Pundit Paul Merson has made a bold West Ham United claim in his 5 big predictions for the new Premier League season.
West Ham kick off the new season with the daunting task of taking on champions Man City at the London Stadium.
The Hammers will play a two-legged qualifier in order to make the Europa Conference League group stages.
That would be European football proper for the second consecutive season following a meteoric rise under David Moyes.
But that is all about to come unstuck according to pundit Merson.
Speaking to Sportskeeda, Merson makes a bold West Ham claim in his 5 big predictions for the new Premier League season.
And he believes West Ham could come crashing down this season after “punching above their weight”.
One of Merson’s 5 predictions is that newly-promoted Fulham will be the surprise package of the season as he tips them to overachieve.
But he included a random swipe at West Ham, saying they will be the surprise underachievers.
“West Ham United punched above their weight last season, but it could be hard for them this time around,” Merson told Sportskeeda.
“They set the bar really high and could become victims of their own success, having developed leaps and bounds under the tutelage of David Moyes.”
West Ham fans will remember similar downbeat predictions from so-called experts last summer having finished sixth and qualified for the Europa League.
But the Hammers proved their doubters wrong by – for the most part at least – managing the workload balance brilliantly.
In the end West Ham just fell short of glory in the Europa and could not quite grab a second stab at it this season.
The Conference League offers a second route into Europe for the Hammers, though, as well as the chance of a long overdue trophy.
Let’s hope Moyes and the boys can prove Merson wrong by maintaining their top six push again.
> What do you think of Merson’s comments? Have your say in the comments section below.
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