Paul Merson's Premier League predictions - Week Three

Leicester v Arsenal, 3.30pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1

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People will say Arsenal were resilient against Everton and Besiktas, but I think the results cover over the cracks. They were second best against Everton for 80 minutes and it was only the substitution of Romelu Lukaku that changed the game. Olivier Giroud is out for several months and I think they need to go into the market and buy a centre-forward if they want to get anywhere near Man City and Chelsea. I would spend £12million on taking Falcao on loan for a year! I do think they will have too much class for Leicester on a lovely, big pitch though. Leicester have done well so far, but I don’t think they can live with Arsenal’s midfield.

PAUL PREDICTS: 0-3 

Tottenham v Liverpool, 12.30pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1

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This is a big, big football match. Tottenham have had a mixed start under Mauricio Pochettino as they were lucky against West Ham but slaughtered QPR. If they win this then they will start believing. As for Liverpool, they looked comfortable against Man City for 30 minutes but were a bit toothless and didn’t look like scoring for all their nice football from box to box. That’s not the Liverpool I remember from last season when they looked like scoring every time they went forward. Mario Ballotelli is a top-drawer player and offers another body and hopefully the penny will drop with him at some point. If he plays to his best on the field then £16million won’t look too bad – but the good games haven’t outweighed the bad when I’ve watched him. They need some cutting edge because they can’t afford to play another big team and lose again so early in the season.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2

Aston Villa v Hull

Aston Villa had a great result at Stoke on the opening day, but have found it difficult at home in the games they were expected to win against Newcastle and Leyton Orient. They didn’t score in either of those games and you’re obviously not going to win any football matches if you don’t have shots on target. Hull are a decent side and worked their socks off with 10 men against Stoke. The European game in midweek might take something out of them, but there’s not a lot between these two teams.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1

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

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Everton had Arsenal on the rack last Saturday and it was only when Romelu Lukaku went off that things changed. I know he might have been injured, but he gives them a real threat up front and Arsenal were unable to squeeze them while he was on the pitch. For 80 minutes they were much the better team, but it will be a different game this week. Chelsea are a different kettle of fish and are another step up from Arsenal. Their new signings have all clicked straight away and I fancy them to go to Goodison Park, which is a very hard place to go, and get a result.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 

Burnley v Man Utd

People might say Man United didn’t put out their best team in the 4-0 defeat at MK Dons, but those lads must think they have a future at the club or why else would they be there? To get absolutely rinsed like that was un