality in attacking areas. The

contrast of good and bad, some of the defending and decision-making...

But that all added to it. It did and we all enjoyed it. On chances, Man

City edged it, the Liverpool had great spells in the game as well and

both teams will feel can sell with the point -- content. The pace and

intensity and the end to end chances are the teams, and decisions, it was

a very, very difficult game to referee. He made some big calls and

he got a lot of them right but there was one big call where we think he

got it wrong. But not this one. Not this one. Mane and Otamendi. He does

not go to tackle him and he does not alter his line, and Mane kicks the

back of Otamendi's calve. There is no deliberate foul or attempt to get

the ball from Otamendi, so I think he gets it right and I don't think

it's a penalty. Would you agree? Yes, completely. I think it was

accidental. The next one, Milner and Sterling. This is the one where Man

City will feel aggrieved because sometimes they are 50/ 50. It's hard

at this speed but I thought when he missed the chance he must have been

fouled, but how can you miss from two yards? Aguero gets fouled first,

and I understand the referee not seeing that. This is the angle.

Milner's right foot there on Sterling's he'll. He is probably

trying to get the ball, but it's a definite penalty. As an official,

you would ask, Sterling will not miss from there unless he is being

clattered? I wasn't sure. The pace of the game that it was going out, I

wasn't sure, so I can understand why the referee didn't give it. He may

have thought Milner had nicked the ball away. But looking at the

replay, it goes to show, not that we need reminding, what an incredibly

tough job the referees have got. The assistant should have done better.

And the one that was given? I thought it was a penalty. Poor

defending. To actually get back and jumping and lunged at him, I didn't

think there was any need. There's still a lot to do their four

Firmino. I know he touches the ball but he fouls him after that. I think

that was the correct the decision and the penalty. A good decision and

a brave one. A good penalty as well. A good decision because he got stick

for not giving the other one. I think the referee deserves credit he

generally had a good game. You could pick out various players, certainly

from a Man City perspective. Pep Guardiola praised John Stones. It's

worth staying June for the quote. David Silva got a lot of praise --

staying June. Did Guardiola play a different role in that part of the

game? He played a different role in the second half of the game against

Monaco and he's not having the best of times further forward. He has a

great array of passing. Even when he's not playing well, he tries to

make things happen. He's positive and creative. He gets in areas and

makes the right decision more often than not. This is a super pass. This

is the incident we have talked about. In the second half, he

swapped positions with sterling -- Sterling. That would have been a

great ball if it was not for Simon Mignolet. He swaps positions with

Sterling in the second half and the manager had obviously told them to.

They tried playing through the middle and they could not get

through. Maybe needs a bit more time on the ball to play crosses and

passes like this. When you are a striker, it doesn't get better than

that. I thought it was an excellent decision to swap them around because

Sterling found himself in position plenty of times but his delivery was

so poor. Once De Bruyne went on to the right, the ball was made for

somebody to get onto the end of it and Aguero did. You can do all the

analysis about how to beat pressing and your triangles and squiggles,

but sometimes it's just quite nice to have a look at all the chances

that were there in the game. I know Danny has mentioned De Bruyne, but

John Stones was excellent. Wijnaldum was very good Liverpool. But it was

incredible how open the game was -- for Liverpool. It was great on the

EIA. -- on the RA. Not a lot of protection going on in front of the

defenders as well. It was basically going and attacking, then we will

have one and it was just a great game to watch. It was like a cup tie

in many ways. Why is anyone not happy with the point? Especially

Liverpool, away from home to Manchester City but not this

Liverpool, they want to go and win it. He played well, Lallana and he

has gone on her sting run to get their, so I can't help him with

that. There's always a positive. They kept going. Liverpool at one

end. City came back to them. A beautiful ball there into Sterling,

another chance. After the game Pep Guardiola said we have clear chances

and we don't score goals which is why we cannot compete with the top

teams. I thought many times what I can do to help my players score but

it's not easy. He spoke about them not taking chances after they went

out in the Champions League and he seems to be focusing on the

attacking side of the game to criticise. That is how he believes

in the game that you have to score a number of goals. I would also look

defensively and one of the big reasons they went out the Champions

League is that they conceded six goals over two legs and you don't

really deserve to go through. Yes they have missed a lot of chances

also. He seems to be making a concerted effort to focus on the

attack are not on the defence and he praised the defence today. Here is

the John Stones quote. John Stones has more personality than everybody

here in this room, more balls than anybody and I love this kind of

player. I love this kind of guy. It's not easy to play central

defender with this manager, which is why I admire my defenders a lot.

First of all, that means that John Stones's anatomy is trending on

Twitter, but he's also praising the defence and focusing the attention

on the attack. I have been critical of John Stones this year but he was

superb today. Some of the last-ditch tackles he made were superb. I think

he's right and I'm glad he said it. People criticising the defenders at

Man City saying they would look better in a definite passion

different technical setup but I also think the strikers need to take

responsibility for the chances they have missed, because they are making

them. How many goals as Aguero got the season 25? Not bad. He is not

singling him out, he's looking at it as a collective. Aguero has got 25

goals. I would be delighted with that.

Relegation-threatened Middlesbrough welcome Manchester United

to the Riverside, just three days after sacking Aitor Karanka.

It all went wrong for Karanka since these two met on New Year's Eve.

Desperate times for Middlesbrough. Two goals in just over a minute.

That has turned around to Manchester United. It is off Clayton's me, and

Middlesbrough have lost another one. Suddenly they are nervously looking

over their shoulder. Middlesbrough with just four victories so far this

season. The biggest frustration for the Middlesbrough fans is the way

they play. They've scored only three goals in eight Premier League games.

Van Aanholt has put it in. The leaves Middlesbrough in Barbour and

problems for Karanka and Middlesbrough. -- in bother. That is

brilliant. Middlesbrough are up against it now. Is time running out

for Aitor Karanka? The bell has told. So, step forward Steve Agnew

to try and emulate the job done so far by Craig Shakespeare at

Leicester. His selection is telling with Stewart Downing back on the

side after being cast out by Karanka for the last two games. Gaston Revol

era 's and Alvaro Negredo and Victor Valdes return -- Gaston Revol era

is. For Manchester United, seven changes

from Thursday night with Jose Mourinho raging at a fixture

schedule on Monday night, Thursday night and Sunday lunchtime. Only

Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Valencia staying. Wayne Rooney is

out injured. Paul Pogba has a hamstring strain. Parreira and

Ibrahimovic are suspended. -- Herrera. Here is Bernardo and Marcus

Rashford has beaten him. Super save by Victor Valdes. Brilliant burst of

pace by Rashford and that is a warning for Bernardo Espinosa. What

a good first save of the match for the Middlesbrough keeper to keep out

Marcus Rashford. Gibson. -- Fabio with a move to room into,

at pace. Leadbetter. Michael Carrick is after him. Ramirez. A shooting

chance, and beaten behind by De Gea. He got a clear sight of it. Ramirez

got a good hold of it. A good two-handed stop by David de Gea. In

his third spell coaching at Middlesbrough. He played for

Barnsley, Blackburn, Leicester, Sunderland and York City. Pestered

by Leadbetter. Super ball to find Jones out of the corner of his eye.

Juan Mata. Young. Matter was desperate for the return. Ball

across, super save, and again. Brilliant by Victor Valdes. Here is

Carrick. That one does not need saving. Victor Valdes playing like a

man with a point to prove against the club that never really gave him

a shot. He has kept the score at 0-0. Jose Mourinho has said this

week that a great result, and in the immediate aftermath of against FC

roster of said probably we will lose the game on Sunday. An honest

opinion or more mind games? Or a message meant for somebody else?

Lingard. Rashford moving towards him. Younger is the man outside.

Young's Cross, looking for Fellaini. And marrow in Fellaini Nobbs

Manchester United in front. -- Fellaini Nobbs Manchester United in

front. They had been threatening. The big Belgian with his Premier

League goal of the season. The cross from Ashley Young is a peach.

Fellaini is onside. Victor Valdes Cambridge, maybe a mistake. Realise

that the last would not make the ball -- came up for it. Still a fine

headed finish from Fellaini. He had the narrowest gap to get that

through. Towards Barragan. Barragan is there

to beat him. Negredo. Smalling was in his way. Ramirez, to the room.

Fabio. -- de Roon. Negredo goes for it. He cannot get his direction as

well as Fellaini did at the other end. Steve Agnew likes the way his

team are trying to fight back quickly.

Manchester United in a good position from which to extend their 17 game

unbeaten run in the Premier League. The last defeat, 23rd of October,

4-0 at Chelsea. Lingard takes over. Three against three. Lingard has

gone for goal, and what a goal. Rifled into the net by Jesse

Lingard. Manchester United have breathing space. And just like

Fellaini before him, Lingard has his first goal in the Premier League

this season. That is how to hit them. No chance at all for a

motionless Victor Valdes. Right to the roof. -- into the roof. He gets

a chest pump and a fist pump. Not quite time for a smile yet. But Jose

Mourinho's Manchester United are on their way to three points. Joe

Jordan is sitting prominently on the front row of the Middlesbrough bench

seats. The former Manchester United striker, of course, who has come to

assist Steve Agnew. He got the call to, help and he had driven six hours

later from his base in Bristol to get to Middlesbrough. Good ball in

an Negredo's header is straight at De Gea. An excellent cross from

Downing and Negredo, in front of Eric Bailly, did not catch it

cleanly. Progress for Middlesbrough would be scoring a goal now. At the

moment, they are looking at failing to score for the fifth Premier

League game in a row. If that isn't rectified today, it

has to be in two weeks' time away to Swansea and then away to Hull. They

could do with the bucketload in those two games.

Traore spins away from Fellaini. Traore goes on. Just over the head

of Negredo. How many times has that happened? Negredo meets that from

Downing. So does Jones for Manchester United. Incomes De Roon,

and slotted in by Rudy Gestede. Middlesbrough's hopes are still

alive in this game and doesn't Steve Agnew know it? A first Premier

League goal for Boro for Rudy Gestede. Great committed display

from Martin De Roon. Looked as though once Jones got it half way it

might be it for Boro. But De Roon attacks Bailly, gets the better of

him. Smalling off-balance and Gestede was in the right place to

make it Middlesbrough 1-2 Manchester United.

Traore eventually gets a free kick. He was fouled by Ashley Young at

first, bounced up quickly, and the second tackle on him was a little

too much. That was Michael Carrick. A Middlesbrough free kick. We are

now moving into injury time at the end of the game. There are at least

four more minutes to play. What's happened here? Gibson's angry,

really angry with Eric Bailly. He's having to be kept away from another

Manchester United player, maybe more than one. A lot of anger on both

sides. Gestede and Bailly furious with one another. What has gone on?

Here we go. A push from Gestede. He had his mouth right at the throat of

Bailly. Eric Bailly reacts angrily, as you might expect him to. And now

they are in direct combat again. In from Stewart Downing. Up went

Smalling. Behind goes the ball for a Middlesbrough corner. This isn't

done yet. This might mean another minute or so added onto the four.

Over towards Bernardo. Bailly heads away. Valencia will get onto that.

Can he get the ball over to Anthony Martial? No. Valdes, a slip from

Valdes! A gift for Manchester United to seal the points. Antonio Valencia

makes absolutely sure. And Jose Mourinho exits early, pumping the

air. A horrible moment for Middlesbrough's chairman and an even

worse one for his goalkeeper. He has made some superb saves in the early

stages of this game. Might have been somewhat at fault for the first

Manchester United goal. I'm afraid that's entirely down to him. Console

in pats and words from his team-mates, but a simple slip has

allowed Antonio Valencia in to score what is his first goal for over

three years. Three goals for Manchester United, three points for

Manchester United. I was really pleased, couldn't be

more proud of the group of players and their attitude was excellent. To

come back into the game at 2-1 shows how much spirit is in the group. On

the balance of play I thought at 2-1 there was the possibility of an

equaliser. Really pleased with them. We organised a team to come here and

do what we did until the second goal. Defend well, don't concede. Be

dangerous in the counterattack. Play with the fast boys in front. And at

2-0 the game was the game we wanted. Our mistake was that we let them

push and our defensive line, maybe fatigue, Smalling and Jones, maybe

they let the game go to the box. We saw you get involved in a battle

with Eric Bailly and the fewer the Manchester United players. Was that

something wrong, has it been sorted out? It's sorted out. Sometimes on

the pitch the atmosphere can get hot. But it's OK. I know him, and

he's a good guy. We talked after the game and it's no problem.

It was a long time coming. Nobody closed me down. Marcus went to the

left and right. I thought I would take it on myself and it went in. I

said to the players there that the games against Manchester United are

not the ones to keep us in the Premier League. It's the games

coming up. The confidence and belief they gain from that performance will

take us to the next few games with lots of energy and spirit. STUDIO:

They might have confidence and belief after that, but they need

goals. They are the lowest scorers in the league. 20 goals. It's just

not enough by a long chalk. This is one of the reasons why today, for

the vast majority of the game today, Negredo was doing that. Facing up

all the time. As a defender you can afford the defender to tackle you

because you always have one behind. In that case it was Jones and

Smalling. Leadbitter picks up his head, looking for a forward run, but

there isn't any. For five midfielders in your own half.

Negredo facing up again. Ten yards from the defenders. You need to turn

the defenders and ask different questions of them and they are not

doing that at all today. You have six or seven defenders for

Manchester United, not asking enough questions from them. Yes, they are

keeping possession, Middlesbrough, particularly in the first half, but

they are doing nothing with it. Negredo at the top of the screen

with his arms in the air, not given an option. It goes across, passing.

He now goes towards the ball again. You have to do at times go the other

way, turn and run towards the goal, just to ask for something different.

A long ball up to him, no chance. Nobody within 30 yards. For the last

20 minutes of the game it changed with Rudy Gestede and Traore brought

on. You now have somebody on the pitch prepared to try to penetrate

the back four or five. They are prepared to run at the defenders and

ask different questions. They got away with it there, but once again

he's trying to penetrate, trying to get through. Gets a ball into the

box. They don't get the first, but they keep alive. The ball comes back

into the box again. This is where the goal comes from. Headed down by

Negredo. De Roon keeps it alive, winning it well. In the end Gestede

has a tap in. But for 70 minutes they offered nothing, didn't ask

questions of the Man United defence. That's why they don't score in off.

Going forward for the rest of the season, have they got to be brave?

I'm in play two upfront, play Traore wide, used his pace and be more

attacking? He's got to be on the pitch. If you have to mix it up,

Gestede is a big lad and you can play more long balls. Pretty

possession will not get you points. They have to try something different

because they do look really lightweight in front of goal.

Probably play Gestede and Negredo as a last resort. Play Traore upfront.

At least he offers. He can be frustrating at times. He should do

better with the ball, but he gives them the option and a bit of pace.

Certainly today they were desperately lacking. And they have

spent money on strikers. And they are all very similar. They all like

to come that way and play. Let's switch to how United attacked. They

got behind Middlesbrough. Because Zlatan is missing, Rashford played

through the middle. I'm a big fan of his. He was sensational when he

first got into the team and showed such maturity. He gives you pace, he

wants to run behind and get in the box and score. His finishing was off

today. He hasn't played that many games for United this season, but

he's also very calm. Doesn't thrash out, tries to pick somebody out. I

like the way he and Lingard linkup. Both with good movement. He has

confidence and maturity in a young lad you don't often see, especially

at a club the size of United. He has things he needs to work on but he's

always in there. Defenders were terrified of him every time he got

the ball because they know the camera and passed them with or

without the ball. Good performances from United. They had energy.

Valencia was fantastic. Great ball from Lingard and the keeper does all

right. A constant threat. It's a different dynamic. United have lots

of options going forward, as they should with the money they have

spent, but this young lad has through their youth system. Unlucky

there, good awareness but it doesn't happen. He has a great future but he

needs to play more minutes. I think he has a big future in the game. He

will have to be patient. I liked the way he kept getting in today, he

wasn't afraid. You can work on your finishing. He had a big chance

against Chelsea in the cup game. He missed some chances today, but you

can work on that. The time to worry is when you don't get chances.

Mourinho said after game that goals will arrive for him. They will, but

he will have to be patient. My slight concern for him is that I

think Mourinho will sign one or two big hitters, Centre forward saw a

number ten in the summer, which might in turn means he will have to

play on the left again. -- centre forwards or a number ten. But he's

only 19. He's at the right club. He will learn from the likes of

Ibrahimovic and whoever he brings in in the summer. Given time, I think

he will be a good player. If they bring in another big hitter this

summer, and Ibrahimovic stays for another year, but then that big

hitter is round for three or four years as well, is that acceptable

for him to learn for another three or four years until he's 22 or 23?

No. I can only go off what happened in the past. For example when

Michael Owen came on that scene at Liverpool, he was a regular from 18

or 19, definitely. As a striker you need at a certain point to play

games to learn your trade. You can't always be potential. It's a bit of a

dilemma because Mourinho doesn't have a track record of blooding

youngsters. If he's good enough, he will be in. Lingard is 2324. He

might have learned when he went on loan. But if everybody's fit, is

Lingard in the United first 11? There is a point where you want to

be in that team every week. Spurs were taking on Southampton

without the injured Harry Kane, who'd scored nine of their previous

14 league goals. Simon Brotherton was at

White Hart Lane to find out how COMMENTATOR: No Kane, no problem. We

will find out as Tottenham start a series of matches without a prolific

striker against opponents who have found one of their own. Manolo

Gabbiadini scoring six goals in four games since his arrival from Napoli.

Sunni scored a hat-trick in the FA Cup last weekend. His only change

from the last league game. Gabbiadini looking to extend a run

that has seen him score in each of his last seven games going back to

the end of his time at Napoli. Steven Davies was the unlikely

goal-scoring hero here last season, scoring both in a 2-1 victory in

May. Son striding forward, in behind the

defence. Vital save from Forster. Tottenham almost making the perfect

start in the third minute. Look at the run from Son, denied by Fraser

Forster. Mauricio Pochettino, the Tottenham manager, saying he has to

have trust and belief in the players to step up and embrace the

responsibility of replacing Harry Kane in the coming matches. Nice

turn from Dembele, away from Steven Davis, into Eriksen who fires

Tottenham ahead. It's now four in four against Southampton in the

league at White Hart Lane for him. Dembele with a short pass and

Eriksen finds the bottom corner. It takes Eriksen into double figures

for the season. His tenth goal. Southampton need to respond quickly

to having fallen a goal behind. Off the head of Toby Alderweireld.

Romeu! That was a good shot. Hasn't got his name on the scoresheet at

all this season. Whistling past the post here from Romeu.

Other viral forward. Dele Alli with a header down. Christian Eriksen. --

Alderweireld forward. Lovely piece of skill which in the

end went to a corner. In by Eriksen. Good save by forced

to deny Toby Alderweireld. -- by Forster. Gets his head to the ball

and it is scooped away off the line by the Southampton keeper. Wanyama.

One back by Bertrand. Collected by Gabbiadini. Tadic. Gabbiadini.

Superb effort. It stays at 1-0, but Southampton almost coming level. How

close was this? Very close. Gabbiadini looks like he might have

pulled something. The upper left thigh or groin area, perhaps.

Cedric. Gabbiadini takes his place in the centre. Redmond has kept it

in. And it's over the top. What a mess by Dusan Tadic, but the flag

has gone up anyway to say the ball had gone beyond the byline to save

his blushes. -- what a miss. That was the decision given, that the

ball had gone out, but it didn't look like it had at all. Vertonghen,

into Fabio. Romeo can't get the ball away. In goes Dele Alli. Penalty. --

into Son. Quick to point to this penalty spot, the referee. Bit of a

mix-up at the back for Southampton and Davis with the challenge. That

was on Dele Alli, who hits the deck. And Tottenham with an excellent

chance to make it 2-0. 2-0. What a confident kick, and

Tottenham looking good here in this first half. And for Dele Alli it's

now 11 goals in his last 12 Premier League appearances. A superb run

over the last three months. Tottenham, without Harry Kane,

scored twice in the opening 33 minutes. -- score. Longer in the

box. Ward-Prowse is in there as well. -- Shane Long. That will be a

free kick after the challenge by Dembele. Half-time just seconds

away. Dear me. A bit more work needed on that one. Decent effort,

beaten away by Lloris, didn't fall for Tadic. Yoshida, and Tadic

unaware as the ball went back towards him. This is an interesting

free kick. It fall half of their own players, never mind the Tottenham

one. Lloris makes the save and then Ben Davies challenges. It completely

misses the ball. Tottenham have got away with one there. -- he

completely misses the ball. Davies. Good play. Promising for Tottenham.

Son finds Eriksen, who brings Kyle Walker into Blake and Eriksen gets

right underneath it. -- into play. First flowing move of the second

half with the first -- home team looking to extend their lead. There

is Manolo Gabbiadini who had to go off in the first half with an

injury. Luckily it doesn't look as if it is anything too serious. Tadic

finding Bertrand. Shane Long heads into the centre. A chance, and a

goal, put away by James Ward-Prowse. The deficit is halved early in the

second half. Good strong running. The delivery from Ryan Bertrand

skipped underneath the boot of Toby Alderweireld and Ward-Prowse with

his third of the season means it is 2-1. That goal for Southampton was

six minutes into the second half, only the eighth Tottenham have

conceded at home in the league this season. Yoshida in on Jansen. Ball

collected by Dele Alli. He's on his own at the moment. He waits for

support. Challenged by Oriol Romeu, and away, Southampton. -- away,

Southampton. No appeals or complaints from either set of

players. Janssen has done well. Dele Alli in the centre. Janssen goes for

goal and brings the save from Fraser Forster. The Dutchman looking to

make an immediate impact having just come off the bench. He had Dele Alli

as an option in the centre that he went for goal. -- but he went a

goal. There is the challenge on Dele Alli, and what a good one it was

two. Rodriguez heads through the centre. Eric Dier can't reach it.

Rodriguez alongside Shane Long. A bit of a stretch for Ward-Prowse,

but he has got it. As the shot comes in, and whistles past the post.

Again, the alarm bells ringing left, right and centre for as Southampton

press for a goal in added time. Frustration for Claude Puel.

I am very pleased and happy with the performance of the whole team. It is

a big impact when you lose your main striker, but I think the front men

laid very well, the offensive line and we made a mistake for the goal.

We suffered in the game but we assured they played well and

Southampton have a good team but the Premier League is tough and to win

games, you need to suffer. Do you think your team should have had a

penalty for that challenge on Dusan Tadic? I think it is the same as the

penalty for Tottenham, and it is the same against Dusan Tadic. It's a

pity because we were the same as teams. How important is it a go into

the international break with three points? It is important. We were

talking about this before the game. It is a key game, and now it is in

the past, and the next one will be the most important then. It must be

frustrating that you keep winning but Chelsea, you don't get any

closer. The last ten minutes with a goal against Stoke, that is the luck

you need to win a championship but we are not there yet and there's a

lot of games to go and we will do our best to catch them. We are going

to concentrate on the man being interviewed there. Christian

Eriksen, and Danny was very impressed. If you look at his stats

over the course of the season at Spurs he has properly, and you can

see, he has got better and better and now he's having his most

productive season when you look at the numbers. Yes, and I think early

in the season, I and others were critical of him in the bigger games

but he is on fire at the moment. The new system is helping. This pass

here, not many players could play it and see it. It is weighted to

perfection. That gave him the confidence and he is spraying it

about. He is technically very good, two-footed, but the new formation

with the wingbacks high up the pitch means he can venture infield and do

things like this. The disguise and cleverness of that, nearly a

brilliant pass and then he sets them on the way with a great strike,

tucking in the right and that is a really, really good strike.

Difficult technique. I think he is thriving in the way they have set up

since they have gone to three. So it gives him more freedom? He's not in

wide positions running back to help the full-back, because they have a

wingback and he can come in. You cannot give him the amount of space

they gave him in the first half. It was notable in the second half that

they closed him down quicker. The damage was done in the first half.

Claude Puel made the point that if the referee gave the penalty to

Spurs, he should have given the penalty to Southampton as well. I

understand him saying that the I didn't think either was a penalty.

Terrible defending from Southampton. Yes, clumsy challenge from Davies,

but if you watch Dele Alli, he is clever. He puts his back leg in and

he has to make contact. He has a little pirouette in the air so I

don't think there's enough for the referee to give a penalty. It was a

clumsy challenge, but not for me. Can you see why it is given? Yes,

it's a tough decision but I didn't think it was. Yes, a bit of contact,

but watching dive. Arms in the air, one more step and go over. I didn't

think that was a penalty. Put this date down, because I will have to

agree with him again. I know! I don't know a show where we have

agreed, but I completely agree. I think they are both soft penalties.

A sad day for punditry. I will go on to Spurs and Harry Kane in a second,

but Southampton will miss Gabbiadini. Shane Long kept getting

caught offside today. For a man who has not been there long, it says how

well he has settled in. Six in four, and when he got the injury he nearly

got them back in and they missed him in the second half. They played well

in the second half but did not have the cutting edge and finishes. Spurs

have Burnley away, Swansea away, Watford away, born of a home, and

Harry Kane will miss those. Tough games, the first two, but Spurs will

have to go and win those games to be where they want to be. Thank you

very much. Time for Saturday's goals,

starting at the Hawthorns. First corner of the game. 12 minutes

gone. Chadli with it. And headed in, and it is Dawson who scores. West

Bromwich Albion who have this reputation of being so dangerous

from set pieces have scored another one. And the pressure is beginning

to mount again on Arsene Wenger. Welbeck. Dan -- Granit Xhaka.

Sanchez unmarked, took his time, and he finds the net. Superb response

from Arsenal. What a cool, cool finish from the Chilean. His 22nd of

the season. Chadli is calling for it on the edge. Here is the Belgian.

Cleared by Ospina, and he is in. Stabbed home by Hal Robson-Kanu.

Monorail leads the protests. They feel as though there was an Albion

player offside in the midst of all that -- Monreal. The referee deep in

conversation. And I think they have called that right, because the

Albion player who was in an offside position was not in full to hearing

with play because all of the Arsenal players were in front of him and he

did not touch the ball -- interfering with play. The first

West Brom goal came from a corner and Dawson is in the mix again. A

wicked delivery, and it is in, and it's a second for Craig Dawson.

Oxlade-Chamberlain saw it and let him go, and defensively, that is

shocking. Nine major trophies in his 21 years at the helm of Arsenal

Football Club, but is his time up in 2017?

A Chelsea free kick. Willian's delivery, trying to catch out Lee

Grant on his near post, and he succeeds. Quick thinking from

Wiliame. Disappointing from Lee Grant -- Wiliame. The league leaders

are in front. Joe Allen to deliver the corner. One by Cameron, and then

came Bruno Martins Indi, but he's offside. Anthony Taylor is coming

over to the assistant. It is a push. And the goal has been pulled out.

There is a push on Azpilicueta by Saido Berahino that the referee's

assistant saw. Can stoke asked the question? Lifted in by Peters. A

penalty. Gary Cahill with a little nudge. And Walters himself will have

the opportunity to level it up. He comes. Emphatic penalty. His third

goal in seven games. And Stoke City are back on terms. It is a Chelsea

corner. Fabregas with it. Daddy Louise with the header and it came

back to Cahill. -- David Louise. The man who gave away the pals in the

first half restores the lead with less than four minutes to go -- gave

away the penalty. Chelsea absolutely delighted. Look what it means on the

Chelsea bench. Fabregas. Here is Loftus-Cheek. A foul on Fabregas.

Phil Bardsley is one of those already on a yellow card and Stoke's

misery is compounded with a red Fort Phil Bardsley in the last minute of

stoppage time. It just ran away from Cook. It's

broken for Joshua King. Benik Afobe! It's in. Afobe had the benefit of a

deflection off Alfie Mawson which left Fabianski completely

wrong-footed. Joshua King, Afobe, real chance. 2-0

Bournemouth. And that one certainly is Benik Afobe's goal. A well

weighted pass to Afobe. Inch perfect finish from him. Surely it's all

three points wrapped up for Bournemouth as well. If you are an

Arsenal fan holding up a banner com you might want to not see the papers

tomorrow. Tony Pulis says that Arsene Wenger told him after the

game he will stay at the club according to the sun. The Mirror

have gone with Wenger's staying. That's written by John Cross, who

knows Arsenal inside out. That would surprise me. I made my point on

Arsenal and in particular their players on last nights Match of the

Day after their pathetic performance. All the indications,

the way he spoke afterwards, even though he didn't give anything away,

most people assumed he would call it a day. He has taken a lot of stick.

I don't know why you would continually want to do that. He has

only ever come across as somebody who cares and loves the club. If he

cares and loves the cup that much, he must see they are deteriorating

and getting worse now. It's the right thing for him to walk away

the. Do you think he takes any notice of people outside the

football club criticising him? I don't think he cares enough about

people outside the club. But it will be crazy for him to think the fans

will not get worse, because they will.

More football for you in the coming week...

The friendly between Germany and England is live on 5Live

So is the World Cup qualifier between Ireland and Wales on Friday.

Reaction in Football Focus on Saturday from midday.

Time for the rest of Saturday's goals.

Barkley looking for the run of Davies, who is onside.

Calvert-Lewin, 1-0. What a lovely way to get off the mark. Dominic

Calvert-Lewin with his first effort on goal.

Huddlestone on Idrissa Gueye. Tom Huddlestone is off. It's certainly

dangerous, and Hull City will play the last minutes of the game with

ten men. Beautifully back into Valencia's path. Enner Valencia, 2-0

Everton. Hull City carved open by a Valencia, Lukaku combination.

Good ball from Valencia. Lukaku! 20th league goal of the season for

Romelu Lukaku. Good ball by Valencia and typical finish from Lukaku.

It's short, could be a fourth. Lukaku, it surely will be.

Elabdellaoui with the mistake. Romelu Lukaku with yet another goal.

It's 4-0. Yohan Cabaye with the delivery. Troy

Deeney into his own net! Crystal Palace lead. Troy Deeney has a great

scoring record against Crystal Palace, and he has scored for

Crystal Palace. A long-range effort, nearly beat

Hennessey who had to react smartly to deny Doucoure. Probably Watford's

best effort of the game and Hennessey had to be sure.

It's good from Leicester. A noticeable spring in their step. Did

Vardy get a touch on it, or is it Mahrez's goal? I think it might be

the latter. Riyad Mahrez with his ninth of the season. The Shakespeare

era is off to another bonus start. Leicester haven't lost any of the

last five meetings against West Ham. They have certainly started

positively here, and its 2-0. Robert Huth unremarked. The flag stays down

and Leicester, within the seven minutes, R two clear already.

This is their first sight of the Leicester goal and they have scored

from it. They have built the platform necessary to get back in

the game courtesy of Lanzini. We have a game on here.

It's a corner. Robert Huth in there. It reaches Jamie Vardy. He restores

Leicester's two goal advantage. In a half full of incident and chances,

it's also been full of goals. Nodded back by Carroll and turned in

by Ayew. West Ham are back in it. West Ham once again have brought a

two goal deficit down to one. If this goes in, the roof will rattle

at the London Stadium. Deflection, Carroll, great save by Schmeichel.

Unbelievable goalkeeping. He learned that from his dad, no question.

Unbelievable. Barnes misses. The flag stayed down.

Huge opportunity for Burnley. You are talking such fine margins.

Jermain Defoe keeps his balance. Looked like a nudge from Keane. Good

save by Tom Heaton to deny Januzaj. Well kept out.

Seb Larsson with a good ball in, and it's headed wide. What a chance for

Sunderland. Billy Jones holds his head, and so does his manager.

Superb cross from Seb Larsson and Jones just got his head to the ball.

This is what the table looks like going into the international break.

Tottenham remain Chelsea's nearest challengers -

10 points behind - after their 10th

Manchester City stay above Liverpool in third,

while United have escaped sixth place for the first

time since October - they're up to fifth.

Middlesbrough are second bottom and five points adrift of safety

after going 11 matches without a victory.

Ellis Short's wife wasn't enthralled at Sunderland.

More co-ordinated hand celebrations. Although this one isn't the most

complicated. This afternoon Chris Smalling did

his best Phil Jones impression. The security guard at Middlesbrough

felt he was in danger from Mourinho. Look at his face!

And Firmino was so sure Lallana would score, he's celebrating.

If you're a goalkeeper, look away now.

After Victor Valdes' slip-up earlier, we'll end with some

Le Tissier. One of the gold -- goalkeeping clangers you'll ever

get. Horrible moment for Fraser Forster.

You can only feel sorry for him. What an awful moment for the

goalkeeper. It's an absolute disaster for Man

City. He has spooned it into his own net.

A slip from Valdes, a gift for Manchester United.

The 24-year-old man has been charged with murder.

You made sure an innocent man is charged!

What gives you the right to say that he's innocent?