LONDON — Paul Merson says Tottenham, Manchester City and Manchester United all face defining Premier League fixtures this weekend despite the early stage of the season, with winless Spurs hosting unbeaten Everton on Saturday Night Football live on Sky Sports before Michael Carrick's Manchester United meet Enzo Maresca's City in the Manchester derby on Sunday.
Tottenham are still without a win or a goal after three league games under Roberto De Zerbi, and Merson warned the Everton match is critical for confidence. "Spurs have to beat Everton this weekend. It's a cup final for them - I'd go as far as to say this is their season on the line," Merson said. "If they lose to Everton, then you starting thinking: this is going to be another grind of a season. Here we go again." He noted Spurs have opened with Brentford away, Newcastle at home and Nottingham Forest away, and with one point from four games if they lose, concern would grow, while a win would put them on four points and offer momentum heading into Aston Villa at home next week.
Merson said Manchester United's season is also in the balance heading into the derby, with a win lifting Carrick's inconsistent side and a defeat leaving them on one point from two games including the Everton draw. He questioned United's recruitment and squad depth, saying "I don't think Man Utd have bought very well. The squad isn't big enough. It's nowhere near enough," and criticised defensive decisions after conceding two goals against Everton, including one from the edge of the box with everybody behind the ball. He argued United invited pressure by taking a forward off for a defender instead of adding an attacker, a move that gave Everton the chance for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, adding he did not put United in his top five at the start of the season and "Nothing's changed for me since then. When you draw games, it hurts you."
On City, Merson said he does not think they have been great but winning while not playing well can worry rivals, with Erling Haaland scoring goals and a clean sheet against Coventry last time out a positive in the post-Pep Guardiola era. He identified the upcoming run against Manchester United and Liverpool, with Sunderland in between, as the test of where City are under Maresca, saying if they win those three they will not be far off the top, but if they do not take at least two points from the United and Liverpool games, Arsenal could pull clear, noting he has Chelsea down for third and they are already miles off Arsenal.