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Sky Sports football pundit Paul Merson is back with another round of Premier League predictions.
The ‘Magic Man’ failed to predict a perfect score last week but still got five results correct, including Chelsea’s win over Manchester United and West Ham’s triumph over Sunderland.
Here is how Merse got on last time out…
And here is what he is tipping this weekend…
This is a terrible game for Sunderland, who are struggling big time. I just can’t see where that first win is going to come from and I really doubt it will be against Arsenal this weekend.
Middlesbrough caused them a few problems at the Emirates, but the Gunners were poor and I don’t think they’ll be that bad again.
I know Olivier Giroud came back in the midweek EFL Cup win, but I wouldn’t be tempted to throw him in from the start on Saturday.
The turning point for Everton was the Norwich defeat. They’re not going down, they’re not challenging for the title and they’re not in Europe so a cup run would have been ideal.
But the way Ronald Koeman treated that game was worrying and they haven’t won since.
West Ham have had three big results in a row and this game looks more difficult than it did a few weeks ago, but Romelu Lukaku loves a goal against the Hammers and I think he nets again.
Southampton have only lost one in their last 10 and this is a really difficult match for Chelsea.
I’m surprised they went out of the EFL Cup in the manner they did. They’re playing once a week and should have highlighted that as a must-win competition. They missed a trick there.
Claude Puel’s side will put up a real fight on Sunday because they are extremely difficult to break down and a threat going forward.
I’m picking a draw but if Chelsea do manage to get a win at St Mary’s, you need to put them back up as contenders.
It was only a matter of time before Stoke got back on track. Xherdan Shaqiri was 10 out of 10 for them against Hull - not many players in the Premier League can put in a display like he did last week.
The problem is we don’t see that kind of performance often enough from him. You can’t play a 10 every week - only Lionel Messi does that - but you need to be a seven at least. He’s far too up and down.
Stoke have showed they are a good team, though, and I expect them to make it three in a row on Monday.
A massive game for Pep Guardiola. It’s six without a win now, and this is a difficult away match before facing Barcelona again next week.
Before you know it, it could be eight winless games and that’s a lot considering the quality they have in their team.
West Brom have been doing well at home recently, getting a draw against Tottenham and beating West Ham, and they will threaten Man City from set pieces, but I think Guardiola brings back his big names and they squeak a result.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Claudio Ranieri rested his stars again with Copenhagen to come in the Champions League. That’s the priority now and if they can get a result in Denmark, qualification is done and dusted.
It’s an interesting game for Tottenham because they’re coming off a draw against Bournemouth, and if they drop points on Saturday, their next league game is away at Arsenal after a Champions League tie. It’s potentially a tricky little run so it makes beating Leicester quite important.
I expect them to do it with Ranieri naming a similar team to the one that lost to Chelsea.
I watched Hull against Bournemouth and they were all over the shop, and then Stoke played them off the park a week later. It’s not looking good.
They had a positive result in the EFL Cup to stop the rot, but the Premier League is a much tougher challenge and Watford are a good team.
They should get the job done at home to extend Hull’s wait for a win.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was a world-class striker but he’s not anymore. He is 35 and playing in the hardest league in the world so as the season goes on, I can’t see him getting better.
Jose Mourinho will obviously stick with him despite his recent struggles and he should get a few opportunities against Burnley, who haven’t looked up to scratch away from Turf Moor.
It looks like a routine home win to follow up Wednesday’s big result over rivals Manchester City.
Middlesbrough created some great chances at the Emirates but they struggle to score and that could be their downfall.
I would go with Adama Traore from the start against Bournemouth. He gives them pace, provides a real outlet and offers something different in attack, which is especially important against an Eddie Howe team that likes to play an expansive style of football.
Howe’s side have impressed me in recent weeks. They did well against Watford, thrashed Hull and played very good football against Spurs, and I think they’ll pick up three points on the road this weekend.
Everybody is talking Liverpool up as contenders for the title but a trip to Palace is a stiff examination of their credentials.
Alan Pardew seems to be one of those managers that blows hot and cold because his side either win six on the trot or lose six.
The defeat at Leicester was their second on the bounce and they face a big test themselves on Saturday.
If Palace defend like they did at Leicester, they won’t get anything from this game but they’re a better team than the last two games and will take something from this match.
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