World Leaks

THE first Strictly Come Dancing star to be “axed” has been “revealed” – juts hours before the 2024 launch show.

This weekend, loyal viewers of the BBC One series will see the programme kick off its 20th instalment.

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A Strictly Come Dancing star has been tipped as the first one for the ‘axe’[/caption]

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It comes ahead of the BBC One programme’s launch show this weekend[/caption]

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Paul Merson has been ‘revealed’ as the first to be given the boot in the live eviction[/caption]

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The ex Arsenal ace is placed at odds of 5/2 to be the first famous face out of the door[/caption]

The will see the Strictly Come Dancing celeb cohort in full – as well as learn which professional they are partnered up with.

Yet speculation is mounting as to who will be booted off in next week’s live show – with the unlucky star tipped to be ex footballer Paul Merson, 56.

Bookies Ladbrokes have placed the sports ace at odds of 5/2 to be the first dancefloor casualty.

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes told The Sun: “Before a move is even made, punters are backing Paul Merson to be the first star axed from Strictly.

“He’s not the only one in the danger zone though, with Nick Knowles and Punam Krishan also expected to underperform.”

Tipping the other end of the scales, Tasha Ghouri, Jamie Borthwick, JB Gill and Shayne Ward are all placed with odds of 4/1 to take home the Glitter Ball trophy.

We exclusively revealed ex Arsenal star Paul, who has overcome drink, drug and gambling addictions, had signed up for the series in July.

At the time, sources told how the Sky Sports pundit would be “a popular addition.”

They added: “Footballers always do well with fans, whether they can dance or not.

But he also has a past, having had to battle ­addictions to drugs, booze and gambling.”

Paul played for Arsenal for 11 series and earned 21 England caps.

Earlier this week, we reported how he was left fuming at show bosses after they selected his first dance song.

He was reportedly left irked after the song Vindaloo was chosen for his opening routine.

Vindaloo is a song by British band Fat Les, and the music was co-written by Blur bassist Alex James and part-time Pink Floyd bassist Guy Pratt.

It was released as a single in 1998 and recorded for the FIFA World Cup that same year.

The song was originally written as a parody of football chants, but was adopted as one in its own right and became a cult classic.

But in recent years, Vindaloo has been seen as a controversial World Cup anthem and has been deemed racist.

An onlooker at the filming of Strictly’s first episode has now told The Mail on Sunday that the star had to re-do his reaction to being told he’d dance to Vindaloo, after he appeared noticeably “cross.”

They said: “Paul looked really cross. The celebrities and their partners were being told what songs they would have. Lots of them were given lovely classics – then he got Vindaloo.

“You can’t blame him for thinking he is being set up to be the joke act, but also the connotations of it [the song] are also not exactly positive either.

“It’s pretty thoughtless of the BBC to give it to one of their stars of Strictly, particularly given all of the scandals that have engulfed the show for the last nine months.

“The BBC clearly forgot its woke agenda on this occasion.”

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Police are skeptical of the officer's story, in part because one eyewitness identified him as the man who crashed into multiple parked cars, dragged a tree onto the road, hit a stop sign, and then fled on foot through a passenger door.

The pin depicting a vintage sign from the San Jose strip club is one of a dozen new designs being sold by the Preservation Action Council, which has found the pins to be a surprising source of revenue.

MATTHIJS de Ligt and Marcus Rashford grabbed the first-half goals to postpone the next Erik ten Hag crisis for at least another week.

But Manchester United were let off the hook by a Southampton side who outplayed them in the opening half an hour and failed to convert a penalty.

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Marcus Rashford ended his goal drought to get Man Utd back to winning ways[/caption]

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Matthis de Ligt opened the scoring[/caption]

It would have been fascinating to see how United responded to that kind of setback.

In the end, though, Ten Hag’s side ran out comfortable enough winners and he avoided becoming the first United boss to lose three Premier League games in a row since 2015.

The Saints never recovered from somehow finding themselves two down at the break after striker Cameron Archer let them down at both ends.

First the £15m summer signing hit his spotkick far too close to United goalkeeper Andre Onana after Diogo Dalot brought down teenage winger Tyler Dibling.

De Ligt headed United into the lead a few minutes later and then Archer was guilty of failing to close down Rashford, who curled a fine shot in off the far post to make it two.

The Saints’ misery was complete when captain Jack Stephens was shown a straight red card – somewhat harshly – for a cynical lunge on United substitute Alejandro Garnacho, who made it three in stoppage-time from Dalot’s cross.

It was a bitter end to a game that had started so well for the home team.

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Dibling, 18, one of four home players making their first Premier League start for the club, skinned Dalot as early as the seventh minute and forced a save out of Onana.

Joshua Zirkzee had a great chance at the other end when Eriksen touched the ball into his path but the Dutchman’s shot on the stretch from inside the six-yard box was not good enough to beat Aaron Ramsdale.

In the 17th minute, Kyle Walker-Peters made De Ligt look like a novice but failed to find the right pass from the byline. United broke down the other end and Bruno Fernandes shot well wide.

Southampton looked much the better team.

Dalot’s torment continued when Mateus Fernandes cut inside him and fired in a cross-shot that De Ligt cut out.

And when the United full back fouled Dibling, Lesley Ugochukwu sent a free header over the bar from Yuki Sugawara’s free kick.

But Dalot’s luck seemed to have run out when he was once more beaten by Dibling and brought him down in the box.

Ben Brereton Diaz has a good record from the penalty spot yet the Saints forward handed the ball to Archer.

The young striker’s spotkick was far too close to Onana who saved to his right and had plenty of time to stand up and save Archer’s headed follow-up.

Punishment was not long coming. Ramsdale saved a deflected shot by Zirkzee but his defence was sleeping from the resulting corner.

It was played short to Fernandes and De Ligt headed the fine cross out of reach of Ramsdale’s right arm.

A minutes later, Southampton were guilty of the same kind of failure.

Ramsdale made a good save from Rashford after another United break. This time the corner was overhit, but in the second pahse poor Archer failed to close down Rashford quick enough and his well-placed shot went in off the far post.

United started the second half on the front foot. Full back Noussair Mazraoui hit the outside of the post and Rashford had a shot blocked by Jan Bednarek.

Southampton did not look like a team who believed they could find a way back into the game.

United, and Amad Diallo in particular, sensed their fragility and only some last-ditch defending stopped the visitors extending their lead.

Then it was Ramsdale’s turn as he leapt athletically to push away a long-range shot by Rashford, whose confidence had risen visibly.

At that point, just after the hour, Martin made four substitutions. The decision to include Dibling in the players taken off was not popular with the home crowd.

Not much changed, or not enough, anyway.

Southampton did not create a single opening and their frustration told in the final 10 minutes.

As Garnacho tried to scamper down the left touchline, Stephens took him out. A yellow card looked like sufficient punishment, but Attwell reached for his red.

Garnacho’s late third underlined that those anticipating the dismissal of Ten Hag will have to wait.

MANCHESTER UNITED fans raged at Jack Stephens for his reckless challenge on Alejandro Garnacho.

The Southampton defender was given his marching orders for a horror tackle in the Argentine international in the 79th minute of the St Mary’s showdown.

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Jack Stephens took out Alejandro Garnacho with a horror tackle in the second half of Saints’ clash with Manchester United[/caption]

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The defender was shown a straight red for the horror tackle[/caption]

Stephens, 30, scythed down the winger with a ridiculously high challenge, catching his right knee with his studs.

Garnacho was left in agony from the tackle, which came as Saints were 2-0 down.

The Manchester United bench leapt up in anger although referee Stuart Atwell took his time before giving the Saints star his marching orders.

And the Old Trafford faithful couldn’t believe their eyes.

One wrote on X: “Nasty challenge on Garnacho.”

Another said: “Stupid as well as dangerous from Jack Stephens.”

And another said: “Jack Stephens with a horrendous tackle. Rightfully sent off.”

One remarked: “Disgusting.”

Another chimed in: “F**k off down the tunnel Jack Stephens.”

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Former Chelsea and England star Joe Cole had a pitchside view for the tackle and believes the Atwell had no choice but to send Stephens for an early shower.

“It looked horrendous from my angle. You knew he weren’t getting away from him.

“As a centre-half, Stephens doesn’t want to be there. Garnacho knocked the ball [past him].

“And he’s done it, Fletch, right in front of the Manchester United bench.

“And they’ve all jumped up and rightly so.

“The ref seen that and I feel the ref actually showed a lot of restraint in not giving it straight away and giving himself time to think.

“But for me, it’s an easy straight red.”

Things went from bad to worse for Stephens and Southampton as Garnacho bagged United’s third and final goal of the match.

Defeat to United has extended Saints’ winless start to the new season and left them toiling in 19th place in the table.

MARCUS RASHFORD scored his first Premier League goal in 189 days as Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 victory at Southampton.

The Red Devils got back to winning ways after suffering defeats in their last two Prem games, with Matthijs de Ligt notching his first Man Utd goal.

Southampton started the brighter side before Diogo Dalot chopped Tyler Dibling down in the box inside 32 minutes.

But Cameron Archer missed the spot-kick after fans dubbed that referee Stuart Attwell made him wait 51 seconds.

De Ligt then turned the tie around with a close range header from a Bruno Fernandes assist, before Rashford scored from long range.

Saints captain Jack Stephens was given a straight red for after flying into sub Alejandro Garnacho in the 78th minute.

Here’s how SunSport’s Charlie Wyett rated every Man Utd player…

Andre Onana – 7

Saved the penalty by Cameron Archer, albeit a poor one from the Southampton forward. But that stop proved to be absolutely crucial

Noussair Mazraouri- 7

Needed treatment after falling awkwardly in the first half but that did not stop him from delivering a solid performance. Also got forward to good effect

Matthijs De Ligt – 7

Shaky start defensively but was unmarked to score from Bruno Fernandes cross to calm United’s nerves with the opener.

He was delighted to get his first United goal and dedicated his celebration to his wife’s birthday today.

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He was elated to have notched his first Prem goal[/caption]

Lisandro Martinez – 7

Not been in great form so anything was an improvement – although Saints’ attack was toothless. 

Diogo Dalot – 5

Suffered an absolute shocker of a first half.

Conceded the penalty after bringing down Tyler Dibling but was also constantly exposed throughout the half.

Kobbie Mainoo – 6

United continue to lean far too heavily on such a young player. And this defensive role does not really suit him.

Christian Eriksen – 7

A surprise starter although United’s two goals came from his corners.

The system, though, still does not play to his strengths as he is too deep.

Bruno Fernandes – 7

Cracking cross from Eriksen who plonked the ball on the head of De Ligt.

Amad Diallo – 7

Looked lively throughout – really encouraging.

Teed up Rashford for the second goal.

Joshua Zirkzee – 6

Forced a couple of saves by Aaron Ramsdale but does not look like a 25 goal-a-season striker.

Marcus Rashford – 7

Hopefully the second goal will give him a real confidence boost.

Also forced a couple of saves from Aaron Ramsdale.

Garnacho (for Rashford 73 mins) 7

Was brutally fouled by Stephens who saw red shortly after coming on.

Notched United’s third goal of the game in the final minute.

He struck high into Ramsdale’s high corner after a brilliant ball from Casemiro.

Manuel Ugarte (for Eriksen 73 mins) 6

Harry Maguire (for Mazraouri 74 mins) 6

Jonny Evans (for Martinez 77 mins) 6.

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