In his latest Sky Sports column, Paul Merson says Tottenham, Manchester City and Manchester United all have defining matches this weekend, even though it is early in the season. Spurs are still without a win or a goal in the Premier League after three games and will play against an unbeaten Everton team on Saturday Night Football, live on Sky Sports, in front of their expectant fans. Meanwhile on Sunday, the Manchester derby takes place as Michael Carrick's inconsistent United team take on a City side facing their first big test in the post-Pep Guardiola era.
Read below for the Magic Man's thoughts on two massive fixtures... Spurs have to beat Everton this weekend. It's a cup final for them - I'd go as far as to say this is their season on the line.
If they lose to Everton, then you starting thinking: this is going to be another grind of a season. You would start really, really worrying as a Tottenham fan. But if they go and beat Everton, you start going two games without a defeat, they'll be on four points.
Then all of a sudden you can build from there. It's not as big as the Spurs vs Everton game on the final day of last season. If they lost that game, they were going to Lincoln.
But, at the moment, I just don't see this team putting five or six wins on the trot together. So this is a big football match. The start Spurs have had is Brentford away, Newcastle at home and Nottingham Forest away.
If they lose to Everton and have one point from four games, you start to worry. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player If they beat Everton, then they've got every chance of beating Aston Villa at home next week. If they don't beat Everton, they're not beating Villa.
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