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Premier League footballers may think their conversations, exchanges of bad words and insults remain within the parameters of the pitch despite being broadcast to millions of people around the world, but they had better think again.
And that’s because Mail Sport has hired forensic lip reader Jeremy Freeman to offer his analysis of what was said in some of the weekend’s most lively incidents.
Manchester United and Aston Villa clashed at Villa Park, where a fan insulted Rasmus Hojlund, while West Ham’s Ederson Álvarez and Arsenal defender Gabriel had plenty to say at the London Stadium, in just two incidents over the weekend . .
Here Mail Sport sheds light on exactly what was said.
Mail Sport recruited a lip reading expert to shed light on some of this weekend’s most controversial incidents.
The heated protest over Forest’s penalty
After narrowly escaping relegation last season, Nottingham Forest once again find themselves battling death at the wrong end of the table.
Steve Cooper’s firing in December was followed by back-to-back wins for Nuno Espirito Santo, but that rebound from the new coach could still be negated by a potential points penalty for violating the league’s financial rules.
The Tricky Trees are now returning to their old ways on the field and found themselves winless in three matches prior to Newcastle’s visit to the City Ground.
Bruno Guimaraes gave the visitors a perfect start but Forest fought back twice to reach the break.
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 with frustration when they asked the referees to point out the spot.
Rui Pedro Silva could later be seen protesting his innocence after receiving a yellow card.
However, referee Anthony Taylor did not point to the spot, prompting furious protests from the Forest bench captured on broadcast that were only exacerbated after the referee booked Santo’s assistant Rui Pedro Silva.
In his analysis of the clip, Freeman noted that number 2 said: ‘Hey? Hey? (indecipherable) That’s nothing. He was sitting on the bench, he was sitting on the bench, man, of course, sitting on the damn bench.
Things would go from bad to worse for the hosts in short order, with Guimaraes again appearing to lead Newcastle to victory and secure all three points.
Álvarez and Gabriel collide
After victory over Liverpool kept their title ambitions alive, Arsenal traveled to the London Stadium on Sunday looking to reaffirm their status as genuine contenders.
It didn’t take long for Mikel Arteta’s men to get to work at the London Stadium.
With the game still level in the early stages, Alphonse Areola attempted to start a counterattack for the Hammers by launching a shot towards Edson Alvarez on the left flank.
However, the summer signing’s first touch proved deceptive, and he was forced into a rash challenge to deny Bukayo Saka a possession.
Edson Álvarez hastily challenged Bukayo Saka in the early stages of West Ham’s loss to Arsenal
The Mexican international seemed to insist that Saka had not been injured in the tackle
Alvarez then got into a heated exchange with Arsenal defender Gabriel.
With the England international writhing on the pitch, Alvarez received a yellow card and, according to Freeman, was not expecting his booking.
‘No, no, nah, no, he wasn’t hurt… (then the referee brandishes yellow)… what?’
Gabriel then got involved by confronting Álvarez and the two exchanged heated words.
“Fuck you, you bastard,” Freeman believes Gabriel said to the West Ham defender, with the second insult matching the lip pattern and context of the situation.
Álvarez responds: ‘Fuck Magalhaes (Gabriel’s last name), how can you…?’ before the camera cuts away.
The Brazilian would eventually have the last laugh, joining Saka on the scoreboard in a 6-0 goal that handed the Hammers their biggest home defeat in Premier League history.
Moyes lets off steam as his side sinks
As jubilant as Sunday afternoon was for the Gunners, it was equally devastating for David Moyes.
The Scot’s second spell in charge of the east London club has been marked by moments of triumph followed by deep despair and, unfortunately for Moyes, recent results have fallen squarely into the latter category.
Such was the disappointment of the defeat that negotiations to extend the coach’s contract have been halted and the club is now winless in its last seven games in all competitions.
David Moyes could be seen expressing his frustration after his team’s unfortunate performance.
The Hammers boss has seen contract extension talks with the club paused amid their dismal form.
Freeman’s analysis of the former Everton boss’s words captures the frustration of a manager who sees his team completely out of the water.
In the 84th minute, cameras show an exasperated Moyes, who can be seen muttering to himself after Jakub Kiwior was penalized for a foul on Mohammed Kudus: “For God’s sake, it’s about time, how many times, it’s not the moment”. (indecipherable}….count how many fouls’.
Hojlund irritates Villa Park
While West Ham’s momentum has stalled in recent weeks, Manchester United have been on the rise.
Erik ten Hag has spent much of the campaign up to this point trying to rekindle the success of his first term in Manchester and, with a youthful backbone at his core, it looks like it is finally underway.
Against Aston Villa, United faced one of their main rivals for a Champions League place and showed they can get a result at a critical time in the campaign.
Rasmus Hojlund continued his fine form in front of goal with a fifth goal in as many games, before Douglas Luiz equalized for the hosts and likely ruffled a few feathers with an exuberant goal celebration.
Rasmus Hojlund was substituted in injury time as Manchester United defeated Aston Villa
Douglas Luiz exchanged angry words with the forward as he took his time leaving the field of play.
A Villa fan then launched into an obscenity-filled tirade at Hojlund as he headed to the bench.
How fitting then that the pair linked up in stoppage time after substitute Scott McTominay had restored United’s lead with a header in the dying minutes of normal time.
When Hojlund walked off the pitch after being replaced by Jonny Evans, the young forward infuriated the Villa Park faithful by gesturing for them to calm down and reminding them of the score.
Luiz then confronted the Dane and Freeman noted that he had said, “Damn, come on, you know, push, just go,” as he tried to speed up his departure.
However, a more ferocious comment was yet to come, with a fan wearing a club-branded hoodie directing an expletive-laden tirade at the 21-year-old and appearing to refer to him as a ‘n***e ‘.
“Damn, fuck you, damn girlfriend,” he could be seen shouting at the Dane.