Episode outperforms the two million who watched Cristiano Ronaldo’s return last season

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Match Of The Day’s 27 August episode was the most viewed on digital platforms ever. 

2.2 million streamed it through BBC iPlayer, watching highlights of Erling Haaland’s first Premier League hat trick and Liverpool’s 9-0 win over Bournemouth.

This beats the programme’s last digital viewing high, when two million watched Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United and the Premier League last season.

For the month of August in total, Match Of The Day has reached a total audience of 11 million, and the BBC has revealed that 58% of audiences who watch the Premier League do so through the public broadcaster.

The BBC may expect further football viewing records later this year, when it broadcasts the men’s World Cup from Qatar. It shares the rights to the competition with ITV, and the pair have already unveiled which broadcaster will be airing which matches. England’s opening game against Iran is on the BBC, as well as group stage game with Wales - it is likely to also show England’s semi-final if the team makes it that far, with first pick for that stage.