Paul Merson states his prediction for Aston Villa v Tottenham

Paul Merson is tipping Tottenham Hotspur to get their Premier League title bid back on track by beating Aston Villa comfortably on Sunday afternoon.

The north London side head into the game looking to bounce back to winning ways after the disappointment of their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Spurs fell further behind leaders Leicester City after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Arsenal in last weekend’s north London derby clash at White Hart Lane.

That stalemate followed a 1-0 loss to West Ham – but former Arsenal man Merson is fully expecting Spurs to ease to a straightforward win over the Premier League’s basement club on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, Merson said: “Spurs were on the end of a good hiding against Borussia Dortmund and I found it strange because you get so far in the competition and then make seven changes.

“It’s a shame for the fans who travelled over to Germany, but it was the same when Stoke went to Valencia a few years ago.

“If that was the plan, you could say Spurs would have been better off beating Crystal Palace in the FA Cup and dropping the Europa League.

“As for this game against Villa, it’s must-win for Tottenham. There is no messing about now because draws are not good enough and if it’s level in the last 15 minutes of matches, they have to go all out.

“I think they’ll beat Villa by three goals, though. There’s not one Villa player that would get in the Tottenham team at the moment.”

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Tottenham, who finished fifth last season, host Dortmund in the return leg of their Europa League last 16 clash on Thursday night at White Hart Lane.