Alan Shearer and Micah Richards on Match of the Day
Alan Shearer and Micah Richards on Match of the Day
Alan Shearer never hides his allegiance to Newcastle United in his TV work - and why should he?
The club's record goalscorer and one-time world's most expensive transfer signing is black-and-white through and through and makes no bones about it.
That doesn't stop him from criticising a performance on Match of the Day when he feels it's merited, but with a statue of 'Big Al' at St James' Park, there's no doubt where his loyalties lie.
However, he was left in stitches by fellow MotD analyst Micah Richards on Sunday night's show following the final day of the Premier League season.
United were celebrating their return to the Champions League despite losing 1-0 to Everton, and host Gary Lineker - in his final appearance for the BBC - raised Sunderland's promotion back to the top flight.
The Black Cats are returning to the Premier League after eight years following their Championship play-off final win over Sheffield United in Saturday.
Lineker didn't get a bit from Shearer when mentioning Sunderland's return, but Richards soon had them all laughing, referencing Shearer's backstage comments.
Lineker: "As for Newcastle Alan, not the result you would have wanted, and perhaps it was fitting in some ways in the weekend Sunderland won the play-offs and got back into the Premier League - so well done Sunderland, congratulations to them. I'm sure you want to congratulate them."
Shearer: "I'm pleased they're back up."
Richards: "Are you?"
Shearer: "Yeah, absolutely."
Richards: "That's not what you said in the green room."
Shearer: "Well played."
Lineker: "What's said in the green room stays in the green room!"
Richards: "I didn't tell you what he said."
Shearer; "They're great games to play in."
It was all good-natured fun, of course, but both Newcastle and Sunderland will be eagerly looking for each other's names when the Premier League fixtures for the 2025-26 season are revealed at 9am on Wednesday, June 18.
Newcastle will also play at least eight Champions League group stage games next term, with four at St James' Park, following their fifth-placed finish.