In his most recent column for Sky Sports, former England midfielder Paul Merson argues that, despite being only a few weeks into the campaign, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Manchester United each face a pivotal encounter this weekend that could shape their entire season. Spurs are still searching for both their first point and their first goal after three Premier League outings. Their next test comes on Saturday night when they host an unbeaten Everton side in the Sky Sports‑broadcast "Saturday Night Football" fixture, with a crowd of hopeful supporters eager for a breakthrough. On Sunday, the focus shifts north to the Manchester derby, where Michael Carrick’s United, a side that has shown flashes of inconsistency, will meet a City team that is already confronting its first major challenge since Pep Guardiola’s departure.
Merson breaks down why these two matches matter so much. **Spurs versus Everton – a make‑or‑break affair** Merson likens the upcoming Spurs‑Everton game to a cup final for the north London club. "If they lose, you start to think this is going to be another long, grinding season – the same old story for Tottenham fans," he writes. "But if they win, they’ll move onto four points and two games without a loss, and suddenly the narrative changes." He reminds readers that the stakes are not as dramatic as the final‑day showdown last season, when a loss to Everton effectively condemned Spurs to relegation.
Nonetheless, the current squad, he believes, does not look capable of stringing together five or six consecutive victories, making this match a crucial turning point. The early part of the campaign has seen Spurs travel to Brentford, host Newcastle and travel again to Nottingham Forest.
A defeat to Everton would leave them with just a single point from four games, a situation that would understandably cause alarm among their supporters. Conversely, a win would give the team momentum heading into next week’s home clash with Aston Villa. "If you beat Everton, you give yourself a realistic chance of beating Villa," Merson explains. "If you don’t, the odds of beating Villa drop dramatically – it’s a classic snowball effect." He stresses that confidence in football is fragile: success breeds further success, while a setback can quickly erode belief.
**Manchester United’s derby dilemma** The Red Devils also have their season hanging in the balance. A victory over City would lift them into the upper echelons of the table, while a loss would see them slip back into the same uncertainty that has dogged them since the start of the campaign. Merson is blunt about United’s transfer activity, saying, "I don’t think United have invested wisely. The squad depth is insufficient, especially defensively.
They conceded two quality goals against Everton – one from the edge of the box – and seemed to be chasing the ball rather than controlling the game." He argues that when a team is winning, the manager should consider adding an extra attacker rather than sacrificing offensive firepower for defensive solidity. "Pulling a forward off the pitch and replacing them with a defender invites pressure, especially for a club of United’s stature," he notes. "Instead, you should keep the attacking threat alive and force the opposition to adapt." Merson also points out that United’s tendency to sit back and defend against teams like Everton would not be appropriate against a side like City, which can dominate possession and create chances from anywhere on the pitch.
He remains skeptical about United’s ability to compete at the highest level, which is why he never placed them in his preseason top‑five. **Manchester City’s hidden vulnerabilities** Turning to the champions, Merson admits that City have not been flawless, but he warns that a series of wins can mask underlying issues. "Sometimes a team can win while still having cracks in their structure," he says. "City have benefited from Erling Haaland’s goal‑scoring prowess and a clean sheet against Coventry, but those positives don’t erase the concerns entirely." Looking ahead, City face a demanding schedule that includes the derby against United and a showdown with Liverpool.
Merson believes these fixtures will be the true litmus test for Enzo Maresca’s side. "If City win both games and also pick up points against Sunderland in between, they’ll be right in the title race by season’s end," he asserts.
"If they drop points, Arsenal could pull away and even Chelsea might climb to third, leaving City trailing by a significant margin." **The broader picture** Merson’s column underscores how early-season results can set the tone for the months to follow. For Tottenham, the Everton match is a chance to escape the early‑season doldrums and start building a platform for a respectable campaign. For Manchester United, the derby is a make‑or‑break moment that could either revive their title hopes or cement their status as underachievers. And for Manchester City, the upcoming high‑profile games will either confirm their dominance under a new manager or expose the fragility that opponents will look to exploit.
In summary, Merson believes that while the Premier League is a marathon, these three fixtures act as critical mile‑markers. The outcomes will influence confidence, squad morale and, ultimately, the trajectory of each club’s season. Fans of all three sides will be watching closely, aware that a single result could tip the balance between optimism and doubt for the weeks and months ahead.