Paul Merson is competing on Strictly this 12 months, making him solely the fifth footballer to ever seem on the hit BBC present.

Merson, a 56-year-old father of eight, will comply with within the footsteps of fellow footballers John Barnes, Robbie Savage, Alex Scott and his ex-Arsenal teammate Tony Adams when he places on his dancing footwear for the twenty second season of the long-running BBC present.

Merson started his soccer profession in 1984 when he signed for Arsenal as an apprentice and ultimately made his debut for the Gunners in a 3-0 win over Manchester Metropolis on 22 November 1986.

Through the 1988/89 season, Merson grew to become an everyday fixture of the staff’s proper wing and was an integral a part of the squad that famously gained the First Division title on the final day at Anfield. Success on the soccer area continued to come back thick and quick with one other league title within the 1990/91 season, an FA Cup and League Cup double within the 1992/93 season. A 12 months later he helped Arsenal safe their first European trophy in 24 years as they defeated Parma to say the European Cup Winners Cup.

Merson had change into an everyday participant within the England squad throughout this era, making his debut towards Germany in September 1991 after being referred to as up by supervisor Graham Taylor. He participated in Euro 1992 in Sweden and was additionally a part of England’s failed qualifying marketing campaign for the 1994 World Cup in america.

Simply months after Arsenal’s Cup Winners Cup triumph Merson opened up publicly about his dependancy to alcohol, medicine and playing, points which have blighted his profession over a few years.

open picture in gallery

Merson continued to be an everyday characteristic in Arsenal’s first staff till 1997 however on the finish of the 1996/97 season was offered to relegated Middlesbrough for £4.5m, a then-record switch charge for a non-Premier League membership. Regardless of dropping a division his talents solely continued to flourish at Middlesbrough the place he helped them again to the Premier League on the first time of asking.

His kind noticed new England supervisor Glenn Hoddle name him as much as the 1998 World Cup squad, the place he featured within the well-known 2-2 draw with Argentina within the second spherical, scoring a penalty within the shoot-out. This could be his final motion for England, bringing his worldwide profession to an finish at 21 caps and three targets.

Merson went on to play for Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Walsall, the latter of which noticed him change into the West Midland’s facet’s supervisor. His time on the Saddler’s was blighted by extra dependancy points and a rift along with his then spouse. Merson ultimately introduced his retirement from soccer in March 2006, following a quick stint at non-league facet Tamworth.

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Merson’s foremost line of labor now could be as a pundit and he has been an everyday a part of Sky Sports activities’ Soccer Saturday since 2006.

In more moderen years, he has spoken extra brazenly about his struggles with dependancy, writing a number of books on the topic, the latest being 2021’s Hooked: Habit and the Lengthy Highway to Restoration, which documented his 30-year battle with dependancy and psychological well being points.

A live performance by US rock band Jane’s Dependancy ended early after lead singer Perry Farrell punched guitarist Dave Navarro on stage in the midst of a music.

Movies posted on social media confirmed Farrell, 65, changing into upset as they performed their 1986 music Ocean Measurement in Boston on Friday evening.

The singer is filmed strolling in the direction of Navarro and shouting in his face earlier than aggressively bumping shoulders with the guitarist.

Navarro, 57, finally stopped enjoying and put a hand as much as Farrell’s chest as Farrell continued to shout at his longtime bandmate.

He then punched Navarro’s shoulder as others, together with bassist Eric Avery, intervened to interrupt it up.

Extra members of the stage crew then restrained Farrell, whereas Navarro walked away earlier than taking off his guitar and kneeling on the entrance of the stage, reportedly to apologise to followers.

Farrell was seen nonetheless apparently struggling as he was dragged off stage.

Perry’s spouse, Etty Lau Farrell, mentioned on Instagram he misplaced his mood as a result of “evening after evening… his voice was being drowned out by the band”.

She mentioned Perry had been affected by tinnitus and a sore throat each evening, and “misplaced it” when folks within the entrance row complained that “the band was planning too loud and that they could not hear him”.

Her husband was “a crazed beast for the subsequent half an hour” [backstage] the place he broke down and “cried and cried,” she added.

The gig in Boston, a part of the outfit’s Imminent Redemption reunion tour, ended after 11 songs, Selection mentioned, including that they usually performed 14 or 15 numbers.

Learn extra from Sky Information:
Strictly’s again – meet this 12 months’s celebrities
Actor who performed Karate Child villain dies
‘I began cat-eating claims, however I am not racist’

Followers mentioned on social media that rigidity regarded to have been brewing for a number of songs earlier than the confrontation, in keeping with Rolling Stone.

The fallout follows a present in New York the place Farrell advised the viewers that “one thing’s incorrect with my voice. I simply can’t get the notes out hastily”.

The band, shaped in Los Angeles in 1985, consists of Farrell, Navarro, Avery, and drummer Stephen Perkins.

They’re in the midst of a US tour, with the subsequent gig scheduled for Sunday in Hartford, Connecticut.

Sky Information has contacted Jane’s Dependancy for remark.

Outcomes

• Canelo Alvarez UD-12 Edgar Berlanga (117-110, 118-109, 118-109)
• Erislandy Lara RTD-9 Danny Garcia (3:00)
• Caleb Plant TKO-9 Trevor McCumby (2:59)
• Rolly Romero UD-10 Manuel Jaimes (99-91, 99-91, 99-91)

Canelo Alvarez returns to the ring tonight to face Edgar Berlanga in a pay-per-view foremost occasion from Las Vegas.

Dangerous Left Hook will likely be right here from 8 pm ET with stay updates, outcomes, highlights, and round-by-round scoring for the total, four-fight pay-per-view card, which additionally options Erislandy Lara vs Danny Garcia in a middleweight title combat, plus returns for Caleb Plant and Rolando Romero. The present could be ordered for $89.99 and is obtainable by way of PPV.com, Prime Video, DAZN, and cable/satellite tv for pc.

Wil Esco will likely be on the round-by-round name within the stream beneath. Be a part of us tonight!

Foremost Card (PPV, 8 pm ET)

• Canelo Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KO) vs Edgar Berlanga (22-0, 17 KO), tremendous middleweights, 12 rounds, for Canelo’s WBC, WBA, and WBO titles
• Erislandy Lara (30-3-3, 18 KO) vs Danny Garcia (37-3, 21 KO), middleweights, 12 rounds, for Lara’s WBA title
• Caleb Plant (22-2, 13 KO) vs Trevor McCumby (28-0, 21 KO), tremendous middleweights, 12 rounds
• Rolly Romero (15-2, 13 KO) vs Manuel Jaimes (16-1-1, 11 KO), tremendous lightweights, 10 rounds

There are going to be days like this for Actual Madrid – Days the place Los Blancos did not play properly in any respect, however their star males get them over the road. Such was the case towards Actual Sociedad, when Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr each transformed from the spot to make a 2-0 win look much more assured than it truly was.

La Actual got here closest early on, Luka Sucic smashing an effort off the bar with Thibaut Courtois crushed. Sheraldo Becker did the identical quickly after. Los Blancos, for his or her half, have been missing in concepts, and did not actually create a transparent likelihood within the first half.

That modified after the break, although. Carlo Ancelotti’s facet appeared a simpler attacking unit virtually immedtaely, and grabbed the lead because of this. Vinicius was the person to get on the scoresheet, squeezing a penalty into the underside nook after Arda Guler’s goal-bound effort struck the arm of a defender.

The Brazilian gained the penalty that arrange the second, dancing spherical two defenders earlier than being tripped within the field. This time, Mbappe did the honours, sending the goalkeeper the improper solution to wrap up a 2-0 win.

GOAL charges Actual Madrid’s gamers from Anoeta…

Actual Madrid go to San Sebastian to face a powerful Actual Sociedad workforce who must make an announcement and show that they’ll struggle for a spot in European competitors.

Madrid might be with out midfielders Tchouameni, Bellingham, Camavinga and Ceballos, which signifies that Ancelotti must both change the formation or begin Valverde, Modric and Güler within the midfield, his solely three midfielders out there. He’ll seemingly do the latter, so Modric and Güler might want to have a powerful defensive recreation if Madrid wish to succeed and earn the three factors in what’s the first recreation after the FIFA break.

HOW TO WATCH, STREAM LA LIGA

Date: 09/14/2024

Time: 21:00CET, 03:00am EST.

Venue: Reale Area, San Sebastian, Spain.

Accessible TV: Movistar La Liga, ABC

Accessible Streaming: ESPN+

Managing Madrid has affiliate partnerships. These don’t affect editorial content material, although Vox Media could earn commissions for merchandise bought through affiliate hyperlinks.

One drive into its first actual check of the Brent Brennan period, Arizona regarded prefer it was constructed to play within the Large 12. By the tip of the night time the Wildcats have been greater than glad to have this one not depend towards the league standings.

Twentieth-ranked Arizona scored on its first possession and never once more, falling 31-7 at No. 14 Kansas State on Friday night time. The loss ended the UA’s 9-game win streak, which was tied for the longest in class historical past and had been the longest energetic streak in FBS.

The battle of the Wildcats went convincingly to the house staff, which handed Arizona its first loss since a triple-overtime defeat at USC final October. Quarterback Avery Johnson made it three cellular passers in as many video games to present the UA suits, because the sophomore threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 110 yards.

Okay-State (3-0) gained 235 yards on the bottom, essentially the most allowed by Arizona since 2022.

Arizona (2-1) had 324 yards of offense, its fewest in additional than two years. Noah Fifita threw for 268 yards on 26-of-42 passing however was intercepted as soon as and didn’t throw a TD go for the primary time because the first recreation of the win streak. Tetairoa McMillan tied his profession excessive with 11 catches, hauling in 138 yards, and Montana Lemonious-Craig had six catches for 75 yards, however the UA couldn’t do something on the bottom after the primary drive.

Quali Conley had 48 yards and a TD on 14 carries as Arizona ran for a season-low 56 yards.

The UA failed to achieve double figures for the primary time since being shut out at Colorado in 2021.

Penalties have been once more a difficulty for Arizona, which dedicated seven within the first half and 9 for the sport, a number of of which both stalled drives on offense or prolonged them on protection. And particular groups had one in all its worst video games in latest reminiscence, permitting a punt return TD.

Down 14-7 on the half, Arizona fell behind two scores halfway by means of the third on a 9-yard TD catch by Kansas State’s Brayden Loftin. It was the second TD to a good finish who had begun the play within the backfield, and got here on the finish of a drive that included Okay-State finishing a 48-yard go on 3^rd and 12 and a face masks penalty that moved the ball into the crimson zone.

A 1-yard run by DJ Giddens made it 28-7 within the closing minute of the third, a second consecutive scoring drive of 80-plus yards for Okay-State. Arizona then turned it over on downs contained in the Okay-State 40 early within the fourth, resulting in a 35-yard discipline aim.

The UA would flip it over on downs its final two possessions, gaining solely 137 yards within the second half.

Arizona scored on its opening drive for the third straight recreation, going 73 yards in 14 performs and utilizing up almost half the first-quarter clock to get in the long run zone. Quali Conley scored on a 1-yard run for his fourth TD of the season to present the UA a fast 7-0 lead.

Kansas State was simply as methodical, and profitable, tying it at 7 with 1:01 left within the first on a 3-yard TD catch by tight finish Will Swanson to cap a 15-play drive.

A 3-and-out by Arizona and a line drive by kicker Tyler Loop—serving as punter, making that three in three video games—led to Kansas State taking a 14-7 lead when Dylan Edwards fielded the punt on a bounce and went untouched 79 yards for a TD and a 14-7 lead early within the second.

Fifita was picked off in the long run zone on the subsequent drive however Okay-State couldn’t capitalize, lacking a 48-yard discipline aim. Arizona’s closing drive of the primary half stalled close to midfield regardless of gaining 53 yards as a result of it had 30 on penalties, however once more it averted catastrophe when Okay-State’s Johnson didn’t acknowledge the clock working out and ran out of bounds on the UA 14 to finish the primary half.

The UA is off subsequent week, returning to motion Sept. 21 for its Large 12 opener at No. 12 Utah.

Rovers kicked off the second interval as brightly as that they had the primary, however this time they made the early momentum depend.

A nook from the left flank was headed up however not absolutely away by Enahoro-Marcus and Shorrocks met the ball with a intelligent header that he looped over Bailey Corridor and into the Reds internet.

Patrik Farkas hooked a shot over the Liverpool crossbar from a bouncing ball and Boggan squandered a one-on-one with a end broad because the guests tried to strengthen their lead.

The house facet subsequent wanted a wonderful save from Corridor, who reacted effectively to palm away Boggan’s swipe throughout purpose after he was launched into freedom inside the realm.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson despatched on new arrival Rio Ngumoha with slightly over quarter-hour remaining and he was rapidly within the thick of the motion.

Ngumoha beat his man as he broke away alongside the left after which stood up a cross that finally reached fellow substitute Joe Bradshaw, whose prodded effort was blocked.

As time ebbed away, Bradshaw guided a go into Kareem Ahmed within the field. His candy first contact opened up the angle for a strike – however a defender recovered to deflect the ball.

Liverpool continued to press for an equaliser, however Blackburn grabbed a clinching purpose in stoppage time as Joseph reduce out Corridor’s try and play out from the again and slotted into the empty internet.

TEAM

Corridor, Esdaille, Williams, Pitt, Enahoro-Marcus, Lonmeni, Martin (Bradshaw, 60), Ayman (Ahmed, 60), Sonni-Lambie (Ngumoha, 74), Onanuga, O’Connor.

Unused subs: Bernard, Evers.

NEXT UP

It’s the beginning of the UEFA Youth League marketing campaign for Liverpool’s U19s on Tuesday afternoon as they journey to AC Milan.

Kick-off for the league-phase conflict is 1.30pm BST and subscribers can watch it reside on LFCTV GO.

7

Arizona
ARI

2-1 , 0-0

31

Winner

Kansas State
KSU

3-0 , 0-0

7

31

Kansas State
KSU

3-0 , 0-0

Winner

Rating By Quarters

Staff	1st	2nd	third	4th	F
ARI Arizona	7	0	0	0	7
KSU Kansas State	7	7	14	3	31

Sport Recap: Soccer | 09/13/2024 | By DAVE SKRETTA

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Avery Johnson threw two landing passes, Dylan Edwards returned a punt 71 yards for a rating and No. 14 Kansas State beat No. 20 Arizona 31-7 on Friday night time in a uncommon nonconference matchup of latest Massive 12 rivals.

The loss ended Arizona’s nine-game successful streak, the longest energetic streak within the Soccer Bowl Subdivision.

Johnson had 156 yards passing and 110 yards speeding, and D.J. Giddens added 86 yards speeding and a rating, as Kansas State (3-0) rebounded from a lackluster highway with over Tulane with an emphatic victory over the desert Wildcats.

Noah Fifita had 268 yards passing for Arizona (2-1) with an interception. Tetairoa McMillan had 11 catches for 138 yards, however the potential first-round NFL draft choose was unable to show any of these grabs into an enormous play or landing.

The colleges agreed to the matchup earlier than Arizona left the Pac-12 for the Massive 12. And with neither having sufficient time to discover a alternative opponent, Kansas State and Arizona saved the sport however with out it counting within the convention standings.

The groups traded grinding, time-consuming landing drives to start out the sport, however in any other case the primary half-hour was tormented by penalties, psychological errors and dumbfounding miscues from two groups attempting to make an announcement.

Arizona didn’t cowl a poor punt that Edwards returned untouched for a landing. On the subsequent drive, Fifita lazily threw over the center into double protection and was picked off by Kansas State’s Keenan Garber in the long run zone.

Johnson made maybe probably the most embarrassing gaffe. He was sacked on the Arizona 19 with 24 seconds left within the first half. On the subsequent play, the freshman wanted solely to step out of bounds to cease the clock and convey on the field-goal workforce, however he as an alternative reversed discipline and ran the opposite approach, permitting the clock to run out with out the prospect for an try.

Kansas State nonetheless led 14-7 on the half, and the error did not matter in the long run.

The fleet-footed Johnson started to sling it within the second half, main his workforce on back-to-back TD drives. The primary featured a 48-yard cross to Jayce Brown on third-and-12, establishing Johnson’s scoring toss to Brayden Loftin. The subsequent included a 21-yard throw to Loftin earlier than Giddens plowed into the tip zone to present Kansas State a 28-7 lead.

Kansas State stuffed Arizona on fourth down a couple of minutes later, and merely needed to run out the clock within the fourth quarter.

Arizona may need fared higher had it not repeatedly damage itself with flags. It dedicated 30 yards price of penalties on a single drive within the first half, and completed with 9 penalties for 74 yards within the sport.

Kansas State’s protection had one thing to show after permitting Tulane to throw for 342 yards and pile up 491 in final week’s 34-27 comeback win. The Wildcats held Arizona to 324 yards of complete offense.

Arizona: At No. 12 Utah on Sept. 28 within the Wildcats’ first true Massive 12 sport.

Kansas State: At BYU subsequent Saturday night time.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc powered to a fourth consecutive pole place on the Baku Metropolis Circuit, three tenths of a second away from Oscar Piastri, with Carlos Sainz taking third in qualifying for the 2024 FIA Components 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix within the second Ferrari. Nevertheless, Purple Bull’s championship chief Max Verstappen solely managed P6 and title Lando Norris exited in Q1 in an eventful session. 

“It is certainly one of my favorite tracks of the season. I actually prefer it,” stated Leclerc after taking his 26^th profession pole. “In qualifying, till Q3, it was all about attempting to remain so far as potential off the partitions. After which in that final lap, I went for it a bit extra. And the lap time got here very properly. I imply, the automobile felt actually good and every thing felt nice. So, yeah, it is wonderful to be on pole.”

Initially of Q1 it was Purple Bull’s Sergio Pérez who set the early tempo, with the Mexican taking high spot  with a lap of 1:43.436, simply over two tenths away from Verstappen. Leclerc then cut up the Purple Bulls. with Piastri slotting into fourth place forward of McLaren team-mate Norris.

Pérez went straight right into a second run and an improved time of 1:43.436 returned him to the highest of the order forward of Sainz whose personal second run netted him a time of 1:42.517. And with a 3rd flyer on the identical set of tyres, Pérez then lowered the benchmark to 1:43.213. 

Nevertheless, with 5 minutes left Leclerc moved nicely clear, posting a 1:42.775 to eclipse the Purple Bull driver by greater than 4 tenths of a second earlier than Russell additionally demoted the Mexican. Pérez opted to sit down out the ultimate runs and although he slipped to P10 he eased by to Q2. 

On the high of the Q1 order Leclerc’s mid-session 1:42.775 allowed him to maintain maintain of P1 forward of Albon and Piastri, however in a shock finish to the session, there was no place within the second session for the Australian’s McLaren team-mate Lando Norris. The Beiton’s last flyer seemed to be hampered by yellow flags and he slid out of the session in P17. 

Verstappen and Pérez have been once more out on monitor early at the beginning of the second session and this time it was the Dutch driver who set the tempo with a lap of 1:42.042 that put him 0.221s forward of his team-mate. Piastri slotted into third place, with Russell fourth. Leclerc then managed to separate the Bulls, 0.014s off Max, whereas Sainz slotted into fourth 0.2s behind Pérez. 

And the highest three held agency by the ultimate runs. Pérez once more opted out of the ultimate laps and when Leclerc backed out of his try, Verstappen additionally selected to ease off on the finish of his last flyer and he went by to Q3 in high spot due to his first run time forward of the Ferrari. 

On the different finish of the order, Haas’ Oliver Bearman dropped out in P11 forward of RB’s Yuki Tsunoda, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, the second Haas of Nico Hülkenberg, Aston Martin’s Lace Stroll and the second RB of Daniel Ricciardo. 

Within the first runs of the highest 10 shootout, Leclerc put Ferrari on provisional pole, with the Monegasque driver posting a lap of 1:41.610 to take high spot, two tenths of a second forward of Sainz, with Piastri third forward of Russell. Pérez slotted into P5 due to a gap lap of 1:42.045 with Verstappen two tenths additional again in sixth. 

Initially of the ultimate runs, there was a wierd incident when Williams’ Alex Albon left the Williams storage with the airbox fan nonetheless in place. The Thai driver was pressured to drag over on the pit exit the place he manually dragged the fan out and threw it overboard. The delay would result in an investigation for unsafe launch and prevented him from crossing the road to begin a last flyer. 

Forward of him, there was no stopping Leclerc. The Ferrari driver proved unbeatable within the last flyers, claiming a fourth straight Baku pole with a lap of 1:41.365, three tenths forward of Piastri and virtually half a second forward of third-place Sainz. 

Pérez, again on kind on a circuit at which he has received twice up to now, put in a robust last flyer to assert fourth spot on the grid forward of Russell, however Verstappen, may solely handle sixth on the grid, alongside Hamilton and forward of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, the spectacular Franco Colapinto of Williams and the unlucky Albon. 

2024 FIA Components 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Qualifying 
1 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:41.365 – –
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1:41.686 0.321 0.317
3 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:41.805 0.440 0.434
4 Sergio Pérez Purple Bull/Honda RBPT 1:41.813 0.448 0.442
5 George Russell Mercedes 1:41.874 0.509 0.502
6 Max Verstappen Purple Bull/Honda RBPT 1:42.023 0.658 0.649
7 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:42.289 0.924 0.912
8 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:42.369 1.004 0.990
9 Franco Colapinto Williams/Mercedes 1:42.530 1.165 1.149
10 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1:42.859 1.494 1.474
11 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 1:42.968 1.603 1.581
12 Yuki Tsunoda RB/Honda RBPT 1:43.035 1.670 1.648
13 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 1:43.179 1.814 1.790
14 Nico Hülkenberg Haas/Ferrari 1:43.191 1.826 1.801
15 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:43.404 2.039 2.012
16 Daniel Ricciardo RB/Honda RBPT 1:43.547 2.182 2.153
17 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:43.609 2.244 2.214
18 Valtteri Bottas Sauber/Ferrari 1:43.618 2.253 2.223
19 Zhou Guanyu Sauber/Ferrari 1:44.246 2.881 2.842
20 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 1:44.504 3.139 3.097