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Paul Merson and Sam Merson's predictions: Manchester United to win, Arsenal to prevail in north London derby

Generic Paul Merson image 10/08/2016
Image: Paul Merson runs the rule over the weekend fixtures - but can his son do better?

Sky Sports football pundit Paul Merson is back with another round of Premier League predictions - and this week he is going head-to-head with his son!

The 'Magic Man' got one perfect score last weekend, Everton's 2-0 win over West Ham, and four correct results but can Sam Merson do better?

Merson: Like father, like son?
Merson: Like father, like son?

Sam Merson following father Paul Merson's footsteps in FA Cup

We caught up with the St Albans City striker, who is preparing to face Carlisle in the first round of the FA Cup, and got his top-flight tips to pit against his dad's.

Check out how Merson Snr got on last time out - and read on for a family prediction double for this week's games...

Last weekend's results

Result Merse predicted
Sunderland 1-4 Arsenal 0-3
West Brom 0-4 Man City 1-2
Man Utd 0-0 Burnley 3-0
Watford 1-0 Hull 2-0
Tottenham 1-1 Leicester 2-0
M'boro 2-0 Bournemouth 1-2
Crystal Palace 2-4 Liverpool 1-1
Everton 2-0 West Ham 2-0
Southampton 0-2 Chelsea 1-1
Stoke 3-1 Swansea 2-1

Liverpool v Watford (Nissan Super Sunday, 2.15pm - live on Sky Sports 1 HD)

Liverpool have been very good going forward but you need more than that to win a Premier League title, you can't be giving away the kind of goals they did against Crystal Palace. If you look at the first goal, you wouldn't be happy if that happened down the park on a Sunday morning!

It doesn't matter how well they're playing or how much they're dominating, I just can't see them keeping clean sheets, and that's the worry for me. But I don't see anything but a Liverpool win.

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Watford had a good result against Hull but they haven't been firing lately. The confidence of their strikers looks a bit low, Isaac Success has been injured and Troy Deeney sort of carries the team and sets the example.

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Paul predicts: 3-1 (9/1 with Sky Bet)

Sam predicts: 3-0. That front three of Coutinho, Firmino and Lallana will be too much. Watford are playing well but I think it'll be a comfortable Liverpool win. 

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool (Not pictured) celebrates scoring his sides second goal with his team mates during the Prem
Image: Liverpool have impressed in attack

Leicester v West Brom (Nissan Super Sunday, 4.30pm - live on Sky Sports 1 HD)

West Brom didn't deserve to lose by four against Manchester City, if they can create that many chances and play like they did in patches in that game they will cause Leicester problems. They're good at set-pieces and Leicester have struggled from them this season.

Leicester have looked more like themselves in recent weeks with a couple of good results. I thought they would do a bit better in the league this season because they're still a good team, but I think people have sussed them out a bit. I think they'll still edge this one, though.

Paul predicts: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)

Sam predicts: 1-1. I don't think it'll all go Leicester's way at the weekend and West Brom will take something from the game.

Shinji Okazaki of Leicester City celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Leicester and Crystal Palace
Image: Leicester have improved over recent weeks

Arsenal v Tottenham (Sunday, 12pm)

If Tottenham play like they did in the Champions League in midweek then you can't see anything but an Arsenal win. It was probably their worst-ever performance under Mauricio Pochettino. If Arsenal watched that they'll be thinking they've just got to turn up and get the three points, but of course it doesn't work like that.

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Sunderland 1-4 Arsenal

That being said, though, I'm still going to go for the Gunners to win this game. If they're at it straight away then I don't see Tottenham being able to live with them. Form does go out the window for a game like this but six games without a win is a lot for Spurs and their confidence doesn't look great. 

Paul predicts: 3-1 (12/1 with Sky Bet)

Sam predicts: 3-1. I'm a big Arsenal fan! The way we're playing with Mesut Ozil starring and Tottenham losing during the week makes me go 3-1 to the Gunners.

Hull v Southampton (Sunday, 2.15pm)

Southampton were made to look very ordinary at Chelsea, but Hull are struggling badly. They can't score a goal or win a game and I can't see anything but a Southampton win here.

Charlie Austin scores Southampton's first goal in the 3-1 win over Burnley
Image: Charlie Austin scores Southampton's first goal in the 3-1 win over Burnley

It's a good thing Hull got off to such a good start or they'd be dead and buried by now, they'd be below Sunderland. Southampton are a good team and seventh of eighth will be a very good season for them.

Charlie Austin struggled last week but some games you have to write off and I think he'll be back on the scoresheet.

Paul predicts: 0-2 (11/1 with Sky Bet)

Sam predicts: 1-1. I just have a feeling it's going to be a draw!

Swansea v Manchester United (Sunday, 3pm)

I was disappointed in Swansea on Monday night, they were pretty light and average. Manchester United, meanwhile, can't score a goal. They had so many shots against Burnley last week but couldn't find the back of the net and that's worrying. 

I think this is a hard game for United and I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't win this, but I'm going to back them here. I'd bring Wayne Rooney back in. They haven't done anything without him in the team and they need big players. 

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20:  Wayne Rooney of Manchester United looks on during the UEFA Europa League Group A match between Manchester United FC and
Image: Paul Merson believes Manchester United should recall Wayne Rooney

I'm sure if he'd been playing up front for as many games as Zlatan Ibrahimovic without a goal he would have been dropped by now. If he makes something happen and wins the game that will give him confidence and it may get the team on a little run.

Paul predicts: 1-2 (7/1 with Sky Bet)

Sam predicts: 0-1. United should have too much for Swansea, who are coming off a heavy defeat to Stoke.

Bournemouth 1-2 Sunderland

Paul predicted: 2-0

Sam predicted: 2-0

Burnley 3-2 Crystal Palace

Paul predicted: 2-1 

Sam predicted: 1-2

Manchester City 1-1 Middlesbrough

Paul predicted: 3-0

Sam predicted: 2-0

West Ham 1-1 Stoke

Paul predicted: 1-1 

Sam predicted: 0-1

Chelsea 5-0 Everton 

Paul predicted: 2-0

Sam predicted: 2-2

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