Episode
Match of the Day 2: April 21st, 2013
Overview
Colin Murray introduces highlights from the day's two heavyweight fixtures, with Tottenham hosting Manchester City and Liverpool facing Chelsea in games that will have a bearing on European qualification. Tottenham and Manchester City have twice met in decisive late-season matches in recent seasons, each winning once to qualify for the Champions League at their beaten opponent's expense. They are both in a position to claim a top-four finish this time, although Spurs have less margin for error and had lost their previous four matches in this fixture. In the other game, Chelsea interim manager Rafa Benitez returns to his former club Liverpool. Both sides can ill-afford to drop points as they look to end transitional seasons by securing European qualification. Liverpool have had the upper hand in this fixtures over recent seasons, winning four successive meetings before settling for a draw at Stamford Bridge last November.
Details
- Series
- Match of the Day 2
- Season
- Season 9
- Episode
- Episode 31
- Air date
- 2013-04-21
- Runtime
- 60 min
Episode context
April 21st, 2013 is Episode 31 in Season 2012/13 of Match of the Day 2. It aired on 2013-04-21. The runtime is 60 min.
Previous / Next
Episode 30: April 14th, 2013
Colin Murray introduces highlights of the day's two Premier League fixtures, with action at both ends of the table. Manchester United's pursuit of their 20th league title continues at Stoke, while there is a crucial Tyne and Wear derby at the foot of the table. The arrival of Paolo Di Canio at Sunderland adds an extra bite to an always feisty derby against Newcastle, which holds even more meaning due to the relegation concerns of both sides.
Episode 32: April 28th, 2013
Colin Murray introduces highlights of the day's Premier League matches. The early match saw Reading host QPR. Both sides have endured an awful season in which they have been marooned at the foot of the table. Nigel Adkins started the season in charge of Southampton but has since been entrusted with the seemingly impossible job of keeping the Royals in the top flight. Harry Redknapp was given a similar task at QPR, but despite heavy investment, his arrival failed to give Rangers the immediate fillip they needed. Chelsea face a crucial match against Swansea at Stamford Bridge. In the afternoon's late kick-off, Manchester United travelled to north London to face Arsenal. The Gunners are a side the Red Devils have loved facing in recent years, with Sir Alex Ferguson's men losing just one of their last 11 meetings in all competitions.
More episodes from this season
Episode 29: April 7th, 2013
Colin Murray introduces highlights of the day's five Premier League fixtures. Tottenham welcome Everton to White Hart Lane, looking to continue an unbeaten three-game home record against the Toffees. QPR entertain fellow strugglers Wigan, hoping to maintain a record of never having lost at home to the Latics in English football's top two divisions. Elsewhere, Chelsea entertain Sunderland, Liverpool face West Ham and Newcastle host Fulham. There is also another chance to see all of the goals from Saturday's games.
Episode 33: May 5th, 2013
Colin Murray introduces highlights of the day's two Premier League matches, with the 220th Merseyside derby as hotly-contested as ever. Last season at Anfield, Liverpool emerged as 3-0 winners, with club captain Steven Gerrard scoring a memorable hat-trick to spoil David Moyes' 10th anniversary as Everton boss. Earlier this season, the two clubs drew 2-2 at Goodison Park. Controversial Reds striker Luis Suarez took centre stage, but Everton stole a point after hitting back from being two goals down. The later match sees Manchester United host Chelsea at Old Trafford, a fixture that once again pits Sir Alex Ferguson against old adversary Rafael Benitez. Aside from there being little love lost on the managerial front, these two clubs have a colourful recent rivalry; United beat the Blues in the 2009 European Champions League final, though Chelsea recently knocked the Red Devils out of the FA Cup competition.
Episode 28: March 31st, 2013
Colin Murray introduces highlights of the day's only Premier League match, Aston Villa v Liverpool. Relegation-threatened Villa produced one of their best performances of the season when they won 3-1 at Liverpool in December, but Paul Lambert's side have otherwise found wins hard to come by. In contrast, the goals have flowed freely for Liverpool since the turn of the year, giving the Reds renewed hope of European qualification. Colin and guests will also look back at the goals from Saturday's eight matches.
Episode 27: March 17th, 2013
Colin Murray introduces highlights of the day's four Premier League games. Norwich travel to the Stadium of Light looking to complete the double over Sunderland, having beaten the Black Cats 2-1 in early December during a stunning run of form that saw them go ten matches unbeaten. Meanwhile, struggling Wigan have pulled off some great escapes to avoid relegation over the last few seasons and this one looks like it will require the same. They host Newcastle, and will be encouraged by a good recent home record against the Toon. There are also two London derby games as Chelsea meet West Ham at Stamford Bridge and Tottenham face Fulham at White Hart Lane.
Episode 26: March 10th, 2013
Colin Murray introduces highlights of the day's two Premier League fixtures - Tottenham's trip to Anfield to face Liverpool and Newcastle's match with Stoke. When Tottenham and Liverpool last met, first-half goals from Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale were enough to give Andre Villas-Boas's exciting team victory over their visitors from Merseyside. Newcastle have endured a tough season and faced a difficult match against a Stoke side that beat them 2-1 earlier in the season. Goals from Jon Walters and Cameron Jerome condemned the Magpies to a fourth straight defeat in the league for the first time since 2008. There are also highlights and analysis of Saturday's four Premier League matches.
Episode 25: March 3rd, 2013
Colin Murray introduces highlights of the day's only Premier League fixture as Tottenham entertain Arsenal in the 152nd north London league derby. The Gunners have beaten their old adversaries 5-2 in each of their last two league meetings, both at the Emirates Stadium, stretching back to the 2011-12 season. Now, back on home soil, Tottenham will be looking for three valuable points as they look to finish above the Gunners in the final league table for the first time since 1995. Alan Hansen provides expert analysis, and there is another chance to see all of the goals from Saturday's games.
Episode 24: February 24th, 2013
Colin Murray introduces highlights of the day's two Premier League fixtures: the top-of-the-table meeting between Manchester City and Chelsea, and Newcastle's game with fellow strugglers Southampton. Samir Nasri's late winner for Manchester City in last season's corresponding fixture against Chelsea kept them firmly in the title race and they were in need of a repeat of that result today. The two sides contested a drab goalless draw earlier in the season, memorable only for the hostile reception from Chelsea's supporters toward the club's new manager Rafa Benitez. Chelsea's subsequent exit from all cup competitions has hardly appeased the fans, and the deposed European champions cannot afford to falter in their quest for Champions League qualification. In the day's other game, Newcastle and Southampton were looking for the three points that would help them move away from relegation danger.
Episode 23: February 17th, 2013
Mark Chapman introduces highlights from the day's Premier League game between Liverpool and Swansea City. Reds boss Brendan Rodgers spent two successful years in charge of the Swans, establishing the Welsh club in the top flight before leaving to take over at Anfield. Swansea could be forgiven for having one eye on next weekend's League Cup final against Bradford, when the Swans have the chance to win the first major trophy in their history. Rodgers' replacement at the Liberty Stadium, Michael Laudrup, has enjoyed a successful start to his Premier League career, with the recruitment of prolific Spanish forward Michu proving one of the signings of the season. Despite the distraction provided by their cup run, Laudrup will be hopeful of steering his side to a top-half finish.
Episode 22: February 10th, 2013
Colin Murray introduces highlights from the day's two Premier League fixtures, along with all the goals from Saturday's eight matches. Everton caused a stir when they beat Manchester United 1-0 in their opening match of the season, and David Moyes's side have gone on to show that the victory was no fluke. But that was on their home turf - how will they fare at Old Trafford? Aston Villa suffered a 1-0 defeat in their season opener away at West Ham, who they now face again. Things have not got much easier for the West Midlands side, although they could take hope from the fact that they did the double over the Hammers last season, thanks to Gabriel Agbonlahor's injury-time winner at Upton Park.
Episode 21: February 3rd, 2013
Colin Murray introduces highlights from the day's Premier League matches. Roberto Mancini's Manchester City host Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool, with the Reds looking for a better performance than they managed on their previous two Premier League visits to the Etihad, which both resulted in 3-0 defeats. In the day's other game, Spurs travel to West Bromwich Albion, with boss Andre Villas Boas harbouring unhappy memories of his last Premier League trip to the Hawthorns; it proved to be his final game in charge of Chelsea. There is also a chance to see all of the goals from Saturday's games.