‘Nonsense’ – Fans won’t like what Paul Merson predicts West Ham will do on Sunday
Paul Merson has delivered a damning verdict ahead of this weekend’s crucial London derby, predicting West Ham will compound Tottenham’s miserable season with a victory at the London Stadium.
The former Arsenal midfielder’s assessment comes as both clubs languish in the lower reaches of the Premier League table, separated by just one point in what has become a dismal campaign for two of the capital’s biggest clubs.
When these sides last met in December, Tottenham ran out comfortable 4-1 winners in North London through goals from Kulusevski, Bissouma, Son and an Areola own goal.
But the landscape has changed dramatically since that encounter, with Spurs sitting 16th on 37 points and West Ham just behind them in 17th – a far cry from their European ambitions at the season’s outset.
Merson, writing in his Sportskeeda column, painted a bleak picture for Tottenham supporters: “This is one of West Ham’s biggest games of the season – Tottenham Hotspur at home in the Premier League! And this will hurt Spurs fans because they have to completely write this game off.”
His 2-0 prediction in favor of the Hammers stems from Tottenham’s Europa League commitments, with Postecoglou likely to rotate his squad ahead of Thursday’s semi-final second leg against Bodo/Glimt.
While Spurs secured a 3-1 first leg advantage against the Norwegian outfit, Merson cautioned: “The tie remains on a knife-edge, with Bodo/Glimt capable of scoring two or three goals at home as they showed against Olympiacos and Lazio.”
This European distraction could prove costly in Sunday’s derby, with West Ham desperate to avenge their heavy defeat earlier in the season and ease their own relegation concerns.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Tottenham, who risk suffering their 20th league defeat of the campaign – an unwanted record in the Premier League era.
Another loss could see them plummet to one of their worst-ever top-flight finishes, adding further pressure on Postecoglou after a season that promised much but has delivered little beyond their ongoing European adventure.
For West Ham, this represents a golden opportunity to gain local bragging rights and potentially climb above their rivals in the table. David Moyes’ side have struggled for consistency all season but will fancy their chances against a Tottenham team likely to field a weakened lineup.
The Hammers’ home support is expected to create a hostile atmosphere for Spurs’ fringe players, many of whom may lack match sharpness.
As both clubs look to salvage something from disappointing seasons, this derby takes on added significance beyond the usual local rivalry. For Tottenham, it’s about avoiding further humiliation in a campaign of historic lows.
For West Ham, it’s a chance to kickstart a late-season revival and potentially condemn their neighbors to an unprecedented level of Premier League failure.
With Merson’s prediction hanging over them and their European future still in the balance, Tottenham face a defining few days that could shape their summer rebuild and Postecoglou’s long-term future at the club.
One thing is certain – in this battle of struggling giants, there’s far more at stake than just local pride.