Nottingham Forest ace Elliott Anderson will have impressed Thomas Tuchel and his entourage with his performance in the middle of the park during his England debut against Andorra – but ITV’s Lee Dixon is being slammed online for dropping a clanger during his commentary regarding the 22-year-old.
Born and raised in Whitley Bay, Anderson has been waiting to prove his worth in the senior international set-up ahead of the 2026 World Cup – and he managed to do so alongside Declan Rice in England’s encounter against minnows Andorra.
Keeping things ticking in the middle, Anderson – who shone for England Under-21s over the summer as they triumphed in the European Championships – could potentially be the answer to the Three Lions’ long-standing issues in the centre of the pitch.
Anderson, who could offer Tuchel with the perfect box-to-box midfielder for next summer and beyond, almost opened his account for England during his debut. It was merely a wonderful save from Iker Alvarez that prevented him the perfect start to his senior England career.
england elliot anderson
He was involved from the off – and, in truth, was one of Tuchel’s standout performers as they struggled to break down Andorra and, in waxing poetic about the promising central midfielder, Lee Dixon said that Anderson looks more than settled in the midfield.
Dixon, who was on co-commentary with Sam Matterface for England’s World Cup qualifier, caught the attention of fans with what he said next. And we’re sure it’s something that the former Arsenal and England defender will not want to hear back. He said:
“I know it’s early, but Elliott Anderson just looks like he’s played there forever. [He] looks confident, he’s getting the ball off the centre-backs. I saw him playing against Leeds last week, and he was absolutely brilliant in the middle of the midfield for Newcastle. He just ran the show.”
Although Dixon was kind in his assessment of Anderson, he made a rookie mistake by claiming that he ran the show for his boyhood club, Newcastle United, on the weekend – bear in mind, that is a team he last played for in 2024, prior to his move to Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest.
And, as expected, the open-eared Three Lions faithful were quick to rush to social media to discuss Dixon’s relatively obvious on-air gaffe – and it's safe to say that they haven't held back. Confused at the right-back-turned-pundit’s thought process, one wrote:
“Lee Dixon saying he was so impressed with Elliott Anderson running the show in midfield for Newcastle against Leeds last weekend. You won't get a better example of commentators being full of s*** than that.”
elliot anderson
“Taxi for Dixon. Apparently, Anderson ran the midfield for Newcastle at Leeds last weekend,” another fan said as a third added: “Lee Dixon saying Elliot Anderson absolutely ran the show for Newcastle United against Leeds United a week ago. Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, that is.”
In jest, another claimed that somebody should inform Dixon of Anderson’s £35 million-worth transfer in the summer of 2024. They wrote: “Will somebody please tell Lee Dixon that Elliot Anderson left Newcastle last year?”
“I'm pretty sure I've just heard Lee Dixon claim, on co-comms, that he watched Elliot Anderson play for Newcastle United against Leeds last week and 'ran the midfield'. He didn't play in that game, Lee. Because he doesn't play for Newcastle anymore and hasn't since 2023/24,” a final England fan concluded.