Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have been left reeling after Micah Richards revealed he was pulling out of the first Match of the Day show of the new Premier League season.
All three men are regulars on the programme, which Lineker has helmed ever since 1999.
The new Premier League season kicks off on Friday night with Manchester United, who have won the competition more times than any other club, due to lock horns with Fulham.
There will then be six fixtures on Saturday and two on Sunday before Leicester's clash with Tottenham on Monday night.
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have been left reeling after Micah Richards revealed he was pulling out of the first Match of the Day show of the new Premier League season.RESTISFOOTBALL
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker said: "We will be back on Monday reflecting on all the action of the opening weekend. It's up and running, the Premier League starts again."
He then addressed Shearer and said: "But before that, I will of course be on Match of the Day. You're on Alan aren't you?"
Shearer confirmed he would be on air, with Lineker proceeding to call out Richards.
"And Micah's not. Because you're doing Super Sunday," he said.
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This news left Shearer reeling, with the Newcastle icon interjecting to say: "What happened?! I thought you're on with us!”
And Richards confirmed the news, with the former Manchester City star saying: "Super Sunday for Sky. I got the dates and it was a clash of dates."
Shearer wasn't ready to let his collegue off the hook, however.
The Premier League legend quizzed Richards and said: "How does that clash with Saturday?!"
Providing an explanation, the City hero replied: "I can't work Saturday and Sunday I'll be knackered."
Shearer joked: "What am I listening to here? Let's just revisit 'I can't do Saturday and Sunday'. Did you just say that?
"I was told you were on with us!"
All three men then laughed when Lineker joked 'no wonder his career petered out' in reference to Richards' remarks.
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Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer mocked Micah Richards after he revealed he'd be absent from Match of the Day on Saturday
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United face Fulham in their opening clash of the season on Friday looking to prove a point.
But it's Arsenal who Shearer thinks will win the league, providing they recruit a new No 9.
“I’m going to say that this is the one where if they sign a top-class striker in between now and the end of the window - because I think they still need a striker," he said.
"And if they get that striker in, I think they’ll win the league.”
Gary Lineker jokingly called Alan Shearer a 'b*****d' after his colleague tipped Leicester to go down
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Shearer also believes Leicester will be relegated.
And Lineker jokingly called his friend a 'b*****d' after his old team were tipped to go down.
