Paul Merson says Tottenham, Manchester City and Manchester United all have defining matches this weekend, even though it is early in the season. In his latest Sky Sports column, the former Arsenal winger argues that each team faces a test that could shape their campaign.
Spurs are still winless and goalless after three Premier League games. They host Everton on Saturday Night Football, live on Sky Sports, in front of their expectant fans. Merson calls the fixture a cup final for the White Hart Lane side.
“Everton is a cup final for Spurs.”
Spurs’ season on the line
Tottenham have taken three points from their opening three matches. Their schedule so far has been Brentford away, Newcastle at home and Nottingham Forest away. Merson says a loss to Everton would trigger serious worry among supporters.
“If they lose to Everton, then you start thinking: this is going to be another grind of a season. Here we go again,” he wrote. “You would start really, really worrying as a Tottenham fan.”
A win, by contrast, resets the table. Two games without defeat would put Spurs on four points, and Merson believes the momentum would build from there.
“It’s not as big as the Spurs vs Everton game on the final day of last season,” he added. “If they lost that game, they were going to Lincoln.”
But Merson does not see this Spurs team stringing together five or six wins in a row. He expects the season to be defined by these early results.
“The start Spurs have had is Brentford away, Newcastle at home and Nottingham Forest away. If they lose to Everton and have one point from four games, you start to worry,” he wrote.
He also drew a direct link between Saturday’s result and next week’s fixture against Aston Villa at home. “If they beat Everton, then they’ve got every chance of beating Aston Villa at home next week. If they don’t beat Everton, they’re not beating Villa. That’s how it works. It’s a snowball effect.”
United’s Manchester derby
Manchester United face a defining game of their own on Sunday, when they meet Manchester City in the Manchester derby. The result could define United’s entire season.
“If you beat Man City, you’re flying. If you get beat by Man City, here we go again,” he wrote.
United have won one game and drawn one so far. A loss to City would leave them with one point from one game, with the Everton fixture counting as the other. Other teams are winning around them.
“I’ve said all along: I don’t think Man Utd have bought very well. The squad isn’t big enough. It’s nowhere near enough,” Merson wrote.
He is particularly critical of United’s defensive record. “Defensively they’re nowhere near good enough. They let in two goals against Everton – and they were two good goals, but one of them was from the edge of the box. Everybody’s behind the ball.”
Merson argues that United’s tactical approach is hurting them. “When you’re winning, put another forward on. Don’t take a forward off and put a defender on. Don’t give that team the opportunity.”
He used Coventry’s performance at Everton as a counterexample. “If you’re Coventry and you go in front at Everton, you of course put a defender on 100 per cent. But when you’re Man Utd, I don’t see the need to do that.”
City’s first big test
Manchester City enter the derby as favourites, but Merson believes they have not been playing well. “I don’t think Man City have been great,” he wrote.
He noted that City have kept a clean sheet against Coventry and that Erling Haaland is scoring goals. Those positives, he argued, mask deeper issues.
“Sometimes wins can cover cracks – but City have got Erling Haaland scoring goals. And they kept a clean sheet against Coventry last time out, that’s a positive for them.”
The bigger test comes in the games ahead. City face Man Utd and Liverpool in their next two fixtures, plus a match against Sunderland in between. Merson sees those as the moments that will reveal how good City are under Enzo Maresca.
“If City win those two games and the match against Sunderland in between, they’re not going to be far off the top come the end of the season,” he wrote.
He also warned that a poor run could open the door for Arsenal. “If they don’t get at least two points out of those two games, then Arsenal could run away with the league title a bit.”
The fixtures to follow
Saturday’s clash between Spurs and Everton kicks off the weekend. The Manchester derby follows on Sunday. Both games are live on Sky Sports.
Merson has Chelsea down for third in the league and mentioned that Arsenal could run away with the title.
The stakes are high for all three clubs. One result could settle the narrative for the rest of the season.
Spurs need a win to stop the worry. United need a win to avoid a repeat of last year’s struggles. City need to prove they can win without playing well.
The weekend will answer at least one of those questions.
What Merson says about the clubs
Merson’s assessment of each club is blunt. He discusses how each team has started the season.
- Tottenham: Three games in, all without a win or a goal.
- Manchester United: One win and one draw from two games.
- Manchester City: Kept a clean sheet against Coventry.
He also offered a brief rundown of how each team has started the season. Spurs have three games in, all without a win or a goal. United have one win and one draw from two games. City have kept a clean sheet against Coventry.
Key quotes from Merson
Merson’s column is full of strong opinions. Here are some of the key lines:
“Everton is a cup final for Spurs.”
“If they lose to Everton, then you start thinking: this is going to be another grind of a season. Here we go again.”
“I still don’t see Man Utd in my top five.”
“Time to find out how good Man City are.”
The weekend will settle at least one of those questions.
Source: skysports.com
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.