Paul Merson’s honest West Ham v Southampton prediction: £62,000-a-week star will be the difference-maker

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West Ham United host Southampton in the Premier League on Boxing Day and the Irons need to get back to winning ways after a difficult few weeks.

David Moyes’ side have won just once in their last seven games in all competitions. That win came against Chelsea and it was a really impressive performance by the Hammers, but their dip in form could cost them their dream of finishing in the top four.

Merson believes that West Ham need to win this game after their disappointing outing against Arsenal last time out in the Premier League. He also thinks that Declan Rice, who was brilliant in the defeat to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, will be the difference-maker.

Here’s what the Englishman wrote in his column on Sportskeeda…

Declan Rice could be the difference-maker in West Ham v Southampton

Merson wrote: “West Ham need to win this game. They were disappointing against Arsenal last week and need to start winning Premier League matches again. They’ve made a positive start to the season under Moyes but seem to have hit a rough patch this month.

“West Ham could find themselves in seventh or eighth at this rate. They’ve crashed out of the Cup as well and will have to do without Antonio this season. They need to stay in and around sixth place, and a short burst could see them nick a top-four place.

“Southampton also seem to be facing hard times and have flattered to deceive this year. West Ham are the better team at the moment and Declan Rice could be the difference between the two sides this weekend.

“Prediction: West Ham 2-0 Southampton.”

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West Ham were really poor against Arsenal but the one positive for them ahead of the game on Sunday is that Southampton were a lot worse than them when they faced the Gunners recently.

The Hammers will fancy themselves on Boxing Day and rightly so. West Ham are unbeaten against the Saints in their last eight meetings. The last time they lost to Southampton was in August 2017, when Slaven Bilic was still at the helm and Javier Hernandez started up top.

The Irons are a much better side now and Rice is arguably their crown jewel. The Englishman, who earns £62,000-a-week at the moment according to SalarySport, is one of the best players in the Premier League.

With Antonio set to miss the game, if there’s one West Ham player you would put your money on to make the difference on Sunday, it’s Rice, and Irons will be hoping that he can get them back to winning ways.