‘One of the toughest’ – Paul Merson and Chris Sutton agree on outcome of Sunderland clash vs West Ham

‘One of the toughest’ – Paul Merson and Chris Sutton agree on outcome of Sunderland clash vs West Ham

Sunderland Set to Face West Ham This Weekend in Premier League Clash

Pundits Paul Merson and Chris Sutton have both tipped Sunderland to share the points with West Ham when the two sides clash in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime.

The Black Cats kicked off the season with a 3-0 victory over the Hammers and have since solidified their place in the top half of the table. West Ham, meanwhile, find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle, despite their recent away win over Tottenham Hotspur.

As Nuno Espirito Santo’s side prepares to host Sunderland at the London Stadium, both Merson and Sutton are predicting a draw in the capital.

Paul Merson’s Take on West Ham vs Sunderland
Speaking to Sportskeeda, Merson forecasted a 1-1 draw:

“What an incredible win for West Ham against Tottenham last weekend. But they must improve at home. West Ham have struggled to win at the London Stadium, and that’s a major concern.

If they can overcome Sunderland at home this weekend, it could spark a turnaround in their fight against relegation. With tough away fixtures at Chelsea and Burnley coming up, a home win here would be huge for momentum.

Sunderland, however, are extremely tough opponents. They’ve lost only once in their last eight games across all competitions, and with their players returning from the AFCON, they’re only going to get stronger. I can’t see Sunderland losing this game. Both Leeds and Burnley have impressed me this season too. I’m predicting a draw, but a Sunderland win wouldn’t surprise me.”

Chris Sutton’s Perspective on West Ham vs Sunderland
Sutton also expects a 1-1 draw, telling BBC Sport:

“Sunderland’s 3-0 victory over West Ham on the opening weekend set the tone for both sides’ seasons, but it doesn’t give me much guidance for this game. West Ham’s recent win at Tottenham was remarkable, yet their home form remains weak.

Sunderland are not as formidable on the road as at the Stadium of Light, having failed to win away since late October. That said, this season has been unpredictable, with surprises all around, making form, history, and stats less reliable for predictions.

In recent weeks, I’ve overthought predictions using stats and AI, but this time I’m going with my instincts, which leads me to a draw.”