Newcastle United are hoping to stop the rot against Brighton And Hove Albion this weekend, and Paul Merson is predicting a four goal thriller.
After starting the season in sublime fashion against Aston Villa, the Magpies have since suffered two defeats in a row. While there is no shame in losing to Manchester City or Liverpool, the formbook still reads back-to-back losses for Eddie Howe’s side.
He will be desperate not to make it three on the trot this weekend, but that is going to be very tough up against a Brighton side that have started the season strongly – and Roberto De Zerbi’s team is about to get even stronger with the arrival of Ansu Fati on loan.
Newcastle need a response after Sunday’s heartbreaking defeat to Liverpool, and it is even more essential that the lads get a result ahead of the first international break of the season.
Given how good Brighton are, a draw has to be considered a decent outcome for the Magpies, and that is exactly what Merson thinks it will be at the Amex Stadium.
Paul Merson predicts Newcastle will draw with Brighton
Merson has predicted the results of every Premier League game this weekend for Sportskeeda, and believes that Brighton vs Newcastle will be a 2-2 draw.
“This one looks like a really good game,” he said.
“The problem is that both teams are coming off bad results. Brighton got beaten by West Ham and Newcastle were beaten by 10-men Liverpool last week. As such, this is a massive football match for both teams. It’s quite hard to call this one.
“I can see plenty of goals in this game. Brighton have to make their possession count and be wary of the threat that Newcastle United possess on the counter.”
Both Newcastle and Brighton need a response
As Merson says, both teams go into the game on the back of defeats – very different defeats that will have hurt for different reasons.
The Liverpool loss was agonizing. We had enough chance to kill the game off and squandered them, only for a Darwin Nunez brace to punish us.
As for Brighton, they suffered a shock defeat at home to West Ham, which was a game they were expected to triumph in after winning both of their opening games 4-1. It was a reality check for the Seagulls, and proof that they can be exposed.
Newcastle will look to replicate what West Ham did, and that could lead to the Magpies getting their second win of the season.
However, that is not what Merson is anticipating, with the Arsenal legend predicting a 2-2 draw.
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