Former England and Arsenal star Paul Merson has delivered his verdict on a pivotal weekend of Premier League football, headlined by the Manchester derby and Arsenal's trip to Nottingham Forest.
Manchester Derby: City Favoured Despite United's New Boss
The weekend's action kicks off with a crucial Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Saturday. Merson sees only one winner, stating he "can't see anything but a Manchester City win." He believes City's attacking prowess, potentially featuring new signing Antoine Semenyo alongside Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki, will be too much for a United side now under interim manager Michael Carrick.
Merson suggests the appointment of Carrick buys United time to make a considered permanent hire, possibly even Carrick himself, rather than rushing for an available candidate. His final prediction is a 1-3 victory for Manchester City.
Title Race and Relegation Battles in Focus
With leaders Arsenal holding a six-point advantage, Merson believes their away fixture against struggling Nottingham Forest is a potential banana skin. "These are the kind of games that win you the league," he said, predicting a comfortable 0-2 win for Mikel Arteta's Gunners.
At the other end of the table, Merson highlighted Wolverhampton Wanderers' improved form but still expects Newcastle to edge them 1-2 at Molineux. He also backed Aston Villa for a straightforward 3-0 win over an Everton side that has "lost their way," noting the absence of key players Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Merson's Full Set of Weekend Predictions
Across the rest of the fixtures, the pundit's forecasts are:
- Sunderland 2-0 Crystal Palace: Backs the Black Cats against a "tired" Palace.
- Chelsea 2-1 Brentford: Expects the hosts to edge a hard-fought London derby.
- Liverpool 3-0 Burnley: Predicts a routine win with Florian Wirtz key.
- Tottenham 2-1 West Ham: Believes new signing Conor Gallagher could be decisive.
- Leeds 2-2 Fulham: Forecasts an entertaining draw at Elland Road.
- Brighton 2-2 Bournemouth: Tips this clash for the most goals of the weekend.
Merson made his predictions in a detailed preview for Sportskeeda, analysing the key battles as the 2025-26 Premier League season moves into its decisive phase.
