In his most recent column for Sky Sports, former England midfielder Paul Merson argues that three of the Premier League’s biggest clubs – Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Manchester United – each have a make‑or‑break fixture looming this weekend, despite the campaign being barely a month old. Tottenham have yet to register a win or even find the back of the net after three opening league games. Their next assignment is a showdown with an unbeaten Everton side on Saturday night, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports as part of the network’s Saturday Night Football slot.
Merson likens the encounter to a cup final for the Spurs, suggesting that the result could set the tone for the rest of their season. A victory would lift the team to four points and give them a chance to build momentum, while a defeat could see them slip into a protracted slump that would leave their fans anxiously wondering whether another long‑term grind lies ahead.
The former Tottenham player points out that this game does not carry the same historic weight as last season’s final‑day clash with Liverpool, where a loss would have consigned Spurs to a relegation battle. Nevertheless, he stresses that the stakes are still high because Tottenham have struggled to string together consecutive wins. Their opening fixtures have been a mixed bag – a loss away at Brentford, a home defeat to Newcastle United and a loss on the road to Nottingham Forest. If they fail to beat Everton, they will be sitting on a single point after four games, a scenario that would inevitably raise serious concerns among the club’s supporters.
Conversely, a win over Everton would not only give Spurs a vital confidence boost but also lay the groundwork for a potentially decisive encounter with Aston Villa at home the following week. Merson describes this as a classic snowball effect: each positive result builds belief and creates a platform for the next challenge, whereas a negative outcome can quickly erode morale and make subsequent matches harder to win.
On Sunday, the focus shifts north to the Manchester derby, where Michael Carrick’s United side – still viewed as inconsistent – will travel to face a Manchester City team that is confronting its first major test in the post‑Pep Guardiola era under the guidance of Enzo Maresca. Merson believes that the derby could be equally decisive for United’s season. A victory would propel them into the upper echelons of the table, while a loss could see them slipping back into a pattern of mediocrity, especially if they also fail to pick up points against Everton later in the week.
Merson is openly critical of United’s transfer activity and squad depth, arguing that the club simply does not have enough quality players to compete consistently at the highest level. He highlights defensive frailties, noting that United conceded two goals in a recent match against Everton – one of which came from a relatively close range – and suggests that the team often appears to be “behind the ball.” In his view, United’s tactical approach is flawed; rather than adding a defender when under pressure, the manager should consider introducing an extra forward to keep the opposition on the back foot.
He warns that by pulling a striker off the pitch and shoring up the defense, United invites sustained pressure from opponents, a strategy that is particularly risky for a club of United’s stature. The former midfielder also draws a comparison with lower‑league sides, saying that while a club like Coventry City might reasonably revert to a defensive shape after taking the lead, a heavyweight like United should not feel compelled to retreat. He argues that United’s inability to dictate play allows teams like Everton to regain possession and threaten, a situation that has left him skeptical about United’s prospects.
This skepticism is why Merson did not rank United among his top five clubs at the start of the season, and his opinion has not changed. Turning his attention to Manchester City, Merson admits that the team’s performances have not always been spectacular, yet he acknowledges that their recent string of wins – bolstered by Erling Haaland’s goal‑scoring exploits and a clean sheet against Coventry – masks underlying issues.
He warns that a series of victories can conceal weaknesses, and that City’s upcoming fixtures against United and Liverpool will serve as a true barometer of their quality under Maresca. If City can secure wins in those high‑profile games, as well as in a match against Sunderland that falls in between, they will likely remain within striking distance of the league title as the season progresses. However, Merson cautions that failure to collect at least two points from the United and Liverpool games could open the door for Arsenal to pull away and potentially clinch the championship.
He even speculates that Chelsea could settle into third place, given the current gap between them and the league leaders. In summary, Paul Merson’s column paints a picture of a weekend that could prove pivotal for three of England’s most prominent clubs. Tottenham must seize the chance to end their early‑season drought against Everton, Manchester United needs a derby win to keep their ambitions alive, and Manchester City faces a crucial test that will either confirm their status as title contenders or expose vulnerabilities that rivals can exploit. The outcomes of these matches are likely to shape the narrative of the Premier League for weeks, if not months, to come.