Paul Merson's Premier League predictions

Man City v Liverpool, 7pm, Monday, Sky Sports 1

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This is a big game. Liverpool were lucky to beat Southampton, but winning when you’re not playing well is the name of the game. You can’t play well for 38 games. As for Man City, they were comfortable against Newcastle and had more gears left. I’m giving Liverpool a chance here because it’s so early in the season. If this game was half-way through the season with a few injuries and Champions League matches taking their toll then it might be different, but I think they might get a result in August. There should be goals because Liverpool can play on the counter-attack and they’ll have a go when City come at them.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2

Sunderland v Man Utd, 3.30pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1

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I watched Sunderland play West Brom on Soccer Saturday last week and I thought they were second best in that game. Jack Rodwell aside, the team isn’t much different to last year and they haven’t got Fabio Borini, who had a little bit about him. However, Man United are nothing special at the moment and are three world-class players short of being competitive. Was Marcos Rojo a panic buy? Why didn’t they buy him three weeks ago if he was who they wanted? It feels like things have changed because they lost to Swansea. I will go for a narrow Man United win because I can’t remember the last time they lost their first two games of the season, but I’m only making this prediction because they’re called Man United if I’m being honest.

PAUL PREDICTS: 0-1

Hull v Stoke, 12.30pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1

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Stoke will be disappointed after losing to Aston Villa last week, but they will get better as the season goes on. Bojan will need a bit of time to settle into the league and I don’t think someone like that will come into this league and set it alight straight away. They will be alright, but this is a game they can’t lose because their next game is Man City away and if you lose your first three games and you’re bottom for the international break it’s really hard to get out of it. This is a must-not-lose game, but Hull fell over the line in their game last week and I think QPR should have got at least a draw. I think we’ll see a draw here.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1

Everton v Arsenal, 4.45pm, Saturday, Sky Sports 1

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This is a massive test for Arsenal. I thought they were lucky against Crystal Palace, but they got a very good result at Besiktas on Tuesday, which was one of the best 0-0 draws you’ll see. Last season they beat all the lesser teams and struggled against the big ones, including the trip to Everton when they got absolutely rinsed. They need to get a result to show they have improved and if they can go there and get at least a draw it would be a step forward. If Everton get their best players on the pitch they can give anyone a game, but with all the money they have spent there is pressure on them now. They haven’t bought the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Gareth Barry and James McCarthy to finish seventh!

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1

Aston Villa v Newcastle

Villa had a great result last week in a game nobody expected them to win. Now all of