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Wayne Rooney in action for Derby County.

Matchweek 21 & FA Cup: Rolling back the years

Matchweek 21 & FA Cup: Rolling back the years

Welcome to This Week from Premier Skills English, a weekly review of football action for learners of English from across the globe. In This Week, Rich and Jack talk about the latest action from the Premier League and have lots of football English for you to learn.

Transcript

If the listening is a bit difficult, try listening and reading at the same time.
Read the transcript and listen at the same time.

Introduction  

Jack: Hello my name’s Jack and welcome to our weekly round-up section called ‘This Week’ on Premier Skills English.

Rich: Hi there. I’m Rich. We’ve got lots of interesting words and phrases to help you talk about football in English.

Jack: We want you to use and practise these phrases by interacting with Premier League fans from around the world in our comments section.

Rich: If you listen to us on Apple Podcasts, you can leave your comments in the review section. We do read all the reviews and would love to hear from you.

Jack: Remember we are looking for people to interview in our podcasts. If you want to practise your English skills and answer a few questions just email us at premierskills@britishcouncil.org and we’ll write back to you.

Rich: And if you are watching us on Facebook or YouTube now, you can leave any questions or comments below and we’ll answer you straight away.

Jack: Or just leave us a like or a thumbs up! We like them too!

Rich: You can find all our latest content on the Premier Skills English homepage or the Premier Skills-British Council Facebook page. 

Jack: Don’t forget that we also have our weekly Premier Skills English Podcast that is released every Friday. Every week we help you with some different vocabulary or an aspect of grammar.

Rich: Our latest podcast is all about New Year’s resolutions and you can find it on the Premier Skills English homepage, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most other podcast platforms now. 

Jack: It’s a new year but the football hasn’t stopped. Let’s have a look at Matchweek 21 and the FA Cup in our headlines.

Headlines

Jack: Reds go a year unbeaten.

Rich: Liverpool last tasted defeat in the Premier League on January the third 2019. There was no New Year hangover at Anfield as goals from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane gave the Reds victory against Sheffield United. 

Jack: New manager works for Hammers.

Rich: West Ham recorded their biggest Premier League win since 2007 as they hammered Bournemouth 4-0 and moved out of the relegation zone. Two goals from Kevin Noble and one each from Sebastian Haller and Felipe Anderson gave David Moyes victory in his first match in charge.

Jack: Rooney rolls back the years.

Rich: One of the biggest cupsets of the FA Cup third round was at Crystal Palace where Derby County from the Championship shocked their Premier League rivals with a 1-0 win. Chris Martin got the goal but it was Wayne Rooney in a deep midfield role who was man of the match.

Jack: The magic of the FA Cup! There was also a shock defeat for Brighton who lost to Sheffield Wednesday and Tottenham needed a late equaliser at Middlesbrough.

Rich: And what about that Liverpool youth team beating Everton. What a result!

Vocabulary alert!

Jack: In our vocabulary alert, we look at some football English that we used in the headlines.

Rich: Our six words and phrases this week are: to taste defeat, a hangover, to hammer someone, the relegation zone, to roll back the years and cupset.

Jack: Let’s start with the phrases we used to talk about Liverpool going a year unbeaten in the Premier League.

Rich: We said Liverpool last tasted defeat in January 2019. To tase defeat on a basic level means to lose. 

Jack: To taste something in this phrase means to know or to experience something. So, Liverpool hasn’t known or experienced defeat for over a year.

Rich: I think they must have forgotten what it tastes like! The other word we used when talking about Liverpool’s latest win was hangover. 

Jack: We said that there was no New Year hangover at Anfield.

Rich: A hangover is normally used to describe how you physically feel the day after drinking too much alcohol. Many people drink too much on New Year’s Eve and wake up with a hangover.

Jack: We used the word to say there was no hangover at Anfield. The players were all as fresh as they have been all season.

Rich: It might have been different in the crowd though! Let’s talk about the West Ham - Bournemouth match. We said West Ham hammered Bournemouth.

Jack: A hammer is a tool that you use to beat nails into wood. To hammer another team means to beat them ... easily. It usually means a defeat by three or more goals. We also used this phrase because we were playing with West Ham’s nickname - the Hammers.

Rich: We said that West Ham’s victory moved the team out of the relegation zone. The relegation zone is the final three places in the Premier League table. If you finish in these places you move down to the Championship at the end of the season.

Jack: You might also hear relegation places, relegation area, the bottom three, the dropzone amongst others.

Rich: Finally, let’s talk about the FA Cup. We said that Wayne Rooney rolled back the years in Derby’s win at Crystal Palace.

Jack: In sport, to roll back the years is an idiom that is used to describe someone playing really or playing like they used to despite being older.

Rich: Wayne Rooney is 34 now - pretty old for a striker. He’s playing in midfield now. However, he played like he was when he was 25 and one of the best strikers in the Premier League. He rolled back the years!

Jack: Our final phrase this week is one that is used a lot these days but is quite new so you might not find it in a dictionary. The word is cupset.

Rich: We said that one of the biggest cupsets this weekend was Derby beating Crystal Palace. The word cupset is a portmanteau which is when two words are put together to make a new word. The words put together are ‘cup’ and ‘upset’. 

Jack: An upset is a surprise or shock result. So a cupset is when a team from a lower division shocks a team from a higher division and wins.

Rich: OK, so there are our six words and phrases. Listen to this part of the podcast again if you are not sure how to use them.

Jack: The words and phrases are: to taste defeat, a hangover, to hammer someone, the relegation zone, to roll back the years and cupset.

Football Awards

Jack: Right, every week, we give out three Matchweek awards. The awards are Player of the Week, Team of the Week and Goal of the Week.

Rich: In the comments section, you need to tell us if you agree with our choices. This week our choices come from Matchweek 21 and the FA Cup.

Jack: Let’s start with Player of the Week. There was a captain’s performance by Mark Noble in West Ham’s 4-0 win against Bournemouth and another by Jack Grealish for Aston Villa at Burnley.

Rich: But our Player of the Week was Derby County’s, Wayne Rooney. In his second game back in the UK, Rooney showed that he’s still got it as Derby produced the biggest cupset of round three of the FA Cup.

Jack: Now Team of the Week. Great away wins for Leicester and Aston Villa and Mikel Arteta got his first win as Arsenal manager.

Rich: But our team of the week is West Ham United. Their biggest Premier League win since 2007. A great performance.

Jack: Finally, our Goal of the Week. We’re going to leave this one to you. We’re going to give you three options and you need to tell us which you think was best.

Rich: Goal number one: Curtis Jones for Liverpool v Everton. A wonderful curling effort by the 18-year-old. What a way to score your first ever senior goal!

Jack: Goal number two. Aaron Wilbraham for Rochdale v Newcastle. It wasn’t the prettiest goal but the 40-year-old scoring to give Rochdale a replay against Premier League Newcastle is what the FA Cup is all about.

Rich: Goal number three. Jack Grealish for Aston Villa against Burnley. Grealish scored another long-range goal to keep the Villans out of the relegation zone.

Jack: OK. Those are our three options. Did you see them? Which do you think was the best? Let us know your choice and if you agree with our other weekly awards in our comments section on the Premier Skills English website.

Matchweek Prediction 

Jack: Every week, Rich predicts the result of one Premier League match and we want you to make your prediction, too. Which match are you going to look at this week, Rich?

Rich: In matchweek 22, Liverpool will have to be at their best to keep their unbeaten run going. The Reds go to London to play Tottenham which is always a tough game. Spurs are not in the best form but are battling for a top-four position while Liverpool’s season just gets better and better. I’m not going to predict a defeat for Liverpool - that would be crazy, but a draw might feel like a defeat with the form the Reds are currently in. Final score: Tottenham 1-1 Liverpool

Jack: I just can’t see Liverpool losing. 1-0 to the Reds.

Rich: Right, that’s all we have time for. I hope you have enjoyed this football round-up. Join the discussion at the bottom of the page on the Premier Skills English website. 

Jack: If you listen to us on Apple Podcasts, don’t forget to leave us a review. We’d love to hear from you. 

Rich: If you have any questions or comments or suggestions for the podcast or anything football or English related, you can leave them on the website in the comments section, on social media - on facebook or twitter, on apple podcasts or you can email us at premierskills@britishcouncil.org.

Jack: Remember you can also email us if you want to practise your English skills and answer a few questions for a future podcast. That email address again is: premierskills@britishcouncil.org

Rich: Bye for now and enjoy your football.

Results

Matchweek 21:

Brighton 1-1 Chelsea

Norwich City 1-1 Crystal Palace

Southampton 1-0 Tottenham

Newcastle Utd 0-3 Leicester City

Liverpool 2-0 Sheffield United

Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United

Burnley 1-2 Aston Villa

Manchester City 2-1 Everton

Watford 2-1 Wolves

West Ham 4-0 Bournemouth

Headlines

Reds go a year unbeaten

Liverpool celebrate against Sheffield United.

Liverpool last tasted defeat in the Premier League on January the third 2019. There was no New Year hangover at Anfield as goals from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane gave the Reds victory against Sheffield United.

Headlines

New manager works for Hammers

David Moyes has started well at West Ham.

West Ham recorded their biggest Premier League win since 2007 as they hammered Bournemouth 4-0 and moved out of the relegation zone. Two goals from Kevin Noble and one each from Sebastian Haller and Felipe Anderson gave David Moyes victory in his first match in charge.

Headlines

Rooney rolls back the years

Wayne Rooney helped Derby County shock Crystal Palace in the FA Cup.

One of the biggest cupsets of the FA Cup third round was at Crystal Palace where Derby County from the Championship shocked their Premier League rivals with a 1-0 win. Chris Martin got the goal but it was Wayne Rooney in a deep midfield role who was man of the match.

Vocabulary Alert

Football English

We looked at six pieces of football English that you can learn to improve your English. Take a look at the phrases in bold. Do you understand what they mean?

Liverpool last tasted defeat in the Premier League on January the third 2019.  To taste defeat means to know or experience losing.

There was no New Year hangover at Anfield.  A hangover is the physical effects of drinking too much alcohol.

West Ham hammered Bournemouth 4-0. To hammer another team means to beat them easily.

West Ham moved out of the relegation zone.  The relegation zone is the final three places in the Premier League table.

Wayne Rooney rolled back the years against Crystal Palace.  To roll back the years is an idiom which describes an older player playing as well as they did when they were younger.

Derby's win at Crystal Palace was the bigest cupset in the FA Cup this weekend.  A cupset is a combination of the word 'cup' and 'upset' and it is used to describe a shock result in the cup.

Rochdale's 40-year-old striker, Aaron Wilbraham, rolled back the years to score an equaliser against Newcastle in the FA Cup.

Can you use the words in bold in a different sentence? Write a sentence at the bottom of the page. If you're not sure, listen to the audio for more explanations and examples.

Matchweek Awards

Do you agree with our choices?

Curtis Jones celebrates his winning goal in the Merseyside Derby.

Player of the Week: Wayne Rooney (Derby County)

Team of the Week: West Ham

Goal of the Week: Look at the three options from Matchweek 21 and the FA Cup and let us know which goal was best in the comments section!

Goal 1

Curtis Jones for Liverpool against Everton.

Goal 2

Aaron Wilbraham for Rochdale versus Newcastle.

Goal 3

Jack Grealish for Aston Villa against Burnley.

The Big Match

Tottenham v Liverpool

Spurs play Liverpool in Matchweek 22.

Matchweek 22 sees Liverpool travel to Tottenham. Rich thinks there will be a shock result but Jack thinks Liverpool will carry on winning.

What are your predictions? Have a listen to what Rich says and then make your prediction and talk about any of next weekend's matches below.

Football Chat

What do you think?

Mark Noble scored twice as West Ham hammered Bournemouth 4-0.

Jack and Rich have spoken about Matchweek 21 in the Premier League and the FA Cup. Now it's your turn! Have a look at the questions and write your answers in the comments section below.

  1. Rich and Jack chose Derby County's Wayne Rooney as Player of the Week. Do you agree? 
  2. Jack and Rich selected West Ham as their Team of the Week. Do you agree?
  3. Rich and Jack picked three goals for the Goal of the Week award? Did you see them? Which do you think was best?
  4. Use this week's vocabulary: What's the biggest 'cupset' you can remember? Which players can you remember rolling back the years?
  5. Will Liverpool taste defeat in the Premier League this season? When was the last time your team was hammered?

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Comments

hsn's picture
hsn
13/12/2021
TR
5527
points

What do you think?
4. It was the biggest cupset that a team in the third division had beaten one of top three team in first division by (6-0) Disaster-:)
Phrases
• Sometimes a view a sound even a smell roll back the years to the time of my childhood.
• Tasting defeat in the life competition cause an upset but contribute so much to the experiences.
Note
The name of Rochdale roll back the years to the time of university time. As I remember from the lesson, this is the place in which first cooperative was established in the world.


hsn's picture
hsn
13/12/2021 17:01
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5527

What do you think?
4. It was the biggest cupset that a team in the third division had beaten one of top three team in first division by (6-0) Disaster-:)
Phrases
• Sometimes a view a sound even a smell roll back the years to the time of my childhood.
• Tasting defeat in the life competition cause an upset but contribute so much to the experiences.
Note
The name of Rochdale roll back the years to the time of university time. As I remember from the lesson, this is the place in which first cooperative was established in the world.

Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
09/01/2020
UA
6281
points

Tottenham 1 : 2 Liverpool


Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
09/01/2020 20:15
Ukraine
Liverpool
6281

Tottenham 1 : 2 Liverpool

Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
09/01/2020
UA
6281
points

Player of the Week: Wayne Rooney (Derby County)

Team of the Week: Derby County

Goal of the Week: Curtis Jones


Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
09/01/2020 20:13
Ukraine
Liverpool
6281

Player of the Week: Wayne Rooney (Derby County)

Team of the Week: Derby County

Goal of the Week: Curtis Jones

Rafael Robson's picture
Rafael Robson
08/01/2020
BR
615
points

1.I think that Mark Noble could be chosen as the Player of the Week. But Wayne Rooney is also a great choice.
2. I choose Arsenal as the team of the Week. Big wins against Man Utd and Leeds.
3. I think Curtis Jones goal was the most beautiful this week.
4. In the FA Cup, the biggest cupset I can remember is Wigan 1 v 0 Manchester City in 2013 final.
Ronaldo 'Fenomeno' Nazario rolled back the years playing for Corinthians before his retirement.
5. Spurs was recently hammered by Bayern München in the Champions League. In Brazil, my team Corinthians was hammered by Flamengo months ago.
I think Liverpool will probably taste defeat in the coming months. For the next round, my guess is Spurs 1x3 Reds.


Rafael Robson's picture
Rafael Robson
08/01/2020 21:33
Brazil
Tottenham Hotspur
615

1.I think that Mark Noble could be chosen as the Player of the Week. But Wayne Rooney is also a great choice.
2. I choose Arsenal as the team of the Week. Big wins against Man Utd and Leeds.
3. I think Curtis Jones goal was the most beautiful this week.
4. In the FA Cup, the biggest cupset I can remember is Wigan 1 v 0 Manchester City in 2013 final.
Ronaldo 'Fenomeno' Nazario rolled back the years playing for Corinthians before his retirement.
5. Spurs was recently hammered by Bayern München in the Champions League. In Brazil, my team Corinthians was hammered by Flamengo months ago.
I think Liverpool will probably taste defeat in the coming months. For the next round, my guess is Spurs 1x3 Reds.

elghoul's picture
elghoul
08/01/2020
DZ
3988
points

1. I am confident with our teachers choice. Nice to believe in rolling back the years.

2. West Ham want to avoid being relegated. They are nearly the fifth or sixth PL club changing management this season. This award could give them some hope.

3. Curlis Jones's goal was the only one I saw on FA Cup. It was beautiful from outside the box and Pickford great jumping was not enough to touch the ball.

4. The best cupset I am still getting on my mind is El Biar eliminating Reims in the end of the fifties. 

5. I am confident in Tottenham beating Liverpool this week 2-1 and with this tasted defeat the Reds will remember this year fading tast.

 

 


elghoul's picture
elghoul
08/01/2020 17:01
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

1. I am confident with our teachers choice. Nice to believe in rolling back the years.

2. West Ham want to avoid being relegated. They are nearly the fifth or sixth PL club changing management this season. This award could give them some hope.

3. Curlis Jones's goal was the only one I saw on FA Cup. It was beautiful from outside the box and Pickford great jumping was not enough to touch the ball.

4. The best cupset I am still getting on my mind is El Biar eliminating Reims in the end of the fifties. 

5. I am confident in Tottenham beating Liverpool this week 2-1 and with this tasted defeat the Reds will remember this year fading tast.

 

 

Fred Zhong
08/01/2020
CN
80
points

I agree with your choices.I think we all cherish the great performance of the players like Rooney who are getting older before retirement.I'm surprised that West Ham's last week 4-0 was their biggest league win for over a decade,so they deserved the award.Jones's goal was very good,but I prefer Grealish's long-range shot.
I predict the Reds may be shocked by Spurs in this week,the sores:2-1 to Spurs.


Fred Zhong
08/01/2020 04:48
China
Manchester United
80

I agree with your choices.I think we all cherish the great performance of the players like Rooney who are getting older before retirement.I'm surprised that West Ham's last week 4-0 was their biggest league win for over a decade,so they deserved the award.Jones's goal was very good,but I prefer Grealish's long-range shot.
I predict the Reds may be shocked by Spurs in this week,the sores:2-1 to Spurs.

Rich's picture
Rich
08/01/2020
ES
594
points

Hi Fred,

Grealish has been in great form recently. He's scored a few long-range goals! Who is going to score for Spurs with Harry Kane injured?

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
08/01/2020 08:13
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi Fred,

Grealish has been in great form recently. He's scored a few long-range goals! Who is going to score for Spurs with Harry Kane injured?

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

Robert Tavares's picture
Robert Tavares
08/01/2020
BR
399
points

Hi everyone!
There was three great goals in the last round.
But I think that Curtis Jones' for Liverpool against Everton was awesome! So, it wasthe best for me.

Best regards from Brazil!

YNWA


Robert Tavares's picture
Robert Tavares
08/01/2020 00:36
Brazil
Leeds United
399

Hi everyone!
There was three great goals in the last round.
But I think that Curtis Jones' for Liverpool against Everton was awesome! So, it wasthe best for me.

Best regards from Brazil!

YNWA

Rich's picture
Rich
08/01/2020
ES
594
points

Great to have you with us, Robert!

Who do you think is the best Brazilian in the Premier League at the moment?

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
08/01/2020 08:14
Spain
Liverpool
594

Great to have you with us, Robert!

Who do you think is the best Brazilian in the Premier League at the moment?

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

Robert Tavares's picture
Robert Tavares
08/01/2020
BR
399
points

Hi Rich
I think William and Richarlyson have been doing great performances in the Premier League lately, but the best is Bob Firmino.
He's been great for two or three years with the Reds. He plays for the team all the team.
I like his football.
See you soon,
Bye!


Robert Tavares's picture
Robert Tavares
08/01/2020 12:15
Brazil
Leeds United
399

Hi Rich
I think William and Richarlyson have been doing great performances in the Premier League lately, but the best is Bob Firmino.
He's been great for two or three years with the Reds. He plays for the team all the team.
I like his football.
See you soon,
Bye!

wsanta's picture
wsanta
07/01/2020
AR
5086
points

Curtis Jones's goal was great. I think it was the best goal of the week.


wsanta's picture
wsanta
07/01/2020 20:20
Argentina
Leeds United
5086

Curtis Jones's goal was great. I think it was the best goal of the week.

wsanta's picture
wsanta
07/01/2020
AR
5086
points

My prediction Tottenham 0-2 Liverpool


wsanta's picture
wsanta
07/01/2020 20:09
Argentina
Leeds United
5086

My prediction Tottenham 0-2 Liverpool

Khaldoun83's picture
Khaldoun83
06/01/2020
DZ
325
points

Since I didn't watch any game this week I'm not going to complain about your choices and select the goal of the week, I'll go straight to match 22 prediction.

I predict:

Tottenham 1 - 2 Liverpool.


Khaldoun83's picture
Khaldoun83
06/01/2020 19:42
Algeria
Liverpool
325

Since I didn't watch any game this week I'm not going to complain about your choices and select the goal of the week, I'll go straight to match 22 prediction.

I predict:

Tottenham 1 - 2 Liverpool.

Richard J's picture
Richard J
06/01/2020
EC
2846
points

Hi there,
Actually I just have seen the goal of Curtis Jones againts Everton, I think it was a fantastic goal so I'm going to choose that goal. Talking about the game Tottenham vs Liverpool, I go for a win 2-0 to Liverpool.


Richard J's picture
Richard J
06/01/2020 15:27
Ecuador
Liverpool
2846

Hi there,
Actually I just have seen the goal of Curtis Jones againts Everton, I think it was a fantastic goal so I'm going to choose that goal. Talking about the game Tottenham vs Liverpool, I go for a win 2-0 to Liverpool.

Rich's picture
Rich
08/01/2020
ES
594
points

Do you think Liverpool will taste Premier League defeat this season? COuld they go all season undefeated? 

A good, positive prediction, Richard J!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
08/01/2020 08:16
Spain
Liverpool
594

Do you think Liverpool will taste Premier League defeat this season? COuld they go all season undefeated? 

A good, positive prediction, Richard J!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1mobeckham6510
2Alex_from_Ukraine6281
3hsn5527
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4768
6Liubomyr4408
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia71478
2Ukraine33314
3Spain28379
4Serbia27294
5Brazil23992
6Albania20578
7Vietnam19954
8Turkey19896
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United142111
2Liverpool110407
3Chelsea88779
4Arsenal85767
5Manchester City57137
6Tottenham Hotspur19173
7Newcastle United10478
8West Ham United7460
9AFC Bournemouth4530
10Crystal Palace4245

Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

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