Saturday 20 August 2016 14:54, UK
Sky Sports football pundit Paul Merson is back to predict another week of Premier League games.
The Magic Man enjoyed a strong opening weekend, successfully predicting five results, including two perfect scores.
Merson correctly called a 1-1 draw between Everton and Tottenham at Goodison Park and another between Middlesbrough and Stoke at the Riverside.
How will he get on this weekend? Read on to find out...
Stoke had a good first result at Middlesbrough, which is a difficult place to go on the opening day.
As for Man City, I didn't see anything different against Sunderland despite all the pre-match talk. It was the same team that didn't move the ball quick enough last year.
They were slow and I was disappointed with their general play, so I think Stoke will get something on Saturday.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 6/1)
Big game! Sunderland did all right at the Etihad but I think it was the wrong decision to take Jermain Defoe off towards the end.
It's easy to say that now, but I felt it gave Man City the impetus to attack freely. If Defoe was on the pitch, they would have been a bit more wary.
Middlesbrough had a good result too, Gaston Ramirez looks a very good signing and if you get the ball in the box to Alvaro Negredo, he'll score goals. They need to play to his strengths.
There won't be much between these two at the end of the season and I think there are goals to be had at the Stadium of Light. I'm going for a wide-open game, and a score draw.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds 16/1)
West Ham will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last season, when Bournemouth ripped them to shreds! It shouldn't be too much of a problem, though, because I can't see anything other than a West Ham win this time.
The Cherries have a lot of possession but don't really look like scoring and I think they need to change a couple of things.
West Ham have the players and it's a nice game to open the London Stadium. Slaven Bilic has more match-winners on his team and that could make the difference.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
Spurs were disappointing in the first half against Everton, who should have been out of sight at half-time, but they improved after the break.
Palace had a shocking result at home and it looks like they need a forward. Dwight Gayle has gone, Yannick Bolasie just went and they fired blanks against West Brom so it's a bit of a strange one.
Tottenham don't have that problem because Harry Kane gets better as the season goes on and I'm going for a home win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)
I thought Chelsea played well against West Ham. They got lucky, don't get me wrong, because Diego Costa should have gone but it was a good start against a solid team.
Watford were outstanding against Southampton in the first half at St Mary's and their defensive shape worked a treat. They had the Saints penned back at times, which was impressive.
There are positive signs for Walter Mazzarri, but I'm going for Chelsea to edge it at Vicarage Road.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
If they didn't have Tony Pulis, you would have West Brom around the relegation scrap, but with him as manager you know that's not going to happen. They will keep it tight and this will be another hard game.
Everton are my dark horses this year if they can keep their players together now, and away from home I think Bolasie could be a threat with his pace on the break.
Still, I think this will be very tight, with Everton to draw 1-1 for the second straight game.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 9/2)
Both teams had great results on the opening weekend, but I think Swansea just have a little bit more on the bench and that strength in depth made the difference against Burnley.
There wasn't much in the game but then Jefferson Montero came on and ripped it up.
I don't think Hull have got a player that can make that kind of impact from the bench.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds 4/1)
I was a little disappointed in Burnley. At home, I thought they had to go for the win but they didn't create much and with virtually the same team that got them promoted, it looks like a long season ahead.
There's a big gap from the Sky Bet Championship to the Premier League and I expect Liverpool to win this.
I don't think many teams will go to Burnley and take them apart because they are well organised and have a good manager, but Liverpool look dangerous in attack.
They will be able to cope without Sadio Mane if he's out for an extended period because Jurgen Klopp has plenty of options going forward. It's in defence that he has problems.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)
Arsenal have to win this match. People will say there are still 36 games left after this, but you can't afford to fall six points behind. Come the end of the season, playing catch-up takes its toll.
It's a similar story for Leicester because you don't want to start off as champions and lose your first two games. No one had ever lost their first game as champions, and if you then lose your next, all of a sudden your momentum has gone.
This is a big football match and I think there will be goals. Last season, Wes Morgan and Robert Huth blocked every shot they jumped in front of, and I don't think that will happen again.
Arsenal can't defend, we know that, so I'm going for a score draw.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds 11/1)
Southampton started poorly against Watford, who were well on top in the first half. They clawed their way back to get a draw, but they'll need to be much better against United.
I'm not sure if Paul Pogba will start to be honest because I'd be surprised if Mourinho changed his team.
It's his first home game and while they didn't play great at Bournemouth on Sunday, they still got a good result, and I think it will be fairly comfortable on Friday.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 - RESULT: 2-0
