Saturday 4 November 2017 17:51, UK
Paul Merson is back with another round of his Premier League predictions - how will he get on?
The Magic Man had a tough week last time out, failing to get a correct score and getting just five results right.
He is hoping for better this weekend and with some excellent games - including Manchester City v Arsenal and Chelsea v Manchester United on Super Sunday, with both clashes live on Sky Sports Premier League - it is one to look forward to...
Arsenal went to Chelsea a few weeks ago and got a comfortable goalless draw and I thought the penny had dropped. They did it two years ago at Man City and won, although [Santi] Cazorla was in the team then and he was their best player.
But since that Chelsea game I said, 'OK right, let's wait and see till the next big game and see if the penny has dropped, or was that just fortunate?' And it all depends on which way he [Arsene Wenger] sets up…
But I cannot go for anything other than a City win given the way they play. If anyone is going to go there and win, believe it or not, you would go for Arsenal as they play a flamboyant way, they open the game up.
And if you are going to beat City, you have to have a go. There is no point sitting back and saying, 'right, let's try and nick something on the break,' as they have too many good players who are going to break you open before the end of the game.
But I am going to go 3-2 to City as I think there will be goals.
Paul predicts: 3-2 (Sky Bet odds 16/1)
I think there will be just one goal in this. [Jose] Mourinho set up at Liverpool to not to get beat. They beat all the lesser clubs, go to Liverpool, draw 0-0, you come away and go, 'right, if we draw with all the big boys and beat all the lesser teams, which we will, we will have a chance of winning the league.'
But then they fall behind the eight ball as a week later they lose to Huddersfield and that is it. Take the Huddersfield game away though and there is nothing wrong. They just beat Tottenham, and everybody is telling me they are going to win the Champions League.
If I get the score right in the first Super Sunday game, then they have to go to Chelsea and win, as a draw is no good for either team. A draw will be a waste of time.
So it all depends on what happens in the first game, it really does, because the mindset has got to change. If City beat Arsenal, they go eight points clear and so a draw is no good to United, while Chelsea will be 12 points behind.
So it all depends on that first game as if Arsenal go and do something we do not expect them to do and win that game, then it is a different game and then a draw suits both alright.
But I am going to go 1-0 Chelsea as I just think United are going to go for it and Chelsea will just make a chance or two before the end of the game.
Paul predicts: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)
Stoke had a great result at Watford and Leicester are where they are because they have had some difficult games, but I can see them getting out of it no problem. But I can see nothing between these teams, so 1-1.
Paul predicts: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)
It is a must-win game for Huddersfield in my opinion. West Brom go and get two goals last week against Man City, and yet they can't score in other games. But because it is a must-win game for Huddersfield, I will go 2-0 to them.
Paul predicts: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 10/1)
I was really disappointed with Newcastle on Monday night (in their 1-0 loss at Burnley) if I'm being honest, the only plan they looked like having was Jonjo Shelvey. It was a game you thought, 'go and try and win here and kick on,' but it did not look good to me. Bournemouth got a good result at Stoke, but I am going to go 2-1 to Newcastle.
Paul predicts: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)
Burnley's game on Monday was dreadful and I am going to go 1-0 Southampton, it will be a tight, tight game with just one goal in it. Although it will probably end up having the most goals of the weekend!
Paul predicts: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds 4/1)
Wow this is a big game for Swansea, who I was impressed with at Arsenal last weekend. They dominated for long period, went 1-0 up and could have gone 2-0 up at half-time. Brighton are playing well though, but I think they will go there and play for a draw. But it is a must-win game for Swansea, they have to win if they want to escape, so I am going to go Swansea 2-0.
Paul predicts: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 17/2)
West Ham last week, seriously… Michail Antonio should be on the verge of getting a two-week fine for what he did. I honestly cannot believe what he done, it was unbelievable.
I am going to go for Liverpool to win here. I just think they will have too much firepower for them defensively. So I am going to go 3-1, as how are Liverpool ever going to keep a clean sheet?!
Paul predicts: 1-3 (Sky Bet odds 40/1)
Palace were fortunate the other day. They were 2-0 down and I know Roy [Hodgson] said they deserved to get a draw in the end, but we can all play when we are 2-0 down when there's nothing to lose. You have to do that when it is still goalless and I expect Tottenham to carry on with the confidence they have been playing with. They have just beaten the European champions, so I will go 3-0 Tottenham.
Paul predicts: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)
I was disappointed with Watford on Saturday (in losing 1-0 at home to Stoke). It was the first time this season where they turned up expecting to win and they could not handle it. When you play for a big club, that is expected every week, but if you play for a lesser club, there is no pressure. As soon as there is pressure put on you, look what happens… they never looked like scoring and they could still be playing now and wouldn't have a goal!
But the pressure is now back off them again, they are a different animal and Everton will have to come at them. They [Watford] could have been 4-1 up at Chelsea, but I am going to go for a 2-2 draw.
However, if someone said you have to pick one, I'd go Watford. I can see Everton getting well beaten against Lyon - that is a bad game - he [caretaker manager David Unsworth] is going to have to make changes.
Paul predicts: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)
