Paul Merson is tipping Sunderland to maintain their impressive early-season form with a victory over Wolves this weekend, though fellow pundit Chris Sutton expects the points to be shared at the Stadium of Light.

Regis Le Bris’ side have enjoyed a strong start to their Premier League campaign, collecting 11 points from their first seven games to sit ninth in the table heading into Saturday’s clash. A win would extend their advantage over Wolves to 12 points, underlining the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs.

Vítor Pereira’s men, meanwhile, remain bottom of the standings with just two points to their name. However, recent performances suggest slight progress — Wanderers have earned back-to-back draws against Brighton and Tottenham, showing signs of resilience before the international break.

Despite that, Merson believes Sunderland’s momentum and home advantage will prove decisive. Speaking to Sportskeeda, he said:

“This is a massive game. If Sunderland win, they’ll go 12 points clear of Wolves — that’s a huge gap to make up, especially for a side still searching for their first victory. People will say it’s early days, but a lead like that can define seasons.

“Wolves have actually been a bit unlucky — they’ve taken the lead and conceded late equalisers in their last two games — so they’re not far off. But Sunderland impressed me against Aston Villa, even with 10 men. They’re strong at home, solid defensively, and I fancy them to edge this one.”

Merson’s prediction: Sunderland 1-0 Wolves.

However, Sutton sees things differently. Writing in his BBC Sport predictions column, the former striker expects a tighter contest and has gone for a 1-1 draw.

“Apologies to Sunderland fans,” Sutton joked. “Every time I back them to win, things seem to go wrong — just look at what happened against Manchester United. Maybe they’ll prefer me doubting them again!

“They’ve picked up some injuries, and their squad looks stretched. United deserved their win before the break, but I liked the way Regis Le Bris handled it — no excuses. Wolves have shown fight recently, so I can’t see either side running away with it. There won’t be much in it at all.”

With Sunderland looking to stay in touch with the top half and Wolves desperate for a first victory of the campaign, Saturday’s clash promises to be a tense, hard-fought encounter in the North East.