The BEST episodes directed by Paul Bigwood
#1 - MOTD - December 26th, 2011
Match of the Day - Season 2011 - Episode 18
Gary Lineker is joined by guests Alan Shearer and Mark Lawrenson for highlights and analysis of the eight Boxing Day fixtures in the Premier League. Recent history shows that the Christmas table toppers have gone on to win the league in five of the last seven seasons, and both of the Manchester clubs and Chelsea have the chance to press their title claims here. Manchester City visit West Brom at The Hawthorns, where they had suffered three consecutive defeats until Mario Balotelli's decisive double last season. Defending champions Manchester United host Wigan in a fixture they have never failed to win, while Chelsea attempt to protect a 32-year unbeaten home record against near neighbours Fulham. Other matches include home games for Arsenal and Liverpool against struggling sides Wolves and Blackburn respectively, while surprise package Newcastle are at Bolton.
#2 - MOTD - December 21st, 2011
Match of the Day - Season 2011 - Episode 17
Manchester United face Fulham at Craven Cottage, where the Red Devils have failed to win in their last three games, losing twice. Arsenal travel to Aston Villa, Wigan meet Liverpool, and Everton host Swansea at Goodison Park. Newcastle are at home to West Brom, while there is also action from yesterday's two matches which saw Wolves host Norwich and Blackburn face Bolton.
#3 - MOTD - December 31st, 2011
Match of the Day - Season 2011 - Episode 19
Gary Lineker is joined by guests Alan Shearer and Mark Lawrenson for highlights and analysis of seven fixtures in the Premier League on New Year's Eve. Champions Manchester United welcome Blackburn to Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson will be expecting three points against a Blackburn side who have found the going tough this season. Also, Aston Villa travel to play Chelsea. 24 goals have been scored in Villa's last four visits to play the Blues, with one of those a 7-1 drubbing. Elsewhere, Bolton play Wolves, Norwich host Fulham, Tottenham travel to Swansea and Stoke face Wigan.
#4 - MOTD - January 14th, 2012
Match of the Day - Season 2011 - Episode 22
Gary Lineker presents highlights from the day's Premier League games. Bolton faced a daunting trip to Old Trafford, where they had not beaten Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United since September 2002. Chelsea hosted Martin O'Neill's Sunderland, looking to avenge last season's shock 3-0 defeat by the Black Cats at Stamford Bridge. Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool welcomed Stoke, who beat them 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium in September, while Spurs faced Wolves at White Hart Lane. Elsewhere, West Brom faced a home clash with Norwich, Everton travelled to Aston Villa and Blackburn took on Fulham at Ewood Park.
#5 - MOTD - January 21st, 2012
Match of the Day - Season 2011 - Episode 23
Gary Lineker introduces highlights of today's eight Premier League games, including the match between Norwich and Chelsea at Carrow Road. The Canaries have impressed in the top flight since winning promotion from the Championship last season, but they lost 3-1 to the Blues when the sides met at Stamford Bridge in August. Relegation-threatened Bolton host Liverpool at the Reebok Stadium, with the Trotters looking to avoid an 11th successive defeat against the Reds. There is a Midlands derby at Molineux, where Wolves play Aston Villa, while Everton meet Blackburn and Stoke entertain West Brom. Elsewhere, Sunderland take on Swansea, QPR face Wigan and Fulham host Newcastle.
#6 - MOTD - February 4th, 2012
Match of the Day - Season 2011 - Episode 25
Gary Lineker is joined by Alan Shearer and Mark Lawrenson for highlights of seven matches from the Premier League. Manchester City are aiming to win the title for the first time since the 1967-68 season but face a difficult match at home against Fulham, who have proven to be a bogey side in recent seasons. The Cottagers have not lost in the league at the Etihad Stadium since 2006 and also fought back from 2-0 down to earn a point against City at Craven Cottage earlier this season. There are a host of important matches at the other end of the table as the battle to avoid relegation intensifies. Queens Park Rangers host Wolves at Loftus Road while West Bromwich Albion play Swansea, and Bolton travel to Norwich.
#7 - MOTD - March 17th, 2012
Match of the Day - Season 2011 - Episode 30
Gary Lineker presents goals, highlights and reaction from the Premier League. Swansea have impressed since coming up from the Championship, and now the Welsh side travel down the M4 to face Fulham at Craven Cottage. Meanwhile, Wigan are in search of much-needed points in their fight to avoid relegation as they play host to West Brom at the DW Stadium.
#8 - MOTD - March 24th, 2012
Match of the Day - Season 2011 - Episode 32
Gary Lineker presents highlights from the Premier League, with analysis from Alan Shearer and Lee Dixon. Manchester City head to Stoke, searching for their first away win in the Potteries since Tony Pulis's side returned to the top flight in 2008. Bolton entertain fellow strugglers Blackburn at the Reebok Stadium in a vital relegation battle. The Trotters have beaten Rovers only once in ten home encounters since Blackburn returned to the top flight in 2001. That victory came in their last home encounter against Rovers in December 2010. Tottenham travel to Stamford Bridge, seeking a first Premier League win at Chelsea in twenty attempts. Spurs have made 22 unsuccessful league trips across London since Gary Lineker himself was among the scorers in a 2-1 win in February 1990.
#9 - MOTD - March 31st, 2012
Match of the Day - Season 2011 - Episode 33
Gary Lineker introduces the best of the action and reaction from the Premier League, with studio guests Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer providing expert analysis. Title challengers Manchester City face a Sunderland side that beat them on New Year's Day courtesy of Ji Dong-won's stoppage-time winner. However, City boast a formidable record at the Etihad Stadium and have won all seven previous Premier League meetings with Sunderland at home. At the other end of the table, relegation-threatened Wolves and Bolton met at Molineux, while fellow strugglers Wigan hosted Stoke. And in fixtures affecting issues near the top and bottom, QPR faced Arsenal and Aston Villa played Chelsea.
#10 - November 20th, 2011
Match of the Day 2 - Season 2011 - Episode 12
Colin Murray introduces highlights and reaction from the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool, as well as a round-up of Saturday's action. The hosts, led by young Portuguese coach Andre Villas-Boas, see qualification for the Champions League as the very minimum of their league ambitions for this season. Achieving that feat would satisfy the thirst of Liverpool's loyal army of followers, who can only see a bright future under Kenny Dalglish. This match at Stamford Bridge should give an indication of how both might fare come May.
#11 - November 27th, 2011
Match of the Day 2 - Season 2011 - Episode 13
#12 - December 4th, 2011
Match of the Day 2 - Season 2011 - Episode 14
Everton host Stoke looking to preserve a seven-match unbeaten home record against the Potters, a run of results that stretches back 30 years. Stoke travel to Goodison Park looking to improve on their away form which has been poor so far this season. At Molineux, Wolves hope to extend their winning run against Sunderland to three league games and gain more precious points in their bid to keep out of danger in the bottom half of the table. Steve Bruce's Black Cats meanwhile have been inconsistent so far this season and have struggled away from home, registering just one win on their travels.
#13 - January 1st, 2012
Match of the Day 2 - Season 2011 - Episode 17
Colin Murray is joined by Dion Dublin and John Hartson for highlights and analysis of the first Premier League fixtures of 2012. There will also be a chance to catch up with all the goals and highlights from Saturday's games. West Brom and Everton have the honour of playing the opening match of the New Year with an early kick-off at the Hawthorns. Both sides have not started this campaign in particularly good form, but they will be looking to make confident strides in the second half of the season. In the day's other kick-off, Sunderland welcome Manchester City to the Stadium of Light. Sunderland have a poor home record this season and City have lost just once at the Stadium of Light in their last six visits.
#14 - January 22nd, 2012
Match of the Day 2 - Season 2011 - Episode 19
Colin Murray presents highlights of the day's two huge Premier League games between Manchester City and Tottenham and Arsenal versus Manchester United. Both London clubs will be looking for revenge after suffering early-season thrashings in these fixtures a few months ago while the two Manchester sides will be looking for maximum points to maintain their title challenges. As ever, there will also be a comprehensive round-up of the weekend's action - and in the studio Colin will be joined by analysts Lee Dixon and Alan Hansen.