Paul Merson's derby prediction

[RFUS]

I just can't see Liverpool's defence keeping a clean sheet; Jamie Carragher is a good central defender, but I don't rate the others. Paul Konchesky is decent but not top drawer and Glen Johnson is a right winger; he can't defend for toffee. I can't understand why they don't play Martin Kelly at full-back and put Johnson in midfield.

They need Fernando Torres fit to play up front. Even though he hasn't been playing well, the Everton defenders would still rather be facing David N'Gog on Sunday. Torres will click at some point and punish a team because he's such a good player.

Liverpool are the underdogs. They're not playing well enough at the moment, which is sad because when I was a kid they were the biggest club in the world.

If results carry on like they are then they could be in the bottom three for a while. They're too good to end up in a relegation battle, but they need to get themselves away from the bottom three sooner rather than later.

And they can't blame the stuff that's going on off the field either. It's an excuse for them, but it shouldn't be; they should just roll their sleeves up and get on with it.

Meanwhile, Everton have been too inconsistent this season. They were shocking against Newcastle, but I thought they looked much better against Fulham and were unlucky not to win that game. The consistency will come because they have good players.

In fact, man for man I think they're stronger than Liverpool right now. Both teams will play 4-5-1 on Sunday and I see Tim Cahill making a big difference; Liverpool won't be able to pick him up. Plus if Steven Pienaar plays against Johnson on the wing then Liverpool will be in trouble.

I don't see how Liverpool will win this and I reckon Roy Hodgson would be as happy as Larry with a draw.

PAUL'S PREDICTION
HOME WIN - I see Everton scoring and I can't see Liverpool scoring twice. It feels unusual to describe Liverpool as the underdogs in a Merseyside derby, but I think they are. I'm going for a 2-1 win to Everton.

MERSON'S MAGIC MAN
STEVEN PIENAAR - I think he'll play on the left and if he starts running at Glen Johnson I think I'll rip him apart. If he gets the ball into the box enough times then Cahill will arrive and get on the end of one of them.

Always liked the man, think he's a good pundit. But let's hope Pienaar can make a miraculous recovery then...

 

[Summerskin]

Ha, yes, lets hope Pienaar borrows a groin off somebody then.

Do like Merson though, he's never got a bad word to say about us as a club.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

i was expecting something off the wall from paul merton.

 

[RFUS]

i was expecting something off the wall from paul merton.

I always get them mixed up. Purely name based, obviously, seeing as Merson's about as funny as a bleeding puppy and Merton knows as much about football as David Cameron.


Remember...

Paul Merton

Paul Merson

 

[when i score we riot]

Merson likes us better than his ex-teammate Lee Dixon. Think he did the predo last derby and could pretty much sum up his thoughts about Everton through the words of someone like Rafael. Pity this piece kind of fails cause of Nuts' injury, but maybe Ossie will turn up on the left this time and bring the goods.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

Bet he's signed up for the paddy power deal, you best hope he doesn't find out about the all inclusive sharpy.

Remember a cracker of his at benfica, and the comm called him gunner merson, in my head whenever I hear his name my head says gunner merson to me, I think it. Comes from seeing esssenden on the box and every player being reffered to as bomber.

Toffee anichebe just hasn't got the same ring to it.

 

[ijjysmith]

Lawro's BBC prediction looks a bit like this:

'Everton v Liverpool (1330 BST)

Both teams have had poor starts.
I've looked at both first-choice XIs and have to say I'd pick more from Everton than Liverpool.
There are a lot of average players in the Liverpool team. Will the off-the-field activities affect the players? I don't think so. Most are more concerned about when their wages go into the bank.
Prediction: 1-1'

Mind you he always gets our score wrong. Idiot.

 

[ToffeeDan]

Lawro's BBC prediction looks a bit like this:

'Everton v Liverpool (1330 BST)

Both teams have had poor starts.
I've looked at both first-choice XIs and have to say I'd pick more from Everton than Liverpool.
There are a lot of average players in the Liverpool team. Will the off-the-field activities affect the players? I don't think so. Most are more concerned about when their wages go into the bank.
Prediction: 1-1'

Mind you he always gets our score wrong. Idiot.

Based on those comments you'd go 2-0 to Everton... "we've done enough to avoid a roasting off the boss on Monday"

 

[peteblue]

Based on those comments you'd go 2-0 to Everton... "we've done enough to avoid a roasting off the boss on Monday"

that'll explain the funny walks..

 

[bluebloodinmyveins]

Merson is a bit of a tit, but he does tell it like it is. Not biased like the rest of the fuc*ers on Sky.

 

[peteblue]

Merson is a bit of a tit, but he does tell it like it is. Not biased like the rest of the fuc*ers on Sky.

TBF Phil Thompson doesn't have one biased bone in his body...................






















they all fuc**ng are.......

 

[RFUS]

Merson is a bit of a tit, but he does tell it like it is. Not biased like the rest of the fuc*ers on Sky.

I think that's why I like him. Sitting in between the biased tools on the SSN panel, he comes across as the epitome of objectivity.

 

[DionDublin]

I get the impression Merson has no time for Liverpool.
Good man.

 

[BigBlueConk]

Merson clearly meant Osman, not Pienaar. Clearly.
To be honest, I do not mind which Everton players tie the RS up in knots!

 

[gordonjblair]

TBF Phil Thompson doesn't have one biased bone in his body...................


they all fuc**ng are.......

to be fair, he's 18 of the fcukers in his nose