In today’s match at the London Stadium, former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has made a prediction favoring Newcastle United over West Ham United, with kickoff scheduled for 2 pm.
Newcastle, led by Eddie Howe, is returning to league action after a remarkable 4-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, the French champions, in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Merson confessed that he had concerns about the Magpies being overwhelmed by the occasion, as it was their first home game in the competition in 20 years. However, goals from Miguel Almiron, Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff, and Fabian Schar demonstrated their ability to rise to the challenge.
Merson commended Newcastle for their extraordinary performance in the Champions League, praising their approach, which applied intense pressure on PSG and thrilled the crowd. He admitted to being fearful that they might have played too conservatively like a typical European game, but the high tempo of their play showcased why the Premier League is considered the best league in the world.
Meanwhile, West Ham also secured a significant European victory of their own by defeating Freiburg 2-1 in Germany on Thursday. However, Merson believes that Newcastle’s additional day of rest will have a substantial impact, and he predicts a 2-1 victory for Howe’s team.
He emphasized that although West Ham won’t make it easy, Newcastle needs a substantial result to build on their PSG victory, especially as they aim to climb back into the top four in the Premier League. Currently, Newcastle sits just one point and one place below David Moyes’ West Ham in the league table. It’s worth noting that the Magpies’ previous visit to the London Stadium resulted in a 5-1 win, with Callum Wilson and Joelinton both scoring braces. However, both players are expected to undergo late fitness tests due to recent hamstring injuries.