The secret conversations of the Premier League: Lip reader lifts the lid on what’s being said on the pitch – including Arsenal star’s four-letter tirade… plus one fan’s VERY sweary rant at Rasmus Hojlund
In another thrilling weekend of action in the Premier League, the pain and ecstasy of the world’s premier football competition was on full display.
Excitement has been the key to the game so far and the 2023-2024 season is on course to set a new record for total goals scored in Premier League history.
Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool all recorded wins to boost their title ambitions, with all three showing no signs of slowing their charge for top spot as we approach the final third of the season.
Meanwhile, the battle for the chasing pack continues, with Manchester United securing a crucial three points in the race for Champions League football as they left it too late to beat Aston Villa.
Elsewhere in the table, the battle for points is just as fierce, with Sheffield United beating Luton to keep alive a glimmer of hope that they can make the unlikeliest attempt to boost security in the Premier League.
To gain a deeper insight into the emotions involved in top-level football Mailsport have brought in forensic lip reader Jeremy Freeman to give his analysis of what was said in some of the most animated incidents of the weekend.
Mail Sport brought in an expert lip reader to shed light on some of the weekend’s most controversial incidents
Forest’s heated penalty protest
After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Nottingham Forest once again find themselves dead at the wrong end of the table.
Steve Cooper’s dismissal in December was followed by back-to-back victories for Nuno Espirito Santo, but the new manager’s recovery could yet be undone by a possible points penalty for breaching the league’s financial rules.
The Tricky Trees are now back to their old habits on the pitch and were winless in three games ahead of Newcastle’s visit to the City Ground.
Bruno Guimaraes gave the visitors a perfect start, but Forest twice fought back to head in the interval level.
In the second half, Taiwo Awoniyi was brought down by Martin Dubravka, with former referee Mark Clattenburg telling Mail Sport it was ‘impossible’ for the striker to stay on his feet.
Nottingham Forest felt they deserved a penalty when Taiwo Awoniyi was brought down by Martin Dubravka
The club’s bench lit up in frustration as they called for the referees to point to the spot
Rui Pedro Silva later protested his innocence after being shown a yellow card
However, referee Anthony Taylor failed to point to the spot, leading to angry protests on the Forest bench captured during the broadcast and which only worsened after the referee warned Santo’s assistant, Rui Pedro Silva.
In his analysis of the clip, Freeman noted the No. 2 saying, βHey? Hi? (indecipherable) That’s nothing. I was sitting on the couch, I was sitting on the couch, man, of course, sitting on the fucking couch.β
Things would go from bad to worse for the hosts in short order, with Guimaraes re-emerging to fire Newcastle to victory and secure the three points.
Alvarez and Gabriel clash
After victory over Liverpool kept their title ambitions alive, Arsenal traveled to the London Stadium on Sunday intent on reaffirming their status as genuine contenders.
Mikel Arteta’s side wasted little time getting started at the London Stadium.
With the game still tied in the early stages, Alphonse Areola attempted to spark a counter for the Hammers by launching a throw towards Edson Alvarez on the left flank.
However, the summer signing’s first touch flattered to deceive and he was forced into a rash challenge to deny Bukayo Saka’s onrushing possession.
Edson Alvarez made a rash challenge on Bukayo Saka in the early stages of West Ham’s defeat to Arsenal
The Mexico international appeared to insist that Saka was not injured in the tackle
Alvarez then became involved in a heated back-and-forth with Arsenal defender Gabriel
As the England international writhed on the left of the pitch, Alvarez was shown a yellow card and according to Freeman, he did not expect his warning.
‘No, no, no, no, he didn’t hurt…(referee then waves yellow)…what?’
Gabriel then got involved by joining Alvarez as the pair exchanged heated words.
βF*** off, you dirty ****,β Freeman believes Gabriel said to the West Ham defender β with the second expletive matching the lip patterns and context of the situation.
Alvarez replies, “F*** off Magalhaes (Gabriel’s last name), how can you…” before the camera cuts away.
The Brazilian ultimately had the last laugh, joining Saka on the scoresheet in a 6-0 draw as they handed the Hammers their joint-heaviest home defeat in Premier League history.
Moyes vents as his side sinks
For as exuberant as the afternoon was for the Gunners on Sunday, it was just as devastating for David Moyes.
The Scot’s second spell in charge at the east London club has been punctuated by moments of triumph, followed by waning despair, and unfortunately for Moyes, recent results fall squarely into the latter category.
Such was the disappointment of the defeat that contract extension talks for the manager have been put on hold with the club winless in their last seven games in all competitions.
David Moyes expressed his frustration after his side’s unfortunate performance
The Hammers boss has seen contract extension talks with the club paused due to their dismal form
Freeman’s analysis of the former Everton boss’s words captures the frustration of a manager seeing his team completely blown out of the water.
In the 84th minute, the cameras cut to an exasperated Moyes, who can be seen muttering to himself after Jakub Kiwior is penalized for a foul on Mohammed Kudus: ‘For fuck’s sake, it’s about time, how many times. (indecipherable}… count how many mistakes’.
Hojlund makes Villa Park an uproar
While West Ham’s momentum has stalled in recent weeks, Manchester United have been on a strong rise.
Erik ten Hag has spent much of the campaign so far trying to revive the success of his first term in Manchester and with a youthful backbone at his core, things appear to be finally taking off.
Against Aston Villa, United faced one of their main rivals for a place in the Champions League and proved they can get a result at a crucial time in the season.
Rasmus Hojlund continued his good form in front of goal with a fifth-place finish in as many games, before Douglas Luiz equalized for the hosts and probably ruffled a few feathers with an exuberant goal celebration.
Rasmus Hojlund was substituted in stoppage time as Manchester United defeated Aston Villa
Douglas Luiz exchanged angry words with the attacker as he took his time leaving the field
A Villa fan then directed an obscenity-filled tirade at Hojlund as he walked to the bench
How fitting it was then that the two came together in stoppage time after substitute Scott McTominay had put United back ahead with a header in the final minutes of normal time.
As Hojlund left the field after being replaced by Jonny Evans, the young striker infuriated the Villa Park faithful by gesturing for them to calm down and reminding them of the score.
Luiz then confronted the Dane, with Freeman noting that he said: “You s***, come on, you know, you’re pushing off, just go away,” as he tried to hasten his exit.
However, an even more fiery comment would follow, with a fan wearing a club logo hoodie directing an expletive-filled tirade at the 21-year-old and appearing to refer to him as a ‘n***e’.
βYou f**ing, f*** off, you f*** n**ce,β he could be seen shouting at the Dane.