Graeme Souness's best moments on Sky Sports
Calling Arsenal ‘a team of son-in-laws’, his impassioned speech on football’s homophobia problem, being proved RIGHT on Paul Pogba and jousting with fellow pundits: Graeme Souness’ best moments on Sky Sports
- Graeme Souness revealed he is leaving Sky after 15 years with the broadcaster
- The Scotland and Liverpool legend had many memorable moments at Sky
- Mail Sport takes a look at some of his best and most outspoken moments
Liverpool’s 4-3 victory over Tottenham marked an end of an era, as it was the final game of Graeme Souness’ 15-year tenure as a pundit for Sky Sports.
The 69-year-old was given an emotional send-off by his colleagues after presenter Kelly Cates confirmed he had taken part in his final broadcast.
During his time with the broadcaster, the Scotland and Liverpool legend was involved in many memorable moments and would often engage in fierce debates alongside the likes of Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher.
Souness, who will keep sharing his views in his Daily Mail column, said he will miss the role which lit a fire under him.
Mail Sport takes a look at his best and most outspoken moments of his time with Sky Sports.
Graeme Souness has called time on his work with Sky Sports with Liverpool’s 4-3 victory against Tottenham on Sunday the final time he will work as a pundit for the broadcaster
The Scotland and Liverpool legend had many memorable moments during his time at Sky
He was known to have heated confrontations with co-pundits such as Gary Neville and Roy Keane
Proven right on Paul Pogba
Just like his tackling during his career as a player, Souness pulled no punches as a pundit, and former Manchester United midfielder Pogba certainly drew the ire of the fiery Scotsman.
Many a debate was held during Pogba’s second stint at Old Trafford, as the Frenchman failed to live up to his £100m price tag with his inconsistent displays on the field before his departure for Juventus.
He often critiqued Pogba’s desire during games, once insisting the Frenchman would be a ‘doddle to play against,’ regularly claiming the midfielder wasn’t up for the fight and in 2018 said he didn’t merit his place in the team.
This often led to heated debates with the likes of Gary Neville, Micah Richards and Jamie Redknapp, while supporters, as Souness admitted in 2020, would hammer the Scotsman over his criticism over Pogba.
He told Sky Sports: ‘I get hammered for it. I am not going to say I am a fan (of him), I am a fan of his talent. Midfield is the only position on the pitch where someone wants to do the exact same job you’re doing. I am a fan of his ability. But I want him to work harder.’
Looking back, there is a strong argument to say Souness was proven right over his criticism about Pogba who failed to live up to his expectations and could not carry over his consistent level of performances from his first spell with Juventus and the French national team to Old Trafford.
Souness often got criticised for his comments on Paul Pogba, but there are strong arguments looking back at the Frenchman’s Manchester United career that Souness was proven right
‘The cat didn’t do anything wrong’
Graeme Souness tore into Kurt Zouma after a video of the West Ham defender kicking his cat went viral.
A furious Souness insisted the defender shouldn’t play again for the remainder of the season, after the Frenchman was dropped from the Hammers’ team for their clash with Watford in February 2022.
However, his rant surrounding Zouma became famous for saying that the cat had done nothing wrong – with fans comparing the comment to Souness defending a footballer.
Souness said: ‘I’ve got zero sympathy for him. The vast majority of West Ham fans would not be accepting of him. For me if you’re looking at that video the cat hasn’t done anything wrong. It’s abuse for entertainment.
Souness tore into West Ham defender Kurt Zouma after kicking his cat, saying the animal ‘had not done anything wrong’
‘He’s turned up today and got abuse from his own supporters. West Ham’s roots are in the east end of London, salt of the earth people. People that would not, the vast majority would not be accepting of it.
‘I have major problems with it, for me looking at that video, that cat hadn’t done anything wrong. It was picked up and abused for entertainment. They’re laughing.
‘The fact it goes out on social media suggests they didn’t think there was anything wrong with it, they thought people would find this amusing.’
One fan tweeted: ‘No way is this real. Souness talking about the cat like it had a goal disallowed.
Zouma was ordered to carry out 180 hours of community service and was banned from keeping cats for five years after he pleaded guilty at Thames Magistrates Court last year.
Arsenal ‘are a team of son-in-laws’
It’s quite easy to forget the amount of criticism Arsenal received over the last decade from Sky Sports pundits thanks to their title-push this season.
From the latter years of Arsene Wenger’s time at the Emirates to the beginning of Mikel Arteta’s current reign at the club, Arsenal were known for being a bit of a soft touch as they regularly capitulated against other top teams in the Premier League.
This was a message the Liverpool icon put across in his own unique way before the Gunners would actually go on to take a 2-0 victory over Man City back in 2015.
He said: ‘Would you be disappointed with any of those (Arsenal) players coming home with your daughter? They’re a team of son-in-laws. There are no rascals there. They’re all nice guys.’
The comment was one of Souness’ most iconic from his time at Sky Sports and even managed to get a laugh out of Arsenal icon Thierry Henry, sat next to him.
Souness got a chuckle out of Thierry Henry after describing Arsenal in 2015 as a ‘team of son-in-laws’
Impassioned speech on football’s homophobia problem
Souness has repeatedly criticised professional football for being ‘extremely homophobic’ while calling out on the game’s governing bodies to do more for LGBT players.
Back in 2019, Souness took part in Brighton Pride, appearing on a float titled ‘Proud United’ alongside out amateur footballers as their manager.
Later that year he questioned why no active Premier League footballer had come out as gay or bisexual – something which still hasn’t happened to this day.
He said: ‘The PFA, the Premier League have to look at themselves. You have to ask the question why has no one ever come out?
‘I think football has not created an environment where anyone would feel comfortable or confident about saying “I am gay”.
‘There must be gay players and bisexuals playing in the Premier League there has to be but no one has been comfortable to come out and say, “this is me”.
Souness also went on to say that he believed any player who did one day feel able to come out publicly would be ‘a hero’.
Don’t interrupt Souness!
One valuable lesson anyone who did punditry alongside Souness would have learned is not to interrupt him when he’s putting his point across.
Henry discovered this when attempting to speak over the 69-year-old as he was delivering analysis on Sky Sports after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham.
Widely remembered as hard-man midfielder from his playing days, the ex-Liverpool and Rangers star snapped ‘I’m talking’ when Henry tried to cut across him in November 2015.
Henry was visibly taken aback by Souness’ bark and the awkward incident immediately went viral.
Henry was taken aback when Souness snapped ‘I’m talking’ when the Arsenal legend interrupted him
Souness interrupts Carragher
On the other hand, there was former Liverpool defender Carragher could do when Souness cut over him in January 2022.
Sky pundits were discussing Romelu Lukaku’s famous interview last year where he hit out at Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel and opened up on a potential return to Inter Milan.
As Carragher discussed the topic, he was shocked when Souness interrupted him saying: ‘Sorry, excuse me.’
Carragher hilariously stared down the camera lens as the Scotman proceeded to debate the topic alongside former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
However, he could see the funny side of being interrupted by Souness, as he shared the video on a social media with a message saying he was ‘fuming’ with a laughing emoji.
Jamie Carragher gave a hilarious reaction after he was interrupted by Graeme Souness
Souness loses cool with presenter
Not even Sky Sports presenter David Jones could avoid the ire of Souness.
Souness was furious with the host after taking issue at a ‘look’ he was given during coverage of Liverpool’s trip to Manchester United in 2019.
He was asked for his analysis following the goalless draw and whether it impacted Liverpool’s title hopes that season.
Souness stopped mid-sentence and questioned Jones: ‘Why are you looking at me like that? Do you not agree with me?’
Jones was left stunned at the reaction from Souness and quickly looked to return the former Liverpool man to football matters.
‘I was just wondering whether they agree with you,’ Jones said, in reference to the other pundits joining Souness on the broadcast.
Souness then added: ‘It was just the way you looked.’
Fellow Sky pundits Jamie Carragher, Nemanja Vidic and Gary Neville looked in shock as they tried to contain any laughter building inside at the awkwardness of the exchange.
Taking to Twitter to further clear up the exchange, Jones, along with a video of Forrest Gump frantically running away, joked: ‘Thanks for all your concern … Graeme Souness and I have sorted out our differences in the car park.’
Clashing with Neville
Souness got the last laugh back in March after Liverpool’s 7-0 victory against Manchester United.
Before the game, the Scotsman said that he had ‘never felt more confident’ about a Liverpool victory in a game between the two sides despite the Reds going through a tough season.
Keane and Neville could barely contain themselves as they both sported massive grins – but it was Souness who had the last laugh as Liverpool wiped the floor with their rivals to inflict the heaviest defeat in their history.
Speaking in the studio after the match, a smug Souness took the opportunity to revel in his glory. Asked by Carragher what he was laughing at, Souness replied: ‘I can’t find the reclining button on this seat, it doesn’t go back any further. I just really fancied Liverpool today, the way the crowd are here they wouldn’t let them lose this game today.’
Souness (left) was involved in many heated exchanges with Neville (right) – with their most memorable clash this season coming after Liverpool’s 7-0 victory against Manchester United
However, Souness and Neville would go on to get involved in a heated exchange.
Neville claimed Souness and Carragher were both ‘gloating’ following the win while also claiming that Liverpool’s second-half performance was a ‘freak’.
Souness hit back, claiming Man United have ‘been getting away’ with results recently and said ‘For me, they’ve [United] got away lightly today, it could have been more than seven. They didn’t turn up.’
To which Gary Neville said: ‘That’s a nonsense Graeme,’ before adding ‘the reason it’s a freak is because it’s not happened for about 80 or 100 years.’
Souness fired back: ‘You’ve lost six (6-3 to Man City) already! Is that a freak as well. Any time United lose it’s a freak?’
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