01/03/2014 Match of the Day

Hello there, after a tricky couple of weeks in Europe, the Premier

League has taken a bit of a bashing. However, with 10 weeks to go, and

everything to play for, we are still extremely fond of it. Just five

games for your perusal today, but we've got goals and big stories.

Judge and jury tonight are Alan Hansen and Robbie Savage. Our first

game features Hull CIty and Newcastle United, it's not just the

goals that puts this one ahead of the rest. Your commentator at the KC

Stadium is Martin Fisher. Hull City's FA Cup adventure put on hold

for a week as they look to take another important stride towards

Premier League safety. Newcastle United are safe of course. I wonder

how many of their fans would happily swap places with their hosts today?

Steve Bruce reverts to the team that won 4-0 a week ago in Cardiff.

COMMENTATOR: Forward by Debuchy. Jelavic for Rosenior. He tried to

provide that pass. Rosenior was caught. He was caught by Debuchy.

Huddlestone, capable of such brilliant delivery over this.

Sailing towards the back post. Kept out twice by Tim Krul. Alex Bruce

denied. That was fabulous from Tim Krul.

Not a bad throw out either. Here's Gouffran.

Tiote, for Remy. Debuchy, making grounds to his right. Good pull

back. And a goal. Sissoko. Newcastle United, having gone so close to

conceding a minute ago, take the lead through Moussa Sissoko. Good

linkup play by Remy and Debuchy. Excellent cut back too. Sissoko

caught it true. McGregor given no chance what so ever in the Hull City

goal. That goal of course came just seconds after that magnificent

double save from Tim Krul. As you can see from that replay. The

ball has not crossed the line. Newcastle United have never beaten

Hull City in the Premier League. Elmohamady.

Jelavic waits in the middle. There he is. Should have scored! From that

far out, you would have expected Jelavic to have hit the target, at

the very least. Here's Long, just pulled back.

Lovely play from the Irish international. Drawing the foul. He

certainly came out of it the worse, a yellow card and a knock. Newcastle

with five in the wall. It will be Jelavic. And against the bar. Krul

enable to get a touch that. Nodded away. I wonder if it took a flick on

its way through? It took a flick off someone on the wall. That might have

taken it up and beyond Krul. He is writing more notes than I am!

Looking to find Long. He has done, in behind Williamson. Just waiting

for reinforcements. There is Elmohamady. How did he miss that

one? What an opportunity for the Egyptian. Brilliant work from Shane

Long. Took on Williamson, once, twice, delivered a wonderful ball.

Elmohamady, coming in like a steam train back post, misses the target

badly. Is there an equaliser for Hull City,

just before half-time? It might get even worse. That is too short from

Figueroa. McGregor committed himself. Remy make it is 2-0

Newcastle and punishes that horrendously short backpass by

Maynor Figueroa. It's a shocker from Figueroa. Just inside his own half.

Far too short. McGregor tried to get him out of trouble, couldn't. Remy,

so calm, took his time. Took aim and rolls it in. That's his 13th goal of

the season. Hull City have a mountain to climb now.

Jelavic, with the touch on. Long trying to get the better of

Williamson. Defender pushing him to the deck.

Huddlestone over it. Bruce and Davies up from the back. Elmohamady

is in there too. Krul, tried to get there, and didn't get there. Hull

City are back in it. It's Curtis Davies, he scored on Monday here in

the FA Cup tie. In the space of a week, he's taken his tally for the

season to three. Tim Krul, who produced that fabulous double save

in the first half, was in fault he. Having come that far he had to get

with it. What a start to the second-half for Hull City. Just what

Steve Bruce wanted. Gouffran's foot looked high. The

supporters rediscovered their vocal chords. Davies scored their goal.

Take it short to Elmohamady. That isn't what they worked on in the

training ground. A chance to release Remy. Figueroa does enough.

Gouffran, seizing upon the loose ball. Can he get the shot away? Yes,

he can. McGregor saves. Sissoko. 3-1, Newcastle United, 10 minutes

into the second-half. They restore their two goal advantage. Figueroa

couldn't clear properly. Gouffran was quickly in on it. Testing

McGregor with his shot. Sissoko, following in, just helps himself to

his second goal of the afternoon. Rather like his first, he started

the move. He was, at the end of it. I'm sure they are envious of their

Wearside neighbours as they prepare for a Wembley weekend. The Newcastle

fans enjoying themselves today in Humberside. It dropped here for

Remy. Remy! Oh, what a save! Great finger tip from Allan McGregor. But

from McGregor it would have been game over, that is for sure. Second

Newcastle corner. Pulled back out for Williamson. Gouffran, off the

line. Brilliant clearance off the line for

Elmohamady that just provides Hull City with a glimmer of an

opportunity. Meyler and Alan Pardew, squaring up

top each other. Pardew, oh, dear, dear, he looked there as though he

put his forehead into the face of David Meyler. Oh it's all boiling

over here now! I just wonder how clear a view the referee Kevin

Friend, or his assistant on this near side, John Flynn, had of that.

A yellow card for David Meyler. Oil don't think Alan Pardew has go the

away with it just yet. He has been sent off. Alan Pardew, sent off. I

rather feel there might be further implications when the powers that be

get the view of the incident that we've just had. Meyler went for the

ball. There is the tangle initially. Pardew, unhappy. There. You cannot

do that. Players should not be doing, certainly managers shouldn't.

So now Alan Pardew has to watch the rest of proceedings from up on high

in the main stand. Meyler. Inging out. He can release Remy. Can

he get away from Bruce? Yes, he can. Brought down by Davies, wasn't he?

Well, no penalty given. Definite contact. The only question

was whether or not it should have been a penalty or a free-kick.

Maybe there will be a fourth goal before the final whistle.

Hull looking ever so tired. Gosling away from Meyler. Lost his footing.

It's a tap-in. Anita, with his first ever Premier League goal, make it is

4-1 Newcastle. The fresh legs of Gosling meant business. When he

swipd, Dummett took over. McGregor's poor away fell invitingly for Anita.

The what a convincing win at the end of the day for Alan Pardew, but his

memories today will be tarnished by his stupidity in getting involved

with David Meyler. Only one place to start. What were you thinking about?

Yeah. I was a situation where I shouldn't have been there. I've been

involved in a couple of incidents on the line. Probably because I'm too

near the action. I will be sitting down from now on. And quite rightly

after that. I apologise to everyone. I shunned shouldn't have got

involved in it really. We accept Alan's apology. Of course we will. I

believe he has been big enough and brave enough to come out and

apologise, which you would expect in the heat of the moment and the way

football is. Everybody gets carried away. I don't think I've ever seen

the like before. What I will say, I'm glad it was David Meyler and not

somebody who will roll around the floor. David Meyler wants to give

him back, but restrained himself. That can only be complimentary to

him. It's not the first time you have been involved in touchline

incidents, probably the worse incident? I didn't mean no damage to

the guy. I did move my head forward. You can't do that. Just trying to

push him away really with my head. I shouldn't have done that. It

tarnished an afternoon for him, his players and the supporters. They had

a great afternoon in terms of the result. Which has obviously been let

down by Alan's actions. Time after time we could have scored today. The

players were terrific. It was only myself that unfortunately had a poor

performance all round. He came out and apologised. He is clearly

embarrassed. Have you ever seen anything like that from a coach and

manager. That is inexcusable behaviour? No. There was outrage,

understandably so. I think it's terribly sad to see these pictures.

It's sad for Pardew and Newcastle. I think it's sad for the game. Kids

watching this programme, all other television programmes. The

surprising thing for me was that there was not a lot of provocation

there. He won his last game. They are safe in the table. They are 3-1

up, absolutely cruising. Meyler doesn't do a lot to provoke him and

he still lost it totally. The pictures are very, very bad.

As Alan said, Meyler pushes past him to get the ball, there is a bit of

aggression there, but to do this is completely inexcusable. He says he

throws his head forward to push him away. I would say that is a

head-butt. It is a definite headbutt. And I think Steve Bruce is

right, Meyler does really well because he could have gone down,

rolling around holding his face. But there is no place for that at all,

anywhere in the game of football. Alan Pardew said in the interview

himself that he has had a bit of previous and he will learn from

that. Let's have a look at some of the things he has done. He's had a

couple, there have been four or five. This was Pellegrini, a few

gestures made there, he's not happy. This one, he got a 20 grand final

and a two-game ban and he said he held his head in shame. This one

against Martin O'Neill when Ameobi scored a goal and this one against

Arsene Wenger, when he was West Ham manager. So he hasn't learned from

his mistakes. We all know management is a stressful business but as a

manager, you have to set an example. How can you discipline players if

you cannot contain yourself? With great difficulty, how can you say to

anyone you can't do this or that? And you have to stress, under no

provocation whatsoever, he has lost it totally. We are just getting

breaking news that Newcastle have released a statement and I

understand that they have fine Alan Pardew ?100,000 and are giving him a

formal warning. He has accepted that. Is that enough? A lot of

people saying he should be dismissed or he should resign. Having seen it,

I thought his position would become untenable before that statement.

Because as a player, if you see your manager doing that, how can he

discipline you? I think that is inexcusable for a manager. It is

quick, I think it is reasonable and I think the FA will come in hard and

give him a long man and a big fine and leave him under no illusion

whatsoever of his future conduct --a long ban. FA chairman Greg Dyke has

said it is serious and the FA will investigate. The papers have had

their say, the Sunday morning newspapers are routed and we can see

one or two of them. That is the Mail on Sunday. Facing a ban and the

sack. The only ones who can sack him are the owners of Newcastle and the

owners have taken a view, given him a massive fine and warned him. The

FA, I don't think they can sack him, so I think he will be all right. He

is a lucky man. I think this is a different thing from a player being

head-butted. I was on the receiving end of a head-butt from Dion Dublin.

On the field, 90 minutes, aggression, you lean a bit on

somebody, you can all understand it. We can all understand why Dion

Dublin... ! It is in the heat of the battle, but unprovoked, for a

manager to do it, you need to set an example and it is disgusting. It was

Newcastle's best performance of the season, one of them, and it has

overshadowed it. They had a terrible run, then beat Aston Villa and have

gone to Hull City and got a great victory and were cruising. I don't

know why he got involved in the first place but there was no

pressure on him, no provocation, as we have said 100 times, and he lost

it completely. The manager needs anger management, I'm sure that will

rumble on. Next, top against what, Chelsea, unbeaten in 2014 in the

league, travelled not very far to Fulham, who haven't won since New

Year's Day. Guy Mowbray was at Craven cottage. Only a brisk 20

minute walk apart but a chasm in Premier League terms. Fulham win

here would cause shock waves, it would be only their second over

Chelsea in 36 meetings in years. For Felix Magath's first home game,

he brings in Kasami, Clint Dempsey, who has scored Fulham's only two

goals in their last eight games against Chelsea and Darren Bent,

four goals in his last six Premier League appearances against them.

Chelsea, less than 72 hours after their Champions League game in

Istanbul, Willie Allen and Lampard are on the bench, Matic, ineligible

in Europe, comes back in -- Willian. So, another game at Craven Cottage

and a new boss in the dugout again. Felix Magath has a big reputation in

German footballer, as a player and a coach. He has performed a few rescue

missions in his time in the Bundesliga and now he has to do it

in his first venture outside Germany.

A good chance, it shaved the head Clint Dempsey. He didn't quite get

enough on it. A big Chelsea fan, Lord Coe, in attendance today next

to Frank Lampard senior. It hit Torres and it was a good job

that he was unable to react quickly enough, because that was a howler by

goalkeeper really struggling with the bright sun.

I was going to say there is a scowl across the Chelsea's boss -- Chelsea

boss's phase, but he has looked like that all day. Careless by

Stekelenburg! Torres is in. What happens next? Tries to go by himself

and couldn't find the target. Hand up, apologising to Schurrle and

Oscar, who were arriving. Maarten Stekelenburg has got to wake himself

up, in basic terms. He could easily have conceded a penalty as well.

Dempsey bundled to the floor by Ramires. This is well within

striking distance. Dejagah and Kasami both wanted to

smash this. They are all leaving this for Kasami. Something a bit

different. One two, three, leave it alone, and Kasami got it on target.

Torres nearly getting his head taken off by Heitinga. Torres complaining

to the rest that it is happening all the time. -- to the referee.

Good shot and a good save by Stekelenburg.

Schurrle continues with his run and he is in on goal. And scores the

goal! Out of nothing, that. Andre Schurrle gives Chelsea the lead at

Craven Cottage. Schurrle's lovely cushioned ball to Eden Hazard in the

first place. Torres was offside, that his wife Hazzard -- that his

wife Aidan has delayed the past. Managed to get in front of Burn and

kept his cool wonderfully. I was about to say he couldn't miss.

He has. Great work from Hazard. It looked as though it was on a plate

for Torres and it is actually some really good defending by Kieran

Richardson. Through to Schurrle and Schurrle has

scored his second. That will surely do it for Chelsea now. Two goals for

Andre Schurrle, both really well taken. Hazard waiting for the right

moment to pick a pass. Not even a question about side, good movement

from Schurrle. Excellent timing from Hazard.

Schurrle looks to see if he is onside. He is! No missing that one,

the match ball is going back a short distance to Stamford Bridge in the

possession of Andre Schurrle. Three quickfire goals for the German in

the second half. Full blown away by one man. In the space of 60 minutes,

he has doubled his Chelsea goal tally -- Fulham blown away. All the

goals for Schaller, surely no way back for Fulham. -- all the goals

the Schurrle. They will troop forward dutifully.

John Heitinga has scored. Johnny Heitinga, his first full goal in his

-- his first Fulham game in his -- his first Fulham goal in his fourth

game. The clean sheet is convert Petr Cech. You still think at this

stage it will a consolation for Fulham but is it the start of an

unlikely comeback? We shall see. Felix is a lot more happy now,

If not grinning like a Cheshire cat. There is a fire about Fulham. There

is a deflection that makes it a better saved by Petr Cech. The

Fulham supporters have not had a good side on that day on the ground,

paying a fortune to see their team get beaten and getting blinded.

Over from Ramires. In the current climate, you can't blame Demba Ba

for trying to do it by himself. Top beats bottom.

The first half, you didn't look very happy with your side whatsoever. It

was a different performance in the second half. Give us an insight as

to what you said at half-time. Do you believe me? I told them nothing.

Nothing. Not a word. You didn't say anything at half-time to your

players question mark not a word. Did you stand and stare at them?

Nothing, I told them nothing, I walked in and walked out. So he came

into the dressing room and said it is differently? He said something

else, but I don't want to say. But it was very quick. He said a few

things, ten seconds, then he went out. Today, Chelsea was too good.

They played very well and they took seriously, yes, from the first

minute. They wanted to win and so it was the better team.

He's the kind of player that when he is in front of the goal, and the

goalkeeper, he chooses the corner, he chooses the right kind of shot to

do. He is quality and that is a great quality for him. Good second

half, whether it was ten seconds or nothing at half-time, it worked

because they were better in the second half. Eden Hazard, he is

something else? Schurrle, that hat trick was overshadowed by an amazing

performance from Hazard. We have featured him on the show are a lot

but I do not get bored of watching him, and unbelievable talent. He

gets into a great space, on behalf of turn and he drives at the back

four players. Both ways. Two feet, he is clever. This one here as well.

The way he penetrates into the box, forceful and players, they cannot

touch him for fear of giving away a penalty. -- for Fulham players.

The chest pass, Schurrle, great vision, to watch. This one has pace.

Shifts the ball, see you later. The vision, outside the foot, Schurrle,

brilliant. And this 1-2 finish with... Incredible. How difficult is

it to do that? That is incredible. Unbelievable. He is a great player

and there is no doubt, last season we could see the quality but this

season we are seeing strength and resilience to go alongside that. And

the pace, he is the full package. He is getting better. Fulham had good

signs, they gave Chelsea as good as they got? They were exceptional for

50 minutes. The gaffer has a reputation of working players fired

and that had a detrimental effect today because they looked shattered

for the last half-hour. Look at Parker, on the front foot, breaking

up the play, powerful, the combination. Sidwell. Again, we will

see both of them biting into that tackle with so much energy. Early in

the game, they will have plenty of energy. Stopping at people.

Fantastic midfield play but they go down by one goal. And the belief

gets drawn out of them, this is the recovery run. Parker tries his best

to get back. They looked drained, Parker should have been sharper with

the tackle. And this was the third goal. Look at Parker, head down. No

belief from Sidwell. Look at Heitinga. He is running in trickle.

They look shattered. Five points out of 30, they reckon they need six in

the next. I think they have gone. Four points adrift, the only way

they can stay up is if you give them the Chelsea act for players. For the

last ten matches. He said he would be friendly, but not that friendly!

As for Chelsea, vary strong? The back four players, they are settled,

they have been there. They have got the players. They have got the

manager, everything. The structure. It is up to themselves. Three games

still to come but a reminder that Match of the Day on Sunday allows

you to vote for your goal of the month. And there are some duties to

choose from. -- beauties. You can build on the BBC website and

on social media while enjoying highlights from three more games in

the Barclays Premier League. Before that, join Mark Chapman and

company. Next up is a potteries, Stoke City entertain Arsenal, who

had only won once in the last seven visits to the Britannia Stadium.

Steve Wilson was there. Mark Hughes is unbeaten in his last

five home games against Arsenal with four different clubs. 116 oh is on.

Stoke has never been a home from home for Arsenal. Gibbs is fit. Ozil

is on the bench. Red and white shirts pouring forward. Cameron.

Walters is in the middle. Offside flag on the near side. It would not

have counted. Jonathan Walters. Getting his head onto the cross.

Offside. It was immediately given. And correctly, as well. It is really

tight but he is offside. Crouch, down the middle. Here is Walters.

Back to N'Zonzi. Crouch was there. That would have been almost

miraculous that Peter Crouch had got it in from that angle. That was

ambitious and never likely to beat on hundred. That was fouled by 128

Accra. Podolski missed by a considerable margin, in the end.

That was a clear sight of the goal for the German. That was a lovely

ball. That was a good save from Szczesny. At last, something has

happened. The first I've the goalkeeper has had anything to do.

-- the first time. To central, perhaps. Szczesny dealt with that

well enough for Arsenal. 109 has to make the save. Suddenly, the game is

coming to life. -- Begovic. Here is Jonathan Walters. He needs

help. Cameron on the overlap. Football! -- good ball. He did get

lucky. This was a chance. That was a really good ball in. Jonathan

Walters got a touch on that. He could have scored. N'Zonzi being

chased by Podolski. Free kick. The card is coming out for number seven.

Charlie Adam. Over the set piece for Stoke City. Towards Peter Crouch!

Szczesny got that away. Peter Crouch chose to put that in with his feet.

It would have been easier to do so with his head. Great free kick why

Charlie Adam. When Peter Crouch looks back on that, he will wish he

had gone for that with his head. N'Zonzi. Arnautovic finds them.

Great ball! Excellent all in. -- ball in. I am not sure if that

header was going to go in, but neither was Szczesny. Great noise

from the home fans. 20 minutes of the second half has been played. It

bounces and Crouch gets his foot on it. Cameron could have put them in

front, here. Arsenal did not deal with that. Cameron lashed that wide.

130. -- Wilshere. That was a follow-up from Charlie Adam. You

cannot know what has gone on in his mind, whether Charlie Adam meant to

do that or not. Well... They are not losing but that is about the most

you can say. Appeal for handball. And the referee has given it!

Koscielny had his arm raised. And that is a penalty. Arsene Wenger

shakes his head in disbelief. There was not much she could do about

that, is there? Jones is adamant, it is a penalty. There was a touch from

Walters. That is on to the hand of Koscielny. Jonathan Walters, who has

missed four out of his last six penalties... 15 minutes to go. And

he scores! What a victory point this might be for Stoke City. And what a

damaging defeat it could be for Arsenal. And what a contentious

penalty. Arsene Wenger, grim faced. 1-0. And Jonathan Walters, who has

had to ensure a good deal of pain from 12 yards, puts his team in

front. They have bid in Chelsea and Manchester United. They drew with

Manchester City and they are beating Arsenal. Stoke at home. They are

still one of the toughest assignments online. Ozil! That was

not far wide. One of the first things he has done since coming on

and he almost find the equaliser. Lovely little one, two with Giroud.

128. -- Sagna. He lost his composure and missed the chance. And what a

chance! He will be haunted by that. So much experience out there. And it

failed to the man who really has none. And over the top of the bar,

it goes. And with that perhaps goes the last chance to get something

from the penalty seemed harsh? It was a

gift. I do not know if it was the handball or not, nobody knows. I

thought it was a clear penalty and everybody in the stadium reacted and

felt it was. Irrespective of that, obviously that is the winning goal

but in terms of the game, overall, I thought we were good value. We were

first class and we have to take that confidence going into the rest of

the games. A lot of players are away on international duty. That was a

massive game for us. Hopefully we can get the points we need. It is

tough to come here and we did not play the best but we had a few

chances in the first half. If you fail to take them, you will get

punished. It will take the feedback of course and we have to bounce back

from that. But the consequences of this defeat can be hard to take and

we have to respond quickly. I do nothing Arsenal like going to Stoke,

there are some key decisions there. Even the managers disagree, which is

not as a prize. The first one with Charlie Adam on Arteta, he could

have been but for that. And the same one with Giroud. Did he mean that?

He knows he is there and he is very lucky to stay on. The penalty kick,

good movement. Crouch comes up short. Walters gets there, first. Is

that a penalty kick? It definitely hits his hand. There was no intent.

I think it is a penalty. I do. Yes, like Marquez. Arsenal did not seem

anything like the team we have seen playing consistently this year? The

last away game in the Premier League, they were blown away by

Liverpool and the most important thing, when you have a game like

that when the record is poor and you are still vying for the title, you

have to start quickly. You start quickly and then you can take your

foot off the gas. They have started slowly, their passing was sloppy.

Every second ball Stoke were winning, we knew they would be

competitive. This is Arsenal after four minutes. Watch how many hands

are going up here. Why me? White House? -- why us? You are

complaining after four minutes. And as I say, the passing was very

unlike Arsenal, they were getting knocked off the ball and every

challenge the Stoke players were winning. It was at times the Boreas.

Is that the psychological factor or do they get bullied by Stoke? I

think they get bullied, there is the fear factor. The number of times

they play like this when they come here. They still have a great chance

of winning the title but to play as badly as this, Jack Wilshere said

they had one or two chances, but, I mean... This on the performance, I

would say abysmal. As for Stoke, slightly different style but very

competitive? This is what they have done against the top four last

season... They have that little bit of quality

to go with it. Nit nit # N'Zonzi. . A great touch. Great ball in. Good

save by Chesney. N'Zonzi, here, the edge of the box. How is this for a

drag back, beats three of them. That is really good. Picks up, switches

the play. With ease. The two of them link up. Good ball on the outside.

The touch is great here. A little touch. Just there, just, you know...

Then the ball into the box. Fantastic for Crouch. Again a good

save. Mark Hughes, evolving slowly. Five or six weeks ago they were in

trouble. They are cruising now. I will not ask you whether you think

Arsenal will win the title. No. To the Premier League's top scorers

now. After Arsenal's defeat, Liverpool knew a win in today's late

game would take them second. They travelled to Southampton, who were

looking to do the double after previously inflicting the Reds only

defeat at Anfield this season. Your commentator at St Mary's was

Jonathan Pearce. Liverpool have gone 12 Premier League games since they

last tasted defeat. That defeat was against Southampton. It's over the

wall. A brilliant save by Boruc. It's in. Southampton have taken the

lead. Great save. Another good stop from Mignolet. It's Liverpool 0,

Southampton 1. Is. Interest here for England boss

Roy Hodgson with Luke Shaw joining team-mates Rickie Lambert, Adam

Lallana in the senior squad for a midweek friendly.

Luis Suarez in his 100th league appearance hopes to end a five-month

scoring drought. COMMENTATOR: That is a brilliant

ball away to Sturridge. Touched away by Fonte. Sturridge, criticised in

some places recently for not serving up enough chances to Suarez Suarez.

He tried to put him in there -- Suarez.

Lallana, bundled over in the box. The referee unimpressed. There was

certainly contact. Did he come into Lallana? From that angle,

Southampton have a big shout. In towards Schneiderlin. Just an

unfortunate stumble at the wrong time by Rodriguez. The chance is

gone. Possession in the opening quarter of

an hour 50/50. Suarez, Sturridge. It comes back to Suarez. Liverpool got

the lucky break. He ends his scoring drought, a mini-drought, only

five-games. 100 league games for Luis Suarez. His 24th goal of the

season. 5th in all for his club. Southampton 0, Liverpool 1.

Certainly the luck went Liverpool's way. A little give and go. The

stumbling Fonte played it back into his path. The Uruguayan did the

rest. Liverpool lead in what could be a banana skin of a game for them.

Half an hour played. Liverpool leading with the Suarez goal.

It drops to Lallana. Oh, desperately unlucky, Southampton. Again, it came

from a misplaced defensive clearance. Just as the Liverpool

goal came. Skrtel went for it, made a hash of it. Lallana a lick of

paint away. He was cam enough. He was unlucky. Eight goals this

season. It comes to Rodriguez. That is a

really good save. Mignolet is moving to his left hand side. He gets back

to his right, but got low down to his right. Awareness by Lambert.

Rodriguez, who had to readjust in the middle, got a snapshot away low,

and with power. That's good goal keeping.

Is Is is is is is is the shot lacked power. Sterling prepares to come on

for Liverpool. Coutinho, off he goes. Still Liverpool leading with a

goal by Luis Suarez after a quarter of an hour.

Gerrard, slides the ball through the channel of Suarez. Suarez into

sister ling. A beautifully worked goal. Really smooth pass by Gerrard,

through the inside right channel, Suarez spotting the gap, turning

into it. Travelling into space. Then, passing so succinctly for a

sweet finish by sterling. 1 minute and 20 seconds after coming on to

the field of play, Sterling puts Liverpool two goals to the good,

with his very first touch. Just a little bit fed up at the

moment, Lallana. The decisions haven't gone his way. Oh, missed out

there. Played in towards Sturridge by Suarez. Tight, tight angle. It's

just a throw. Mistake by the man who got the winning goal at Anfield in

September. Liverpool nearly profited. That's a really, really

tight angle. His team just running out of ideas at the moment.

Here's Gerrard. Liverpool beginning to find spaces. Gerrard, from range.

Took a good stop. Corner ball. Up through the gears here, Liverpool.

18 minutes to go. Can Liverpool get a third? Oh, it was curl in

viciously. Boruc had to react to quickly there for Southampton to

stop it curling in. Nearly bounced off Chambers for an og. The Suarez,

onside, will he go himself this time? Is Suarez does go himself.

Fonte did just enough, maybe. Did well to get back on side. The

chances are coming now thick and fast for Liverpool. Lovren.

Up to Suarez. Took it so well. Isolated now with Fonte. Luis

Suarez, onto his left foot, penalty kick. Liverpool will wrap it up in

the dying seconds. Sensible refereeing as well by Lee Probert.

There was a cover behind, according to the referee. Suarez running at

the defender, left a foot hanging. He was brought down. Steven Gerrard,

it will be. He will wrap up another Liverpool victory.

Gerrard, from the spot. Southampton 0, Liverpool 3. Another it away day

spree for the Merseysiders. They have been daring to believe.

Believing in the dream for weeks. Now, with this commanding victory,

at a very good Southampton side, belief and dreams are nearing

reality. Liverpool move into the top two.

I thought the team were brilliant tactically in the game. We worked in

the week on playing 4-4-2 diamond. We know we were playing against an

outstanding team. A team particularly at home o who are very

good. The players were outstanding. They kept a cleansheet. Defensively

looked solid and scored three goals in a game where they could have five

or six. Equally as impressive as our win at home against Arsenal, in a

different way. TRANSLATION: I thought the 3-0 is

not a fair result for what happened during the game. They were a lot

more clinical than we were in front of goal. For the amount of chances

we created when you go down against such a team like Liverpool it's more

difficult. They were more effective than we were on the whole. The fans

are singing the songs "we are going to win the league"? You have to

believe and have confidence you will fight the others to try and win it.

As captain of the team it's important to keep the lads calm and

keep the supporters calm and take it game by game. They are going really

well now, Liverpool. That is up to second, terrific performance. There

is the table at the bottom of the screen. It's looking good. 3-0 is

3-0. They played nice stuff Southampton. Good players. They

created a couple of chances. It might have been different. They

played at Anfield earlier on in the season. Pushed up and pressed up

high and got a great result am we said at the time, that is a

dangerous game to play especially against Liverpool at the minute with

the explosive fire power they have on the counter attack. Right from

the word go they were in trouble. Fonte... The ball over the top here,

it's like oceans of space, past Lovren. Fonte does well to get

across. This is the second goal. You know, Gerrard can only play it in

there. Lovren tries to read it. Great turn by Suarez. It's in the

back of the net. The game is effectively over. After that, they

were trying to pass it, play it, get caught and individual mistakes. I

thought Liverpool could have won four or five quite easily. It's

amaze to see two centre-backs, who played so well at Anfield, just lose

it completely. Watch the run of Suarez here. Reads the line.

Phenomenonal movement. To beat the offside trap. Again, could have

scored. Lovren, this time, tries to read it. Suarez is away. This time

Sturridge is in. Might have done better. Eventually, you have got

Fonte, in no-man's land against Suarez. Suarez just comes in and

does him like a kipper. It's a penalty kick. As I say, Liverpool on

the counter attack, explosive. I tell you what, when you have that

much pace on the counter attack, you know, they are talking about

Liverpool being poor defensively Because you can get the ball and get

out quick and pace. You can get men behind the ball and protect your

back four-better. Interesting little graphic that puts into perspective

the significance of this SAS, Suarez and Sturridge partnership? I sat

here with Robbie Savage and #15id said they were best in English

footballing. He said Rooney and van Persie were the better. Not how I

remember it They are so difficult to play. They compliment each other so

well. Would you agree now they are the best partnership? I would, yeah.

I bow to your superior knowledge of strikers. Can Liverpool do it? They

have the same amount of points as Arsenal? They can. I don't think

they will. That four point gap at this stage, it's significant for

Chelsea and City two games in hand. Liverpool, I think third. Alan? They

have a chance. Right in it. The start of the season I thought, get

top four, bite your hand off. They are right in the mix now. I would

love it, love it. You haven't won it since you play.

In a moment, we will see Everton against West Ham but a quick

reminder that Sunday sees the final of the Capital One Cup. Will it be

Sunderland or Manchester City securing the first silverware of the

season? It begins as a dream. And ends in

reality. From the moment the whistle-blowers. To the second it

finishes. With every pass. With every goal. There is joy. Never give

up. Highlights from Wembley at 11:30pm

after Match of the Day too. And Mr Bahsin follows is this evening with

highlights of all three divisions in the Football League. And a new

series of Late Kick Up starts on Monday -- Late Kick Off. And it is

not only Manchester City and Sunderland who will be at Wembley in

March. Two of our Match of the Day pundits have come together for a

special sports relief challenge. We are here for Sport Relief, it is

battle of the backsides. 90,000 seats, we are attempting to sit on

45,000. It is a race. The public get Involved by buying a ticket for a

fiver and getting entered into a competition. Some great prizes. What

is easier? I would rather have had there been a's challenge, to be

fair. -- Divina McCall's challenge. Well, it makes a difference from

talking out of it. Well, it makes a difference from

talking out of It is admirable, you're giving a few days of your

time for what is a brilliant cause but it is not exactly what Davina

did, is it? Speak -- I agree, but you can buy tickets and enter a

competition. You can listen on 5 Live. Watch yourself when you get to

the top pros, I know what you like with altitude, not very good at all.

Everton were looking for some home comforts after three defeats in

their last four home Premier League games. They faced a buoyant West

Ham, who have four successive wins in February. Watching this was Steve

Bauer. After only scoring once in their

last four matches, Roberto Martinez resist the temptation to recall

Romelu Lukaku, who is back on the bench. Steven Naismith leads the

line. Kevin Nolan returns to Merseyside after six in his last

seven. It means Andy Carroll, free from suspension, is amongst the

substitutes. So it is a return home, will it be a return to winning ways

for Everton? It needs to be to retain those European aspirations.

Kevin Nolan went down under the challenge of Barry. The West Ham

captain quite clearly feels he was caught.

He was being held by Barry. Both arms around him.

He has only lost one game since becoming Everton manager, against

Sunderland here in September when Tim Howard was sent off. Mind you,

he took over a team that got 42 points at home last season.

Saved by Adrian, the first real-time Everton have got in behind West Ham.

It was James McCarthy's Ball, beautifully weighted and a perfectly

timed run. The angle was always against him.

28 minutes in, West Ham make a change. Carlton Cole departs and

Andy Carroll, after a three match suspension, is back for West Ham.

West Ham trying to win for the fifth league game in a row, eight years

since it has happened. The last time was under Alan Pardew's Stuarts --

stewardship. Very nearly a moment of individual

brilliance from the Spanish under 21 international. He is a talent.

Weaving his way through, he ignored McCarthy, and that is how close it

was too ending up in the back of the net. Just curled the wrong side of

the post. Leighton Baines back to Pienaar!

Then Deulofeu! And then held by Adrian. Inside the first 60 seconds

of the second half. Once again, the linkup between names and Pienaar. --

between Leighton Baines and Pienaar. Just one Premier League

goal this season, Pienaar was a whisker away from doubling it.

How he would have loved to have seen that from Pienaar fly in.

And Pienaar has lifted it over. If Everton are to get anything, you

sense it is going to come down this left-hand side. Leighton Baines and

Pienaar in tandem again and the South African should have done

better. Good try. An instinctive effort from

Andy Carroll, needed tipping over by Tim Howard. Fell to his favoured

left foot and it was arrowing on target. A really clean hit. The game

plan is working so far, looking to stretch the unbeaten run to six.

It was deflected along the way. A really clever effort from the West

Ham United captain. You could see his intention and it just slipped

off Gareth Barry. It has taken 13 and a half minutes

of the second half but you sense this is a game crying out for

Ramallah Lukaku -- for Romelu Lukaku. Everton's top scorer is on

the pitch. Sylvain Distin! That is one of the

clearest chances of the afternoon and it is probably not the man that

Everton would want it to fall too. He is at full stretch but any kind

of touch on target, you sense, would have done it. He hasn't scored a

Premier League goal since May 2011. Lukaku was right behind him as well.

Everton have scored 11 times this season in the last ten minutes of

games. They would dearly love one of those to go in now.

It is Lukaku! A dream return from Romelu Lukaku! The man who scored

the winner with his debut goal against West Ham in September breaks

the deadlock against them today. After just one goal in his last ten

Premier League matches, and after a month out, that could be a priceless

strike for Everton. No surprise it came from Leighton Baines. Kept his

composure. No chance for Adrian. And Everton's patience finally pays off.

West Ham have been stubborn and organised, but Romelu Lukaku is the

man to find a way through. And they have scored again late on in the

Premier League. It is 1-0. Lukaku on the turn. A couple of

inches lower and it was 2-0. It was travelling as well.

One touch, and the second one just flew over. And listen to the noise

around Goodison Park. I think our chances in the final

third, we should have done better with today and those wasted moments

can be the turning point in the game for us, and I think because we never

caused Everton too many problems because of our final ball final pass

or cross, that we should have done, it didn't put enough fear into their

defending and they could push more and more men forward. We won and

that is the most important thing. The team needs confidence,

individuals need confidence, but the team did very well today and we have

to keep on going like that. I felt those big decisions in a game for

the referee, he didn't make one for us today, because in my opinion,

Kevin Nolan is through on goal, Gareth Barry is the last man, puts

both arms around him and from all accounts, Kevin is telling me that

he said the referee didn't see it, but I saw it from where I was and I

was right behind the referee from where he was. And he was 50 yards

closer. After the game, I spoke to Everton

manager Roberto Martinez. Roberto, you have not had a great

run of late, it must have been a huge relief to win. Pride, I would

say. In football, you can control your performances, and even though

we lost two games in the last two league games, the performances from

the players was allotted to be pleased with. -- a lot to be pleased

with. It was a difficult game. The thing missing lately was goals and

you got your strike about today, it made such a difference. It does. As

you know, Gary, to reflect good performances in scorelines, scoring

goals and hitting the back of the net Fx games, and that has been

missing of late -- affects. It was really good for us to have Lukaku

back from injury and see him but that focus and desire and that

clinical touch. He made all the difference but I think it is fair to

say that the team has been playing really well, creating chances, and

when you do that, it is a matter of time that you will hit the back of

the net. A lot of debate this week about the value of the Europa

League. If you were not to make it into the Champions League, would it

be a competition you particularly want to be in, given that you have

not got a huge wad? I think European football is always a phenomenal

competition to be involved in. A huge squad. It is true that it

brings huge demands, and you have to be covered, but playing in Europe is

where every player wants to be in their careers. you qualified last

season, of course, with Wigan. It would be nice to manage a in Europe

this time. -- manage aside. It is or was a great experience. We are

looking at where we are now, we are into competitions, it is March and

we are really excited about the quarterfinals of the FA Cup and it

is always a special moment and in the league, we want to get as many

points as we can and clearly, today, it was a performance that has given

us a real sense of confidence, a real sense of belief and I must

admit, the players deserve to be feeling like this after two defeats

that were not worthy of losing. Well done today, good luck for the rest

of the season. Thank you for talking to us. He is very happy, some less

so, both with his side's performance and the Gareth Barry decision, which

she felt was pivotal. I think it is a red card for Barry.

Is Leighton Baines covering? I think Kevin Nolan can get a shot off and

on his form, a clear goal-scoring opportunity. I think he gets a shot

off and it is a red card for me. I agree with Robbie, I think Nolan, if

he gets in, he's going to school and of the referee makes the right

decision, it might change the game -- are going to score. Important for

Everton to get a striker back. They have had a poor run but a great

season. Martinez can be proud of what they have achieved, and a lot

of entertainment at Goodison. The faithful will be happy. West Ham can

relax a bit better after those four wins. Not their best performance

today. Mid-table finish, decent because of where they were. Thanks

very much indeed, we are about out of time, but before we go, let's

take a look at the Premier League table. Chelsea have opened up a

4-point gap at the top and Liverpool have left above Arsenal on goal

difference. Manchester City blame the League Cup final on Sunday and

had two games in hand in fourth place. At the bottom, Fulham are the

only team in the bottom five to have played and they prop up the table,

while Stoke are up to 12th. And just when we thought we had seen

everything in this remarkable season it surprises us again. Great food.

-- macro food. -- nuts.