Paul Merson has identified three crucial fixtures this weekend as pivotal moments for Tottenham, Manchester City and Manchester United, despite the season still being in its infancy. The pundit believes each side faces a crossroads that could shape their entire campaign trajectory.
Tottenham remain winless and goalless after their opening three Premier League matches. They travel to face an unbeaten Everton side on Saturday 12 September 2026 at 17:30 BST in what Merson describes as a defining encounter for the north London club. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in front of their expectant home crowd.
On Sunday, the Manchester derby takes centre stage as Michael Carrick's inconsistent United outfit take on a City side navigating their first significant examination in the post-Pep Guardiola era under new management.
Everton represents a season-defining moment for Spurs
Merson believes Tottenham must secure victory against 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, he stated in his analysis.
The consequences of defeat would be severe in his assessment.
If they lose to Everton, then you starting thinking: this is going to be another grind of a season. Here we go again. You would start really, really worrying as a Tottenham fan.
Conversely, a victory would provide genuine momentum.
But if they go and beat Everton, you start going two games without a defeat, they'll be on four points. Then all of a sudden you can build from there.
Merson stressed that while this clash carries enormous weight, it does not quite match the intensity of Tottenham's final-day encounter with Everton last season, when survival in the top flight hung in the balance.
It's not as big as the Spurs vs Everton game on the final day of last season. If they lost that game, they were going to Lincoln.
However, he remains unconvinced about Spurs' capacity to string together consecutive victories.
But, at the moment, I just don't see this team putting five or six wins on the trot together. So this is a big football match.
The opening fixtures have been unforgiving. Tottenham began with an away trip to Brentford, followed by Newcastle at home and Nottingham Forest away.
If they lose to Everton and have one point from four games, you start to worry.
According to BBC Sport's live fixture preview, Everton currently sit 8th with 5 points, while Tottenham occupy 18th with just 1 point, underscoring the gulf between the two sides heading into Saturday's encounter.
Merson highlighted the cascading effect of results on confidence and future performance.
If they beat Everton, then they've got every chance of beating Aston Villa at home next week. If they don't beat Everton, they're not beating Villa. That's how it works. It's a snowball effect.
He elaborated on this psychological dynamic.
When you win football matches, you expect to win the one after. But if you don't, the confidence goes.
Tottenham's next league fixture after Everton is at home to Aston Villa on Saturday 19 September 2026 at 12:30, making the Villa encounter the immediate test of whether Spurs can build from a potential Everton victory.
Manchester United's season hangs in the balance
Merson believes Manchester United's campaign is equally poised on a knife's edge heading into the Manchester derby.
Man Utd have got the Manchester derby - and their season is in the balance too. If you beat Man City, you're flying. If you get beat by Man City, here we go again.
The stakes are heightened by their recent form.
It would be one point from two games including the Everton game. And other teams are winning around you.
Merson has long harboured reservations about United's summer recruitment strategy.
I've said all along: I don't think Man Utd have bought very well. The squad isn't big enough. It's nowhere near enough.
Defensive vulnerabilities particularly concern him.
Defensively they're nowhere near good enough. They let in two goals against Everton - and they were two good goals, but one of them was from the edge of the box. Everybody's behind the ball.
He criticised United's tactical approach when protecting a lead, arguing that defensive substitutions undermine attacking momentum.
When you're winning, put another forward on. Don't take a forward off and put a defender on. Don't give that team the opportunity.
Instead, he advocated for a more aggressive approach.
Instead, if you put a forward on for a midfielder or a forward, it changes the game completely. If you're the other manager, you think: 'Oh no, what am I going to do?'.
Merson highlighted how United's cautious approach invited unnecessary pressure.
Instead, Man Utd just invited pressure on. Just don't do that, especially if you're a big team.
He drew a distinction between smaller clubs and elite sides.
If you're Coventry and you go in front at Everton, you of course put a defender on 100 per cent. But when you're Man Utd, I don't see the need to do that.
Merson suggested that had United maintained control of the match, Everton would not have created the opportunity for Ainsley Maitland-Niles' goal.
If you're dictating the game, Everton don't get that chance for Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
His overall assessment remains pessimistic.
So I am worried - and this is why I didn't put Manchester United in my top five at the start of the season. Nothing's changed for me since then. When you draw games, it hurts you.
Earlier this season, Merson warned Roberto De Zerbi against publicly criticising his forwards and medical staff following Spurs' goalless draw with Nottingham Forest, arguing such grievances should remain private.
Manchester City face their true test
Merson does not believe Manchester City have been particularly impressive so far, despite their winning record.
I don't think Man City have been great. But sometimes I look at teams when they keep winning and they haven't played well as a real worry for the other sides.
He acknowledged that victories can mask underlying issues.
Sometimes wins can cover cracks - but City have got Erling Haaland scoring goals. And they kept a clean sheet against Coventry last time out, that's a positive for them.
The upcoming fixtures will provide genuine clarity on City's credentials.
City have got some big games coming up against Man Utd and Liverpool. That's the test to know where City are under Enzo Maresca.
Merson outlined the significance of City's performance across these matches.
If City win those two games and the match against Sunderland in between, they're not going to be far off the top come the end of the season.
According to the Premier League's official fixtures page, Manchester City's next league fixture after the derby weekend is away to Sunderland on Sunday 20 September 2026 at 14:00, providing them with a midweek opportunity to build momentum.
Conversely, failure to accumulate sufficient points could allow Arsenal to establish a commanding lead.
If they don't get at least two points out of those two games, then Arsenal could run away with the league title a bit. I have Chelsea down for third in the league and they're already miles off Arsenal.
This assessment reflects broader concerns about the competitive balance at the top of the table this season, with Arsenal appearing to have established themselves as the team to beat.
