Merson: Spurs, Man City and Man Utd have defining games this weekend

· Sky-PL

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.

I've said all along: I don't think Man Utd have bought very well. The squad isn't big enough. It's nowhere near enough.

Defensively they're nowhere near good enough. They let in two goals against Everton - and they were two good goals, but one of them was from the edge of the box. Everybody's behind the ball.

When you're winning, put another forward on. Don't take a forward off and put a defender on. Don't give that team the opportunity.

Instead, if you put a forward on for a midfielder or a forward, it changes the game completely. If you're the other manager, you think: 'Oh no, what am I going to do?'.

Instead, Man Utd just invited pressure on. Just don't do that, especially if you're a big team.

If you're Coventry and you go in front at Everton, you of course put a defender on 100 per cent. But when you're Man Utd, I don't see the need to do that.

If you're dictating the game, Everton don't get that chance for Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

So I am worried - and this is why I didn't put Manchester United in my top five at the start of the season. Nothing's changed for me since then. When you draw games, it hurts you.

'Time to find out how good Man City are'

I don't think Man City have been great. But sometimes I look at teams when they keep winning and they haven't played well as a real worry for the other sides.

Sometimes wins can cover cracks - but City have got Erling Haaland scoring goals. And they kept a clean sheet against Coventry last time out, that's a positive for them.

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