CLEVELAND (AP) — Lane Thomas hit a three-run homer in a five-run outburst before Detroit got an out, and the Cleveland Guardians unleashed their lights-out bullpen to complete a four-hitter in a 7-0 win over the Tigers in an AL Division Series opener on Saturday.
Thomas’ shot — on his first career postseason swing — helped the Guardians cool off the Tigers, who stormed into the playoffs with a second-half surge before sweeping AL West champion Houston in the wild-card round.
“It was electric,” said Thomas, acquired from Washington at the trade deadline. “It was everything I had thought and more.”
Tanner Bibee pitched 4 2/3 innings before Guardians manager Stephen Vogt swung the door open to baseball’s best bullpen to finish off the Tigers.
Cleveland’s relievers combined for 4 1/3 hitless innings to finish and match the largest shutout victory margin in club postseason history. Detroit struck out 13 times and didn’t get a runner past first in the final four innings.
The shutout was the worst in Detroit playoff history since Game 1 of the 1945 World Series.
“We’re going to see a lot of this bullpen,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “The more you look at them, hopefully, the more comfortable you get.”
Cleveland’s bullpen was as advertised. Rookie Cade Smith (1-0) replaced Bibee and struck out all four batters. Tim Herrin took care of the seventh, Hunter Gaddis the eighth, and Emmanuel Clase, who led the AL with 47 saves, worked the ninth.
David Fry added a two-run double for the AL Central champion Guardians, who were unaffected by not playing for almost a week with a first-round bye.
“We came out ready to swing the bat, and we looked like we didn’t take five days off,” Vogt said.
Game 2 is Monday, when the Tigers will turn to Tarik Skubal, the favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award, to try and even the best-of-five series.
The 2,327th meeting between Detroit and Cleveland was the first between the franchises and Central division rivals in the postseason.
It was as good as over after one inning.
Hinch has made the right decisions for months as his young club went from being under .500 at the trade deadline to qualifying for the postseason with a 33-13 flourish since Aug. 11.
Hinch used his bullpen in Game 1 from the start and it backfired.
The Guardians sent nine batters to the plate in the first with Thomas’ moon shot into the left-field bleachers opening the 5-0 lead. Cleveland became the first team in AL postseason history to score five runs before recording an out.
Steven Kwan got it rolling with a leadoff double against Tigers starter Tyler Holton (0-1) and Fry walked. José Ramírez followed with a hard hopper to third that Zach McKinstry misplayed for an error, allowing Kwan to score.
“I tried to make a play and I didn’t. We ended up losing the game because of it,” said McKinstry, who put some of the blame on the grounds crew. “They watered the field before the game, but they didn’t water it for the game and it took a weird hop.”
Josh Naylor’s RBI single made it 2-0 and Hinch pulled Holton after just four batters to bring in Reese Olson.
Thomas, who batted just .143 with 33 strikeouts in 77 at-bats after coming over from the Nationals, made his first postseason at-bat with the Guardians unforgettable.
He turned on Olson’s first pitch — a slider down the heart of the plate — and launched it over the wall, sending the majority of 33,548 fans inside Progressive Field into a frenzy.
Bibee admitted feeling nerves ahead of the opener, and he showed some in the first, throwing 27 pitches.
But taking the mound in the second with a five-run lead helped Bibee settle in. The right-hander gave up four hits and struck out six before handing the ball to Vogt and a bullpen with no detectable flaws.
“I totally get it,” Bibee said. “With how good our pen has been, I get it. It makes sense. Obviously, I want to stay out there as long as possible, but I get it.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Guardians: RHP Alex Cobb, a candidate to start Game 3, was added to the ALDS roster after finishing the regular season on the injured list with a blister on his middle finger. He made just three starts after being acquired in a July trade from San Francisco.
UP NEXT
Skubal led the AL in wins (18), ERA (2.39) and strikeouts (228). The left-hander is expected to face Guardians RHP Matthew Boyd, who spent eight seasons with the Tigers and remains close friends with Skubal.
WASHINGTON – The nostalgic movie Mean Girls returns to theaters on October 3rd for its 20th anniversary.
You may be wording why ‘October 3rd’ or ‘Mean Girls Day’ is floating around. The movie Mean Girls originally premiered in theaters on April 19, 2004. In the movie, actress Lindsay Lohan played Cady Heron who is responsible for the iconic line “On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was.”
In honor of the movie’s anniversary, fans can enjoy the movie in theaters. Here are a few theaters across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area that you can enjoy the movie.
October 3rd, ‘Mean Girls’ in theaters for its 20th anniversary:
Published Sep 30, 2024 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 12 minute read
Cincinnati Reds great Pete Rose visits Winnipeg for an autograph-signing session at the the Park Theatre on Saturday, April 26, 2014. Photo by Chris Procaylo /Postmedia Network
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NEW YORK — Pete Rose, baseball’s career hits leader and fallen idol who undermined his historic achievements and Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved and once embodied, has died. He was 83.
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Stephanie Wheatley, a spokesperson for Clark County in Nevada, confirmed on behalf of the medical examiner that Rose died Monday. Wheatley said his cause and manner of death had not yet been determined. Over the weekend, he had appeared at an autograph show in Nashville with former teammates Tony Perez, George Foster and Dave Concepcion.
For fans who came of age in the 1960s and ‘70s, no player was more exciting than the Cincinnati Reds’ No. 14, “Charlie Hustle,” the brash superstar with the shaggy hair, puggish nose and muscular forearms. At the dawn of artificial surfaces, divisional play and free agency, Rose was old school, a conscious, dirt-stained throwback to baseball’s early days. Millions could never forget him crouched and scowling at the plate, running full speed to first even after drawing a walk, or sprinting for the next base and diving headfirst into the bag.
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Major League Baseball, which banished him in 1989, issued a brief statement expressing condolences and noting his “greatness, grit and determination on the field of play.” Reds principal owner and managing partner Bob Castellini said in a statement that Rose was “one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen” and added: “We must never forget what he accomplished.”
Major League Baseball extends its deepest condolences to Pete Rose’s family, his friends across the game, and the fans of his hometown of Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Montreal and beyond who admired his greatness, grit and determination on the field of play. May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/GAP4NHBAOF
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A 17-time All-Star, the switch-hitting Rose played on three World Series winners. He was the National League MVP in 1973 and World Series MVP two years later. He holds the major league record for games played (3,562) and plate appearances (15,890) and the NL record for the longest hitting streak (44). He was the leadoff man for one of baseball’s most formidable lineups with the Reds’ championship teams of 1975 and 1976, with teammates that included Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Tony Perez and Joe Morgan.
But no milestone approached his 4,256 hits, breaking his hero Ty Cobb’s 4,191 and signifying his excellence no matter the notoriety which followed. It was a total so extraordinary that you could average 200 hits for 20 years and still come up short. Rose’s secret was consistency, and longevity. Over 24 seasons, all but six played entirely with the Reds, Rose had 200 hits or more 10 times, and more than 180 four other times. He batted .303 overall, even while switching from second base to outfield to third to first, and he led the league in hits seven times.
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“Every summer, three things are going to happen,” Rose liked to say, “the grass is going to get green, the weather is going to get hot, and Pete Rose is going to get 200 hits and bat .300.”
Rose was Rookie of the Year in 1963, but he started off 0 for 12 with three walks and a hit by pitch before getting his first major league hit, an eighth-inning triple off Pittsburgh’s Bob Friend. It came in Cincinnati on April 13, 1963, the day before Rose’s 22nd birthday. He reached 1,000 in 1968, 2,000 just five years later and 3,000 just five years after that.
He moved into second place, ahead of Hank Aaron, with hit No. 3,772, in 1982. No. 4,000 was off the Phillies’ Jerry Koosman in 1984, exactly 21 years to the day after his first hit. He caught up with Cobb on Sept. 8, 1985, and surpassed him three days later, in Cincinnati, with Rose’s mother and teenage son, Pete Jr., among those in attendance.
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Rose was 44 and the team’s player-manager. Batting left-handed against the San Diego Padres’ Eric Show in the first inning, he smacked a 2-1 slider into left field, a clean single. The crowd of 47,000-plus stood and yelled. The game was halted to celebrate. Rose was given the ball and the first base bag, then wept openly on the shoulder of first base coach and former teammate, Tommy Helms. He told Pete Jr., who would later play briefly for the Reds: “I love you, and I hope you pass me.” He thought of his late father, a star athlete himself who had pushed him to play sports since childhood. And he thought of Cobb, the dead-ball era slasher whom Rose so emulated that he named another son Tyler.
Baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth, watching from New York, declared that Rose had “reserved a prominent spot in Cooperstown.” After the game, a 2-0 win for the Reds in which Rose scored both runs, he received a phone call from President Ronald Reagan.
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“Your reputation and legacy are secure,” Reagan told him. “It will be a long time before anyone is standing in the spot where you’re standing now.”
Four years later, he was gone.
On March 20, 1989, Ueberroth (who would soon be succeeded by A. Bartlett Giamatti) announced that his office was conducting a “full inquiry into serious allegations” about Rose. Reports emerged that he had been relying on a network of bookies and friends and others in the gambling world to place bets on baseball games, including some with the Reds. Rose denied any wrongdoing, but the investigation found that the “accumulated testimony of witnesses, together with the documentary evidence and telephone records reveal extensive betting activity by Pete Rose in connection with professional baseball and, in particular, Cincinnati Reds games, during the 1985, 1986, and 1987 baseball seasons.”
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Betting on baseball had been a primal sin since 1920, when several members of the Chicago White Sox were expelled for throwing the 1919 World Series — to the Cincinnati Reds. Baseball’s Rule 21, posted in every professional clubhouse, proclaims that “Any player, umpire or club or league official or employee who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.”
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In the decades following the 1919 Series, Dodgers manager Leo Durocher and Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain were among those suspended for gambling, and Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle were reprimanded for associating with casinos, even though both had retired years earlier. As far back as the 1970s, Bench and others had worried about Rose. By all accounts, he never bet against his own team, but even betting on the Reds left himself open to blackmail and raised questions about whether a given managerial decision was based on his own financial interest.
In August 1989, at a New York press conference, Giamatti spoke some of the saddest words in baseball history: “One of the game’s greatest players has engaged in a variety of acts which have stained the game, and he must now live with the consequences of those acts.” Giamatti announced that Rose had agreed to a lifetime ban from baseball, a decision that in 1991 the Hall of Fame would rule left him ineligible for induction. Rose attempted to downplay the news, insisting that he had never bet on baseball and that he would eventually be reinstated.
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Within weeks of his announcement, Giamatti was dead from a heart attack. But the ban remained in place and Rose never made it to the Hall in his lifetime, although he did receive 41 votes in 1992 (when 323 votes were needed), around the time the Hall formally ruled that those banned from the game could never be elected. His status was long debated. Rose’s supporters including Donald Trump, who in 2015, the year before he was elected president, tweeted: “Can’t believe Major League Baseball just rejected ↕PeteRose_14 for the Hall of Fame. He’s paid the price. So ridiculous — let him in!”
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Meanwhile, his story changed. In a November 1989 memoir, written with “The Boys of Summer” author Roger Kahn, Rose again claimed innocence, only to reverse himself in 2004. He desperately wanted to come back, and effectively destroyed his chances. He would continue to spend time at casinos, insisting he was there for promotion, not gambling. He believed he had “messed up” and that his father would have been ashamed, but he still bet on baseball, albeit legally.
“I don’t think betting is morally wrong. I don’t even think betting on baseball is morally wrong,” he wrote in “Play Hungry,” a memoir released in 2019. “There are legal ways, and there are illegal ways, and betting on baseball the way I did was against the rules of baseball.”
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His disgrace was all the harder because no one seemed to live for baseball more than Rose did. He remembered details of games from long ago and could quote the most obscure statistics about players from other teams. He was as relentless in spring training as he was in the postseason, when he brawled with the New York Mets’ Buddy Harrelson during the 1973 NL playoffs.
His compulsion was most memorably defined in an otherwise meaningless contest — the 1970 All-Star Game, in Cincinnati.
In the bottom of the 12th inning, the score tied at 4, he singled with two outs and advanced to second on a single by Billy Grabarkewitz. When Jim Hickman followed with a single, Rose raced past third and crashed at home into the Cleveland Indians’ Ray Fosse, scoring the winning run and fracturing Fosse’s shoulder. It was a collision often replayed, and an injury from which the catcher would say years later still pained him.
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“Would I do the same thing again today in the same situation? Damn right I would,” Rose wrote in his 2019 memoir. “But would I rather it had all gone down without Ray having suffered an injury that would dog his career? You bet.”
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Rose didn’t drink or smoke but indulged himself in other ways. He cared openly about money, vowing to become the first singles hitter to make $100,000 a year and leaving the Reds for the Phillies after declaring free agency at the end of the 1978 season (Rose returned in 1984). He was a longtime womanizer whose two marriages ended in divorce and who acknowledged fathering a child out of wedlock. In 1990, he pleaded guilty to two charges of filing false income tax returns and served five months in prison, the prosecutor calling his sentencing ″a sad day for those young Americans to whom Pete Rose was an idol.″
In the beginning, it was all about the game. He was a Cincinnati native from a working-class neighborhood whose father, Harry Francis Rose, like the father of Mickey Mantle, taught his son to be a switch hitter. Rose mastered his skills with a broom handle and a rubber ball, thrown to him by his younger brother, Dave.
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“I’d let him get as close as he wanted,” Pete Rose told The Cincinnati Enquirer in 2015. “The closer he got, the harder it was to hit. Hour after hour, he’d try to strike me out. I wore that wall out.”
The Roses attended numerous games at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field, where the elder Rose noticed that St. Louis outfielder Enos Slaughter would always run full speed, whether at bat or in the field, and tell his son to do the same.
Pete Rose graduated from high school in June 1960. He flew to Rochester, New York, two days later, and then rode a bus some 45 miles to Geneva, home of the Reds’ level D minor league team. By 1962, he had been promoted to level A, in Macon, Georgia. He batted .330 and vowed to displace Reds second baseman Don Blasingame in 1963, telling a reporter “I’m going to be on his heels.”
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Blasingame was with the Washington Senators by midseason and Rose was a phenomenon: “Charlie Hustle,” Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford reportedly called him, mockingly, after watching him hurry to first upon drawing a walk in spring training. Rose hit .273 as a rookie and, starting in 1965, batted .300 or higher 14 out of 15 seasons. He was so dependable that in 1968, the “Year of the Pitcher,” he led the league with a .335 average, one of three batting titles.
“You could see he was going to be something, even in the minor leagues,” Dave Bristol, who managed him in the minors and for the Reds, told the Los Angeles Times in 1985. “You knew he was going to set records at something, if not Cobb’s. All that determination. He didn’t hit a ball, he attacked it. He was like a guy breaking up a dogfight. He loved to hit and hit and hit. You go to his hotel room at night, and he’s hitting the bed post.”
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After the 1969 season, when the Reds finished third, Bristol was fired and replaced by a minor league manager, 36-year-old Sparky Anderson. The age of “The Big Red Machine” had arrived. Anderson was known as “Captain Hook” for his willingness to replace pitchers, but he flattered and pampered his hitters, naming Rose team captain and letting Rose practice separately with Morgan, Bench and Perez. Between 1970 and 1976, the Reds won five division titles, four pennants and two World Series.
As much as any player, Rose made the machine run, and not just on offence. With the Reds struggling at the start of the 1975 season, he agreed to move from left field to third base and make room for power hitter George Foster. The Reds were soon unstoppable, finishing 108-54 and sweeping Pittsburgh in the playoffs. In the World Series, one of baseball’s most dramatic, they outlasted the Boston Red Sox in seven games and won their first championship since 1940. Rose batted .370 and enjoyed himself so completely that during Game 6, won by Boston on Carlton Fisk’s 11th-inning homer, he turned to the Red Sox catcher during a previous inning and marveled at what a great game they were in.
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The Reds faded after the 1976 season and their World Series sweep against the Yankees, but Rose’s hits continued. In 1978, he batted safely in 44 straight games, placing him second behind Joe DiMaggio’s 56. After leaving for the Phillies in 1979, he surpassed Stan Musial as the National League’s career hit leader and helped lead Philadelphia to its first World Series title in 1980. At age 39, he batted a solid .282 and scored 95 runs, and, always hustling, made one of the World Series’ most memorable defensive plays.
In the decisive Game 6 against Kansas City, the Royals trailed 4-1 going into the ninth inning, but loaded the bases with one out against reliever Tug McGraw. Kansas City’s Frank White then lofted a foul pop fly to the first base side of home plate. Catcher Bob Boone raced under it, only to have the ball pop out of his glove. Rose, sprinting in from first, snatched the ball for the out. McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to end the game.
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Rose played in one more World Series, in 1983, when he batted .313 even as the Phillies fell to the Baltimore Orioles in five games. He signed with the Montreal Expos in 1984, but rejoined the Reds in August as player-manager, replacing the fired Vern Rapp after the Reds acquired him in exchange for a minor leaguer. “There’s no question I’ll make some mistakes,” he told reporters.
Rose had planned to limit himself to pinch-hitting with the Reds, but the trade revived him and he hit .365 over the rest of the season after batting just .259 for Montreal. He retired as a player after the 1986 season and his last game as a manager came two days before his banishment, Aug. 21, 1989, a 6-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs. His career managerial record was 412-373.
In his post-baseball life, he did make it to a few honorary associations. The Reds voted him into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2016, the year before a bronze sculpture of Rose’s iconic slide was unveiled outside of Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park, and retired his uniform number.
Rose the man was never inducted into Cooperstown, but his career was well represented. Items at the Baseball Hall include his helmet from his MVP 1973 season, the bat he used in 1978 when his hitting streak reached 44 and the cleats he wore, in 1985, on the day he became the game’s hits king.
“Weird Al” Yankovic is set to play his biggest hits on his 2025 tour dates.
Yankovic will make three Upstate New York stops on “The Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour,” including at the Darien Lake Amphitheater near Buffalo on Friday, July 11, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on Sunday, July 13, and the Broadview Stage at SPAC (Saratoga Performing Arts Center) in Saratoga Springs on Thursday, July 17. Special guest Puddles Pity Party, a 7-foot-tall sad clown who appeared on “America’s Got Talent,” will open all three shows.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — John David “JD” Souther, a prolific songwriter and musician who helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s with his collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, has died at the age of 78.
Souther, who collaborated on some of the Eagles’ biggest hits, such as “Best of My Love,” “James Dean,” “New Kid in Town,” and “Heartache Tonight,” died Tuesday at his home in New Mexico, according to an announcement on his website.
He also worked with James Taylor, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt and many more, and also found success as a solo artist. He was about to start a tour with Karla Bonoff on Sept. 24 in Phoenix, now canceled.
When he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013, Souther was described as “a principal architect of the Southern California sound and a major influence on a generation of songwriters.” He was also at the heart of the social scene, his girlfriends including Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks, who in a 1982 interview with High Times magazine remembered him as “very, very, very male chauvinistic and very sweet and cute and wonderful but very Texas.”
Souther was born in Detroit and grew up in Amarillo, Texas. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1960s, where he met fellow Michigan native Glenn Frey, a founding member and guitarist of the Eagles. The two began a longtime partnership, starting with a band called Longbranch Pennywhistle. Frey would credit Souther with introducing him to country music.
“Our first year together will always seem like yesterday to me,” Souther said in a statement after Frey died in 2016. “His amazing capacity for the big joke and that brilliant groove that lived inside him are with me, even now, in this loss and sorrow. … The music and the love are indestructible.”
Souther was so close to the Eagles, he even appeared on the back cover of their 1973 album, “Desperado,” with Souther and others reenacting the capture of the legendary Dalton Gang. He described his start with Frey at The Troubadaour, the popular West Hollywood music club, as “the best study in songwriting I can imagine.”
“So many great songwriters came through — Laura Nyro, Kris Kristofferson, Randy Newman, Elton John, James Taylor, Tim Hardin, Carole King, Rick Nelson, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Waylon Jennings, Tim Buckley, Gordon Lightfoot, Taj Mahal and more,” he said in a statement on his website. “It seems impossible now to imagine that much music in a year and a half or so, but that was my life and the Troubadour was our university.
“It’s also where I met Linda Ronstadt and where Don Henley and Glenn Frey met to form this little country rock band called Eagles that would go on to make musical history,” Souther wrote.
On his own, Souther recorded his self-titled debut in 1972 before forming The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with former Byrds member Chris Hillman and Poco’s Richie Furay. A second solo effort in 1976, Black Rose, included a duet with Ronstadt, his one-time girlfriend, “If You Have Crying Eyes.” Other duets he had recorded with her include “Prisoner in Disguise,” “Sometimes You Can’t Win” and “Hearts Against the Wind,” the latter featured in the 1980 film “Urban Cowboy.”
His biggest hit as a solo artist was “You’re Only Lonely,” from the 1979 album of the same name.
Other songs he wrote include “Run Like a Thief,” for Bonnie Raitt, and “Faithless Love” and “White Rhythm and Blues” for Ronstadt. He collaborated and sang with James Taylor on “Her Town Too.”
Among other artists he worked with as a singer were Don Henley, Christopher Cross, Dan Fogelberg and Roy Orbison.
He appeared as an actor on television in “thirtysomething,” “Nashville” and “Purgatory” and in the films “Postcards from the Edge,” “My Girl 2,” and “Deadline.”
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
LOS ANGELES — John David “JD” Souther, a prolific songwriter and musician who helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s with his collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, has died at the age of 78.
Souther, who collaborated on some of the Eagles’ biggest hits, such as “Best of My Love,” “James Dean,” “New Kid in Town,” and “Heartache Tonight,” died Tuesday at his home in New Mexico, according to an announcement on his website.
He also worked with James Taylor, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt and many more, and also found success as a solo artist. He was about to start a tour with Karla Bonoff on Sept. 24 in Phoenix, now canceled.
When he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013, Souther was described as “a principal architect of the Southern California sound and a major influence on a generation of songwriters.” He was also at the heart of the social scene, his girlfriends including Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks, who in a 1982 interview with High Times magazine remembered him as “very, very, very male chauvinistic and very sweet and cute and wonderful but very Texas.”
An early connection with a future Eagles member
Souther was born in Detroit and grew up in Amarillo, Texas. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1960s, where he met fellow Michigan native Glenn Frey, a founding member and guitarist of the Eagles. The two began a longtime partnership, starting with a band called Longbranch Pennywhistle. Frey would credit Souther with introducing him to country music.
“Our first year together will always seem like yesterday to me,” Souther said in a statement after Frey died in 2016. “His amazing capacity for the big joke and that brilliant groove that lived inside him are with me, even now, in this loss and sorrow. … The music and the love are indestructible.”
Souther was so close to the Eagles, he even appeared on the back cover of their 1973 album, “Desperado,” with Souther and others reenacting the capture of the legendary Dalton Gang. He described his start with Frey at The Troubadaour, the popular West Hollywood music club, as “the best study in songwriting I can imagine.”
“So many great songwriters came through — Laura Nyro, Kris Kristofferson, Randy Newman, Elton John, James Taylor, Tim Hardin, Carole King, Rick Nelson, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Waylon Jennings, Tim Buckley, Gordon Lightfoot, Taj Mahal and more,” he said in a statement on his website. “It seems impossible now to imagine that much music in a year and a half or so, but that was my life and the Troubadour was our university.
“It’s also where I met Linda Ronstadt and where Don Henley and Glenn Frey met to form this little country rock band called Eagles that would go on to make musical history,” Souther wrote.
Duets with Linda Ronstadt
On his own, Souther recorded his self-titled debut in 1972 before forming The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with former Byrds member Chris Hillman and Poco’s Richie Furay. A second solo effort in 1976, Black Rose, included a duet with Ronstadt, his one-time girlfriend, “If You Have Crying Eyes.” Other duets he had recorded with her include “Prisoner in Disguise,” “Sometimes You Can’t Win” and “Hearts Against the Wind,” the latter featured in the 1980 film “Urban Cowboy.”
His biggest hit as a solo artist was “You’re Only Lonely,” from the 1979 album of the same name.
Other songs he wrote include “Run Like a Thief,” for Bonnie Raitt, and “Faithless Love” and “White Rhythm and Blues” for Ronstadt. He collaborated and sang with James Taylor on “Her Town Too.”
Among other artists he worked with as a singer were Don Henley, Christopher Cross, Dan Fogelberg and Roy Orbison.
He appeared as an actor on television in “thirtysomething,” “Nashville” and “Purgatory” and in the films “Postcards from the Edge,” “My Girl 2,” and “Deadline.”
Chelsea showed their attacking potential to give Enzo Maresca a first-ever top-flight win as a manager, as they swamped a defensively-dreadful Wolves to win 6-2 in the Premier League.
An even first half saw the scoring go back and forth, Nicolas Jackson’s early opener cancelled out by Matheus Cunha before Cole Palmer and Jorgen Strand Larsen swapped strikes right before the break.
But after the restart it was all about the blues’ attack, with Noni Madueke scoring a hat-trick – all set up by Palmer – and sub Joao Felix adding a late sixth on his second debut for the club to give the Maresca era a big first league win and plenty of talking points. For Wolves, a fast improvement is needed after they disappeared entirely, leading to a mostly empty stadium by the final whistle.
Follow all the reaction from Wolves vs Chelsea in the blog below
Goal – Jackson gives Chelsea lead after just two minutes
Goal – Cunha fires in to level up for Wolves after half an hour
Goal – Palmer scores brilliant lob right before the break to restore Chelsea’s lead
Goal – Strand Larsen immediately equalises with finish on the stretch
Goal – Madueke scores straight after half-time for 3-2 to Chelsea
Goal – Madueke nets his second from Palmer assist
Goal – Madueke completes his hat-trick with low finish after an hour
Goal – Joao Felix scores off the bench on his second debut for Chelsea
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 2 – 6 Chelsea FC
FT – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
16:30 , Karl Matchett
At the other end of the scale, while the defensive unit must be questioned, Jose Sa in particular was very poor in goal. Nothing he could do about some, like Felix’s finish, but conceding six from eight shots on target isn’t a great look – three went through or straight past him.
Wolves actually had a better xG than Chelsea for the game, believe it or not: 1.92 – 1.56.
Wasn’t anything like a close finish to the actual scoreline, however.
FT – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
16:23 , Karl Matchett
For Wolves, there were positives to pick out in individuals, but certainly not defensively or in that team performance.
In attack, Cunha was typically excellent but Jorgen Strand Larsen served notice he’ll be vital for them if he’s fit and given service – lots of work rate, created a couple of openings, scored with a deft touch and kept the Chelsea defence guessing.
Lemina kept up his level, too.
FT – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
16:12 , Karl Matchett
Madueke will get the headlines for his treble but Cole Palmer produced the goods today too – not a non-stop performance for him but one beautiful goal and three assists – all for Madueke – clearly mark him out as a key player for Maresca once more.
Ideal for Maresca in attack too, with both starter and sub up front scoring, Jackson and Felix.
FT – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
16:05 , Karl Matchett
One or two boos as the full time whistle goes, but in truth most of the Wolves fans have either gone or gone quiet long ago.
Madueke hands his jersey to an elderly fan in the crowd, hops back over the barriers and off he goes in search of the matchball – he scored a hat-trick to clinch the points.
90+6’ – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
16:03 , Karl Matchett
So much space in front of the Wolves defence – the running has stopped and so have the challenges.
Felix turns again and drives on for 15 yards, but picks Neto instead of Madueke for the pass and it’s intercepted.
Much to ponder for Wolves before their next match, against Burnley in the League Cup in midweek and then Forest next week in the league.
90+2’ – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
15:57 , Karl Matchett
Into stoppage time we go and we’ll have eight minutes for unknown reasons. Lots of goals and subs sure, though the first 30 seconds of celebration time aren’t supposed to be added on any more.
Madueke rockets another shot wide from the edge of the box, as Doyle comes on as a late Wolves sub.
It’s all but done now here, pending any more late disasterclasses at the back for the home team.
88’ – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
15:54 , Karl Matchett
Just a couple of minutes left for Wolves to endure – plenty of their fans have already departed, of course.
Chelsea will be thinking they are in a good spot to take on Servette in that second leg of the Conference qualifier in midweek, before then hosting Crystal Palace next weekend.
Meanwhile Nkunku and Felix link on the edge of the box but the latter’s shot is deflected over.
84’ – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
15:50 , Karl Matchett
Veiga and Nkunku on for Cucurella and Palmer in another double sub for Maresca.
How many positives can the Chelsea boss take from today? They certainly controlled more of the second half but it felt like Wolves stepped off, more than Chelsea forced them to.
This has been desperate defensive work from the hosts all the same, but the visitors were equally poor in their own third of the pitch first half.
Still, score six every week and you won’t lose too many…
GOAL! 80’ – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
15:47 , Karl Matchett
Incredible, another goal – and Joao Felix has scored on his second debut!
A brilliant break down the left sees Neto surging into space behind the defence, he cuts it back right into the path of Felix who has run from deep and his first-time finish is controlled and clinical, side-footed hard past Sa and in for 6-2.
What a scoreline.
78’ – Wolves 2-5 Chelsea
15:45 , Karl Matchett
Wow, what a finish – but it won’t count. A free-kick is clipped to Toti again and his header eventually lands to Lemina on the edge of the box – a half-volley scrapes off Dewsbury-Hall and in for 5-3…except the flag is up and Toti was offside from the initial set piece.
Chelsea still have a three goal lead.
74’ – Wolves 2-5 Chelsea
15:41 , Karl Matchett
Caicedo initially continued after treatment but he’s down again now and will be replaced. Dewsbury-Hall comes on for him as Maresca has a word with Cucurella, presumably to keep his head after being booked.
A good away win this, once they see it out.
70’ – Wolves 2-5 Chelsea
15:37 , Karl Matchett
Caicedo is down and needing attention after a big challenge from Mosquera – Chelsea players aren’t happy with the tackle and Cucurella gets right in his face, a few players quickly again coming together to clash for about the third time today.
Mosquera and Cucurella both booked.
66’ – Wolves 2-5 Chelsea
15:34 , Karl Matchett
Well, if Maresca’s Chelsea side is just to be a “we’ll score more than you” type of team, they’ll be well worth watching this term.
Defensively they looked extremely vulnerable in the first half, but in attack Wolves haven’t come close to stopping them.
Joao Felix is coming on for Jackson – a second debut following his earlier loan.
Wolves swap Dawson, Sarabia and Rodrigo Gomes for Ait-Nouri, Cunha and Bellegarde.
GOAL! 62’ – Wolves 2-5 Chelsea
15:31 , Karl Matchett
Could be anything, this. Chelsea under pressure but two passes get them past Wolves’ midfield, Palmer runs in down the right channel and lashes a shot in near post – strikes the outside of the woodwork and wide, he should have passed across to Madueke.
It doesn’t matter though because Palmer immediately has another opportunity this time does roll in Madueke…and he buries his hattrick!
5-2 to Chelsea!
GOAL! 58’ – Wolves 2-4 Chelsea
15:25 , Karl Matchett
And that might be enough for the Blues! Cole Palmer finds space, frees Madueke on the overlap and the right winger drills one through the legs of Sa, who has been beaten by everything today.
It’s 4-2 to Chelsea and they have a two-goal lead for the first time today.
54’ – Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
15:23 , Karl Matchett
Colwill drives past Ait-Nouri who takes him down – the left-back is on a yellow card, remember.
Lemina drills one over the bar from range for Wolves, minutes after the home crowd berate Hwang for moving out of a challenge with Neto.
GOAL! 49’ – Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
15:15 , Karl Matchett
What is going on in this game! Out of nothing again, Chelsea just switch it left to right, Madueke drifts in and shoots – it hits Ait-Nouri and bounces past Sa into the far corner, Chelsea ahead for a third time!
48’ – Wolves 2-2 Chelsea
15:14 , Karl Matchett
Enzo Fernandez robbed of the ball once more – he hasn’t had a great game so far. Wolves looking to keep the pressure on in the middle of the park, where Gomes and Lemina have had the upper hand so far.
46’ – Wolves 2-2 Chelsea
15:12 , Karl Matchett
Back underway. Sub for Chelsea at the break now as Pedro Neto is on for Mudryk. He’s straight into the action against his old team but Mosquera is there to fend him off.
15:03 , Karl Matchett
Well, a lot to unpack there:
Nicolas Jackson headed in the opener with basically the first attack of the game, a corner after two minutes.
The Blues were stronger in that early period but Wolves came back into it, had one disallowed and missed a couple of other chances – then Matheus Cunha barrelled in the equaliser after a great Ait-Nouri run.
It looked like that would be it for the first half as both spurned chances, but a long Sanchez pass found Jackson, who hooked one on for Cole Palmer – and he produced a great lob to put Chelsea back ahead.
In stoppage time at the end of the half, though, Wolves were level once more as Jorgen Strand Larsen stretched out a boot to make it 2-2 from a Toni knock-down.
(Getty Images)
HT: Wolves 2-2 Chelsea
14:57 , Karl Matchett
A wild half comes to a close with a mid-air crash but Gomes and Jackson are fine after some treatment.
Four goals, a whole host of other chances and plenty of very questionable defensive work.
Both managers might want a word to tighten things up!
GOAL! 45+6’ – Wolves 2-2 Chelsea
14:53 , Karl Matchett
…and would you believe it, we’re all square again!
A clipped ball to the far post sees Toti nod across the six-yard box, no Chelsea defender is faced the right way to clear and Strand Larsen is there to reach out a big right leg and divert it past Sanchez and in!
It’s back to all square, 2-2 before the break.
45+4’ – Wolves 1-2 Chelsea
14:51 , Karl Matchett
Well inside stoppage time – elsewhere Bournemouth lead Newcastle. You can follow that in our other live blog running alongside this one.
No great push from Wolves to get themselves back on level terms and they look a bit deflated after conceding that soft second goal.
Madueke fouls Cunha about eight yards outside the box and there’s a final chance to deliver for the hosts before the break…
GOAL! 45’ – Wolves 1-2 Chelsea
14:47 , Karl Matchett
Scrap all of that!!
Wolves’ free-kick ends up wide, Chelsesa launch it forward, Jackson flicks it on and Palmer runs in to clip a lobbed finish, first time, over Sa and into the net from 25 yards!
Fantastic finish and timing from the attacking midfielder but how have Wolves switched off like that before the break, Toti was the only one back!
Six minutes added on.
44’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea
14:45 , Karl Matchett
Final minutes before the break and it was so close a brilliant goal with the move of the game! Joao Gomes drags Wolves upfield once more and Lemina then splits the defence with a take-on and a pass, the cut-back finds Cunha and his strike is deflected past Sanchez and onto the crossbar by Colwill!
Almost brilliant but Chelsea escape and will probably be glad to get into the dressing rooms level, despite that fast start they made. Cole Palmer is then next into the book for berating the ref after a foul.
40’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea
14:41 , Karl Matchett
A total mix-up between Toti and Sa as a bouncing ball is left by both, then gone for by both – it bounces off the keeper, hits the onrushing Jackson on the heel and rolls away to safety. Massive let-off for Wolves.
Neto – and Joao Felix – go out for a warm-up with a few minutes left before the break. Interesting to see what reception he gets if the ex-Wolves man comes on.
Five minutes until the interval. Gusto is booked now for tripping Cunha who was off on a counter – bit of a dramatic fall but it was certainly card-worthy for stopping the attack in any case.
36’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea
14:37 , Karl Matchett
Yellow card for Ait-Nouri now and a shooting chance from the free-kick for Cole Palmer, who has been a little quiet in the last 15 minutes. Straight into the wall. Strand Larsen leaps and heads it away, goes down, shakes it off and gets on with it.
Think they love him here already, plenty of chasing, challenging and genuinely smart hard work.
32’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea
14:34 , Karl Matchett
Ait-Nouri pings a brilliant cross from the left this time and it’s just a yard ahead of Larsen, who is stretching in the middle to reach it.
Chelsea struggling to match their own early intensity and in this entire half it has seemed both teams could score every time they reach the penalty box.
Another corner is swung in from the right but the blues this time repel the danger – and the second delivery.
GOAL! 27’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea
14:30 , Karl Matchett
It has been coming…and now Wolves are level! Ait-Nouri strides forward after winning the ball, beats Fernandez twice and flicks a reverse pass to Cunha who blazes a finish high and central past Sanchez and in for 1-1!
Great run from the left-back, fine finish.
Yet again after the goal goes in, there’s a clash between both sets of players – unclear if definitely that’s Cunha saying something to Jackson because of what he said after the first goal, but it looks like it.
The ref has a word with all involved and on we go.
24’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
14:26 , Karl Matchett
Lemina is the new Wolves captain and he makes a brilliant recovery challenge on Mudryk here, sliding back as the Ukrainian threatens to sprint away into the box.
Doherty is down now and needing some attention for Wolves – they are without Nelson Semedo through suspension at right-back, remember.
20’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
14:21 , Karl Matchett
Crazy match! Shouldn’t really still be 1-0. Chelsea spurn another chance with a shot from Madueke causing problems but Palmer and Jackson unable to get control to shoot afterwards.
Then it’s back down the other end and Larsen crosses low again for Cunha at the far post – this time he pokes wide on the stretch!
Sa needs a bit of attention with a possible hamstring issue but there’s a bit of treatment and on he goes.
17’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
14:18 , Karl Matchett
Nobody is defending in this game! Jackson breaks through behind the defence and is in on goal before Mosquera makes a great recovery run and challenge, then 10 seconds later Larsen is through, squares for Cunha and he finishes beyond Sanchez – but the offside flag is up against the new addition.
VAR confirms it and we stay at 0-1.
14’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
14:17 , Karl Matchett
Cunha runs in behind the defence this time and slides for a ball which is just overhit – Sanchez is out quickly and deflects it away bravely, both players colliding but fine to get up and continue.
Now Wolves are just showing their teeth and getting a few passes together in the final third finally.
Cucurella loses out but a combination of Fofana and Gusto clears the latest moment of danger. Now it’s Chelsea who need to wake up and find some control.
10’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
14:12 , Karl Matchett
Very close to an equaliser from this corner too – the right-footed delivery from Cunha is met by Mosquera with a giant leap and powerful header, but his effort flies just past the post instead of inside it.
Strand Larsen is next to try running at the Chelsea defence but he’s closed out by Fofana – the on-loan attacker tries to get the crowd going, since none of the football has so far.
6’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
14:10 , Karl Matchett
The home side still haven’t really got to grips with Chelsea and have hardly had a spell of possession so far.
Chelsea looking to press their early advantage and make the most of that brilliant start.
Now a first ball out to the left for Bellegarde to race at the defence sees Wolves win a corner – good recovery from Gusto to track back and make the challenge.
GOAL! 2’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
14:05 , Karl Matchett
And from the resulting set piece, the first goal of the game! Palmer’s corner comes in and is flicked on by Cunha, but totally unmarked at the far post is Nicolas Jackson who rises and buries a header past Sa and in!
Not even two minutes on the clock and the visitors are in front.
A bit of a skirmish in the aftermath of the goal between two sets of players but Wolves are behind and pay the price for that very slow start!
1’ – Wolves 0-0 Chelsea
14:03 , Karl Matchett
First opening for the visitors as Noni Madueke skips inside and shoots low – Sa forced into a good save! Wolves need to wake up, they look sluggish and a bit off the early pace.
0’ – Wolves 0-0 Chelsea
14:02 , Karl Matchett
We are underway! Chelsea get us kicked off after a minute’s applause.
Two clubs who lost last weekend, both hopeful of far more in the season to come.
Cole Palmer lining up centrally for the Blues, just off the striker – how much havoc can he cause?
Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates
13:55 , Karl Matchett
Into the final minutes ahead of the start of Sunday’s action – elsewhere you can follow Bournemouth vs Newcastle live too but we’ll be sticking with Wolves against Chelsea right here.
Later we will of course have full coverage of Liverpool vs Brentford and Arne Slot’s first home competitive match in charge of the Reds.
Next up is all the action from Molineux!
Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates
13:51 , Karl Matchett
Not sure about the relevance given the change-around on and off the pitch at Chelsea, but these two sides last met in early February at Stamford Bridge…and Wolves won 4-2.
Cole Palmer and Thiago Silva scored for the hosts, but Matheus Cunha hit a hattrick and Axel Disasi scored an own goal to give O’Neil’s side the points.
That made it a double for the campaign following a 2-1 win at Molineux, with Mario Lemina and Matt Doherty scoring before a very late Christopher Nkunku consolation.
How will today pan out?
(Getty Images)
Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates
13:46 , Karl Matchett
With the transfer deadline less than a week away now, the new Chelsea head coach has made it clear to his bosses that there are a group of players he doesn’t want involved…and won’t have in his training sessions.
“At the moment, with the squad that we have, I am working with 22, 23 or 21 players – not with the 42 players, otherwise it is impossible,” Maresca said.
“It is impossible for any manager in the world to make a session with 45 players. It’s impossible. You cannot do that.
“I just communicate [to the sporting directors] the players that I like and the players I don’t like and because there is one week […] left of the transfer window, hopefully we can find solutions for all of them.
“When you find solutions, everyone is happy. When you don’t find a solution, then you can create some problems.”
Time running down for a whole host of would-be starters and even internationals in some cases…
Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates
13:41 , Karl Matchett
Last Premier League season for Wolves as an overall glance:
Top scorers – Hwang and Cunha, 12 apiece
Most big chances created – Sarabia, 9
PL rank for:
Possession – 11th, 49%
Clean sheets – 15th, 5
xG – 17th, 47.6
Shots on target per match – 15th, 4.2
Touches in opposition box – 19th, 795
xG conceded – 6th, 68.9
Penalties conceded – 2nd, 8
Yellow cards – 2nd, 100.
Clear areas of improvement for Gary O’Neil to find this term!
Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates
13:35 , Karl Matchett
Pedro Neto is of course involved for Chelsea against his former club – he’s sub once more, but the forward is likely to feature after a handful of minutes off the bench against Man City last weekend, then a start and nearly an hour of gametime in midweek.
Chelsea beat Servette 2-0 in a Conference League qualifier, Neto managing one shot and 29 touches in his 57 minutes of action.
The 24-year-old struggled again with injury last term but still scored two and assisted nine in just over 1,500 minutes for Wolves.
(Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates
13:27 , Karl Matchett
Not that we should ever read too much into preseason results, but Wolves beat West Ham and lost to Crystal Palace this summer – while also beating RB Leipzig and losing to Rayo Vallecano.
A very mixed bag, to say the least.
Their 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on the opening weekend of the Premier League season was far from too damaging, given it was away from home, but they’ll certainly want to give a good account today on home soil and not start the campaign with successive defeats.
Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates
13:20 , Karl Matchett
Wolves are without the suspended Nelson Semedo and striker Sasa Kalajdzic – who is still on their books but who suffered a third ACL injury last term and is still in rehab.
For Chelsea, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are of course the high-profile casualties of Enzo Maresca’s decisions over his squad this season, but Axel Disasi, Reece James and Djordje Petrovic are others not even involved in the squad, for a variety of reasons.
A lot of work to do behind the scenes to trim that squad…and salary bill.
Why isn’t Wolves v Chelsea on TV?
13:14 , Karl Matchett
Wolves and Chelsea will bid to bounce back from opening weekend defeats as the two sides meet at Molineux.
Enzo Maresca has since secured his first competitive victory as manager of the London club in the first leg of their Conference League play-off tie against Servette, though his pre-match comments about his bloated squad at Stamford Bridge raised eyebrows.
Chelsea’s European business forced the rescheduling of this fixture from Saturday to Sunday, but it will not be shown live on television in the United Kingdom.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Why isn’t Wolves v Chelsea on TV?
Chelsea could still raise a fortune this summer
13:07 , Karl Matchett
Joao Felix is in the door, Conor Gallagher has gone – but there’s still plenty more transfer business which could be done by Chelsea yet, particularly with regards to outgoing links.
There are a handful here of which still could get done before deadline day…
Ten players Chelsea could sell to fund summer spending spree
Wolves vs Chelsea
12:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Enzo Maresca heavily praised Noni Madueke after that Conference League play-off first leg win, so a start always felt a possibility here. More of a surprise, though, is the inclusion of Mykhailo Mudryk – for all of his natural gifts, the Ukraine winger continues to struggle for consistency.
“We’re going to try to help him to change,” said Maresca of Mudryk on Thursday. “We’re going to bring him the ball in the last third, and when he’s there he has to take the right decisions.
“The mistakes he makes are not technical, they are about choices. It’s about decision making. Hopefully we can help him and we can improve that.”
There is no Romeo Lavia in the Chelsea squad, which is presumably related to injury given the midfielder was one of their best against Manchester City.
Team news – Chelsea
12:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, rewards Noni Madueke with a start after his goalscoring cameo against Servette. Mykhailo Mudryk also earns an opportunity on the wing with Cole Palmer, it would seem, moving into a central role.
Let’s start with the hosts’ line-up, though, as Gary O’Neil makes a single change to his Wolves side – Matheus Cunha is promoted after featuring off the bench against Arsenal.
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil insisted on Friday it was “pretty much impossible” to predict the Chelsea line-up they will face this afternoon.
Chelsea have brought in 10 new players since new boss Enzo Maresca walked through the door at Stamford Bridge, including former Wolves talisman Pedro Neto.
Neto faces a quick return to Molineux on Sunday when he revisits Wolves with his new club after making his Premier League debut in their defeat to Manchester City last week.
O’Neil was interested to see whether Neto would be included to play in front of the fans that used to sing his name after he also appeared in Chelsea Europa Conference League qualifying victory over Servette on Thursday night.
He told a press conference: “It’ll be interesting to see what they do with him.
“Obviously he played yesterday, we’ll see whether he can go again on the weekend and start again on the Sunday.
“It’s pretty much impossible for me to predict the Chelsea line-up but, there are so many there.
“We know some that definitely won’t be in the team but figuring out what they’re going to do will be tough.
“We will try and give the best account of ourselves and try start the Premier League season at home with a win, which will be huge for us.”
Pedro Neto could face his former club (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
New signing Joao Felix is ‘player that will help us’ says Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca
12:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Enzo Maresca tells Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell to leave or ‘struggle’ at Chelsea
The London club secured their latest summer signing on Wednesday as Joao Felix sealed a return to Stamford Bridge, with Conor Gallagher completing a move the other way to Atletico Madrid.
It now leaves the club looking to offload perhaps as many as a dozen players before the end of the transfer window as they try to whittle down their senior playing group.
Enzo Maresca tells Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell to leave or ‘struggle’ at Chelsea
Raheem Sterling training at home amid bitter Chelsea fallout – as Pedro Neto takes shirt number
12:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
One player who will not be involved today is Raheem Sterling, who has been training on his own since last week after Chelsea made it clear that the England international is not part of Enzo Maresca’s plans.
Chelsea have already left Sterling out of their two matchday squads this year.
Sterling training at home amid bitter Chelsea fallout – as Neto takes shirt number
Wolves vs Chelsea – early team news
12:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Gary O’Neil confirmed on Friday that Wolves have no fresh injury concerns, with Matheus Cunha ready for “more minutes” after appearing off the bench against Arsenal. Nelson Semedo featured for the club’s U21s on Friday as he builds up his fitness while suspended.
Enzo Maresca made nine changes for the Conference League play-off win over Servette, but is likely to return to a similar side to the one beaten by Manchester City. Reece James remains suspended and is also dealing with a hamstring issue; Ben Chiwell and Raheem Sterling are among those training away from the first-team squad having been told they are surplus to requirements.
(Getty Images)
Wolves vs Chelsea
Friday 23 August 2024 15:36 , Sonia Twigg
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live build up and coverage of Wolves vs Chelsea.
The Blues are still looking to get off the mark in the Premier League following an opening-day defeat to Manchester City, while some of their fans remain aggrieved at the signing of home favourites like Conor Gallagher.
Enzo Maresca is still finalising his first-team squad, but some players, including Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell have already been told they are not part of the new manager’s plans this season.
The Israeli military said early on Sunday that it had launched a series of preemptive strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon based on intelligence it says indicated that the militant group was planning an attack.
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a video on X that the military acted in “self defense” to “remove these threats.”
Hezbollah said it was able to launch rockets and drones against Israel on Sunday, which the group said was in response to the killing of one of its top commanders in July. Israel’s military said Sunday that the group had launched “over 150 projectiles” toward Israel.
U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said President Biden was “closely monitoring events in Israel and Lebanon.”
Jalaa Marey / AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
This photo taken from a position in northern Israel shows an Israeli Air Force fighter jet firing flares as it flies to intercept a hostile aircraft that launched from Lebanon over the border area with south Lebanon on Sunday.
The latest wave of attacks comes as Egypt hosts a new round of cease-fire talks aimed at getting Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas closer to a deal for a cease-fire in Gaza, after almost 11 months of fighting between the two sides following the surprise attack against Israel on Oct. 7.
Talks were set to resume on Sunday after Israel and international mediators — including the U.S. — sent delegations to Cairo.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah on Sunday were not “the end of the story,” the Times of Israelreported. He made the comments during his weekly cabinet meeting.
Netanyahu said he wanted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah — as well as Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — to know that the operation was “another step on the path to changing the situation in the north and returning our residents safely to their homes.”
Iran has provided money and weapons to both Hezbollah and Hamas.
On Sunday, Nasrallah said in a public address that Hezbollah delayed its retaliatory attack against Israel because of recent Israeli and U.S. military mobilization in the area, The Guardianreported.
Nasrallah said the group was targeting an Israeli military intelligence base outside Tel Aviv — not civilian infrastructure — and that it began its attack a half hour after Israel’s preemptive strikes started.
Three people were killed in the strikes in Lebanon, the health ministry said. Israel’s military said an Israeli soldier on a Navy vessel was killed and two others were wounded during the attack, according to the Times of Israel.
The Israeli military said it struck more than 40 Hezbollah targets and that Israeli fighter jets destroyed “thousands of Hezbollah rocket launcher barrels, aimed for immediate fire toward northern and central Israel.”
Hezbollah and Iran had been threatening to launch attacks on Israel after the killings last month of top Hezbollah official Fuad Shukr in Beirut and the leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran.
But officials in Israel, Lebanon and beyond appeared wary of letting Sunday’s attacks escalate into a wider conflict.
Nasrallah said Hezbollah would “assess the impact of today’s operation” and may attack again “if results are not seen to be enough.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he spoke with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin about the “importance of avoiding regional escalation and working together to ensure Israel’s defense as well as regional stability.”
Manchester City was in trouble until it wasn’t, riding a breakneck three-goal burst to a 4-1 win over Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Erling Haaland scored three goals and Kevin De Bruyne also found the score sheet as Pep Guardiola’s side kept their perfect start to the season going with minimum fuss.
Keyword: minimum. Sammie Szmodics put Ipswich ahead in the seventh minute, but the worry was short-lived as Haaland sandwiched goals around De Bruyne’s marker between the 12th and 16th minutes.
Man City out-attempted Ipswich 14-1 and rang up 3.15 xG to Ipswich’s 0.24, keeping 74% possession in moving onto six points and jumping ahead of Brighton for first place on the Premier League table. Ipswich are 19th with minus-5 goal differential and zero points.
City brushed aside Chelsea 2-0 on the opening weekend and remained without Rodri in this match, but reintroduced Ilkay Gundogan in the second half as John Stones and Jack Grealish also came off the benhc.
Ipswich lost their first game back in the Premier League after a 22-year hiatus ended in defeat and their second saw the steam removed within the game’s first quarter-hour (or so).
Welcome to the Etihad Stadium, Tractor Boys
Ipswich Town had won its last two trips to Manchester City, but Maine Road closed in 2003 and perhaps no club in the world has had a better 21-year run of growth than the Citizens.
An early goal that will be rued by Pep Guardiola was brilliant for the Portman Road crowd, but it soon disappeared as Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland feasted on spoils served up by Savinho via drawn penalty and keeper turnover.
This was all without a moment on the pitch for Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake on the bench, and Rodri still waiting to be involved in an 18 due to a minor injury.
So, yeah, Ipswich, it could actually be worse and might’ve been. Rico Lewis smashed the cross bar and both De Bruyne and Haaland each had another goal in sight.
Manchester City vs Ipswich Town player ratings
Manchester City vs Ipswich Town player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Manchester City vs Ipswich Town player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Manchester City vs Ipswich Town player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Manchester City go to West Ham at 12:30pm ET Saturday, while Ipswich Town go to AFC Wimbledon in League Cup actio on Tuesday before hosting Fulham at 10am Saturday.
How to watch Manchester City vs Ipswich, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET, Saturday (August 24) Venue: Etihad Stadium TV channel: Peacock Streaming: Watch live on Peacock
Manchester City vs Ipswich Town live updates — By Nick Mendola
Manchester City vs Ipswich Town final score: 4-1
Sammie Szmodics, 7′; Erling Haaland 12′, 16′, 88′; Kevin De Bruyne 14′
Manchester City vs Ipswich extended video highlights, recap
Extended HLs: Man City v. Ipswich Town Matchweek 2
Ipswich Town got off to a dream start in the first half, but Erling Haaland’s hat-trick was enough to keep The Tractor Boys at bay en route to an impressive 4-1 win at the Etihad.
Erling Haaland hat trick — Man City 4-1 Ipswich Town (88th minute)
A hammered strike from the Norwegian spins and skips off the turf to beat Muric.
The 23rd hat trick of the 24-year-old’s young career.
Haaland completes hat-trick against Ipswich Town
Erling Haaland turns and blasts his effort into the bottom corner of the net to complete his hat-trick and give Manchester City a 4-1 lead against Ipswich Town at the Etihad.
Halftime — Man City 3-1 Ipswich Town
It could’ve been 7-2.
City had all nine of the game’s shot attempts after Szmodics put Ipswich in front, and the numbers do look like most would’ve forecasted heading into the game.
Shot: 9-1, City
Big chances: 4-1, City
xG: 2.56-0.23, City
Possession: 74%, City
Haaland! Ipswich is bamboozled — Man City 3-1 Ipswich Town (16th minute)
Well, they’ll always have that moment they were ahead of City in their Premier League return.
The rest of the moments appear to belong to City.
Erling Haaland has juked past Muric to make it 3-1 off a Kevin De Bruyne assist.
Haaland lifts Man City 3-1 ahead of Ipswich Town
After conceding in the opening minutes of the match, Manchester City complete their comeback and take a two-goal lead against Ipswich Town thanks to Erling Haaland’s second goal of the first half at the Etihad.
Savinho is having a day! De Bruyne puts City ahead — Man City 2-1 Ipswich Town (14th minute)
Ipswich is playing out the back and it goes so wrong.
Savinho tackles former City keeper Arijanet Muric, and he pokes toward Haaland and De Bruyne.
The Norwegian defers to the Belgian, and City are ahead!
De Bruyne powers Man City in front of Ipswich Town
A mistake at the back leaves Ipswich Town vulnerable, and Kevin De Bruyne doesn’t hesitate to give Manchester City a 2-1 lead at the Etihad.
Man City penalty — Erling Haaland goal! Man City 1-1 Ipswich Town (12th minute)
Leif Davis and Savinho are battling and Davis seems to go into the Man City player’s leg as they near the end line.
It’s initially shaken off by referee Michael Salisbury but he’s been asking to have another look (and another look and another look).
It’s an unfortunate penalty to give away but there’s definitely real contact even if Savinho was going to have trouble keeping the ball in bounds.
Erling Haaland nails his penalty. 1-1, 12th minute.
Haaland’s penalty puts City level v. Ipswich Town
Erling Haaland makes no mistake from the penalty spot as he puts Manchester City back on level terms against Ipswich Town early in the first half at the Etihad.
Ipswich in front off lightning counter — Man City 0-1 Ipswich Town (7th minute)
Oh my! Sammie Szmodics has put the Tractor Boys ahead of the four-time defending champions!
The first touches of the game for Ben Johnson are in the seventh minute, and they are beautiful as he slots a perfectly-timed through ball onto the path of new purchase Szmodics.
A low shot is partially-blocked by Ederson but still has some speed through his legs and gets over the line. 1-0, Ipswich!
Szmodics gives Ipswich Town dream start v. City
The Tractor Boys are in dream land thanks to Sammie Szmodics’ shock opener against Manchester City at the Etihad.
Kyle Walker, John Stones, Phil Foden and Nathan Ake could all be fit to start, while Rodri is working his way back to full fitness and Mateo Kovacic did a great job to slot in for him. New signing Savinho went down with a knee injury in the win at Chelsea but it seems like he will be fit for this game, while Oscar Bobb remains out for several months with a lower leg injury. Guardiola still has plenty of attacking talents to call upon and Erling Haaland scored the opener at Chelsea and looked full of energy.
Ipswich team news, focus
The Tractor Boys have plenty of injuries to deal with but new signing Sammie Szmodics could start up front, while Kalvin Phillips won’t be available as he’s on loan from City. Ipswich will look to sit back and soak up pressure and hit City on the counter and they did it well in the first half against Liverpool last time out.
OUT: Wes Burns (thigh), Harry Clarke (calf), George Hirst (knee), Nathan Broadhead (thigh), Janoi Donacien (groin), Kalvin Phillips (unable to face parent club) | QUESTIONABLE: Arijanet Muric (calf)
Manchester City vs Ipswich prediction
This feels like it could be a bit of a cricket score. Ipswich were overrun in the second half against Liverpool and the same will happen at City as they’re worn down. Manchester City 4-0 Ipswich.
Shohei Ohtani delivered Major League Baseball’s sixth 40-40 season in dramatic fashion with a walk-off grand slam to rally the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-3 victory against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.
After stealing his 40th base in the fourth inning, Ohtani went deep against Rays left-hander Colin Poche for his 40th homer. He joined Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano and Ronald Acuna Jr. in the 40-40 club.
Enrique Hernandez hit a game-tying home run in the fifth inning, and right-hander Bobby Miller had nine strikeouts and no walks over six innings as the Dodgers extended their winning streak to five games. Michael Kopech (4-8) pitched a scoreless top of the ninth for the win.
Junior Caminero hit his first home run of the season and Christopher Morel also went deep as the Rays lost their second consecutive game and fell to 2-3 to open a 10-game West Coast road trip. Manuel Rodriguez (2-3) took the loss.
Yankees 3, Rockies 0
Aaron Judge blasted his major league-leading 49th home run, connecting for the fourth straight game as host New York beat Colorado.
Judge reached 49 homers in New York’s 129th game. When he broke Roger Maris’ single-season AL record by hitting 62 in 2022, he had 50 through the Yankees’ first 129 contests.
The Rockies lost their third straight and dropped to 18-49 on the road. At 47-82, Colorado clinched its sixth straight losing season since its last playoff appearance in 2018.
Mariners 6, Giants 5 (10 innings)
Rookie Leo Rivas lined a run-scoring single to center field with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning as Seattle rallied for a victory against visiting San Francisco in Dan Wilson’s managerial debut.
Luke Raley homered and drove in the tying run in the eighth for the Mariners, who won for just the second time in their past 10 games. Wilson took over after Scott Servais was fired Thursday.
Mariners reliever Collin Snider (3-2) got the win over Erik Miller (3-5). LaMonte Wade Jr., Michael Conforto and Heliot Ramos homered for the Giants.
Orioles 7, Astros 5
Anthony Santander drilled an eighth-inning grand slam to give Baltimore a comeback victory against visiting Houston.
The first three Orioles batters in the inning reached base before Santander’s team-leading 38th home run of the season gave Baltimore its third victory in the past eight games. Colton Cowser homered earlier for the Orioles, who tacked on an eighth-inning insurance run on Ramon Urias’ RBI triple.
Jose Altuve hit a two-run home run and Jeremy Pena smacked a solo shot for the Astros, who lost for the fourth time in their past 16 games.
Diamondbacks 12, Red Sox 2
Eugenio Suarez hit a grand slam and drove in five runs to help visiting Arizona defeat Boston in the opener of a three-game series.
Arizona had a three-run lead until Suarez homered against Josh Winckowski to give the Diamondbacks a 9-2 advantage in the seventh inning. It was his 19th homer of the season. Ryne Nelson (9-6) earned the win, limiting Boston to two runs on five hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked one. The victory extended Arizona’s winning streak to four games.
Rob Refsnyder hit his ninth home run for the Red Sox. Boston starter Brayan Bello (11-6) allowed five runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked four, struck out two and made a throwing error in Arizona’s three-run sixth inning.
Braves 3, Nationals 2 (10 innings)
Pinch runner Luke Williams scored the winning run on Washington shortstop CJ Abrams’ 10th-inning throwing error, helping Atlanta beat visiting Washington.
After Braves closer Raisel Iglesias (3-1) threw two scoreless innings, Williams advanced to third on Gio Urshela’s groundout. Eduardo Salazar (0-1) got Orlando Arcia to line out, but Abrams threw Michael Harris II’s grounder in the dirt. Braves starter Chris Sale gave up two runs and nine hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out four.
Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore allowed one run on seven hits, walking none and striking out four.
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Royals 7, Phillies 4
Salvador Perez homered and drove in three as Kansas City beat visiting Philadelphia for its seventh win in eight games.
In the third inning, Perez hit a solo shot, and Hunter Renfroe added a two-run blast two batters later. Michael Wacha (11-6) won his third straight start, giving up two runs on six hits in six innings.
Bryce Harper had two hits and two runs for the Phillies, who have lost four of their past five. Taijuan Walker (3-5) gave up six runs on eight hits in three innings.
Pirates 6, Reds 5
Joey Bart went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs to help Pittsburgh rally for a win against visiting Cincinnati in the second game of a four-game set.
Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter allowed five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four in five innings. Reliever Dennis Santana (3-1) threw two scoreless innings before closer David Bednar escaped a ninth-inning jam for his 23rd save.
Tyler Stephenson put the Reds ahead 1-0 with his career-high 17th home run of the season in the first. Buck Farmer threw two perfect innings as Cincinnati’s opener.
Rangers 5, Guardians 3
Leody Taveras and Corey Seager each recorded two-run hits in the second inning as visiting Texas beat Cleveland.
Nathan Eovaldi (9-7) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings for the Rangers, who have won four of five. He struck out five and walked one. Adolis Garcia added an RBI double in the seventh and Nathaniel Lowe had three singles for Texas, which did all of its scoring with two outs.
Guardians starter Tanner Bibee (10-6) allowed all four of his runs in the second, yielding eight hits and a walk while striking out six in 5 2/3 innings. Daniel Schneemann had two hits and an RBI for the American League Central leaders, who have lost three straight and six of seven.
Blue Jays 5, Angels 4
Joey Loperfido and Addison Barger hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the bottom of the ninth, lifting Toronto over visiting Los Angeles.
The Blue Jays improved to 5-0 against the Angels this season, including a three-game sweep last week in Anaheim. They have homered in 12 straight games.
Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz allowed three runs and seven hits with one strikeout in six-plus innings.
Cubs 6, Marlins 3
Speedy Pete Crow-Armstrong rounded the bases on a dazzling inside-the-park homer as Chicago defeated host Miami.
Isaac Paredes smashed a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning for the Cubs, but the game’s most exciting play occurred when Crow-Armstrong led off the third with a line drive to right field. Marlins outfielder Jesus Sanchez couldn’t get to the ball until after it one-hopped the wall and skipped away. Crow-Armstrong was timed at 14.1 seconds around the bases — the fastest time in the majors this season — and the play culminated in a spectacular dive to the plate from several feet away.
Jonah Bride went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Marlins, who have lost four in a row.
Tigers 5, White Sox 2
Matt Vierling had two hits and two RBIs, including a go-ahead, run-scoring single in the seventh inning, to lift visiting Detroit over Chicago.
The Tigers won for the eighth time in 11 games. Riley Greene added a pair of hits while four pitchers combined on four innings of scoreless relief.
The White Sox suffered their major league-worst 98th defeat. Chicago had nine hits, sparked by a 3-for-4 effort from Korey Lee. Luis Robert Jr. and Gavin Sheets contributed two hits apiece.
Brewers 11, Athletics 3
Rhys Hoskins and Joey Ortiz hit back-to-back home runs in a five-run second, the Milwaukee bullpen threw five shutout innings and the visiting Brewers beat Oakland in the opener of a three-game series.
Gary Sanchez chipped in with his third career triple, which cleared the bases in the ninth, to ensure the Brewers would end a two-game losing streak.
Lawrence Butler hit his 14th homer, which was the Athletics’ only extra-base hit. Seth Brown had two singles.
Cardinals 6, Twins 1
Lars Nootbaar and Masyn Winn drove in two runs apiece as St. Louis pulled away for a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Brendan Donovan hit a solo home run for the Cardinals, who won their third game in a row. Andre Pallante (6-6) limited the Twins to one run on five hits in seven innings.
Austin Martin drove in the lone run for the Twins, who opened a nine-game homestand by taking their fourth loss in five games. David Festa (2-3) gave up three runs on three hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Padres 7, Mets 0
Luis Arraez and Kyle Higashioka homered while Joe Musgrove fanned nine in seven shutout innings as San Diego blanked visiting New York.
Musgrove (4-4) allowed just one hit, Starling Marte’s one-out double in the fifth, and issued no walks. He retired the first 13 hitters he faced and threw 58 of his 75 pitches for strikes. Musgrove has allowed only one run in 15 2/3 innings since coming off the injured list earlier this month.
Mets starter Paul Blackburn (5-4) lasted only 2 1/3 innings before leaving after being struck on his right hand by a comebacker. He was touched for 10 hits and five runs with no walks and a strikeout as New York fell 2 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves for the National League’s final wild-card spot.
