Paul Merson has backed Tottenham on Sky Sports to comfortably beat Crystal Palace in Sunday’s London derby.
Roy Hodgson’s side make the short journey to White Hart Lane aiming to turn around their wretched start to the season, which has left them bottom of the Premier League with just four points from 1o matches.
Palace came from two goals down to draw 2-2 against West Ham last weekend but former Arsenal forward Merson does not expect the south Londoners to get anything at Tottenham, who are on a high following their sensational 3-1 Champions League win against holders Real Madrid.
“Palace were fortunate the other day,” Merson told the Sky Sports website. “They were 2-0 down and I know Roy [Hodgson] said they deserved to get a draw in the end, but we can all play when we are 2-0 down when there’s nothing to lose.
“You have to do that when it is still goalless and I expect Tottenham to carry on with the confidence they have been playing with. They have just beaten the European champions, so I will go 3-0 Tottenham.”
OPINION
Were Palace to secure a point or more at Wembley, it would count as one of the shocks of the season. Tottenham are likely to ring the changes after the exertions of Wednesday night, but the Sunday kick-off will provide crucial extra preparation time. Palace would have had eight days to get ready, but that is unlikely to be enough to stop Harry Kane, Dele Alli and company, who could blow the visitors to smithereens if they get an early goal and their tails up.