Paul Merson predicts outcome of Tottenham v Sunderland

Paul Merson has backed Tottenham Hotspur to return to winning ways against Sunderland on Saturday.

The north London side missed the chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal after a 1-0 loss to second-placed Leicester City at White Hart Lane mid-week.

They start getting good reviews and everyone thinks they are in the title race but all of sudden they shoot themselves in the foot

Paul Merson

Mauricio Pochettino were the Premier League’s form side before the Leicester setback, which was their first defeat in four top-flight games since early December.

While Merson felt Leicester’s snatch-and-grab win epitomised Tottenham’s inconsistency in recent years, the former Arsenal playmaker backed Pochettino’s side to bounce back against Sunderland.

“Looking at Tottenham, it’s them all over,” Merson told Sky Sports.

“They start getting good reviews and everyone thinks they are in the title race but all of sudden they shoot themselves in the foot. If they’d won the other night and then win this early kick-off they would have gone right up there.

“But that’s Tottenham and it’s why it is so hard to win the Premier League. However, I am going to go for Spurs to bounce back in this one. Sunderland would have put a lot into their win at Swansea.

“They are heading to White Hart Lane with somewhat of a free swing, but I see Spurs bouncing back under no pressure with Harry Kane scoring the first goal.”

Tottenham are six points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal ahead of the visit of Sunderland at The Lane.

Spurs are under pressure in fourth place with West Ham United a point behind their London rivals and Manchester United a further point adrift.

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Tottenham make the trip to Leicester for their FA Cup third-round replay on Tuesday night.