Source: SKY_Sports
Weekend winners
Sky Sports expert Paul Merson looks ahead to this weekend's live offerings.....[LNB] Merse on Man City v Middlesbrough[LNB]Merse on Tottenham v Arsenal[LNB]Merse on West Ham v Man Utd[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]Man City v MiddlesbroughMan City are homers; they're one of those teams that look great on their own patch but just can't do it away.[LNB]They were playing against 10 men at Stoke for almost an hour last week and still ended up losing, but at Eastlands they're a match for anybody. Look at Robinho - he's scored nine goals for City at home, but only two in away games. It's hard to explain.[LNB]However, Shay Given is a great signing and should go straight into the team for this game. I feel sorry for Joe Hart, but he can't complain too much because he's being replaced by a top-drawer keeper. Hart is still young and there aren't many goalkeepers of his age playing for a big club like Man City.[LNB]River-slideI am very worried for Middlesbrough who seem to be on a slippery slope, they just don't look like winning a game at the moment.[LNB]There's just no experience in that squad. I've heard Gareth Southgate say "we shouldn't have lost that game" too many times this year - and that's a bad sign as a manager. [LNB]It keeps happening because they're a young team - you'll see them bombing forwards when they're 1-0 up towards the end of the game and that's a worry.[LNB]If you go through their side they do have some good players in Stewart Downing, Gary O'Neil and David Wheater but Afonso Alves has been a real let-down.[LNB]I'm not saying Alves is not a good player, but they need more from him. When you come with that sort of price tag you have to affect the game and he doesn't do that enough. For £12million you should be a standout player.[LNB]For me the draw at Blackburn last week was not a good result. Southgate left Alves and Tuncay on the bench in the previous game against Chelsea to prepare them for Blackburn - that's how big a game it was. Yes, they got a clean sheet but they needed to win that game at home and Blackburn did have chances to nick it.[LNB]PAUL'S PREDICTIONHome win - This is a home banker. Man City will have too much for Middlesbrough, especially at Eastlands and I can see them winning comfortably 2-0, perhaps more if they get an early goal.[LNB]MERSON'S MAGIC MANRobinho - He's a class act at home. Middlesbrough are going to go there and try to get a point by sticking men behind the ball so somebody like Robinho will have the guile and awareness to open them up. He'll be the star man.[LNB][LNB][LNB]Tottenham v ArsenalThe North London derby is always a wonderful game of football, I used to love playing in them.[LNB] In recent years Arsenal's players have been more bothered about the game against Manchester United than the North London Derby. That ain't the case this week. This is a game that Arsenal must win. It's also a game that Tottenham must win. That's why this is a massive, massive game.[LNB]This is the first time in a long time that both teams have really needed the points. In the recent past, Arsenal have been going for the league while Tottenham have been mid-table. Apart from the season they were battling each other for fourth spot, Arsenal's need has been a little bit greater. This season, Tottenham need to move away from the relegation zone so I expect a different type of game. [LNB]To be fair, I don't think Tottenham will go down but they need to start winning some games, especially at home. Newcastle play West Brom so one or both of those teams will pick up points and that will drag Spurs a little bit closer to the drop zone.[LNB]Arsenal missing out on a Champions League place is still much more likely than Tottenham going down - and it would be a disaster for Arsene Wenger if they don't make the top four. They simply can't afford it.[LNB]Gunner worryWorryingly Arsenal have not been playing well of late. They had 80 per cent of the ball against West Ham and only forced one save from Rob Green from Adebayor's header (and I think I could have saved that).[LNB]Andrey Arshavin will help long term but there's no way he'll play on Sunday. At the moment Arsenal don't look like scoring when teams sit back and he'll be a big boost in that department.[LNB]But one player who will definitely be involved is Robbie Keane. The Keane factor adds extra spice because his enthusiasm will be infectious and he'll get the fans going. I think making him captain was a good move and he'll bring people out of their shells. Arsenal will be rueing the fact he's arrived in time to play in the derby.[LNB]It's important that they signed Keane because they'll miss Jermain Defoe big time. I do wonder how quickly Robbie will slot back into the team because they aren't the team they were when he left; Berbatov has gone and the team was playing with a lot more confidence. It'll be quite different for him.[LNB]The 4-4 draw at the Emirates will also be in the minds of the players. That was a big result for Tottenham and a shocking one for Arsenal. They had enough chances to win it by nine goals, but let Tottenham score twice in the dying minutes.[LNB]So in so many ways this is a huge game, unbelievably big.[LNB]PAUL'S PREDICTIONAway win- Don't get me wrong, Arsenal aren't playing great, but I think they'll win 2-1. I'm not saying that because I used to play for them either. I just don't think Tottenham have a good 90 minutes in them. They'll have 15-minute spurts where they play unbelievably well, but I can see Arsenal picking them off on Sunday. [LNB]MERSON'S MAGIC MANRobbie Keane - Spurs are a point off relegation so the confidence is understandably not sky-high. I just think he'll get everybody going with his work rate. He works his socks off but he does it with class as well. He could be the star man.[LNB][LNB][LNB]West Ham v Man UtdIt's starting to look like Man United will be champions again.[LNB]With Steven Gerrard out for three weeks I can't see Liverpool winning too many football matches and United are on such a good run. It's very difficult to win the league and you've got to have players who know how to win it. [LNB]United have that, but Liverpool haven't been in this situation before. United have hit the front and within a couple of weeks they've blown everybody out of the water.[LNB]They're not playing great entertaining football but they are playing well. It's hard for them to win games 3-0 or 4-0 every week because teams don't open up against them - although it does make it easier to keep clean sheets because teams don't attack them as much.[LNB]However, I'm going to stick my neck out and say they will let in a goal on Sunday. I just think West Ham are playing with a lot of confidence, they're away from the bottom of the table and they can have a right go at Man United.[LNB]It's not as if they are battling relegation and need to keep it tight to nick a point. They're almost safe and Gianfranco Zola can send his players out to give Man United a right game.[LNB]Upton perkThe manager has got the players' confidence up, they've got a few of their better players back from injury and they've gone on a roll. And Carlton Cole is starting to look like a player at last! He knows he's going to play every week and that confidence has really helped him. He's been very impressive.[LNB]They do need to be careful because this league is ruthless and they could easily lose five games on the trot and get dragged into the relegation scrap. But I don't think that'll happen, although I wouldn't think they could fight their way into the European places either.[LNB]They are a team on the up and they should have the freedom to give United a real run for their money. They won't get a bundle of chances against this United defence and a lot will depend on whether or not they put them away.[LNB]If they can score - and I think they will - I do believe they have a chance of winning this game. But ultimately I think United will be just too strong for them.[LNB]PAUL'S PREDICTIONAway win- I think Man United will win 2-1, but this will be a very tight and difficult game. West Ham have a good record against United over the years and I can't see the champions going there and ripping them apart. But they should have enough to win.[LNB]MERSON'S MAGIC MANEdwin van der Sar - His clean sheets record has been absolutely phenomenal, but he'll be busier than usual on Sunday because West Ham will make a few chances. But if he's at his best he can make enough saves for United to win the game.[LNB]
