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Paul Merson's predictions: Must win for Arsenal, Spurs to beat Liverpool

Generic Paul Merson image 10/08/2016

Sky Sports football pundit Paul Merson is back to predict another round of Premier League games.

The Magic Man correctly guessed five results from last weekend's action including two perfect score predictions. 

He was spot on with Manchester United's 2-0 win over Southampton on Friday Night Football as well as Chelsea's 2-1 victory at Watford. 

Last weekend's predictions

Result Merson's prediction
Man Utd 2-0 Southampton 2-0
Stoke 1-4 Man City 1-1
Swansea 0-2 Hull 1-0
West Brom 1-2 Everton 1-1
Watford 1-2 Chelsea 1-2
Tottenham 1-0 Crystal Palace 2-0
Burnley 2-0 Liverpool 1-3
Leicester 0-0 Arsenal 2-2
Sunderland 1-2 M'Boro 2-2
West Ham 1-0 Bournemouth 2-1

How will he get on this weekend? Read on to find out...

Tottenham v Liverpool - Saturday from 11.30am, Sky Sports 1 HD

I fancy Tottenham. Take away the Philippe Coutinho goal against Arsenal on the opening day and Liverpool were terrible in the first half. I think Spurs will have too much for them going forward.

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Tottenham beat Crystal Palace last time out

I have been impressed with Spurs. They had a hard start at Everton, dug in and got the draw. They didn't play great against Crystal Palace last weekend but they were solid and got the late goal. That's what you have to do.

Harry Kane hasn't got going yet but he will.

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PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 17/2)

Live Premier League

West Brom v Middlesbrough - Sunday from 12.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD

I was really impressed with Middlesbrough against Sunderland. Some of the football they played was brilliant and the passing and movement for the second goal was as good as you will get this season.

I think they will at least get a draw and I would be surprised if West Brom won. They need to buy some players, Tony Pulis has said they need five, I think they need at least three.

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Middlesbrough won 2-1 at Sunderland last weekend

As long as Tony is manager they will stay up, but if they get carried away during the season and don't want him any more I would be shocked if they stayed up. They will still beat teams along the way and make it hard.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 9/2)

Manchester City v West Ham - Sunday from 3.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD

West Ham fell over the line in their first league game at home and City haven't really done anything wrong yet. They won well at Stoke and I think they will be a bit more efficient this season.

West Ham have a tricky game on Thursday which could take a bit out of them. Also, you can't work on team shape as much with a Thursday game so they won't have as much time to prepare as City.

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Manchester City beat Stoke 4-1 last time out

I didn't see too much change in City's first game against Sunderland but since then they have scored four and five, so you can't really complain. Pep Guardiola is a winner and he gets teams going. I said at the start of the season it's out of City, Manchester United and Chelsea and I can't see any different.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 13/2)

Crystal Palace v Bournemouth - Saturday, 3pm

This is a big game already. Both sides have lost two and if you lose a third before the international break it is dull around the place. I think the Christian Benteke factor could decide this in Palace's favour.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 23:  Christian Benteke of Crystal Palace in action during the EFL Cup Second Round match between Crystal Palace and Blackpool at S
Image: Christian Benteke has joined Palace from Liverpool

You would think he would turn it on for his home debut in the league. It's rare a centre forward doesn't do something in his first appearance at home.

They have paid a lot of money for him. He had a good season for Villa then didn't really produce at Liverpool, but there is a lot more to come from him. If they play to his strengths he will be a handful, but if they don't get the ball in the box he won't score too many.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 17/2)

Everton v Stoke - Saturday, 3pm

Everton are my dark horses in the league this season and if they can keep Romelu Lukaku they have every chance of doing something.

Everton player Romelu Lukaku
Image: Romelu Lukaku is in line to start for Everton

Stoke have only got a point from their first two games and I think Everton will have a bit too much for them on Saturday.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)

Chelsea v Burnley - Saturday, 3pm

Burnley got a great result against Liverpool but you can't keep doing that all season. Chelsea have been quite lucky the last couple of games, with Diego Costa getting the winning goals when he shouldn't have been on the pitch. I expect Chelsea to win this even though Burnley will make it difficult.

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Check out the best bits of Chelsea's win over Watford

I watched Burnley against Swansea and they weren't that good, then they get two against Liverpool and defend well.  Liverpool didn't look like scoring that much, but I think Burnley will need more players if they are going to keep working that hard all game.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 9/2)

Leicester v Swansea - Saturday, 3pm

I thought Leicester were unlucky against Arsenal last weekend as they had a stonewall penalty turned down. This is another one, though, that if they lose they will be without a win in their first three games as champions and people will start saying they were a one-hit wonder. I think there is a lot more to Leicester than that.

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Check out the highlights of Leicester's draw with Arsenal

Swansea were disappointing against Hull. They won at Burnley on the opening day but couldn't build on that performance last weekend.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)

Watford v Arsenal - Saturday, 3pm

It's a must-win game for Arsenal already. If they don't win this game they could be seven points behind the top teams. That's it isn't it?

Watford were unlucky against Chelsea when they were the better team for long spells and I wouldn't be shocked if they got a point.

Arsenal's French striker Olivier Giroud
Image: Arsenal have lost one and drawn one to start the season

But I think Arsenal will edge it this weekend - they have to win. If I had said at the start of the season I will have Man Utd, Man City and Chelsea and you have Arsenal with a seven-point deficit, even the most staunch Arsenal fan wouldn't take that bet.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)

Southampton v Sunderland - Saturday, 3pm

It's going to be a long season for Sunderland. The way Middlesbrough carved through them for the second goal last weekend was so easy, there are better teams than Boro in this league and I think they are going to find it very difficult.

Nathan Redmond celebrates
Image: Merse is backing Southampton to get their first win

Southampton made the numbers up at Man Utd last week and they look soft up front. They are trying to make Nathan Redmond into a forward and Shane Long works hard but doesn't score enough goals.

They miss Graziano Pelle as a focal point and need more going forward, but I think they will have enough to get their first win of the season.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)

Hull v Manchester United - Saturday, 5.30pm

I expect Utd will win this. Hull have done great with two wins from two and they should have had a stonewall penalty at Swansea and still carried on to get the three points.

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Watch highlights of Man Utd's win over Southampton

But it's going to be forwards against defence. Hull will set up, make it tight and it will be up to Man Utd to break them down. I think Utd have the quality to win.

PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2 (Sky Bet odds 9/2)

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