‘Only 400,000 less than Spurs v Boro in the FA Cup’: Gary Lineker takes on Jamie Carragher

Gary Lineker and Jamie Carragher go head-to-head on Twitter after Liverpool icon’s claims the country is ‘gripped’ by their title charge as Match of the Day presenter responds: ‘Only 400,000 less than Spurs v Boro in the FA Cup on BBC One’

  • Jamie Carragher and Gary Lineker have been bickering over viewing figures
  • Carragher celebrated Liverpool’s latest win and Sky’s viewing figures of 3.9m
  • Lineker made light of the figures, claiming an FA Cup tie was more popular

Gary Lineker has gone head-to-head with Jamie Carragher after the former Liverpool defender claimed the country is ‘gripped’ by the Reds’ charge towards a first league title in 30 years. 

Sky Sports pundit Carragher initially posted a tweet celebrating Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Manchester United which pulled in peak viewing figures of 3.9 million. 

But BBC presenter Lineker responded by poking fun at Carragher, suggesting Tottenham’s FA Cup third-round replay victory over Middlesbrough had attracted a larger audience. 

Jamie Carragher took to Twitter to celebrate Liverpool’s win and Sky Sports viewing figures

Gary Lineker sarcastically replied by revealing an FA Cup replay attracted a larger audience

Gary Lineker sarcastically replied by revealing an FA Cup replay attracted a larger audience

Lineker says more people watched Spurs' FA Cup third round replay win over Middlesbrough

Lineker says more people watched Spurs’ FA Cup third round replay win over Middlesbrough 

Carragher replied: ‘And 3.5M more than BT! Our pay tv competitors and your second channel! Your competitors ITV football beat you by a million at the World Cup!’ 

Lineker retorted within minutes, providing a list of the most-watched TV shows of the 2010s.

The former England forward said: ‘How about hosting 3 of the top 4 and 6 of the top 10 of the last decade. It’s a lead that’s nearly as big as Liverpool’s.’ 

The list included England’s 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat by Croatia in third place with 20.7m viewers, and England’s Euro 2012 quarter-final defeat by Italy in fourth place with 20.3m. 

Carragher hit back with a tweet comparing Sky to other 'pay tv competitors'

Carragher hit back with a tweet comparing Sky to other ‘pay tv competitors’

Lineker had the last word by presenting a list of the most-watched tv shows of the last decade

Lineker had the last word by presenting a list of the most-watched tv shows of the last decade

Meanwhile, England’s 2018 World Cup clashes with Sweden, Colombia and Tunisia also featured in the top 10; all of which were broadcast by BBC. 

Liverpool moved 16 points clear at the top of the 2019-20 Premier League table on Sunday with a vital win at Anfield. 

Virgil Van Dijk opened the scoring with a thumping header on 14 minutes, and could have gone further ahead in an entertaining first half. 

The Red Devils applied some pressure in the second half, but the hosts secured all three points when Mohamed Salah raced through and passed beyond David de Gea.

Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring Liverpool's second goal against Manchester United

Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring Liverpool’s second goal against Manchester United

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