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Paul Merson's Premier League predictions - Round 12

Magic Man says Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool will all win this week

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12:  Juan Mata of Manchester United and Tomas Rosicky of Arsenal challenge for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match

Paul Merson tips Arsenal to beat Man Utd and QPR to hold Newcastle this weekend. Read on for all of his predictions...

Arsenal v Manchester United – 4.45pm, Sat, Sky Sports 1

This is a big game. It could end up being a shootout if I’m being honest. Both sets of forwards will be licking their lips and will fancy scoring and both teams going forward are as good as anybody in the Premier League. It’s at the back where the game will be decided.

There's been a lot of talk about whether Jack Wilshere should be playing defensive midfield like he does for England, but I think he’s a bit lost at Arsenal. He plays in a midfield where Aaron Ramsey will be in front of him, and Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta will be behind him, and he’ll be in the middle. He should be the one who’s playing a bit further forward instead of Ramsey. But he’s getting better again, he’s getting fitter again and, when he does, he’s a player.

I think Arsenal will just win this one 2-1. I think they have to win. With United being away from home and having a lot more injuries I think it’s more important that Arsenal win this game.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 8/1)

Aston Villa v Southampton – 7pm, Mon, Sky Sports 1

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 19:  Jose Fonte (R) of Southampton tackles Gabriel Agbonlahor (L) of Aston Villa during the Barclays Premier League match betwe

Southampton are absolutely flying at the moment. I mean they went to Hull in their last away game and absolutely dominated the game and not many teams, I do not care who you are, go to Hull and do that to them.

Meanwhile Villa were awful against QPR, but were unlucky against Spurs, although they have no Christian Benteke for this game and the way Southampton are playing at the moment, I cannot see anything other than a Southampton win.

So I am going to go 2-1 to Southampton, and I am being kind to Villa, but I just do not see how they can possibly get a result there. It is a nightmare as people will be saying: “We should be up where Southampton are”, and they are right as Villa are a much bigger team than them, it is just that I do not know what has happened.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)

Hull City v Tottenham Hotspur - 3.30pm, Sun, Sky Sports 1

Harry Kane of Spurs celebrates scoring their second goal during the Barclays Premier League match against Aston Villa

Hull were terrible last time out at home against Southampton, but Tottenham were even worse and I saw them at Villa Park the week before and they were absolutely shocking there as well.

I'm going to go 2-1 to Hull only because I have seen Tottenham recently and I think home advantage is a big thing. The KC Stadium will be rocking.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 10/1)

Crystal Palace v Liverpool – 12.30pm, Sun, Sky Sports 1

This is another game which is massive for both sides. Palace need to start winning football matches because they seem to have got into a little rut and they are dropping very quickly. Liverpool also need to start winning quickly otherwise their season will evaporate.

I think this is a big game for Brendan Rodgers. He has now lost Daniel Sturridge, but just recently Palace have not been very good, so I am going to go for 2-0 to Liverpool.

PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)

Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion   

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho attends the exhibition match between Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Britain's Andy Murray

A home win’s a certainty in this one. I watched West Brom the other week and they were a disappointment against Newcastle, who they lost 2-0 at home to. If they play anywhere near like that it will be four or five because we know about the quality that Chelsea have going forward.

I am going to go for a 3-0 win for Chelsea - it will be a walk in the park.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)

Everton v West Ham United

Roberto Martinez Everton Prem Lge

This is another big game - and one for West Ham to see where they really are after a good start to the season. Everton need to start winning football matches, though, because they haven't been up to the levels they were at last season. It is a hard one to predict, given the form of both sides, but I am going to go for a 1-1 draw as there is not much between them. That shows just how far West Ham have come.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 6/1)

Leicester City v Sunderland

Sunderland players celebrate after Sebastian Larsson's goal against Everton

For me, Leicester have to win this game or it is lights out. This is a must-win football match for them. This isn't one they can draw, they have to win. They made a good start to the season and got results against Everton, Arsenal and Manchester United but they have tailed off badly and have lost five of their last six and not scored in five. Sunderland have picked up, there is no doubt about that after they took four points in a week off Palace and Everton, but I am going to go for a 1-1 draw.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)

Manchester City v Swansea City

Manuel Pellegrini, West Ham v Man City

This should be a good game really as Swansea beat Arsenal last time out, while Man City are now in a position where they just have to win every game, draws are already no good and we have just started the season! City need to get three points, badly. For me, they have just got to concentrate on this game first, and then worry about Bayern Munich in the Champions League afterwards. I think they'll do that and get the points. Swansea did great to come back against Arsenal but I am going to go 3-1 to Man City.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 (Sky Bet odds 9/1)

Newcastle United v Queens Park Rangers

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew celebrates victory after the Barclays Premier League match against Liverpool at St. James' Park, Newcastle

Newcastle are just flying and Alan Pardew has really turned things around after looking like he could be on his way out. They went to West Brom and were as comfortable as I have seen anyone at West Brom. QPR have turned the corner a little bit, too, and so this is not a foregone conclusion for Newcastle. I reckon QPR will hold them to a 1-1 at St James' Park. 

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)

Stoke City v Burnley

Burnley Manager Sean Dyche reacts during the Barclays Premier League match between Burnley and Sunderland

The international break came at the wrong time for Burnley, who had finally got their first league win of the season at the 11th attempt at home to Hull. That was a massive result for Sean Dyche's side. They were probably wondering if it would ever come. However, they come back to a hard, hard game away at Stoke. I never tip against Stoke at the Britannia. I like Stoke and I think they are a decent team and got a great result at Tottenham last time out, so I'm going 3-0 to Stoke.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)

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