Merson's predictions: Sunderland to relegate Newcastle and Norwich

Paul Merson

Football Expert & Columnist @PaulMerse

Thursday 12 May 2016 06:04, UK

The battle for survival takes centre-stage on Wednesday night - and Paul Merson is here to preview the action.

Sunderland can have the final say in this season's race for survival, with victory at home to Everton enough to condemn Norwich, and north-east rivals Newcastle, to relegation with a game to spare.

Liverpool then look to continue their rich recent vein of form when Chelsea travel to Anfield, live on Sky Sports. Read on to see who the Magic Man is backing...

Last week's predictions


Result	Merse's prediction
Norwich 0-1 Man Utd	2-3
Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle	1-1
B'mouth 1-1 West Brom	2-1
C Palace 2-1 Stoke	1-1
Sunderland 3-2 Chelsea	2-1
West Ham 1-4 Swansea	3-0
Leicester 3-1 Everton	2-1
Spurs 1-2 Southampton	2-2
Liverpool 2-0 Watford	2-0
Man City 2-2 Arsenal	1-2

Norwich v Watford - Wednesday, 7.45pm

Norwich have got to win, they've got no other option. Saturday's defeat to Manchester United summed up their season, they missed chances and then shot themselves in the foot. It was a bad, bad result. They have to go for it against Watford and I expect them to get the three points, but whether that's enough to save their season remains to be seen.

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

Sunderland v Everton - Wednesday from 7pm, Sky Sports 1 HD

Everton have shot a bolt. I watched them against Leicester and they were atrocious. They still have something to play for - they are playing for their manager's job!

Victory for Sunderland, meanwhile, condemns Norwich and Newcastle to relegation and the way they are playing at the minute I can't see past them. The job will be done and Big Sam keeps a club up once again... if anyone else had been appointed Sunderland simply wouldn't have survived.

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

Liverpool v Chelsea - Wednesday from 7.55pm, Sky Sports 2 HD

Chelsea looked as though they were going to spoil the party at Sunderland but they are not playing with the same intensity and twice gave up the lead.

Some of the squad will have an eye on the Euros and I fancy Liverpool, who keep going from strength to strength, to get the victory.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)