Gary Lineker & Alan Shearer disgusted with Micah Richards’ Match of the Day absence excuse – with pair joking that they have already found an upgrade

The former England internationals spend plenty of time together, as they keep audiences entertained with their Rest Is Football podcast. They are also regulars on the Premier League highlights show that is hosted by ex-Three Lions striker Lineker.

He was in the chair again for the first round of fixtures in 2024-25, with Shearer by his side, but there was no sign of Richards, with another former Manchester City star, Joe Hart, filling in. Richards, who is also a pundit for Sky Sports, has claimed that he cannot work two days in a row – but he was spotted filming a penalty shootout for ‘A League of Their Own’ during Everton’s clash with Brighton.

That led Lineker to say on The Rest Is Football: “Alan, we were together all day yesterday (Saturday). Hang on a minute though Micah, you were telling us you can't work two days running…" Shearer interjected by saying: "Yeah what about that sh*t?! We saw you working!”

Richards defended himself when saying: “No, no, no. For those of you that don't know, Match of the Day runs from 12.30 noon to 12 at night, I can't do a Match of the Day and do Super Sunday for another eight hours the next day. It's one week BBC and one week Sky.”

Lineker jokingly quipped back with: “It's not going down a mine though is it?," before Shearer added: “You just took the words out of my mouth. F*cking hell. Honestly, the working man will be looking at you in disgust at your attitude.”

Lineker and Shearer continued to poke fun at Richards when claiming that one-time England international goalkeeper Hart offers greater insight to Match of the Day viewers, with Shearer saying: “Gaz, how good was it to have someone on the Match of the Day set who was good at their analysis? Joe Hart was very good wasn't he?” Lineker replied with: “Having watched your goalkeeping performance at half-time, Joe Hart probably edges it there as well!”

Richards was in the Sky Sports studio on Sunday for their coverage of Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic among the goals as the reigning champions got the defence of their Premier League crown off to the best possible start.