Sombrero Sunday

Paul Merson is tipping wins - and brighter futures - for Liverpool and Chelsea on Super Sunday.

Baggies and Blackburn likely to lose

I've been impressed with West Brom all season. They get the ball down, they have a go - but unfortunately they can't defend for toffee. If results go against them they might effectively be relegated by the time this game kicks off, but if Newcastle and Hull slip up on Saturday they'll be thinking they've got every chance. If United wrap up the title then this game could be a damp squib for Liverpool so if ever there was a time for a shock result it might be Sunday. Personally I still can't see West Brom staying up, but they'll be certainties to bounce straight back next year. In fact, I can see them running away with it. Not many players will leave and they seem to have a happy medium of players who are too good for the Championship, but not good enough for the Premier League. I don't like to pick out players, but a perfect example of that type of player would be Darren Huckerby. I played against him for Walsall in the Championship and he ripped us apart, but in the Premier League he couldn't do it. West Brom have got plenty of those "Huckerbys". Some people will say West Brom should have spent more, but at least they know their limitations. Look at Leeds United; they are now preparing for a third season in League One, but that will never happen to West Brom. It's too easy to say Tony Mowbray should have used different tactics. Stoke have done great by getting the ball forward quickly, but if they'd gone down people would be saying you can't play like that in the Premier League and calling for them to get the ball down. West Brom came up by playing a certain way and I like Tony Mowbray for sticking by that. He has players who suit a certain style so it would have been silly to ask them to start lumping it forward. Nobody was complaining when they got promoted.

Force

As for Liverpool, I expect them to be a right force next season. It's been a long time since they've been in a title race and it takes a lot of getting used to. Last year a young Arsenal team capitulated when they had a chance of winning the league, but Liverpool have stayed there - and they have progressed in the Champions League too. They've done great. If they can get players like Gareth Barry in over the summer they could possibly nick the title next year. PAUL'S PREDICTION
Away win - A lot depends on how professional Liverpool are if the title race is over. It might be difficult to pick themselves up after a long season, but they could take it out on West Brom. If they go professional then I can see them winning 4-0. MERSON'S MAGIC MAN
Dirk Kuyt - It might be a damp squib if United have won the title, but he has the enthusiasm to get everything going. His work-rate is phenomenal and people will bounce off that because he won't turn up down in the dumps. Rafael Benitez called him Mr Duracell and he's not wrong, he doesn't stop.

Chelsea v Blackburn

I like what Guus Hiddink has done at Chelsea, even though they haven't achieved anything yet. If they'd held on against Barcelona and won the Champions League then people would be saying he's the best manager ever. It just shows you how lucky you need to be. But I like the way he talks and I like they way he has calmed the unrest in the camp. The moaners have been quiet and that shows what a good manager he is. I think this is a big game for Chelsea. They need to keep the momentum going after beating Arsenal and this is their first home game since Barcelona so they will want to send the fans away happy. People only remember the last game and they don't want to go into the summer thinking about how they couldn't beat Blackburn. Chelsea's fans will feel they were robbed in the Champions League by that nightmare of a referee, but they should have been higher in the league with the players they've got. I'm sure they'll be up there again next year. Maybe they need to sign a striker if Didier Drogba isn't going to be there and return of Joe Cole will be a big help, but they don't need a lot more. That's why they've been a bit disappointing in the league. With a bit more consistency they could have really challenged.

Gone

Meanwhile, Blackburn have had an unbelievable second half of the season. Before Sam Allardyce took over they were looking absolutely gone and he's done phenomenally well. When push comes to shove, the relegation scrap has come down to who has the best manager. Tony Mowbray and Gareth Southgate are still young, while Alan Shearer, Ricky Sbragia and Phil Brown don't have much experience of managing in the Premier League. Like Harry Redknapp, Big Sam has done a great job, especially when you consider where those two teams were when they took over. But this is Sombrero time for Blackburn and Sunday is all about damage limitation. PAUL'S PREDICTION
Home win - I'll go for 4-0 to Chelsea. It's the end of the season and it's testimonial football, so I think we'll see a few goals. Chelsea will want to finish on a high in their last home game and it could get dodgy for the away team.

MERSON'S MAGIC MAN
Frank Lampard - It beats me how he's never up for player of the year. He's one goal off 20 for the season - how many times do you see that from the centre of midfield? People take those goals for granted, but who else would give you that? Maybe Steven Gerrard, but I think he's the best player in the world - and Lampard isn't too far off.