Match of the Day - Season 41

First aired: 8/8/2004 81 episodes

Match of the Day returns to the BBC for the new season, as part of a new football package on the BBC.

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Episodes

1. 8th August 2004: Community Shield: Arsenal v Manchester United

Aired: 8/8/2004

Highlights of this afternoon's game between Premiership champions Arsenal and FA Cup winners Manchester United at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. This traditional curtain-raiser to the new season mirrors last year's encounter, when then-champions United beat the FA Cup winners on penalties.

2. Match of the Day at 40

Aired: 8/8/2004

David Beckham and Michael Owen are among the stars reflecting on four decades of football's flagship show. Classic clips and cherished memories illustrate how the programme became a national treasure and why it's a favourite of comedians. Other contributors include Bobby Robson, George Best, Brian Clough, Noel Gallagher of Oasis, Ian Wright, Delia Smith, Des Lynam and Jimmy Hill.

3. 14th August 2004

Aired: 8/14/2004

Celebrating its 40th year, Match of the Day returns live to Saturday night with extended highlights and analysis of the Premiership on the opening day of the season. Featured games include Tottenham v Liverpool, Middlesbrough v Newcastle and Norwich v Crystal Palace.

4. 18th August 2004: International Friendly

Aired: 8/18/2004

Coverage from St James' Park as England warm-up for their 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign with a friendly against Ukraine.

5. 21st August 2004

Aired: 8/21/2004

An emotional day loomed as Kevin Keegan returned to the ground where he was idolised as a player. Will Man City's manager see his team triumph at Liverpool? Gary Lineker has highlights of this and the day's six other Premiership games.

6. 25th August 2004

Aired: 8/25/2004

Highlights of this evening's Premiership matches, including Blackburn's trip to Arsenal, new boys Norwich at Newcastle, and Aston Villa's clash with Charlton. Plus, Middlesbrough and Fulham get the chance to compare their new forward line-ups at Craven Cottage.

7. 28th August 2004

Aired: 8/28/2004

Will Manchester United's lunchtime match against Blackburn have re-ignited the flame of their mid-90s Premiership rivalry? Gary Lineker has news of this, plus coverage of defending champions Arsenal's trip to Carrow Road to play newly promoted Norwich and action from Stamford Bridge where Chelsea hosted Paul Sturrock 's Southampton. There's also the result of Crystal Palace's encounter with Middlesbrough's new strike force of Mark Viduka and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

8. 4th September 2004: World Cup Qualifier

Aired: 9/4/2004

Northern Ireland v Poland. Coverage of this Group Six World Cup qualifying match from Belfast's Windsor Park. Since Lawrie Sanchez took over as manager in January, Northern Ireland have made a marked improvement in form, remaining unbeaten over the last six games. Can they build upon last month's encouraging result against Switzerland?

9. 11th September 2004

Aired: 9/11/2004

Highlights and goals from all eight Premiership matches played today, including Fulham v Arsenal.

10. 18th September 2004

Aired: 9/18/2004

Highlights and goals from all six Premiership matches played today, including Arsenal v Bolton.

11. 25th September 2004

Aired: 9/25/2004

Premiership highlights from today's games, including Tottenham v Manchester Utd.

12. 2nd October 2004

Aired: 10/2/2004

Highlights of today's six Premiership matches, including Arsenal's London derby against Charlton, Everton's clash with the Spurs side they defeated at Easter for the first time in seven years and Manchester City's visit to Southampton. Plus Norwich v Portsmouth, Blackburn v Aston Villa and West Brom v Bolton.

13. 9th October 2004: World Cup Qualifier: England v Wales

Aired: 10/9/2004

Coverage from Old Trafford of the World Cup qualifier between the two home nations. A win would put England in a strong position in Group Six, but Wales can't afford another slip-up following draws with Azerbaijan and Northern Ireland. In his penultimate game in charge, can Mark Hughes lead Wales to a repeat of the victory he secured as a player when the teams last met in 1984?

14. 9th October 2004: World Cup Qualifier: France v Republic of Ireland

Aired: 10/9/2004

Brian Kerr's men travel to Paris for this Group Four World Cup qualifier with legitimate hopes of causing an upset against the formerly formidable French.

15. 16th October 2004

Aired: 10/16/2004

Action from all eight of today's Premiership clashes, which included pace-setters Arsenal's tie against Aston Villa, plus Manchester City v Chelsea, Birmingham v Manchester United and Fulham v Liverpool.

16. 23rd October 2004

Aired: 10/23/2004

Gary Lineker has highlights from today's six Premiership matches where, at the top end of the table, high-flying Chelsea host Blackburn while Liverpool take on Charlton Athletic.

17. 30th October 2004

Aired: 10/30/2004

Highlights from the the Premiership and action from the first round of the FA Cup.

18. 6th November 2004

Aired: 11/6/2004

Highlights from the the Premiership, including Arsenal v Crystal Palace.

19. 13th November 2004

Aired: 11/13/2004

Two London derbies - Tottenham v Arsenal, and Fulham v Chelsea - feature in highlights of today's Premiership programme. Plus FA Cup first-round action.

20. 14th November 2004: FA Cup First Round

Aired: 11/14/2004

Thurrock v Oldham Athletic. Coverage from Ship Lane of this first-round tie - a chance for non-league Thurrock to achieve "giant-killer" status as they take on League One side Oldham Athletic.

21. 17th November 2004: International Friendly

Aired: 11/17/2004

Spain v England. After a flurry of World Cup qualification fixtures, Sven-Goran Eriksson 's men travel to Madrid for a friendly international at Real's 75,000-capacity Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

22. 20th November 2004

Aired: 11/20/2004

Action involving the Premiership's big three, with Man United at home to Charlton, Arsenal facing West Brom under new boss Bryan Robson, and Chelsea hosting Bolton.

23. 27th November 2004

Aired: 11/27/2004

WBA boss Bryan Robson welcomes his old club Man United to the Hawthorns. Plus action from the day's other Premiership matches.

24. 4th December 2004

Aired: 12/4/2004

An extended edition in which action from all eight of today's Premiership clashes - including Chelsea v Newcastle United and Arsenal v Birmingham City - is augmented by the pick of the FA Cup second round.

25. 5th December 2004: FA Cup Second Round

Aired: 12/5/2004

Hinckley United v Brentford. Coverage of Conference North minnows Hinckley United playing a League One side in the FA Cup for a potential chance to play a big gun in the third round - the draw for which follows.

26. 11th December 2004

Aired: 12/11/2004

Action from all seven of today's Premiership ties, including high-flying Merseysiders Everton's clash with local rivals Liverpool at Goodison Park and Crystal Palace v Blackburn at Selhurst Park.

27. 18th December 2004

Aired: 12/18/2004

Manchester United take on Crystal Palace, while Middlesbrough's Gareth Southgate, Ugo Ehiogu and George Boateng face former club Aston Villa.

28. 26th December 2004

Aired: 12/26/2004

Highlights of the London derby between Arsenal and Fulham, plus Chelsea at home to Aston Villa, Manchester United v Bolton and Newcastle away to Blackburn.

29. 28th December 2004

Aired: 12/28/2004

Highlights from all nine of today's Premiership matches. Southampton face a silverware-hungry Liverpool side, Portsmouth host title contenders Chelsea, Manchester United travel to play Aston Villa and Tottenham meet London rivals Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane.

30. 1st January 2005

Aired: 1/1/2005

All 20 Premiership clubs were in action today. Among the potential highlights are Chelsea's trip to Liverpool, Arsenal's London derby at Charlton, and Manchester United's visit to Middlesbrough.

31. 4th January 2005

Aired: 1/4/2005

Including highlights of Arsenal v Manchester City, Manchester United v Spurs and Chelsea's clash with Middlesbrough. Plus the pick of yesterday's action.

32. 8th January 2005: FA Cup Third Round: Sheffield United v Aston Villa

Aired: 1/8/2005

Coverage of this intriguing FA Cup third-round tie from Bramall Lane.

33. 8th January 2005: FA Cup Third Round: Plymouth Argyle v Everton

Aired: 1/8/2005

Gary Lineker introduces FA Cup third-round action from Home Park.

34. 8th January 2005: FA Cup Third Round

Aired: 1/8/2005

Highlights of today's FA Cup third-round tussles, including Jose Mourinho 's Premiership pace-setters Chelsea v Scunthorpe United, currently at the top of League Two, and 11-times winners Manchester Utd v Exeter City from the Conference.

35. 9th January 2005: FA Cup Third Round: Yeading v Newcastle United

Aired: 1/9/2005

From OPR's Loftus Road stadium in west London, the last of this weekend's FA Cup third-round ties. "The Ding" will need to muster a Herculean effort to pull off an upset - when the draw was made last December, 125 league places separated the non-league side from the Premiership giants. Johnson Hippolyte's third-round debutants will take heart, however, from the Magpies' travails in 1998, when Conference outfit Stevenage took Shearer and co to a fourth-round replay.

36. 15th January 2005

Aired: 1/15/2005

Highlights of today's Premiership games, including Liverpool's bid to avenge September's defeat at Old Trafford, and Chelsea's attempt to continue their 15-year unbeaten run against Tottenham.

37. 19th January 2005: FA Cup Third Round Replay

Aired: 1/19/2005

Coverage of one of tonight's replays to decide who makes it through to the fourth round - even if it means the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

38. 22nd January 2005

Aired: 1/22/2005

Premiership highlights, including Manchester United v Aston Villa - in which David O'Leary 's men look for their first win at Old Trafford since 1983 - plus Chelsea v Portsmouth and Harry Redknapp 's struggling Southampton v Liverpool.

39. 29th January 2005: FA Cup Fourth Round: Southampton v Portsmouth

Aired: 1/29/2005

A clash from St Mary's in which new Saints manager Harry Redknapp prepares for some stick as he faces his old club Pompey in the FA Cup fourth round.

40. 29th January 2005: FA Cup Fourth Round: Manchester United v Middlesbrough

Aired: 1/29/2005

After seeing off Exeter City at the second attempt, Alex Ferguson 's men continue their defence of the FA Cup with an all-Premiership fourth-round tie at Old Trafford against Middlesbrough.

41. 29th January 2005: FA Cup Fourth Round

Aired: 1/29/2005

Action from, and reaction to, today's fourth-round FA Cup ties, which included West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham, Arsenal v Wolves, Southampton's south coast derby with Portsmouth and holders Manchester United v Middlesbrough.

42. 30th January 2005: FA Cup Fourth Round: Oldham Athletic v Bolton Wanderers

Aired: 1/30/2005

A tasty fourth-round tie in which the League One outfit set out to claim their second Premiership scalp in this season's FA Cup at Boundary Park.

43. 2nd February 2005

Aired: 2/2/2005

Highlights of all ten of this week's Premiership games, including the eagerly anticipated and potentially explosive clash between Arsenal and Manchester United at Highbury.

44. 5th February 2005

Aired: 2/5/2005

Highlights of today's Premiership action, including Liverpool v Fulham and Arsenal's trip to Aston Villa. Plus Birmingham head up the M6 to face Manchester United at Old Trafford, while struggling Norwich host West Brom at Carrow Road.

45. 9th February 2005: International Friendly

Aired: 2/9/2005

England v Netherlands from Villa Park. A friendly international that may provide England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson with some vital pointers in advance of March's resumption of the World Cup qualifiers.

46. 12th February 2005: FA Cup Fourth Round Replay

Aired: 2/12/2005

Tottenham Hotspur v West Bromwich Albion. Coverage from White Hart Lane of the all-Premiership FA Cup fourth-round replay. With a home tie against Championship side Nottingham Forest the prize, both teams will be desperate for victory.

47. 12th February 2005

Aired: 2/12/2005

Did Everton improve their chances of a Champions League place when they welcomed Premiership leaders Chelsea to Goodison Park? And were there changes at the bottom of the table after relegation-threatened sides Blackburn and Norwich clashed at Ewood Park?

48. 19th February 2005: FA Cup Fifth Round: Arsenal v Sheffield United

Aired: 2/19/2005

After suffering a bitter Premiership defeat against Manchester Utd, which effectively ended the Gunners' title hopes, Arsene Wenger's men will at least be confident of booking themselves a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals as they face the third game in a row against Championship opposition.

49. 19th February 2005: FA Cup Fifth Round: Everton v Manchester United

Aired: 2/19/2005

Two North West rivals with a renowned FA Cup pedigree vie for supremacy in this eagerly awaited all-Premiership fifth-round tie. The last two FA Cup meetings between these two sides have been finals, with Manchester Utd winning in 1985 and Everton lifting the trophy a decade on. Fans' emotions will be running particularly high tonight - former Toffees wunderkind Wayne Rooney is set to return to Goodison Park for the first time since joining Alex Ferguson 's side last summer. Who will make it through to Monday's quarter-final draw?

50. 19th February 2005: FA Cup Fifth Round

Aired: 2/19/2005

Highlights of today's six FA Cup fifth-round ties, including Everton v Manchester United and Arsenal's third successive clash with a Championship side.

51. 20th February 2005: FA Cup Fifth Round: Burnley v Blackburn Rovers

Aired: 2/20/2005

Coverage from Turf Moor of this FA Cup fifth-round tie - a Lancashire derby that sees Championship outfit Burnley take on Premiership side Blackburn. It's 45 years since the local rivals met in the FA Cup. A replay victory for Blackburn en route to their most recent final appearance. But it's current form that counts, and Mark Hughes' Blackburn won't relish a trip to the side that knocked out Liverpool in the third round.

52. 26th February 2005

Aired: 2/26/2005

Premiership highlights include Southampton v Arsenal, Manchester United v Portsmouth and Aston Villa v Everton.

53. 5th March 2005

Aired: 3/5/2005

Premiership highlights include Arsenal v Portsmouth and Chelsea v Norwich.

54. 12th March 2005: FA Cup Sixth Round: Bolton Wanderers v Arsenal

Aired: 3/12/2005

The first of three all-Premiership FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend is a potential thriller which pits Sam Allardyce's high-flying Trotters against the Premiership champions. Can the mercurial Londoners reach their fifth consecutive semi-final?

55. 12th March 2005: FA Cup Sixth Round: Southampton v Manchester United

Aired: 3/12/2005

Two sides who are installed at opposite ends of the Premiership and are desperately seeking silverware, clash at St Mary's for a coveted place in the FA Cup semi-finals.

56. 13th March 2005: FA Cup Sixth Round: Blackburn Rovers v Leicester City

Aired: 3/13/2005

The last non-Premiership team remaining in the FA Cup travel to Ewood Park for this quarter-final match. The difference in their league status notwithstanding, Mark Hughes' side would do well to remember the Foxes claimed the estimable scalp of Charlton Athletic in the fifth round.

57. 19th March 2005

Aired: 3/19/2005

Highlights of today's Premiership matches, including Chelsea v Crystal Palace and Portsmouth's encounter with Newcastle.

58. 26th March 2005: World Cup Qualifier

Aired: 3/26/2005

England v Northern Ireland. Sven-Goran Eriksson's men launch into a home double header of World Cup qualifiers which could help propel them towards Germany in 2006. Their first opponents in today's Group Six tie at Old Trafford are a resurgent Northern Ireland side unbeaten in six games.

59. 30th March 2005: World Cup Qualifier

Aired: 3/30/2005

England v Azerbaijan. At Newcastle United's home of St James' Park, England play their second home World Cup qualifier of the week as they take on this largely unknown Group Six quantity from the southern Caucasus.

60. 2nd April 2005

Aired: 4/2/2005

Champions-elect Chelsea travel to lowly Southampton, Bolton Wanderers look to complete the double against Liverpool at Anfield, and Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes faces his old club Manchester United at Old Trafford.

61. 9th April 2005

Aired: 4/9/2005

It's a battle of the blues as Chelsea host Birmingham, Arsenal travel to Middlesbrough, and Manchester United visit a Norwich team desperate for points. Ray Stubbs presents highlights, plus all the goals from the rest of today's Premiership programme.

62. 16th April 2005: FA Cup Semi-Final

Aired: 4/16/2005

Highlights from Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers, the first of this weekend's FA Cup semi-finals. Plus a Premiership round-up.

63. 17th April 2005: FA Cup Semi-Final: Manchester United v Newcastle United

Aired: 4/17/2005

An all-Premiership FA Cup semi-final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium that sees the Magpies, who haven't lifted the trophy for 50 years, out to end three previous defeats in the competition by the Red Devils, winners on a record 11 occasions.

64. 20th April 2005

Aired: 4/20/2005

All the goals and key moments from tonight's eight Premiership matches, including Chelsea v Arsenal and Everton v Manchester United.

65. 23rd April 2005

Aired: 4/23/2005

Premiership highlights as Chelsea take on south-west London rivals Fulham, Crystal Palace host Liverpool and Everton clash with Birmingham.

66. 30th April 2005

Aired: 4/30/2005

Premiership action from seven encounters includes Bolton v Chelsea, Liverpool v Middlesbrough and Southampton v Norwich.

67. 2nd May 2005: Women's FA Cup Final: Charlton Athletic v Everton

Aired: 5/2/2005

Will it be a case of "third time lucky" for the Addicks, runners-up for the past two seasons? They're in with a good chance - Everton last lifted the trophy in 1989.

68. 7th May 2005

Aired: 5/7/2005

It's the penultimate weekend of the Premiership season, but there could still be a lot to play for. Among the relegation-threatened sides in action today were Bryan Robson 's West Brom - who aimed for a major upset at his old club Manchester Utd - Norwich, who faced Birmingham, and Crystal Palace and Southampton, who played a potential "six-pointer".

69. 15th May 2005

Aired: 5/15/2005

On the final day of the Premiership season, Gary Lineker presents highlights of all today's matches. There are big games at the top end of the table as new champions Chelsea visit Newcastle seeking revenge for their FA Cup defeat, while Everton look to finish with a flourish and an away win at Bolton. Manchester United travel south to take on lowly Southampton, fellow strugglers Norwich go to Fulham, West Brom face Portsmouth and Crystal Palace play Charlton.

70. 21st May 2005: FA Cup Final: Manchester United v Arsenal

Aired: 5/21/2005

Cardiff's Millennium Stadium bids farewell to English football's showpiece occasion as holders Manchester United clash with Arsenal in the 124th FA Cup final. The last time the teams met in the final was back in 1979, when Alan Sunderland 's last-minute winner ensured the Gunners won 3-2 at Wembley.

71. 28th May 2005: International Friendly

Aired: 5/28/2005

Highlights of the friendly between the USA and England from Chicago's Soldier Field Stadium. The States have twice upset the odds against England, winning 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup and 2-0 against a poor side in a 1993 friendly.

72. 31st May 2005: International Friendly

Aired: 5/31/2005

Colombia v England. The Giants Stadium in New Jersey is the venue as England play the second and final friendly of their American tour. Sven-Goran Eriksson 's men have never lost against Colombia and were 2-0 winners when they last met at the 1998 World Cup. But the South American team's attacking flair has upset the world's best teams in recent years, and England can expect a big test ahead of next year's World Cup finals in Germany, with a squad that's missing several first-choice players.

73. 5th June 2005: Women's Euro 2005: England v Finland

Aired: 6/5/2005

Coverage from the City of Manchester Stadium, where the host nation are favourites to win their first Group A match. Including highlights of the curtain-raiser between the 2001 runners-up Sweden and Denmark.

74. 6th June 2005: Women's Euro 2005

Aired: 6/6/2005

Highlights of the two opening Group B matches. Defending champions Germany, who won all eight qualifying ties, could face a test against Norway, the only country to win European, world and Olympic titles. And how will France fare against Italy, who've shown steady improvement since losing to England 4-1 in February?

75. 8th June 2005: Women's Euro 2005: Denmark v England

Aired: 6/8/2005

Coverage from Ewood Park, home of Blackburn Rovers, as the host nation take on tough opposition in their second Group A match of the women's European championship.

76. 9th June 2005: Women's Euro 2005

Aired: 6/9/2005

Action from the European championship's fifth day. In Group B, reigning champions Germany faced Italy in Preston, while France clashed with Norway in Warrington.

77. 11th June 2005: Women's Euro 2005: England v Sweden

Aired: 6/11/2005

Coverage from Ewood Park, Blackburn, where the host nation play their final Group A game in the qualifying stages. Finland's clash against Denmark kicks off at the same time at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool.

78. 13th June 2005: Women's Euro 2005

Aired: 6/13/2005

Highlights from Group B as defending champs Germany meet the French, while former winners Norway face Italy.

79. 15th June 2005: Women's Euro 2005 Semi-Final

Aired: 6/15/2005

Germany v Finland at Deepdale, Preston.

80. 16th June 2005: Women's Euro 2005 Semi-Final

Aired: 6/16/2005

Sweden v Norway at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium.

81. 19th June 2005: Women's Euro 2005 Final: Germany v Norway

Aired: 6/19/2005

The two teams that have battled through the group stages and semi-final showdowns meet at Ewood Park.