Paul Merson’s Premier League Predictions: Man City vs Man Utd and More
All eyes will be on the Etihad on Sunday afternoon as Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions entertain an under-fire Red Devils side for the 192nd Manchester derby. But United’s trip to their very noisy neighbors is just one of a number of intriguing top-flight fixtures this weekend, as battle lines are drawn and narratives play out at both ends of the table.
Newcastle will hope to get their pursuit of European football back on track at home to Gary O’Neil’s in-form Wolves, while Aston Villa target their third straight win in the league versus Luton. Elsewhere, Spurs and Crystal Palace do battle in an all-London affair at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, third-placed Arsenal travel to lowly Sheffield United, Everton host West Ham, and Fulham head to Brighton after stunning Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Wolves are riding a three-game winning streak in all competitions. Merson predicts that Newcastle will edge out Wolves with a score of 3-2. He believes that Wolves are a very underrated team but thinks that Newcastle’s home advantage will give them the slight edge.
Spurs suffered defeat at home to Wolves last time out. Merson expects Tottenham to bounce back and secure a 3-1 victory against Crystal Palace. He notes that Palace has struggled this season and will be without key players Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.
Liverpool kept their quadruple hopes alive with wins in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. Merson predicts a tight match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, with the Reds coming out on top with a 2-1 win. He acknowledges Liverpool’s injury concerns but believes they could have some senior players back for this game.
Brentford has a decent record against Chelsea but Merson expects Chelsea to come out on top with a 2-1 victory. He notes that Brentford’s squad has been reduced due to injuries, which gives Chelsea the advantage.
Everton’s points deduction was reduced to six, giving them a boost in their battle for Premier League safety. Merson predicts that Everton will take advantage of this and secure a 2-1 win against West Ham. He mentions that Goodison Park will be buzzing with the home crowd’s support.
Fulham were the better team against Manchester United and secured a stoppage-time winner. Merson expects a draw between Fulham and Brighton, as both teams have nothing to play for in terms of the Premier League.
Aston Villa is in solid form and Merson predicts that they will come out on top with a 2-1 win against Luton. He believes Villa is a well-coached side and that Luton’s confidence will be low after conceding six goals against Manchester City.
Bournemouth suffered a loss in the FA Cup, which could impact their season. Merson predicts a 2-1 victory for Bournemouth against Burnley, as he believes Burnley doesn’t have the players to make their style of play work in the Premier League.
In the highly anticipated Manchester derby, Merson expects Manchester City to dominate with a 3-0 victory over Manchester United. He mentions Erling Haaland’s remarkable performance in the FA Cup but believes United will struggle without key players.
Arsenal has been in magnificent form and Merson predicts a comfortable 3-0 victory for them against Sheffield United. He notes Arsenal’s balance and goal-scoring ability in recent weeks.
Overall, Merson’s predictions provide insights into the upcoming Premier League fixtures. While some matches are expected to be closely contested, others are anticipated to have clear winners. Football fans can look forward to an exciting weekend of action on the pitch.