Episode
Match of the Day 2: August 14th, 2011
Overview
Colin Murray introduces highlights of the day's top-flight games. Premier League champions Manchester United begin the defence of their crown with a trip to West Brom. The Baggies were the only visiting team to claim a league point at Old Trafford last season, but their home record against the Red Devils is less impressive - United have won their last seven league games at the Hawthorns. The reigning champions have bolstered their squad this summer with the signings of Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David de Gea, and manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be hopeful of securing a fifth Premier League title in six seasons. Chelsea's first game under new manager Andre Villas-Boas is an awkward trip to Stoke, who were last season's beaten FA Cup finalists. Villas-Boas arrived at Stamford Bridge after a hugely successful season with FC Porto, prompting inevitable comparisons with Jose Mourinho, who led the Blues to back-to-back Premier League titles.
Details
- Series
- Match of the Day 2
- Season
- Season 8
- Episode
- Episode 1
- Air date
- 2011-08-14
- Runtime
- 60 min
Episode context
August 14th, 2011 is Episode 1 in Season 2011/12 of Match of the Day 2. It aired on 2011-08-14. The runtime is 60 min.
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More episodes from this season
Episode 3: August 28th, 2011
Colin Murray is joined by Alan Hansen and Lee Dixon for highlights of the day's four Premier League matches, including Manchester United against Arsenal and Tottenham versus Manchester City. Champions United twice beat Arsenal at Old Trafford last season, in the league and FA Cup, and have strengthened their squad in the summer with the big-money additions of David de Gea, Ashley Young and Phil Jones. By contrast, Arsenal endured a turbulent off-season, with the futures of unsettled pair Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri dominating the headlines. However, the Gunners deservedly beat United when they last met in May and their encounters over the years have usually been tight. Tottenham are unbeaten at home to Manchester City since 2003, but were usurped in the top four by Roberto Mancini's side last season. Ambitious City have again spent big this summer as they seek to win the league title, with Argentine forward Sergio Aguero becoming their record signing.
Episode 4: September 11th, 2011
Colin Murray presents highlights from the day's two Premier League matches as well as a review of all the goals and talking points from Saturday's top-flight games. It is six years since Norwich and West Brom met in the Premier League - the Canaries edged a 3-2 victory that day but have lost three of the four subsequent Championship meetings. The day's other game sees Fulham host Blackburn Rovers at Craven Cottage - it was also 3-2 when those teams last met in March. A controversial last-minute penalty enabled Bobby Zamora to clinch victory for Fulham, which led to a red card for Rovers' defender Gael Givet, who was furious with referee Mark Clattenburg's decision to award a spot-kick.
Episode 5: September 18th, 2011
Colin Murray introduces highlights from one of the biggest games of the Premier League season, Manchester United v Chelsea at Old Trafford. Between them they have won the last seven league titles and it was United's 2-1 win in this fixture last season that all but clinched the championship for Sir Alex Ferguson's side. Plus highlights from Tottenham v Liverpool, Sunderland v Stoke and Manchester City's match at Fulham, with City looking for a repeat of last season's emphatic 4-1 win.
Episode 6: September 25th, 2011
Colin Murray introduces highlights of the day's Premier League game between Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa. QPR won promotion from the Championship last season, so this will be Villa's first top-flight game away to Rangers for 16 years. The London club made a terrible start to life in the Premier League, suffering a 4-0 home defeat to Bolton, but since then manager Neil Warnock has brought in several experienced players, including ex-Villa full-back Luke Young and former Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton. Villa lost two of their best players in the close season, with Ashley Young sold to Manchester United and Stewart Downing departing to Liverpool. However, new manager Alex McLeish can still count on the predatory skills of England striker Darren Bent, along with new summer signing Charles N'Zogbia.
Episode 7: October 2nd, 2011
Colin Murray introduces highlights from a busy day of Premier League action. White Hart Lane is the venue for the 189th north London derby between Tottenham and Arsenal, where last season Rafael van der Vaart's 70th-minute penalty rescued a point for Spurs in an engrossing 3-3 draw. Across the capital, west London neighbours Fulham and Queens Park Rangers meet in the top flight surprisingly for the first time, while Chelsea travel north to Bolton and new boys Swansea entertain Stoke. As always, there is a review of the best of the action from Saturday's games with opinion and analysis from MOTD2 regular Lee Dixon.
Episode 8: October 16th, 2011
Colin Murray introduces highlights from the day's Premier League games, with Lee Dixon and Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock offering their views on the action. Mick McCarthy's Wolves make the short trip to The Hawthorns for a Black Country derby with West Brom. Last season's corresponding fixture was the first time the two sides had met in the top flight since 1984, and it ended in a 1-1 draw as Roy Hodgson took charge of the Baggies for the first time. Arsenal meet Sunderland at The Emirates where last season the Black Cats held the Gunners to a hard earned goalless draw. This season both sides have struggled and need the points as they have not had the best of starts in the league. The day's third game sees Tottenham travel to Newcastle where the London side have not won since August 2004. Last season's meeting between the two at St James's Park ended in a 1-1 draw after Aaron Lennon's injury time strike cancelled out Fabricio Coloccini's goal.
Episode 9: October 23rd, 2011
Colin Murray introduces all the goals, highlights and talking points from a busy day in the Premier League. The five games include the Manchester derby. Clashes between United and City are always eagerly anticipated, but even more so this year after the terrific starts both clubs have made to the season. Many observers believe the title will be fought out between these two sides so this clash at Old Trafford is a massive game. There is also another local derby taking place with Chelsea visiting west London neighbours QPR for the first time in 15 years. Arsenal - who have not had the best of starts in the league - host Stoke, while the day's other two games see Harry Redknapp's Tottenham travel to struggling Blackburn and Martin Jol's Fulham take on David Moyes's Everton at Craven Cottage. As ever, there is a full review of Saturday's goals and incidents with expert analysis from Lee Dixon and Alan Hansen.
Episode 10: October 30th, 2011
Colin Murray introduces highlights and reaction from Premier League games - including the London derby between Tottenham and QPR. Spurs and QPR renew their rivalry after a 16-year gap - and if you check the history books, you will see the two clubs have three wins apiece from their previous Premier League meetings. However, this fixture is best known for the 1982 FA Cup final, when Spurs needed a replay to overcome their then lower division opponents. Expert opinion and analysis comes from Lee Dixon and Mark Lawrenson - and there is also a comprehensive review of Saturday's eight games.
Episode 11: November 6th, 2011
Colin Murray introduces highlights and reaction from three Premier League matches which include the London derby between Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur. Fulham boss Martin Jol will have approached this match with relish given he was manager of Tottenham for three years. Still a hugely popular figure among Spurs fans, the Dutchman will put sentiment to one side as he bids to end Fulham's dismal run in league fixtures between these sides. The Cottagers have only beaten Tottenham in one of their last 10 league matches, but they triumphed easily against Harry Redknapp's side 4-0 in the FA Cup last season. The other fixtures include struggling Bolton hosting Stoke at the Reebok Stadium and Wigan travelling to the Midlands to play Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. As always there will also be a review of all the goals and incidents from Saturday's matches - with the analysis led by MOTD2 regular, Lee Dixon.
Episode 12: November 20th, 2011
Colin Murray introduces highlights and reaction from the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool, as well as a round-up of Saturday's action. The hosts, led by young Portuguese coach Andre Villas-Boas, see qualification for the Champions League as the very minimum of their league ambitions for this season. Achieving that feat would satisfy the thirst of Liverpool's loyal army of followers, who can only see a bright future under Kenny Dalglish. This match at Stamford Bridge should give an indication of how both might fare come May.