Clive Tyldesley to commentate on Liverpool games next season after ITV axe

Clive Tyldesley is set to take his iconic voice across the pond, joining CBS in America to cover the Champions League after commentating his last match for ITV recently.

That means Tyldesley WILL commentate on Liverpool games next season. The veteran broadcaster, 69, has been a staple on ITV for 28 years, serving as the channel’s main commentator for most of that time. In a surprising move, he was succeeded by Sam Matterface in 2020 and later informed that his contract wouldn’t extend past Euro 2024.

The decision by ITV to part ways with Tyldesley has raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike. However, Tyldesley himself has shared on his new podcast with Martin O’Neil – “The Football Authorities” – that he’s secured a fresh opportunity with CBS.

READ MORE: Marcus Rashford transfer decision could be good news for Liverpool – here’s why
READ MORE: 4 players Liverpool can sign on free transfer this summer as Arne Slot builds roster

Tyldelesy said: “All I can do is keeping reviewing my own standards, keep making myself available. If someone like CBS – who have given me a four-year contract to cover Champions League for the USA – show that sort of confidence in me then I can only assure you I will repay that faith by working bloody hard and trying to be as good as I can be.”

He also disclosed that before landing the CBS role, he had been passed over for several other positions. He reached out to Sky Sports following their decision to move on from Martin Tyler and also offered his services to TNT Sports and Channel 4, but none of those chose to bring him onboard.

Tyldelesy continued: “I don’t have an agent, as such, I feel as if I’ve actually got better contacts than a lot of agents have. When Martin was moved aside by Sky, they knew of my position, they decided to take on Peter Drury and I totally respect how popular he is, probably more popular than I am.

“But Peter then left Premier League Productions in order to take on that role and another one in the USA. I made Premier League Productions aware of my availability for the last four or five years. They’ve got a dozen or so commentators contracted, they think they are all better than I am.

“TNT, when they took over the BT Sport contract, I contacted them and said I was available, they took on Adam Summerton because they thought he was better than I was. Channel 4 when they took over the England contract – which they’re now losing back to ITV – I contacted them and said I was available and they took on Steve Bower – who I think is a particularly good commentator.

“But what I’m saying is, they’re aware but if you’re shouting from the rooftops because you think I should be doing any of these jobs, believe me I have put myself up for them. It’s fine, I’ve been a lucky boy in my career. If I never commentate on another football match, I’ve been a lucky boy. It’s not a tragedy but in answer to the question I keep getting asked, ‘Why have ITV done this?’ I don’t know the answer, you’d have to ask the heads of sport.”