Paul Merson predicts Tottenham vs Chelsea, Liverpool vs Aston Villa and other Premier League GW10 fixtures

Arne Slot will not be sacked soon, he will get time at Liverpool because he won the Premier League last season. But with the team he picked during the Carabao Cup fourth round loss to Crystal Palace, he has now put too much pressure on himself before the game against Aston Villa on Saturday. That team had no chance of winning against Palace.

If you lose to Real Madrid next week in the Champions League it does not make much difference to their hopes of being in the knockout stages. But that loss to Palace has now knocked them straight out of the running for a piece of silverware that could have become the shining light in a difficult season! Losing six out of seven games isn't normal and all eyes will be on Slot and how his team does this weekend.

Gameweek nine was just perfect for Arsenal. All of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City lost as they beat Crystal Palace. It has now put severe pressure on everybody hoping to chase Arsenal down. If you look at the Carabao Cup fourth round games, even Arsenal made 10 changes to their line-up like Liverpool and yet, they didn't get slaughtered like their rivals! That is the difference this year.

Unlike Liverpool, Arsenal put their big guns on the bench at least in the cup game against Brighton. I don't know why Slot opted against doing that. When it's not going well for your team in the league, any side could use a good cup run. Liverpool failed to capitalise on it and for a team that has so much talent, losing these many games in a short span of time is worrying.

On that note, let us dive straight into my predictions for gameweek 10 in the Premier League.

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Crystal Palace vs Brentford

Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Premier League - Source: Getty

Both teams have had some incredible results in recent weeks, but we need to talk more about Brentford. They have now won three straight games and four of their last five matches in all competitions. This run has seen them beat both Manchester United and Liverpool in the Premier League!

All of us wax lyrical about Crystal Palace every now and then, but Brentford have the same number of points as them and have scored more goals in the league this season. Yet, we don't always give Brentford the credit they deserve, which is crazy.

This is a tough one to call. Brentford have not played well away from home, except for that game against West Ham. Crystal Palace are a much, much better team than West Ham and at Selhurst Park, I think they will have enough to get the better of Brentford by the odd goal.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-1 Brentford

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Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United

Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League - Source: Getty

Manchester United are turning a corner at the moment. The United team we've known over the last few seasons would have lost that game against Brighton last weekend. I agree that they got lucky along the way in that 4-2 win but they still won and that's all that matters for now!

If I had to pick a winner in this game, it will be Manchester United. But I know how Sean Dyche will approach this game, he will set Forest up to frustrate United. He will put 10 men behind the ball and sit deep. Even though Manchester United have the firepower to hurt Forest, it won't be easy breaking that team down.

Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha look good. Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole used to be an unbelievable partnership and these two could become a success like that duo at Manchester United. Mbeumo and Cunha will always create problems for opponents, it's just that they have to do it consistently. The teams they played for last season, Brentford and Wolves, they weren't the most consistent sides. So Mbeumo and Cunha haven't had that pressure of playing well every single weekend.

But now they're at United and more is expected. If Brentford or Wolves lose to Nottingham Forest, no one bats an eyelid. But if it's Manchester United and they end up losing, the headlines just write on their own. That is what Mbeumo and Cunha have to deal with now.

I would only rate Manchester United's chances of finishing in the top five after this game. Form and consistency are two different things. If they beat Forest, you would have to think they are contenders for a top-five finish. But I doubt they can get three points in this game.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Manchester United

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Burnley vs Arsenal

Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion - Carabao Cup Fourth Round - Source: Getty

It all depends on how quickly Arsenal can break Burnley down. We saw how Liverpool struggled to do that for a long time before nicking a late win at Burnley earlier this season. Burnley have performed well at home. They sit back and play to their strengths, which is not a bad thing if you're a newly-promoted team looking to stay up in this league.

The way Arsenal are playing, if Burnley can even get a shot on goal, it's a job well done! That's how good Arsenal are. I read this crazy stat the other day - if Arsenal would have conceded a goal from every shot they faced this season, they would still have 13 or 14 points at this stage. That stat is just out of this world. Arsenal have been compared to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea of the past. The difference between that Chelsea team and Arsenal is that they did it for the whole season. Arsenal have only done it for nine games, and still have three quarters of the season left to play.

If Arsenal want to be as good as that Chelsea team, they have to concede not more than four goals in every nine games coming up. If that happens in this day and age, it will quite simply be unbelievable.

I said on 19th September that if Arsenal get four points out of their games against Manchester City and Newcastle United, they win the league. Arsenal did it and I stand by what I said. In fact, the title race could be done and dusted in the next two weeks! Arsenal face Burnley and Sunderland before the international break, while Liverpool have Aston Villa and Manchester City. I expect Arsenal to win both them games and I'm not backing Liverpool to win this weekend. If City and Liverpool then take points off each other in gameweek 11, I think Arsenal will win the league quite comfortably.

I even believe Arsenal could enjoy a good run in the Champions League because by the time it reaches the latter stages, we could be looking at a situation where they would have sealed the league title already!

Prediction: Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

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Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leeds United

Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United - Premier League - Source: Getty

Brighton are a funny team. They were a bit unlucky against Manchester United last weekend. On another day, they may have got something out of that game but it wasn't meant to be. Brighton are very inconsistent and being knocked out of the cup by Arsenal in midweek, wasn't ideal either.

Leeds have impressed me so far this season. That win against West Ham last weekend will give them a huge boost. But I just feel Brighton will win this game since they're at home.

Prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Leeds United

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Fulham vs Wolves

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea - Carabao Cup Fourth Round - Source: Getty

This is a cup final. If Wolves win, they are just three points from safety. But if they get beat, that's at least eight points between them and 17th-place. This is a must win game for them, there are no two ways about it.

Fulham have struggled in recent weeks. The loss to Newcastle last weekend was their fourth straight defeat. I know they weren't easy games against Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Arsenal and Newcastle, but it has left them 17th in the table, just three points ahead of Nottingham Forest in the drop zone.

If Fulham lose this game, you would have to think they are in the battle to avoid relegation. I know they are a better team than what the table suggests, but imagine losing to a team that's rock-bottom and are still searching for their first win of the season, that's a problem!

I don't see Fulham going down at the end of the season. I can't keep saying the same about Wolves if they fail to get a result here because they have already lost to all three of the newly-promoted teams. I think it gets worse for Wolves, some tough fixtures coming up too.

Prediction: Fulham 2-0 Wolves

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Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea - Carabao Cup Fourth Round - Source: Getty

Chelsea rested a few of their main players for the cup game against Wolves and luckily they got through. Tottenham will be disappointed about not making it to the next round like Chelsea after their loss to Newcastle.

I don't think Spurs are a great team when they play at home. If you look at the league table based on results at home and away, it paints an accurate picture. Tottenham are 17th in the league if you only count results from their home games, while they are at the top if you consider just games on the road!

Thomas Frank will be happy with Spurs' result against Everton last weekend. I know it was 3-0 but Guglielmo Vicario still made some top draw saves in that game.

This is the biggest game of the season for both teams. After this, Chelsea face Wolves and Burnley in the league. If they can beat Spurs this weekend, they will be confident of going into them games feeling like they can make it three straight wins before the international break.

Liam Delap getting sent off in the cup game against Wolves is disappointing because it would have been an interesting battle between him and Micky van de Ven. Unlike Joao Pedro, Delap has strength and does not drop deep too often. He would have tested that back four if he was available.

Chelsea must start with Pedro Neto in this game. It's a big pitch at Tottenham and he's quick as anything. I'm almost certain Estevao will also start the game. Both wingers must track back though. Spurs have full-backs who love to go forward, so if the Chelsea wingers do not help out in defence, their team will get overrun. I expect Enzo Maresca to make his team selection based on who he trusts more to do the defensive work down the flanks, otherwise Chelsea are in trouble.

Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Chelsea

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Liverpool vs Aston Villa

Brentford v Liverpool - Premier League - Source: Getty

If you are looking at the form table, Aston Villa are at the top and Liverpool are languishing towards the bottom. Unai Emery's men will go to Anfield on Saturday with a lot of confidence. Barring the shock loss they suffered to Go Ahead Eagles, Villa have been faultless in recent weeks.

Part of me goes, 'at some point Liverpool will start winning games again'. But when you lose six out of seven games, something is wrong. And it's not just the games you are losing, it's also the confidence.

Villa have nothing to lose here. Even if they lose this game, it's not a big problem. That freedom will give them an advantage. Both teams are also now on the same number of points, which is crazy considering how Villa had that tough start to the season. Just shows how quickly things can change. The only problem with Villa is that they haven't been scoring enough goals. I know they have let in just eight goals in the Premier League, but they have scored only nine in nine games! Liverpool have let in so many goals in recent weeks, but can Villa take advantage of the Reds' shaky defence?

Another big question is whether or not Mohamed Salah starts this game for Liverpool. I think he does. If you want chances falling to players in games like these, Salah is still certainly one of them. I know he hasn't been scoring goals, but they can't leave him out of this game.

Liverpool should forget about the Real Madrid game next week. If they lose that one, they can still qualify for the Champions League knockout stages. But defeat to Aston Villa could be the end of their hopes of retaining the Premier League title. That would put them 10 points behind Arsenal with a game against Manchester City coming up. Not the best situation, and I worry for Liverpool because I don't see them beating Villa this weekend.

Prediction: Liverpool 1-1 Aston Villa

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West Ham United vs Newcastle United

Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur - Carabao Cup Fourth Round - Source: Getty

West Ham are a team that are the worst in the league when it comes to playing at home and this weekend, they face Newcastle, who have won just one game away from home all season! I don't think West Ham have won at home since 27 February and that was against a struggling Leicester City, who got relegated in the end.

The way West Ham have been losing games, it's alarming. Brentford absolutely destroyed them in their last home game. Newcastle have to deal with a lot of games and a hectic schedule but I can't see anything but a win for them here.

Prediction: West Ham United 1-3 Newcastle United

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Manchester City vs Bournemouth

Aston Villa v Manchester City - Premier League - Source: Getty

This will be a fun game to watch. Bournemouth will go to the Etihad with full confidence, so it's a difficult one to call. Three or four years ago, this could have been a game where we would go, 'how many goals will City win by?'. But that's not the case anymore, Bournemouth are playing as good as anybody in the league now.

If you want to beat City, you have to hit them with pace on the counter-attack and pick the right pass. Bournemouth have the ammunition and the ability to do just that, but can they be brave away from home? It's easy to do that when you're a mid-table team. Now, things are being expected of Bournemouth, even though they may not admit it.

We saw it in the Scottish Premiership. Hearts beat Celtic and went eight points clear in the title race. And then, they drew away from home to St. Mirren. Over the years, that would have been an acceptable result for Hearts but not anymore! Same here for Bournemouth, a defeat would be a huge disappointment considering how both teams are playing at the moment.

I don't know why, I'm going with Manchester City here. No clean sheet because they will give chances to Bournemouth, but I think they can still get a win.

Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Bournemouth

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Sunderland vs Everton

Chelsea v Sunderland - Premier League - Source: Getty

This is a tough game for Everton. I was impressed by Sunderland during their win over Chelsea. I thought that was a great all-round performance. Sunderland defended well, broke with pace and found the right passes to hurt Chelsea. It has been nothing short of an incredible return to the Premier League for them.

Everton haven't been great away from home. I can't believe what I'm about to predict here but I'm still going to do it. Sunderland to win this! I know this is a game that can come back to haunt me because at some point, Sunderland will start losing games. If that happens this weekend, then you look at this prediction and think, 'why did he even back Sunderland against the quality Everton have in attack?'

If Everton play to the best of their abilities, there's a chance. But purely based on form and how Sunderland beat Chelsea, I'm going to back them. If Sunderland win and I get all my other predictions right, they will be second in the table! 20 points after 10 games, can you imagine that? They would be 18 points clear of Wolves then. Let's not forget that these 10 games also include a loss to Burnley, just phenomenal when you think of it.

Prediction: Sunderland 2-1 Everton

Edited by Paul Merson