Paul Merson makes very grave prediction for Carlos Tevez derby between West Ham and the Blades this weekend.
There is no love lost between West Ham and Sheffield United and they meet again at the London Stadium on Saturday.
It is now over 16 years since the Carlos Tevez affair which spawned one of English football’s more recent rivalries between West Ham and Sheffield United.
But the memory of Hammers favourite Tevez and the court cases that saw West Ham ordered to pay out £35million in compensation to Sheffield United and an additional £5.5m in Premier League fines remains as inflammatory as it is unprecedented.
Tevez’s arrival with Javier Mascherano at West Ham on transfer deadline day in August 2006 sowed the seeds of what has become a mutual loathing.
West Ham fans famously wore Tevez masks to goad Blades fans a few years ago.
And many Hammers fans taunted Sheffield United on social media when they were thumped 8-0 by Newcastle last week asking: “Was that Tevez’s fault too?”
West Ham are looking to continue their fine start to the season by getting back to winning ways against Paul Heckingbottom’s side.
Sheffield United meanwhile are searching for a first win on their return to the top flight.
Given the Blades’ mammoth defeat last weekend, West Ham go into the game as hot favourites.
And that’s how a leading pundit sees it too.
Paul Merson has made a very grave prediction for the Tevez derby between West Ham and the Blades.
Speaking to Sportskeeda, Merson said he thinks West Ham will dish out another walloping for Sheffield United with a comfortable 3-0 victory.
“Sheffield United are all over the place and are coming on the back of a damaging 8-0 home defeat to Newcastle,” Merson said.
“West Ham got nothing against Manchester City and Liverpool in recent weeks, but they put up a good show and have enjoyed a good start to the 2023-24 Premier League campaign.
“I see nothing but a West Ham win here, especially with players like Jarrod Bowen in fine form… 3-0.”
Let’s hope Merson has called it right.
But in these situations you never know what you are going to get following a result like the one the Blades endured last week.
The Hammers could be facing a wounded animal looking to prove a point. Or Sheffield United may be lambs to the slaughter. Let’s hope it’s the latter.
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