Gary Lineker left in awkward silence as ‘pretty awful’ joke backfires on live TV during Arsenal vs Liverpool coverage
GARY LINEKER left BBC pundits Danny Murphy and Martin Keown scratching their heads after making a “pretty awful” joke during live TV coverage of the FA Cup third round.
Match of the Day host Lineker was presenting the broadcasters coverage of Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
He was joined by pundits Martin Keown and Danny Murphy.
As expected for a cup tie between two English heavyweights, there were some famous faces in attendance in North London.
A camera panning over the Emirates crowd revealed Take That frontman Gary Barlow was among the supporters watching the game.
After spotting the pop singer, Lineker asked ex-Reds star Murphy whether Barlow, 52, was a Liverpool fan, with Murphy answering: “I think he is, yeah.”
Lineker, 63, then took this opportunity to get a dad joke in, quipping: “But don’t take that as a given, how about that one?”
The joke of course, referenced Barlow’s career with boy band Take That, though it did not seem to impress his peers despite Lineker sitting back seemingly expecting a reaction of some kind.
Ex-Arsenal star Keown appeared to be stumped while Murphy was left scratching his head.
Lineker then admitted: “Yeah it was a pretty awful one wasn’t it,” before moving on.
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The game itself would have left Barlow delighted after Jurgen Klopp‘s visitors triumphed 2-0 thanks to a late Jakub Kiwior own goal and Luis Diaz‘s thumping injury time strike.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta went on to suggest after the match that his strikers have psychological issues when it comes to scoring goals.
Asked in his post match interview whether missed chances were becoming a mental issue for his misfiring forwards, he said: “Probably it has, especially after today.
“That’s why we need to reset. Merit-wise there is no question that we deserve to win the games but the results are very different. If the team is getting hammered I’d be much more worried.
“But when my team plays with that courage and attitude against probably the best team in Europe right now in terms of momentum, what can I do but stick by them and support them?”
Arsenal have failed to score with any of the last 48 shots they have taken in their two most recent home games.
This form will only serve to heighten calls – including from Ian Wright – for club transfer chiefs to splash out on a new striker, with Brentford‘s Ivan Toney one possible target ahead of his return.
However, Arteta admitted a new forward is not a “realistic” proposition for the club this month despite losing Gabriel Jesus through a knee injury.
The win means Liverpool, who last won the trophy in 2022, have secured a spot in tonight’s FA Cup fourth round draw.
It is scheduled to get underway during the coverage of Manchester United’s trip to Wigan which starts at 7:30pm GMT – kick-off is at 8:15pm GMT.
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