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Manchester marvels

Merse looks ahead to two big Super Sunday matches

Paul Merson Posted 12th March 2010 view comments

Super Sunday brings you two big games as the Premier League rollercoaster takes a few more twists and turns.

From 1pm our cameras will be at Old Trafford to bring you live and high-definition coverage as Manchester United attempt to enhance their title hopes against Fulham.

And from 3.30pm we're heading to the Stadium of Light where Sunderland will hope to derail Manchester City's push for fourth place.

Hodgson & Bruce: both set to taste defeat?

Hodgson & Bruce: both set to taste defeat?

Sky Sports expert Paul Merson gives us his views ahead of both games...

Man Utd v Fulham
1pm, Sun, Sky Sports HD1 & Sky Sports 1

Fulham are so unlucky. It seems every time they play in Europe they're away from home the following weekend.

After that brilliant draw at Shakhtar Donetsk they had to go to Sunderland three days later. To go to the Stadium of Light and get a 0-0 draw was phenomenal after all of that travelling.

Wayne Rooney is probably the best player in the world at the moment. People talk about Cristiano Ronaldo, but he doesn't play for the team; he plays for Cristiano Ronaldo FC.

Paul Merson
Quotes of the week

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Man Utd v Fulham

1pm, Sun, Sky Sports HD1
Sunderland v Man City
3.30pm, Sun, Sky Sports HD1
Watch online with Sky Player
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This week they have to go to Old Trafford less than 72 hours after playing at one of the top Italian teams. The odds are stacked against them.

Roy Hodgson has done a phenomenal job there and I don't think they're out of the Europa League yet, despite losing the first leg to Juventus. They're very well organised and they proved against Shakhtar that they can compete at this level.

It's been a great season for them and we're singing their praises now, but if they lose to Juventus and Tottenham in the next couple of weeks their season could be over.

That's the way it is when you're striving to be a successful team. The likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United can see it all slip away from them in the space of a fortnight. You're always playing on the edge - and Fulham are learning about that.

But I think Sunday might be a game too far for Fulham.

A lot will depend on how much Sir Alex Ferguson tinkers with his team because they've got big games coming up and he might want to leave a couple on the bench.

Or maybe he'll go for the jugular straight away because he knows Fulham will be tired. If they finish the game early he can pull a few key players off.

If United get the first goal, the weariness and the tiredness will really kick in for the Fulham players.

PAUL'S PREDICTION
Home win - Fulham will try to keep things tight, but they'll struggle to keep Man United to zero. They'll have to work very hard and I think their season will catch up with them at some stage. I'll go for 3-0 to United.

MERSON'S MAGIC MAN
Wayne Rooney - Wayne Rooney is probably the best player in the world at the moment. People talk about Cristiano Ronaldo, but he doesn't play for the team; he plays for Cristiano Ronaldo FC. In contrast, Rooney and Lionel Messi work their socks off for their teams and that's why they're the top two in my eyes. They say there's no 'I' in team, but there is ME...

Sunderland v Man City
3.30pm, Sun, Sky Sports HD1 & Sky Sports 1

I watched Sunderland's midweek game with Bolton and I still can't figure out how it ended 4-0.

Sunderland scored after 40 seconds, but until the second goal went in Bolton were the much better team. A penalty, a red card and a Darren Bent hat-trick all papered over the cracks, but it was a big result and it will give Sunderland confidence.

At the end of the day, Steve Bruce won't care who the best team was as long as his side won the game. Three points will feel like 100 points down there because you can't see where teams like Burnley and Hull are going to win two or three games to close the gap.

However, people shouldn't read too much into the scoreline and think Sunderland have turned the corner.

The fans still get on the players' backs quite quickly and the injury to Lee Cattermole is a big blow because - despite Bent's goals - he's their main man. To be honest I think Manchester City will go there and win comfortably.

City's last game was that big win at Stamford Bridge, but until Hilario threw one into his own net just before half time, it was all Chelsea. City scored at the right time after the break and won it easily, but that game could have turned out very differently.

However, I expect them to draw confidence from that result and go and win this one.

I'm still not sure who is going to finish fourth. I thought it might be Liverpool, but after that shambles against Wigan I don't see it. Graeme Souness said Liverpool could be in meltdown and he might possibly be right. You can't write Villa off either with their games in hand.

There will be some freak results between now and the end of the season and that could decide things. City will be very keen to win this one if they want that fourth place.

PAUL'S PREDICTION
Away win - It wouldn't be a freak result if Sunderland won this game because even though they're on a bad run they're not the worst team in the world. But without Cattermole I expect Man City to have too much for them. I'll go for 2-0.

MERSON'S MAGIC MAN
Craig Bellamy - I'll pick Craig Bellamy because he should do well against an attacking full-back like Alan Hutton. The Sunderland player is good going forward but defensively I don't think he'll be able to live with Bellamy. That could be the difference.

Comments (5)

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John Wilson (Sunderland fan) says...

I really like Paul Merson, and could understand if he had said Sunderland weren't particularly dominant after the first goal, but to say Bolton were "much better" makes me question whether I actually saw what I think I saw. Up until our second goal, the only real goal threat came from us, and after Benty's second goal, it was pretty much one way traffic. Lee Cattermole had a great start to the season, but his 2 matches since his comeback have seen him consistently win the ball in miod field, then promptly give it back to the opposition (apart from one killer through ball for the second goal!!) and to say he is our "main man" will come as a suprise to the Sunderland fans. We are a long way from the finished article, but I honestly don't think we'll be in the thick of the relegation scrap come May.

Posted 15:39 12th March 2010

James Dean (Arsenal fan) says...

I love your columns Paul, sometimes they make me laugh. I hope Fulham can nick a draw but no I in team but I in me? lol where did you get that from? Theres no i in me Paul

Posted 14:13 12th March 2010

Patrick Kenny (Manchester United fan) says...

Mers i agree with most of what you said but i feel you are a bit harsh towards Cristiano Ronaldo. In my opinion he is still the best player in the world and yes he plays as an individual but that is what makes him special....Rooney on the other hand is a different sort of player he is now becoming a ruthless finisher just like Denis Law and Ruud Van Nistelrooy was for us. I cant see Fulham stopping us on sunday with Rooney, Fletcher and Valencia in the form they are in i can see us putting 4 or 5 past a weary Fulham side

Posted 13:28 12th March 2010

A Gooner (Arsenal fan) says...

Sunderland 1 Man City 1 Man City are not good away from home against lesser sides

Posted 12:38 12th March 2010

Tom Nolan (Manchester United fan) says...

At this stage of the season there are no easy games mers,I don't think united will be that comfortable.united to win 2-0.great news today hearing that Ryan giggs will be back for the game against the scousers.I think we should rest players i.e. Evra,Valencia,fletcher & park because this is Liverpools cup final of the season.c'mon united

Posted 12:10 12th March 2010

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