Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker were left shocked after Micah Richards revealed he was pulling out of the season's first Match of the Day show. The new Premier League season gets underway on Friday, with the BBC programme covering the entire opening weekend’s action.
Manchester United take on Fulham on Friday before 12 more teams play on Saturday. Stalwarts of the show Shearer and Lineker will return to share their insights on the football show - but they will have to do so without their regular colleague Richards.
Richards has instead opted to appear on Sky Sports Super Sunday the following day, leaving the BBC needing a replacement pundit for Saturday night's show. And the news caught Shearer and Lineker off guard in an episode of The Rest is Football podcast.
The pair didn't shy away from roasting the ex-Manchester City defender for his absence from the season's first show. "We will be back on Monday reflecting on all the action of the opening weekend. It's up and running, the Premier League starts again," Lineker started off by saying. "But before that, I will of course be on Match of the Day. You're on Alan aren't you?" Shearer replied: "I am."
Lineker then pointed out: "And Micah's not. Because you're doing Super Sunday," prompting Shearer to interject: "What happened?! I thought you're on with us!”
Richards admitted: "Super Sunday for Sky. I got the dates and it was a clash of dates." Unconvinced, Shearer exclaimed: "How does that clash with Saturday?!"
But the former defender confessed: "I can't work Saturday and Sunday I'll be knackered," sparking a sarcastic quip from Lineker: "Two days work in a week..."
Shearer fumed: "What am I listening to here? Let's just revisit 'I can't do Saturday and Sunday'. Did you just say that? I was told you were on with us!” Richards stood his ground, saying: "That's exactly what I said. Sitting in the room with you two idiots for 12 hours."
Newcastle icon Shearer sharply concluded: "Give your f***ing head a wobble will you?" while Lineker chimed in: "No wonder his career petered out," triggering a roar of laughter from the trio.
