Sky Sports pundits are forced to run for cover on live TV as pitch sprinkler interrupts the broadcast

The Sky Sports punditry team came under fire – from the sprinkler system at the Etihad Stadium – ahead of the Women’s Super League game between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur on Friday night.

Presenter Caroline Barker was previewing the action along with former Lionesses Izzy Christiansen and Steph Houghton from a portable pitchside desk.

Barker was asking a question about the game when she noticed that a huge stream of water was heading their way.

After abandoning her question mid-sentence, Barker told the pundits in a very matter of fact manner: ‘You’re about to get soaked and I’m going to laugh…’

Christiansen then quickly spotted the danger and scurried around the desk to safety.

Houghton was part of a panel alongside Caroline Barker (right) and Izzy Christiansen (left)

The Sky Sports desk came under fire from a sprinkler at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium

But Houghton took slightly longer to see what was happening and came very close to getting drenched.

Fortunately, Houghton got away just in time, although plenty of water landed on the desk, which was holding paper notes and an electronic tablet.

Barker also managed to avoid a soaking and kept her composure impressively as she continued with the live broadcast.

‘There we go, good effort,’ she said with a grin, before trying to reorganise her guests to fit into view of the camera.

‘Just move in front of here. Come a bit closer, gather in, we’ll be fine. Ignore those sprinklers behind us!’

Houghton retired from playing at the end of last season after spending the final decade of her career at City.

The former England captain, who won 121 caps, was presented with the Inspirational Role Model award at the Women’s Football Awards earlier this year.

City thrashed Spurs 4-0 on Friday with Khadija Shaw bagging a record-breaking sixth WSL hat-trick.

Former defender Houghton managed to run away just in time to avoid an on-air soaking

Houghton, 36, pictured earlier this year at the 2024 Women’s Football Awards in London

Khadija Shaw scored a hat-trick on Friday as Man City thrashed Tottenham Hotspur in the WSL

Shaw has scored six WSL hat-tricks – more than any other player in the competition’s history

Jill Roord also found the net as City strengthen their lead at the top of the table.

Speaking after the game, City manager Gareth Taylor said: ‘I’m pleased we got the result. There were some good parts to our game tonight, and I think there were some things we can be better with.

‘We have to factor in playing in a different kind of environment for us. The good thing is we play three games here [at the Etihad Stadium this season] and the girls will feel ready for the next game because it’s slightly different to what we have at the Joie Stadium.

‘[We made a] really good start, I think we had opportunities to enhance our lead at 2-0 and also at 4-0 as well. These are the things as I as a coach I want to push with the girls because when we stick to what we do we’ll see top things. Overall I was really pleased.’