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Micah Richards reveals Sky Sports 'panic' after issue before Liverpool vs Man City game

Micah Richards admitted there was panic in the Sky Sports studio when an audio issue during Super Sunday meant the pundits were forced to stand in as commentators during the opening minutes of Chelsea vs Aston Villa.

Bill Leslie and Alan Smith were on commentary duty at Stamford Bridge but technical gremlins meant the first few minutes of the game were not accompanied by the pair's words.

The issue led to Richards, Roy Keane and Daniel Sturridge — who were at Anfield ahead of Liverpool vs City — giving their take on the opening exchanges as they played out over 200 miles away, and Richards admitted he didn't exactly feel comfortable with the role.

"You know what it's like when you're at a broadcaster," Richards said during the latest The Rest is Football podcast with Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer. "Everyone just panics!

"[Sky Sports presenter] Dave Jones says we've basically got to talk over the pictures and whatnot. Dave starts talking through the game, then he goes to me: 'And Micah, what about Chelsea's system here?'.

"Normally, on co-comms, you're at the game and can see exactly what's happening. There was talk of whether he was going to play three at the back or four at the back...

"So I go on and say: 'Oh yeah, they're playing three at the back or four at the back' but I can't even see what's happening! You know what my eyes are like! The TV is about 20ft away, so I was just absolutely winging it. If that was ever an audition, I failed miserably!"

Thankfully for Richards and co, the commentary from Leslie and Smith had returned by the time Chelsea scored its first goal of the game.

Enzo Maresca's side won the match 3-0 through goals from Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer to move up to third place in the table, level on points with second-placed Arsenal but nine points behind league leaders Liverpool.

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