Paul Merson calls Leicester striker Islam Slimani 'salami' on calamitous day for Sky Sports pundits

Merson joined former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood in mixing up his words while live on TV

Jack de Menezes
Saturday 22 October 2016 16:29 BST
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Paul Merson managed to call Islam Slimani 'salami' during Soccer Saturday
Paul Merson managed to call Islam Slimani 'salami' during Soccer Saturday

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Pronouncing names correctly on Soccer Saturday has never been one of Paul Merson’s best abilities, but at least he managed to wait until the ninth week of this season’s Premier league campaign before slipping up with the most obvious of tongue-slips.

Merson was calling the shots on Leicester City’s encounter with Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium, with the defending league champions looking to improve matter significantly after a poor start to the season on a domestic level.

The Foxes were already 1-0 up courtesy of a first-half effort from summer signing Ahmed Musa, yet it would be another recent addition who would cause Merson to slip up.

Algeria striker Islam Slimani had an effort on goal – we think, given that Merson never actually got round to explaining what had just happened. Instead, the former Arsenal and England midfielder blurted out “salami” instead of Slimani, before cracking up in laughter along with his Soccer Saturday colleagues.

Watch the video below...

It’s not the first time Merson has mixed up his words live on air, having forged a reputation for speaking before thinking on a Saturday afternoon.

However, he was not alone this weekend as former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood managed to say “arse” on live TV before realising the error of his ways and quickly attempting to backtrack, only to freeze while trying to explain his point about Bournemouth.

Watch the video below...

Needless to say, the entertainment in the two studios was more than that displayed on the pitch, given that Spurs drew 0-0 with Bournemouth an only three goals were scored by half time in the 3pm kick-offs.

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