Paul Merson returns with his weekend predictions in the Premier League, including Man City v Arsenal and Everton v Liverpool.
After a jam-packed midweek schedule, Premier League sides are gearing up to do it all again this weekend, with Crystal Palace v Chelsea getting proceedings underway on Saturday lunchtime, live on Sky Sports 1 HD.
Four teams are in action at 3pm, before Manchester United travel to an in-form West Brom side on Saturday evening before a tantalising Nissan Super Sunday as Bournemouth host Southampton and Arsenal travel to Manchester City.
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Tottenham also welcome Burnley at 4pm on Sunday, before Mersey Monday kicks into high gear with Everton taking on local rivals Liverpool at Goodison Park at 8pm.
With plenty of action to come, Soccer Saturday pundit Merson makes his predictions for the weekend...
Last time out...
| Result | Paul Merson predicted |
| Bournemouth 1-0 Leicester | 2-1 |
| Everton 2-1 Arsenal | 1-3 |
| Sunderland 0-1 Chelsea | 0-2 |
| West Ham 1-0 Burnley | 2-0 |
| Crystal Palace 1-2 Man Utd | 1-2 |
| Man City 2-0 Watford | 2-0 |
| Stoke 0-0 Southampton | 2-0 |
| Tottenham 3-0 Hull | 3-0 |
| West Brom 3-1 Swansea | 2-0 |
| Middlesbrough 0-3 Liverpool | 1-2 |
Crystal Palace v Chelsea (Premier League Live, Saturday from 11.30am - Live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports Mix)
C Palace vs Chelsea
December 17, 2016, 11:30am
Live on
I know Palace haven't enjoyed the best of times recently, and Chelsea are playing well, but this will be a hard game for Chelsea. For me, it all depends on Wilfried Zaha. The way of beating this three-at-the-back system is to get the ball out wide. They can give Chelsea a bit of a scare if they do.
If you look at Chelsea's last two games, they haven't blown teams away. They fell over the line against West Brom, who deserved a draw and then a world class save stopped Sunderland getting a point.
This is a difficult game, and I don't think Chelsea are scoring enough goals at the minute. Draw.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 13/2)
Middlesbrough v Swansea (Saturday, 3pm)
Middlesbrough have to win this. I thought Boro would be alright this season, but if they lose this game they are in big trouble. Swansea away from home are not a side you can drop points against. They are conceding goals left, right and centre.
Boro are not in great form, but because of how crucial it is, I can't see anything other than a Middlesbrough win
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 8/1)
Stoke v Leicester (Saturday, 3pm)
I was impressed with Stoke the other day, especially after they went down to 10 men. Southampton don't have a great deal of firepower, but they remained solid.
Stoke will miss [Marko] Arnautovic, that's for sure, but I still think they will have enough for Leicester, who we know just can't seem to perform away from home.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 11/1)
Sunderland v Watford (Saturday, 3pm)
This is a game that Sunderland have to win. With Christmas coming up, they cannot fall too far behind.
Watford are a bit like Revels - you never really know what you are going to get. They had chances against Man City. It will be nervy for Sunderland, but they have to win it, and so will just edge it if they battle. I can't see a way out for them if they don't win this.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 9/1)
West Ham v Hull (Saturday, 3pm)
West Ham's win against Burnley was huge. All of a sudden, if they win this on Saturday, they are further up the table and it is happy days. They may be able to go on a run from here.
Hull cannot win away, but they had patches against Tottenham. They played some good football, but they lacked that killer instinct.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 13/2)
West Brom v Man Utd (Saturday, 5.30pm)
Seven weeks ago, Manchester United would have looked at this and thought this isn't bad. Beating Crystal Palace is a great result, regardless of how badly people think Palace are playing. To go and win there under the floodlights is a difficult task.
West Brom are doing brilliantly. They should have got a point at Chelsea, but then Salomon Rondon goes and scores three headers and all is well again.
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United have turned a corner, though. Mourinho needs to tinker with the team a bit, bring a bit of pace in. This is a hard game, but [Paul] Pogba had his best game against Palace, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic is on absolute fire, and [Michael] Carrick is still the best passer in the country.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 8/1)
Bournemouth v Southampton (Nissan Super Sunday from 12.30pm - live on Sky Sports 1)
B'mouth vs So'ton
December 18, 2016, 12:30pm
Live on
On the back of a good result against Leicester I fancy Bournemouth here. Saints are really lacking up front, with Charlie Austin unavailable. If you can't break down 10-man Stoke then you are going struggle.
It is a small ground down there, though, so there will always be chances for both. Saints will probably get one, but that won't be enough.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 10/1)
Man City v Arsenal (Nissan Super Sunday from 3.30pm - live on Sky Sports 1)
I cannot pick this one. It is so hard. A draw is no good for either side, really, and both have to go for it, which might mean they cancel each other out.
Arsenal couldn't cope with the tempo of Everton on Tuesday night, but Man City won't play like that this weekend. It all depends what Pep Guardiola does. In the last big game, he changed his formation to match Chelsea and they had a enough chances to win that.
Man City vs Arsenal
December 18, 2016, 3:30pm
Live on
Both teams are capable of winning this 3-0. I am sitting on the fence here.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)
Tottenham v Burnley (Sunday, 4pm)
I have seen a lot of Burnley this season, and they just can't get going away from home. It is a different story at home, but on the road they haven't been at it. I don't know what it is, as they will give anyone a game at home.
Tottenham looked much better the other night and have Harry Kane back and playing well. Nothing other than a Tottenham win here.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)
Everton v Liverpool (Monday Night __football from 7pm - live on Sky Sports 1)
Everton vs Liverpool
December 19, 2016, 7:00pm
Live on
Liverpool are massive favourites here, but this is a Merseyside derby, a leveller, so anything can happen
If Everton can play like they can, like they did against Arsenal, getting in their faces, they can get a win. If they play like they did in the first half against Arsenal, sitting off and allowing Liverpool to come at them, then Liverpool will win.
Liverpool at the back are not good enough, but going forward they are the best around at the moment, and have goals from everywhere. It really should be a great game, with goals.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)
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Also See:
- Prutton's EFL predictions
- Premier League questions
- Who is Arsenal's main man?
- Live on Sky