Magic Man also sees wins for Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton
Sunday 18 January 2015 16:10, UK
With another full weekend of Premier League action ahead of us, Paul Merson gives his tips and predictions for what is set to be another exciting round of fixtures.
Newcastle v Southampton - Saturday, 5.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD
I think this will be a tight game. I'm only going 1-1 because Victor Wanyama is out. If he was playing, I'd be going 1-0 to Southampton.
I was impressed with Newcastle in the first half against Chelsea last week, especially Moussa Sissoko and Remy Cabella. They looked good, even if they didn't in the second half. The thing with Southampton is that they don't blow teams away, so you're always going to be in the game. Even if you're playing badly, there will be a chance to equalise.
If John Carver can get Newcastle playing like they did in the first half, they'll be a decent match for most of the teams in this league.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)
West Ham v Hull City - Super Sunday, 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD
I worry for Hull. They weren't letting in any goals last season. They were solid. But I look at them now and they don't look like scoring goals - Steve Bruce has got two forwards out for six weeks.
They're another team who I thought would have gone for Jermain Defoe. I don't know if it was the money or the wages but they need a goalscorer and I don't see them beating West Ham.
If they lose another game and the teams around them win, they'll be deeper into that bottom three. I think West Ham are a decent team, and they've been under-rated to be fair and they went through in the FA Cup against Everton.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 6/1)
Manchester City v Arsenal - Super Sunday, 4pm, Sky Sports 1 HD
I can't pick Arsenal because of their record against the top four. If they get a draw, they should be happy. It's a shame that Arsenal are going to the Etihad and they're only thinking about getting in the top four, they should be going up there and fighting for the title.
A draw at least is necessary. Saints are not going away at the moment although I'm not sure about Manchester United. I think that the confidence of the FA Cup and the Champions League should help them win sooner or later against the big boys.
Sergio Aguero will definitely play on Saturday and give Per Mertersacker a hard time. Going to Everton and getting a draw - as City did - isn't normally an easy feat. But to go from eight points behind to just two, they have done really well.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
Everton v West Brom - Monday Night Football, 8pm, Sky Sports 1 HD
Very soon, Everton need to win a football match. I pick them just because West Brom will play with 10 men behind the ball.
I've never been a big Lukaku fan and I understand why Jose Mourinho let him go. For £27million, I would have dropped him off myself!
The Tony Pulis effect worked last week, and he'll make them hard to break down. If you look at when he was at Crystal Palace, they won seven of their games 1-0 to stay up.
If anyone can get them out of trouble, it will be him. This will be a hard game, and I think it will be harder to get Albion out of trouble, than it was Palace.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)
Aston Villa v Liverpool - Saturday, 3pm
I just can't see Villa scoring at the moment and I'm worried for my old team. Something has to change very quickly there, because if it wasn't for the defence, I dread to think where they would be. They'll be in a relegation battle because they don't score enough goals.
Raheem Sterling has been away on holiday, so he'll be fresh and I can't see anything past a Liverpool win. I don't think Mario Balotelli will start because if he wasn't getting in the team when Sterling wasn't there, then it's likely he'll be on the bench.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
Burnley v Crystal Palace - Saturday, 3pm
I fancy Burnley here. They have to win and I worry for them if they don't because they have a couple of decent games up next and after that, their next seven or eight games are rotten. So they had to beat QPR last week and they have to win this game as well. Whatever happens, Sean Dyche has done a great job, and for them to be out of the bottom three in January is good going.
I thought Palace were a little bit fortunate last weekend. I know that they won but Tottenham scored, sat back and invited pressure. Palace took advantage. I think Yayo Sanogo will feature because I don't see the point of taking players on loan and not playing them. I think he'll be a handful for defenders. He's quick and he's quite strong.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 9/1)
Leicester v Stoke City - Saturday, 3pm
I thought Stoke were poor against Arsenal, and Leicester just beat Villa but I think they also have to win this game. If they lose this and then lose their away games, then I'd be worried for them.
Stoke played well against Manchester United the other week but I was disappointed with them at the Emirates the other day
It's a cup final for Leicester. David Nugent was trying his best last week. He gets a worldy at Liverpool and then misses some of the easiest chances he'll get. I think he's a decent player who has got better and he'll get on the scoresheet this weekend.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 9/1)
QPR v Manchester United - Saturday, 3pm
QPR don't look like winning a game away from home and in their next few home games, they're only playing one team from the bottom half. But believe it or not, I'm going to go for a draw.
I can't understand why they haven't gone for Jermain Defoe, especially as Harry Redknapp knows him well. Defoe scores goals! Charlie Austin has to do for the second half of the season exactly what he's done in the first. I like Bobby Zamora but he's getting older. They haven't got anybody else; it's extraordinary that they didn't go for Defoe.
I don't think United have been that good to be honest; they keep on disappointing me. They went on that run, but they weren't impressive. It's a bit late to be playing Radamel Falcao now - I think the horse has bolted, he should have been involved against Southampton. It's an absolute joke.
I think Louis van Gaal was trying to show him who was boss but it's backfired. I really think QPR might get something out of this
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 6/1)
Swansea v Chelsea - Saturday, 3pm
I think Chelsea were lucky against Newcastle last week. They will definitely be challenging for the league until the end. They're a good team.
I didn't think they could play that poorly, and Newcastle may not play better than that first half. But at the break, it was still 1-0 to Chelsea.
I like Bafetimbi Gomis and he scored last week but he has to score as much as Wilfred Bony and consistently, not just every other week. They will miss him now his move to Manchester City is confirmed.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
Tottenham v Sunderland - Saturday, 3pm
Believe it or not, I'm going for Spurs!
Defoe is a great buy for Sunderland. I was worried for them but he will score them goals. He’s proven. They don’t create a lot so they need a proper goalscorer who won't need four or five chances to score. But I do fancy Tottenham. They should have got something against Palace really.
They came back the other night and beat Chelsea before that. I like Kane and I think he will score, especially as you're not seeing many of the other strikers scoring.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 13/2)
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