Saturday 17 July 2021 14:45, UK
Paul Merson predicts the first full round of Premier League games in 2017.
Merse tipped two correct scores on Monday as Everton put three past Southampton and West Brom came from behind to beat Hull 3-1 - but he didn't forecast Sunderland's rally against Liverpool.
There are three more Premier League fixtures on Tuesday night - including Arsenal's trip to Bournemouth live on Sky Sports - and then on Wednesday night, Chelsea seek a record-breaking 14th straight Premier League win when they visit Tottenham live on Sky Sports.
Read on to see what Soccer Saturday pundit Merson is tipping for the rest of the action...
Bournemouth gave Arsenal a right good game when they met at the Emirates a few weeks ago, but I've got to go for Arsenal to win here. As I've said a lot in these predictions, teams in the Premier League need to win matches and draws are no good and if Arsenal don't win this, they will be fighting for top four, never mind top spot. With Jack Wilshere not able to play, I will go for a narrow Arsenal win - it will be hard for them, though.
Swansea have been losing game after game and, for me, they are not going to stay up. They would have looked at the Bournemouth game as a must-win match and they got rinsed. Paul Clement is a good man and a good coach, but that appointment suggests to me that they are looking at the bigger picture. If they get relegated and need to bring some kids through, then they need a good coach like him. If they wanted to spend six months fighting to stay up, then go and get Harry Redknapp. They must be half writing off this season, I reckon. This is Sam Allardyce's first home game in charge and I think Palace are a certainty.
This is a hard game to call, but I will go for Stoke because they were very good against Chelsea, even though they lost 4-2. Chelsea have only let in five goals in their last eight games and Stoke scored two of them! Watford had a shocker against Spurs and if Stoke show the form they had against Arsenal and Chelsea, then I can't see anything but a home win.
Chelsea are looking to break the Premier League record for consecutive wins in this match, but I don't think they'll do it because this is a really hard game. I watched Chelsea's game against Stoke for Soccer Saturday and they have weaknesses. Despite the record, I think Antonio Conte will look at the next two fixtures away at Spurs and Leicester and he'd take four points. That would make them major, major favourites to win the Premier League. Remember, it can still change very quickly. If they lose at Spurs, then Liverpool will probably cut the gap to three points, which is nothing with 18 games to go. This will be a very good game and I think it will be a draw.
Merson's earlier predictions....
After teams like Burnley and Bournemouth won on New Year's Eve, it's important for Middlesbrough to win this one. They need to win home games like this. They were unlucky at Old Trafford on Saturday when they were 1-0 up and maybe could have had a penalty, but conceded two goals in barely a minute to lose the game. I think they will win this game because I don't think Leicester are great. They have struggled this season, but had a big result against West Ham to take the pressure off, so I think there'll be more intensity in Boro's game.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 - RESULT: 0-0
Southampton look like they've gone. With Virgil van Dijk getting sent off against West Ham, I can't see them getting much at Goodison Park. They've been very negative and don't look like scoring goals; the manager seems to set them up to avoid defeat and they sit back too much, as we saw after they took the lead against Tottenham. You can't be like that in this league. I think Everton will win very, very easily and start 2017 as they should look to carry on for the rest of the year with a decent team.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 - RESULT: 3-0
Burnley at home is a nice game for Pep Guardiola after the disappointment against Liverpool when they passed the ball around nicely but rarely looked a major threat. I know Burnley won 4-1 at home to Sunderland on Saturday, but this is a very different proposition for Sean Dyche, especially because this is a must-win game for Man City. Draws are no good in the Premier League at the moment and I'm backing City for a big win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 4-0 - RESULT: 2-1
David Moyes said Sunderland's 4-1 loss at Burnley was one of the worst performances one of his teams has ever produced in the Premier League - and that's a big statement because he's been around for a long time. This is a perfect game for Liverpool and I can't see anything but an away win because Sunderland need to go for three points and that will play into Liverpool's hands. Jurgen Klopp has complained there was only 48 hours since the last match and that might be a leveller against some teams, but not for Sunderland, who have the skinniest of squads anyway.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-3 - RESULT: 2-2
I watched Hull's game against West Ham and thought they were decent. If they'd had a bit more luck their league position could look a lot better, but I suspect they will be in for another bad day against West Brom, who are looking like a very good football team at the moment. Tony Pulis is showing that he's a very good manager and, after giving Salomon Rondon a rest against Southampton, I can see them getting another three points.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 - RESULT: 3-1
Against Middlesbrough I saw the Manchester United that I've known for 15 years and played against when I was still playing. They were 1-0 down, but just pummelled the other team, throwing the kitchen sink at them, until they finally got the win. That shows what I've been saying about the Premier League this season; draws are no good and you HAVE to win football matches. Their attitude was they would either win 2-1 or lose 3-0 - and that's what you need to do. They were outstanding and if they keep playing like that they should beat West Ham, even if they go behind.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 - RESULT: 0-2
