In the opening episode of the revamped Match of the Day, veteran pundit Alan Shearer committed a glaring on-air error.
The incident occurred during the show’s analysis of Liverpool’s 4-2 victory over Bournemouth on Friday, specifically when the Cherries scored their opening goal.
Shearer blamed Liverpool left back Milos Kerkez in the build-up to the goal, even though the player had already been subbed off four minutes earlier.
As the picture rolled, Shearer was visibly critical of Kerkez’s positioning, remarking to host Mark Chapman: ‘There’s Kerkez, he’s on the way to attack when they haven’t even got possession, which means he’s five or six yards out of position.’
An on-screen graphic compounded the blunder by identifying the wrong defender, listing Kerkez instead of Andy Robertson, who actually occupied the full back role during the goal.
Social media erupted with quick-witted and critical responses.
Alan Shearer suffered a major blunder on the BBC’s first Match of the Day show of the season
Shearer blamed Liverpool left back Milos Kerkez for Bournemouth’s goal, even though the player had already been subbed off four minutes earlier
One X user quipped, ‘Kerkez’s positioning for the first Bournemouth goal was atrocious. So far out of position, tracksuit on and worst of all sat down.’
Another wrote: ‘What makes this worse is that it was analysed a full 24 hours AFTER the game had taken place. Lazy punditry or terrible bias.’
A third commented: ‘Alan Shearer has lost the plot. Also since [Gary] Lineker is gone, what’s the point of watching MOTD anymore really?’
This was only the opening week of a format overhaul – long-time host Gary Lineker is no longer part of the show, with presenters Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates now sharing duties.
To that end, Match of the Day also introduced a fresh pundit: Wayne Rooney, who joined on a reported £800,000-per-year deal.
Lineker confirmed his departure from the BBC in May and ‘apologised unreservedly’ after being accused of anti-semitism after sharing a someone else’s social media post.
Before he was substituted on Friday, Kerkez had put in a rather underwhelming Premier League debut performance for Liverpool.
However, after the game, manager Arne Slot offered an explanation for his withdrawal, explaining it was a precaution as Kerkez was one booking away from suspension.
