Martin Tyler was the voice of football on Sky Sports for 33 years, but many Liverpool fans felt he showed bias against their club.
Speaking on DR Sports, Tyler was asked why his commentary often lacked enthusiasm when covering Liverpool’s goals. Using Andy Cantwell’s deadpan impersonation as an example, the 79-year-old responded simply:
“I would, in my defence, get a whole catalogue of Steven Gerrard goals.”
The Chester-born broadcaster seemed to believe this was enough to dismiss claims of bias against Liverpool.
Tyler’s level of excitement varied depending on the team, and after his controversial comments linking the Hillsborough disaster to hooliganism, it’s understandable why many Liverpool fans remained unhappy with him.
There are also examples from his career, such as the contrast in his reactions to goals from Anthony Martial and Christian Benteke in a match against Manchester United.
While it’s unlikely that someone in television for so long would hold a blatant bias, fans of various clubs could likely find their own supporting evidence.
Although Tyler, named Premier League Commentator of the Decade in the 2000s, did address the matter, his response wasn’t particularly thorough.