Paul Merson’s Premier League predictions, including Arsenal vs Man Utd | Football

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PM: ‘What an incredible win for West Ham against Tottenham last weekend. But they have to get their act together at home. West Ham have never looked like winning a game on the London Stadium and that’s an issue.

‘In the event that they manage at beat Sunderland on home turf this weekend, then it’s game on within the race to avoid relegation. The Hammers have away games against Chelsea and Burnley coming up after this and so they need some momentum. A win here would give them a large probability of staying up within the Premier League.

‘Sunderland are one among the hardest teams to face though. They’ve lost only once of their last eight games across all competitions. With all their players back from the AFCON, I expect them to get even higher.

‘I can’t see Sunderland losing this game. Who would’ve thought at first of the season that we’ll be in January and saying this about Sunderland? That’s how good they’ve been. To be fair, each Leeds and Burnley have also impressed me.

‘I’m going for a draw here, but I won’t be surprised if Sunderland won this game.’

Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Sunderland

PM: ‘Fulham were beaten within the last minute against Leeds while Brighton secured some extent within the last minute against Bournemouth. Discuss contrasting fortunes of their previous games.

‘I like Fulham at home, where they’ve performed well as a team. Truthfully, I don’t see lots between these teams. They’re evenly-matched and are teams that may beat any team on their day. Even at the tip of the season, there’ll only be a number of points separating them.

‘I don’t think Harry Wilson will make the jump to a giant club soon. When you’re a giant club, you won’t spend money on someone like Wilson on the idea of six months. Should he proceed this manner for a 12 months, he gets the large move.

‘Fulham to secure a narrow win here.’

Prediction: Fulham 1-0 Brighton

PM: ‘Burnley have turned a corner now. They drew with Manchester United, beat Millwall within the cup and got some extent against Liverpool at Anfield.

‘I do know all of the Tottenham fans are excited because they beat Dortmund. But the usual of the Premier League is so high and that win was expected. Should they lose back-to-back games to West Ham and Burnley, Thomas Frank will probably be in serious trouble.

‘If you consider the teams Tottenham have faced within the Champions League this season, them being fifth within the table isn’t anything to write down home about. Aside from PSG, Spurs have played Villarreal, Bodo/Glimt, Monaco, Copenhagen, Slavia Prague and Dortmund. That appears just like the Europa League in the event you count PSG out!

‘I don’t think anyone should get carried away by Spurs’ performances within the Champions League. Frank desperately needs a win on this game, will he get it? I don’t think so. Burnley will make it difficult and that may make Tottenham nervous.’

Prediction: Burnley 1-1 Tottenham

PM: ‘If Manchester City had to select a game for this weekend after the horror show away to Bodo/Glimt, they might pick Wolves at home! I say that because Wolves are actually able where they should have a go in every game.

‘No point sitting 10 behind the ball, Wolves need points. And I believe City would favor playing teams like that now. I actually don’t think Wolves will feel bad about it being that way, especially in the event that they saw what happened to City against Bodo/Glimt.

‘If this was two or three weeks ago, we could be calling it a 5-0 City win. But Pep Guardiola’s men don’t look the identical anymore. City lost to United within the derby because they were outrun and outfought by their rivals. But I used to be shocked they lost within the Champions League.

‘Although Bodo/Glimt made the semi-finals of the Europa League last season, the result remains to be one among the largest upsets in Champions League history. They were well beaten on the night.

‘Manchester City face Tottenham and Liverpool, each away from home, after this weekend within the Premier League. They can not afford to lose one other game.’

Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Wolves

PM: ‘This game is a pundit’s nightmare. Liverpool are unbeaten within the last 13 games, but six of them have been draws, which is a bit underwhelming for his or her standards. That draw at home to Burnley was the newest disappointment and Liverpool didn’t look good in that one.

‘Even the Kop raised their voice against the team within the second half against Burnley. We haven’t seen that occuring lots since Jurgen Klopp took over. There are only 4 points separating Liverpool in fourth and Everton in tenth! With some tough fixtures coming up, it could possibly go from bad to worse real quick for Liverpool.

‘I’d be shocked if Mohamed Salah doesn’t start against Bournemouth. If he doesn’t, Arne Slot is opening a can of worms here. This game could also suit Florian Wirtz. Bournemouth are a team that may allow you to play, so there will probably be space for Wirtz to use. I’d select Salah, Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike because the front-three.

‘Liverpool won’t win the Champions League but it is rather necessary they finish in the highest 4 and qualify for that tournament next season. That’s the large challenge for them now.’

Prediction: Bournemouth 1-2 Liverpool

PM: ‘Crystal Palace have now gone 10 games with no win. They will probably be without Marc Guehi as well. Even Jean-Philippe Mateta has expressed his desire to depart the club, which puts them in a nasty position.

‘For Chelsea, it is a must-win game and so that you’d expect them to get the three points. Normally, Palace away is an incredibly tough fixture. But like I all the time say, it’s all about timings in football and no higher time to face them than now.

‘Seven or eight weeks ago, Chelsea would have been pleased with a draw on this game. Considering how Palace are playing in the intervening time, anything lower than three points will probably be a large disappointment now.

‘Liam Rosenior is taking care of Cole Palmer quite well. But when Palmer scored the penalty against Brentford last week, I believed his celebration was a bit strange. Call me a cynic, but I noticed how he didn’t rejoice together with his teammates or the fans. That was strange for me.

‘Chelsea must keep Palmer pleased. But I’ve all the time said it, if another club offers £120 million for Palmer, Chelsea will sell him. That’s what Chelsea all the time do within the transfer market.

I’m also not pleased about Chelsea playing Palmer on the proper. He must play as a no.10 with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez or Reece James behind him. Just give him a free role.

‘When Palmer plays on the proper, he’s too easy to select up. We saw that when he went up against Antonee Robinson in the course of the Fulham game. So why put him there? It can be interesting to see what happens with Palmer in the longer term amid rumors of a move away from Chelsea.’

Prediction: Crystal Palace 0-2 Chelsea

PM: ‘This can be a massive football match within the context of the highest 4. I used to be upset with how Aston Villa performed against Everton last weekend. I just didn’t think they might lose that game.

‘Newcastle enjoyed an excellent win against PSV Eindhoven within the Champions League. But I believed they were poor against Wolves within the Premier League last trip. Newcastle are missing something each time they play away from home. They were so slow against Wolves and didn’t show the urgency they’ve at St James’ Park.

‘Villa are 10 points ahead of Newcastle in the intervening time. In the event that they get a win, Newcastle won’t catch them within the table. That can rule Newcastle out of the race to complete fourth and they’re going to should fight it out for fifth-place then.

‘I’d want Yoane Wissa to begin ahead of Nick Woltemade on this game. Ezri Konsa will enjoy going up against someone like Woltemade. If Wissa could make runs away from Konsa, that may trouble Villa on the back. I expect an entertaining draw.’

Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Aston Villa

PM: ‘I’ve been so impressed by Brentford this season. Not only by way of winning games, the best way they’re playing. For 70 minutes against Chelsea, they were outstanding. Chelsea were fortunate to not concede a goal and win that game.

‘Nottingham Forest sat in there and got a draw against Arsenal. I believe Brentford will win this one. This can also be payback time for them! Brentford will remember how they got destroyed once they met Forest in the primary game of the season.

‘It’s a totally different scenario within the table now and I can’t see anything but a win for Brentford.’

Prediction: Brentford 2-0 Nottingham Forest

PM: ‘It absolutely shocks me to death when people say that is now a massively different game after Manchester United beat City last weekend. In all honesty, I’d be surprised if Arsenal don’t win this.

‘Arsenal won 3-1 away from home to among the finest teams in Italy in midweek. They went to Chelsea and scored three within the EFL cup not way back. So I don’t buy the claim that facing Manchester United at house is ‘difficult’ for Arsenal.

‘Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus scoring against Inter is great news for Arsenal. I believe Gyokeres needs to return off the bench in the following few games. When the defenders are drained, the sport will open up for him and he could make an impact. So it’s higher if he comes on for the ultimate 20 minutes.

‘I can’t appear to make a case for Manchester United even after their win over City. Don’t get me fallacious, they played well in that game. But Arsenal are only superior. Manchester United win one game and other people say they will trouble Arsenal? I don’t get that one bit!

‘When you told me I needed to bet on one team to win this weekend, I’d actually go Arsenal. All the pieces points to a win for Mikel Arteta’s men here. They are only so good at home. 29 points from 11 games on the Emirates. Even once they looked so bad against Liverpool, they didn’t lose.

‘Manchester United beat City because they were in a position to outrun their rivals. They won’t find a way to try this against Arsenal.’

Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United

PM: ‘This will probably be an excellent game. Everton were outstanding against Aston Villa. But they are going to miss Jack Grealish on this game. I don’t think people understand how good Grealish is in that position. Matty Money is someone who likes to go forward and he couldn’t do it due to Grealish within the last game!

‘Leeds showed a little bit of inexperience once they went gung-ho and lost 4-3 to Newcastle but they might have learned from that have. They’re a team which can be on the rise and I fancy them here.

‘Everton have now gone 4 games with no win on home turf. Not way back, they were slaughtered by Brentford. I believe Leeds win this.’

Prediction: Everton 1-2 Leeds