Overview of 'Match of the Day' Season 41

Episode 1 - 8th August 2004: Community Shield: Arsenal v Manchester United

Release Date: 2004-08-08

Highlights of this afternoon's game between Premiership champions Arsenal and FA Cup winners Manchester United at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. This traditional curtain-raiser to the new season mirrors last year's encounter, when then-champions United beat the FA Cup winners on penalties.

Episode 2 - Match of the Day at 40

Release Date: 2004-08-08

David Beckham and Michael Owen are among the stars reflecting on four decades of football's flagship show. Classic clips and cherished memories illustrate how the programme became a national treasure and why it's a favourite of comedians. Other contributors include Bobby Robson, George Best, Brian Clough, Noel Gallagher of Oasis, Ian Wright, Delia Smith, Des Lynam and Jimmy Hill.

Episode 3 - 14th August 2004

Release Date: 2004-08-14

Celebrating its 40th year, Match of the Day returns live to Saturday night with extended highlights and analysis of the Premiership on the opening day of the season. Featured games include Tottenham v Liverpool, Middlesbrough v Newcastle and Norwich v Crystal Palace.

Episode 4 - 18th August 2004: International Friendly

Release Date: 2004-08-18

Coverage from St James' Park as England warm-up for their 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign with a friendly against Ukraine.

Episode 5 - 21st August 2004

Release Date: 2004-08-21

An emotional day loomed as Kevin Keegan returned to the ground where he was idolised as a player. Will Man City's manager see his team triumph at Liverpool? Gary Lineker has highlights of this and the day's six other Premiership games.

Episode 6 - 25th August 2004

Release Date: 2004-08-25

Highlights of this evening's Premiership matches, including Blackburn's trip to Arsenal, new boys Norwich at Newcastle, and Aston Villa's clash with Charlton. Plus, Middlesbrough and Fulham get the chance to compare their new forward line-ups at Craven Cottage.

Episode 7 - 28th August 2004

Release Date: 2004-08-28

Will Manchester United's lunchtime match against Blackburn have re-ignited the flame of their mid-90s Premiership rivalry? Gary Lineker has news of this, plus coverage of defending champions Arsenal's trip to Carrow Road to play newly promoted Norwich and action from Stamford Bridge where Chelsea hosted Paul Sturrock 's Southampton. There's also the result of Crystal Palace's encounter with Middlesbrough's new strike force of Mark Viduka and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Episode 8 - 4th September 2004: World Cup Qualifier

Release Date: 2004-09-04

Northern Ireland v Poland. Coverage of this Group Six World Cup qualifying match from Belfast's Windsor Park. Since Lawrie Sanchez took over as manager in January, Northern Ireland have made a marked improvement in form, remaining unbeaten over the last six games. Can they build upon last month's encouraging result against Switzerland?

Episode 9 - 11th September 2004

Release Date: 2004-09-11

Highlights and goals from all eight Premiership matches played today, including Fulham v Arsenal.

Episode 10 - 18th September 2004

Release Date: 2004-09-18

Highlights and goals from all six Premiership matches played today, including Arsenal v Bolton.

Episode 11 - 25th September 2004

Release Date: 2004-09-25

Premiership highlights from today's games, including Tottenham v Manchester Utd.

Episode 12 - 2nd October 2004

Release Date: 2004-10-02

Highlights of today's six Premiership matches, including Arsenal's London derby against Charlton, Everton's clash with the Spurs side they defeated at Easter for the first time in seven years and Manchester City's visit to Southampton. Plus Norwich v Portsmouth, Blackburn v Aston Villa and West Brom v Bolton.

Episode 13 - 9th October 2004: World Cup Qualifier: England v Wales

Release Date: 2004-10-09

Coverage from Old Trafford of the World Cup qualifier between the two home nations. A win would put England in a strong position in Group Six, but Wales can't afford another slip-up following draws with Azerbaijan and Northern Ireland. In his penultimate game in charge, can Mark Hughes lead Wales to a repeat of the victory he secured as a player when the teams last met in 1984?

Episode 14 - 9th October 2004: World Cup Qualifier: France v Republic of Ireland

Release Date: 2004-10-09

Brian Kerr's men travel to Paris for this Group Four World Cup qualifier with legitimate hopes of causing an upset against the formerly formidable French.

Episode 15 - 16th October 2004

Release Date: 2004-10-16

Action from all eight of today's Premiership clashes, which included pace-setters Arsenal's tie against Aston Villa, plus Manchester City v Chelsea, Birmingham v Manchester United and Fulham v Liverpool.

Episode 16 - 23rd October 2004

Release Date: 2004-10-23

Gary Lineker has highlights from today's six Premiership matches where, at the top end of the table, high-flying Chelsea host Blackburn while Liverpool take on Charlton Athletic.

Episode 17 - 30th October 2004

Release Date: 2004-10-30

Highlights from the the Premiership and action from the first round of the FA Cup.

Episode 18 - 6th November 2004

Release Date: 2004-11-06

Highlights from the the Premiership, including Arsenal v Crystal Palace.

Episode 19 - 13th November 2004

Release Date: 2004-11-13

Two London derbies - Tottenham v Arsenal, and Fulham v Chelsea - feature in highlights of today's Premiership programme. Plus FA Cup first-round action.

Episode 20 - 14th November 2004: FA Cup First Round

Release Date: 2004-11-14

Thurrock v Oldham Athletic. Coverage from Ship Lane of this first-round tie - a chance for non-league Thurrock to achieve "giant-killer" status as they take on League One side Oldham Athletic.

Episode 21 - 17th November 2004: International Friendly

Release Date: 2004-11-17

Spain v England. After a flurry of World Cup qualification fixtures, Sven-Goran Eriksson 's men travel to Madrid for a friendly international at Real's 75,000-capacity Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Episode 22 - 20th November 2004

Release Date: 2004-11-20

Action involving the Premiership's big three, with Man United at home to Charlton, Arsenal facing West Brom under new boss Bryan Robson, and Chelsea hosting Bolton.

Episode 23 - 27th November 2004

Release Date: 2004-11-27

WBA boss Bryan Robson welcomes his old club Man United to the Hawthorns. Plus action from the day's other Premiership matches.

Episode 24 - 4th December 2004

Release Date: 2004-12-04

An extended edition in which action from all eight of today's Premiership clashes - including Chelsea v Newcastle United and Arsenal v Birmingham City - is augmented by the pick of the FA Cup second round.

Episode 25 - 5th December 2004: FA Cup Second Round

Release Date: 2004-12-05

Hinckley United v Brentford. Coverage of Conference North minnows Hinckley United playing a League One side in the FA Cup for a potential chance to play a big gun in the third round - the draw for which follows.

Episode 26 - 11th December 2004

Release Date: 2004-12-11

Action from all seven of today's Premiership ties, including high-flying Merseysiders Everton's clash with local rivals Liverpool at Goodison Park and Crystal Palace v Blackburn at Selhurst Park.

Episode 27 - 18th December 2004

Release Date: 2004-12-18

Manchester United take on Crystal Palace, while Middlesbrough's Gareth Southgate, Ugo Ehiogu and George Boateng face former club Aston Villa.

Episode 28 - 26th December 2004

Release Date: 2004-12-26

Highlights of the London derby between Arsenal and Fulham, plus Chelsea at home to Aston Villa, Manchester United v Bolton and Newcastle away to Blackburn.

Episode 29 - 28th December 2004

Release Date: 2004-12-28

Highlights from all nine of today's Premiership matches. Southampton face a silverware-hungry Liverpool side, Portsmouth host title contenders Chelsea, Manchester United travel to play Aston Villa and Tottenham meet London rivals Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane.

Episode 30 - 1st January 2005

Release Date: 2005-01-01

All 20 Premiership clubs were in action today. Among the potential highlights are Chelsea's trip to Liverpool, Arsenal's London derby at Charlton, and Manchester United's visit to Middlesbrough.

Episode 31 - 4th January 2005

Release Date: 2005-01-04

Including highlights of Arsenal v Manchester City, Manchester United v Spurs and Chelsea's clash with Middlesbrough. Plus the pick of yesterday's action.

Episode 32 - 8th January 2005: FA Cup Third Round: Sheffield United v Aston Villa

Release Date: 2005-01-08

Coverage of this intriguing FA Cup third-round tie from Bramall Lane.

Episode 33 - 8th January 2005: FA Cup Third Round: Plymouth Argyle v Everton

Release Date: 2005-01-08

Gary Lineker introduces FA Cup third-round action from Home Park.

Episode 34 - 8th January 2005: FA Cup Third Round

Release Date: 2005-01-08

Highlights of today's FA Cup third-round tussles, including Jose Mourinho 's Premiership pace-setters Chelsea v Scunthorpe United, currently at the top of League Two, and 11-times winners Manchester Utd v Exeter City from the Conference.

Episode 35 - 9th January 2005: FA Cup Third Round: Yeading v Newcastle United

Release Date: 2005-01-09

From OPR's Loftus Road stadium in west London, the last of this weekend's FA Cup third-round ties. "The Ding" will need to muster a Herculean effort to pull off an upset - when the draw was made last December, 125 league places separated the non-league side from the Premiership giants. Johnson Hippolyte's third-round debutants will take heart, however, from the Magpies' travails in 1998, when Conference outfit Stevenage took Shearer and co to a fourth-round replay.

Episode 36 - 15th January 2005

Release Date: 2005-01-15

Highlights of today's Premiership games, including Liverpool's bid to avenge September's defeat at Old Trafford, and Chelsea's attempt to continue their 15-year unbeaten run against Tottenham.

Episode 37 - 19th January 2005: FA Cup Third Round Replay

Release Date: 2005-01-19

Coverage of one of tonight's replays to decide who makes it through to the fourth round - even if it means the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

Episode 38 - 22nd January 2005

Release Date: 2005-01-22

Premiership highlights, including Manchester United v Aston Villa - in which David O'Leary 's men look for their first win at Old Trafford since 1983 - plus Chelsea v Portsmouth and Harry Redknapp 's struggling Southampton v Liverpool.

Episode 39 - 29th January 2005: FA Cup Fourth Round: Southampton v Portsmouth

Release Date: 2005-01-29

A clash from St Mary's in which new Saints manager Harry Redknapp prepares for some stick as he faces his old club Pompey in the FA Cup fourth round.

Episode 40 - 29th January 2005: FA Cup Fourth Round: Manchester United v Middlesbrough

Release Date: 2005-01-29

After seeing off Exeter City at the second attempt, Alex Ferguson 's men continue their defence of the FA Cup with an all-Premiership fourth-round tie at Old Trafford against Middlesbrough.

Episode 41 - 29th January 2005: FA Cup Fourth Round

Release Date: 2005-01-29

Action from, and reaction to, today's fourth-round FA Cup ties, which included West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham, Arsenal v Wolves, Southampton's south coast derby with Portsmouth and holders Manchester United v Middlesbrough.

Episode 42 - 30th January 2005: FA Cup Fourth Round: Oldham Athletic v Bolton Wanderers

Release Date: 2005-01-30

A tasty fourth-round tie in which the League One outfit set out to claim their second Premiership scalp in this season's FA Cup at Boundary Park.

Episode 43 - 2nd February 2005

Release Date: 2005-02-02

Highlights of all ten of this week's Premiership games, including the eagerly anticipated and potentially explosive clash between Arsenal and Manchester United at Highbury.

Episode 44 - 5th February 2005

Release Date: 2005-02-05

Highlights of today's Premiership action, including Liverpool v Fulham and Arsenal's trip to Aston Villa. Plus Birmingham head up the M6 to face Manchester United at Old Trafford, while struggling Norwich host West Brom at Carrow Road.

Episode 45 - 9th February 2005: International Friendly

Release Date: 2005-02-09

England v Netherlands from Villa Park. A friendly international that may provide England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson with some vital pointers in advance of March's resumption of the World Cup qualifiers.

Episode 46 - 12th February 2005: FA Cup Fourth Round Replay

Release Date: 2005-02-12

Tottenham Hotspur v West Bromwich Albion. Coverage from White Hart Lane of the all-Premiership FA Cup fourth-round replay. With a home tie against Championship side Nottingham Forest the prize, both teams will be desperate for victory.

Episode 47 - 12th February 2005

Release Date: 2005-02-12

Did Everton improve their chances of a Champions League place when they welcomed Premiership leaders Chelsea to Goodison Park? And were there changes at the bottom of the table after relegation-threatened sides Blackburn and Norwich clashed at Ewood Park?

Episode 48 - 19th February 2005: FA Cup Fifth Round: Arsenal v Sheffield United

Release Date: 2005-02-19

After suffering a bitter Premiership defeat against Manchester Utd, which effectively ended the Gunners' title hopes, Arsene Wenger's men will at least be confident of booking themselves a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals as they face the third game in a row against Championship opposition.

Episode 49 - 19th February 2005: FA Cup Fifth Round: Everton v Manchester United

Release Date: 2005-02-19

Two North West rivals with a renowned FA Cup pedigree vie for supremacy in this eagerly awaited all-Premiership fifth-round tie. The last two FA Cup meetings between these two sides have been finals, with Manchester Utd winning in 1985 and Everton lifting the trophy a decade on. Fans' emotions will be running particularly high tonight - former Toffees wunderkind Wayne Rooney is set to return to Goodison Park for the first time since joining Alex Ferguson 's side last summer. Who will make it through to Monday's quarter-final draw?

Episode 50 - 19th February 2005: FA Cup Fifth Round

Release Date: 2005-02-19

Highlights of today's six FA Cup fifth-round ties, including Everton v Manchester United and Arsenal's third successive clash with a Championship side.

Episode 51 - 20th February 2005: FA Cup Fifth Round: Burnley v Blackburn Rovers

Release Date: 2005-02-20

Coverage from Turf Moor of this FA Cup fifth-round tie - a Lancashire derby that sees Championship outfit Burnley take on Premiership side Blackburn. It's 45 years since the local rivals met in the FA Cup. A replay victory for Blackburn en route to their most recent final appearance. But it's current form that counts, and Mark Hughes' Blackburn won't relish a trip to the side that knocked out Liverpool in the third round.

Episode 52 - 26th February 2005

Release Date: 2005-02-26

Premiership highlights include Southampton v Arsenal, Manchester United v Portsmouth and Aston Villa v Everton.

Episode 53 - 5th March 2005

Release Date: 2005-03-05

Premiership highlights include Arsenal v Portsmouth and Chelsea v Norwich.

Episode 54 - 12th March 2005: FA Cup Sixth Round: Bolton Wanderers v Arsenal

Release Date: 2005-03-12

The first of three all-Premiership FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend is a potential thriller which pits Sam Allardyce's high-flying Trotters against the Premiership champions. Can the mercurial Londoners reach their fifth consecutive semi-final?

Episode 55 - 12th March 2005: FA Cup Sixth Round: Southampton v Manchester United

Release Date: 2005-03-12

Two sides who are installed at opposite ends of the Premiership and are desperately seeking silverware, clash at St Mary's for a coveted place in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Episode 56 - 13th March 2005: FA Cup Sixth Round: Blackburn Rovers v Leicester City

Release Date: 2005-03-13

The last non-Premiership team remaining in the FA Cup travel to Ewood Park for this quarter-final match. The difference in their league status notwithstanding, Mark Hughes' side would do well to remember the Foxes claimed the estimable scalp of Charlton Athletic in the fifth round.

Episode 57 - 19th March 2005

Release Date: 2005-03-19

Highlights of today's Premiership matches, including Chelsea v Crystal Palace and Portsmouth's encounter with Newcastle.

Episode 58 - 26th March 2005: World Cup Qualifier

Release Date: 2005-03-26

England v Northern Ireland. Sven-Goran Eriksson's men launch into a home double header of World Cup qualifiers which could help propel them towards Germany in 2006. Their first opponents in today's Group Six tie at Old Trafford are a resurgent Northern Ireland side unbeaten in six games.

Episode 59 - 30th March 2005: World Cup Qualifier

Release Date: 2005-03-30

England v Azerbaijan. At Newcastle United's home of St James' Park, England play their second home World Cup qualifier of the week as they take on this largely unknown Group Six quantity from the southern Caucasus.

Episode 60 - 2nd April 2005

Release Date: 2005-04-02

Champions-elect Chelsea travel to lowly Southampton, Bolton Wanderers look to complete the double against Liverpool at Anfield, and Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes faces his old club Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Episode 61 - 9th April 2005

Release Date: 2005-04-09

It's a battle of the blues as Chelsea host Birmingham, Arsenal travel to Middlesbrough, and Manchester United visit a Norwich team desperate for points. Ray Stubbs presents highlights, plus all the goals from the rest of today's Premiership programme.

Episode 62 - 16th April 2005: FA Cup Semi-Final

Release Date: 2005-04-16

Highlights from Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers, the first of this weekend's FA Cup semi-finals. Plus a Premiership round-up.

Episode 63 - 17th April 2005: FA Cup Semi-Final: Manchester United v Newcastle United

Release Date: 2005-04-17

An all-Premiership FA Cup semi-final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium that sees the Magpies, who haven't lifted the trophy for 50 years, out to end three previous defeats in the competition by the Red Devils, winners on a record 11 occasions.

Episode 64 - 20th April 2005

Release Date: 2005-04-20

All the goals and key moments from tonight's eight Premiership matches, including Chelsea v Arsenal and Everton v Manchester United.

Episode 65 - 23rd April 2005

Release Date: 2005-04-23

Premiership highlights as Chelsea take on south-west London rivals Fulham, Crystal Palace host Liverpool and Everton clash with Birmingham.

Episode 66 - 30th April 2005

Release Date: 2005-04-30

Premiership action from seven encounters includes Bolton v Chelsea, Liverpool v Middlesbrough and Southampton v Norwich.

Episode 67 - 2nd May 2005: Women's FA Cup Final: Charlton Athletic v Everton

Release Date: 2005-05-02

Will it be a case of "third time lucky" for the Addicks, runners-up for the past two seasons? They're in with a good chance - Everton last lifted the trophy in 1989.

Episode 68 - 7th May 2005

Release Date: 2005-05-07

It's the penultimate weekend of the Premiership season, but there could still be a lot to play for. Among the relegation-threatened sides in action today were Bryan Robson 's West Brom - who aimed for a major upset at his old club Manchester Utd - Norwich, who faced Birmingham, and Crystal Palace and Southampton, who played a potential "six-pointer".

Episode 69 - 15th May 2005

Release Date: 2005-05-15

On the final day of the Premiership season, Gary Lineker presents highlights of all today's matches. There are big games at the top end of the table as new champions Chelsea visit Newcastle seeking revenge for their FA Cup defeat, while Everton look to finish with a flourish and an away win at Bolton. Manchester United travel south to take on lowly Southampton, fellow strugglers Norwich go to Fulham, West Brom face Portsmouth and Crystal Palace play Charlton.

Episode 70 - 21st May 2005: FA Cup Final: Manchester United v Arsenal

Release Date: 2005-05-21

Cardiff's Millennium Stadium bids farewell to English football's showpiece occasion as holders Manchester United clash with Arsenal in the 124th FA Cup final. The last time the teams met in the final was back in 1979, when Alan Sunderland 's last-minute winner ensured the Gunners won 3-2 at Wembley.

Episode 71 - 28th May 2005: International Friendly

Release Date: 2005-05-28

Highlights of the friendly between the USA and England from Chicago's Soldier Field Stadium. The States have twice upset the odds against England, winning 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup and 2-0 against a poor side in a 1993 friendly.

Episode 72 - 31st May 2005: International Friendly

Release Date: 2005-05-31

Colombia v England. The Giants Stadium in New Jersey is the venue as England play the second and final friendly of their American tour. Sven-Goran Eriksson 's men have never lost against Colombia and were 2-0 winners when they last met at the 1998 World Cup. But the South American team's attacking flair has upset the world's best teams in recent years, and England can expect a big test ahead of next year's World Cup finals in Germany, with a squad that's missing several first-choice players.

Episode 73 - 5th June 2005: Women's Euro 2005: England v Finland

Release Date: 2005-06-05

Coverage from the City of Manchester Stadium, where the host nation are favourites to win their first Group A match. Including highlights of the curtain-raiser between the 2001 runners-up Sweden and Denmark.

Episode 74 - 6th June 2005: Women's Euro 2005

Release Date: 2005-06-06

Highlights of the two opening Group B matches. Defending champions Germany, who won all eight qualifying ties, could face a test against Norway, the only country to win European, world and Olympic titles. And how will France fare against Italy, who've shown steady improvement since losing to England 4-1 in February?

8th June 2005: Women's Euro 2005: Denmark v England