Paul Merson predicts ‘mind blowing’ Everton vs Manchester United result after Premier League points deduction
Paul Merson has backed Everton to beat Manchester United in their first Premier League game back after being hit by a points deduction, in a “mind blowing” atmosphere at Goodison Park.
The Sky Sports pundit said in his Sportskeeda predictions column on 23 November that he would be “shocked” if the Toffees didn’t win because the stadium will be “rocking” and the home side will have an “us against the world” mentality.
He has tipped Sean Dyche’s men to take the points with the 2-1 victory as they look to claw back the 10 points taken off them by the commission.
Merson said: “The atmosphere at Goodison Park will be mind blowing this Sunday. After what happened with Everton’s point deduction, the fans are going to be up for this one.
“I don’t see Everton losing this game. It’s us against the world as far as Sean Dyche’s men are concerned and Goodison Park will be rocking.
“Manchester United will be up against a team determined to prove everyone wrong. I’d actually be shocked if Everton got beaten in this one. Everton players work hard for each other and that is something we can’t really say about the Red Devils at this point in time.”
Reaction
No team would want to come to Goodison for this one when the atmosphere is predicted to be off the scale of the usual Evertonian support.
Plenty of bid sides have wilted in that environment when the fans have helped drag the Toffees to safety in battles against relegation, and Erik ten Hag’s side aren’t in great form as it is.
It is those escapes from the drop that now have the club facing compensation claims from the likes of Leicester City and Burnley, after an independent commission result that has inspired widespread outrage.
Dyche has his team in good enough form to be in with a decent shout of a win even without the added factor of a burning sense of injustice in the stands.
Many have pointed to the fact that Everton should be good enough to avoid relegation this season even with the record-breaking top flight penalty.
A win here would be a statement that the club aren’t going to take the punishment lying down, and would likely make upcoming opponents wary as well.
In other Everton news, a takeover update has emerged after the points deduction with 777 given £306million.