Tyldesley blasts Ferdinand's commentary, likening him to Ali G
Football commentary icon Clive Tyldesley has lashed out at Rio Ferdinand over their handling of Liverpool's dramatic draw with Everton in the Merseyside derby.
The rescheduled match – pushed back due to Storm Darragh – ended in chaos at Goodison Park after James Tarkowski’s late equaliser meant the points were shared in what turned out to be the final-ever derby at the ground. Following the final whistle, the game saw four red cards, including one for Reds boss Arne Slot and two for players following provocations from Abdoulaye Doucoure aimed at the away fans.
Off the pitch, TNT Sports deployed a three-person commentary team featuring anchor Darren Fletcher along with summarisers Ally McCoist and Rio Ferdinand. While their commentary received mixed reactions on social media, 70-year-old Tyldesley - known for his long stint covering England matches on ITV until his replacement by Sam Matterface in 2020 - was particularly scathing.
Writing on his Substack page, Tyldesley criticized the broadcaster's approach and singled out Ferdinand for special rebuke. He compared the former Man United star to Ali G and took aim at what he sarcastically dubbed a profound three-word soundbite, arguing that such commentary fails to capture the true drama of the game.
