Paul Merson — user profile, bets, stats and tips

Manchester City Win • 1.94

Champions League final is a meeting between two of the sharpest minds in football; Paul Merson told Sky Sports: "If you have a go at Man City you have got a chance but I don't think Chelsea have got the players to take them chances"

I'm worried for Chelsea after seeing them at Aston Villa in what was a must-win game for them. They missed another load of chances and that's a big concern.

For me, it's going to be a very interesting game. It's a very interesting final, which both teams can win, and you have to say Chelsea can win it because of their wins over City this season.

It is going to be about who can handle the nerves the best because even though it is two Premier League teams, it is a ******* football match. It's the Champions League final and the history that comes with that is *******.

Under 2.5 Goals • 2.07

Santa Fe have shown enough in this competition to show that they are capable of troubling superior opponents. Nevertheless, we expect Junior to build on their success last time out to edge this contest by the odd goal in three.

My prediction is Under 2.5 in this match.

Arsenal Win • 2.38

I didn't give Arsenal much of a chance at Liverpool, I expected them to get beat and the game went exactly how I thought it would - they had some chances, looked good in parts of the game and then succumbed to the inevitable.
I was impressed with Nicolas Pepe's performance at Anfield, but he had to put at least one of his chances away, that's why Arsenal paid top dollar to bring him to the club. Putting those chances away is what separates a £72m striker and the rest.

When you go to Liverpool and Manchester City these days, you have to take your chances, Arsenal didn't. And when a talent like Mohamed Salah when he scores such a special goal, there is nothing you can do but hold your hands up.
But it wasn't all bad for Unai Emery's side. A couple of weeks ago I'd have looked at Sunday's North London derby and said Arsenal would be happy with a draw, but after their positive start to the season, I expect them to win comfortably now.

West Ham United Win • 3.2

Watford must have an eye on the FA Cup final. You don't play in it too often; years ago it was the ultimate, now it's down the pecking order but that won't be the case for Watford next week or Man City if they can do the English treble.

Troy Deeney will have to play because he needs to get his match fitness back, and you can't see anyone lying down with him in the team. But I think there'll be some changes ahead of the cup final, and I think that'll take it from a draw to a West Ham win. They've picked some form too.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3
Source: Sky

Southampton Win • 1.42

When you're playing at home, you want to finish the season well with the feel-good factor. If they win this game, people will forget where they were in January.

PAUL PREDICTS: 4-1
Source: Sky

Manchester United Win • 1.28

I had them to beat Huddersfield 4-0, and probably Cardiff by the same scoreline. If they'd won against Huddersfield you'd have half fancied them to get into the Champions League because after midweek you'd not be sure about Tottenham. But now they'll be going out without fear and play, but United need a big win, put on a show, and get people going home thinking 'next season we've got a chance'.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0
Source: Sky

Tottenham Hotspur Win • 2.11

You're playing against a good Everton team here, who have turned a corner but they were getting beaten at Newcastle and Fulham a few weeks ago. The players probably won't be thinking of this game but you want to get third. I think Tottenham will sneak it, but Everton aren't as good on the road as they have been at home so I think Spurs will sneak it.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1

Source: Sky

Draw • 3.64

I expect Chelsea to get through against Frankfurt, they're a far better team. But they've got to win this game, you want to be finishing third. They've got to beat Leicester, it's quite a big game for Chelsea to finish third, but it's a hard game and I think Leicester will get something with how they've been playing.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2
Source: Sky

Draw • 3.65

I hope Scott Parker gets the Fulham job. They've shown a bit of respectability towards the end, they've had a plan at least, and Newcastle are a team who are hard to play against at the moment as we saw on Saturday night. I think both of them will have a go.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2
Source: Sky

Crystal Palace Win • 1.88

Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth
This is one of those games you'd like to watch - if this ends 0-0 people should be asking for their money back. It's two teams with nothing to play for, they can have a right go, score goals and have fun.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-2

Source: Sky

Burnley Win • 3.18

I'm saying this before the Valencia away game but whether Arsenal win or lose in Spain, they'll probably get beat at Burnley. Emery has to rest everyone if they go through, there's no point putting out a first-choice team and they'll not get back from Spain until late, and we could see a lot of players we've rarely seen in an Arsenal shirt before.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1

Source: Sky

Manchester City Win • 1.172

I just can't see Man City not winning. Nothing shocks me in football after the Champions League this week. But when you look at this week, the two teams who came back are very good teams, with very good players. Even though it was a miracle, people will say miracles happen, Brighton have a chance - they're not the same class as the players who did what they did this week.

They're grinding results out as well. At the start of the season they were wiping the floor with teams, now they're not but they're keeping clean sheets, being hard to beat and nicking goals. There was a bit of panic with Man City on Monday - no disrespect but Vincent Kompany's shot should have gone 50 yards over! But they should be fine.

PAUL PREDICTS: 0-3
Source: Sky

Manchester United Win • 2.71

I expect United to win, believe it or not. I think [Marcus] Rashford will be too much for the Chelsea defence. I watch Chelsea, if [Eden] Hazard doesn't turn up it's difficult, or if teams keep him quiet. You've seen teams do it before.

I don't think there's a lot between the teams, [N'Golo] Kante being injured changes things, if he does play then they might have too much energy for United's midfield but otherwise, Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be moving out to the left, Jorginho is never going to get you a goal and [Mateo] Kovacic - I can't remember when he last had a shot.

It's just because of Rashford, no other reason, I think he'll have too much for David Luiz and [Andreas] Christensen.

Source: Sky

Manchester City Win • 1.177

It's definitely a tougher game than Manchester United in midweek for City. I was a bit shocked but I heard yesterday that Burnley have the best win-ratio percentage against any Premier League winner from the previous season.

You can believe it. It's a hard game. Man City like to win the ball high up, they like to press. Burnley take that away, they're getting the ball forward quickly.

They won't mess about at the back. Two centre-forwards will be awkward and work as a pair too. Centre-halves aren't used to coming up against two strikers, a few years ago when Antonio Conte played two up front for Italy against Spain they made them look silly. They didn't have a clue what to do.

Burnley can catch you cold, and it's a hard game, it's definitely not a gimme. It's a difficult match but I expect Man City to come through with a difficult victory

Source: Sky

Leicester City Win • 2.66

I just don't know with Arsenal. They go to Napoli, keep a clean sheet against the second-best team in Italy, and then let in six goals in two league games. You're watching it and thinking what's changed? It's so up and down.

Sometimes you look at it and think the manager does an unbelievable job to get them where they are, but then you look at him playing [Mesut] Ozil and [Henrikh] Mkhitaryan in midfield for Wolves away, which he did at Everton too where they never looked like winning, but the penny didn't drop.

I've got to go for Leicester though. [Jamie] Vardy will be too much for the Arsenal defence, they've got pace. Look at Leicester since Brendan has gone there, they find it hard to break teams down. But when teams like Arsenal come in who are going to have a go, they're a dangerous animal. Very dangerous. Arsenal have half an eye on next Thursday as well which doesn't help.

Source: Sky