Paul Merson has shared his prediction ahead of Sunday’s Premier League showdown between Sunderland and Newcastle United—the first Tyne-Wear derby in the top flight for nearly a decade.
Eddie Howe’s side head to the Stadium of Light knowing Sunderland sit above them in the table and riding a wave of confidence from their impressive start to life back in the Premier League. Newcastle, meanwhile, have quality of their own and Anthony Gordon arriving in fine form, though their midweek draw with Bayer Leverkusen—conceding an 88th-minute equaliser—has slightly dampened spirits.
With all eyes turning to what Merson calls the “big derby”, the former Arsenal and England forward expects a fiercely competitive affair. Speaking to Sportskeeda, he said:
“What a game. The big derby returns! Sunderland have been unbelievable this season—every time you look at them, their performances still amaze you. Newcastle are scoring goals but they just can’t keep a clean sheet. Their last one was seven games ago.”
Merson stressed that although Newcastle may have the stronger squad “on paper”, derbies rarely follow the script.
“The Stadium of Light will be bouncing. Sunderland will make it very difficult. I hate sitting on the fence, but I have to here—draw for me.”
Merson’s prediction: Sunderland 1–1 Newcastle United.
Newcastle’s Premier League record in the derby makes Merson’s cautious call understandable. While they defeated Sunderland in the FA Cup last January, their last league win over their rivals came all the way back in August 2011—Ryan Taylor’s memorable free-kick sealing victory on Wearside.
Nine top-flight derbies have passed since without a Newcastle win. On Sunday, Howe’s players will aim to end that run and carve out their own moment of derby folklore.