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Paul Merson makes Man Utd vs Sunderland prediction as Bruno Fernandes is now at centre of ‘big debate’

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Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has singled out Bruno Fernandes amid his Premier League prediction for Manchester United and Sunderland’s upcoming clash.

Bruno Fernandes has been enjoying an incredible run of form in the 2025-26 Premier League season after Ruben Amorim was axed from Manchester United.

Michael Carrick has ‘unlocked’ the 31-year-old Man Utd captain by shifting him from the midfield pivot role under Ruben Amorim to the No 10 position on the pitch.

Fernandes has chalked up an impressive 11 assists in the 14 Premier League matches that Michael Carrick has led since Amorim was sacked at United.

READ MORE: Declan Rice names Man Utd star as best free-kick taker he’s ever seen ahead of Bruno Fernandes

Declan Rice with Bruno Fernandes during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in 2026 in London, England.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images

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Paul Merson backs Man Utd to beat Sunderland in the Premier League amid his Bruno Fernandes claim

Manchester United will visit the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon for the Red Devils’ latest Premier League encounter against Sunderland this season.

The Sunderland match is part of the final three fixtures in the 2025-26 campaign that United legend Michael Carrick will oversee as interim Red Devils head coach.

Speaking in his column for Sportskeeda, Paul Merson has predicted that Carrick’s men will walk away with three Premier League points by beating Sunderland 2-1.

“Sunderland are just fizzling out at the moment,” he said.

“They will still have the heart to fight it out massively because I believe they will want to finish above Newcastle this season. It will be incredible if Sunderland can do that.”

The Arsenal legend added: “I can see Manchester United outscoring Sunderland in this game, predicting a win for the visitors at the Stadium of Light.”

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Paul Merson on Man Utd star Bruno Fernandes challenging for the Premier League Player of the Season award

Bruno Fernandes’ stunning exploits at Old Trafford in the 2025-26 campaign have seen him enter the picture for the Premier League Player of the Season debate.

The United star is only one Premier League assist away from tying Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne for the current record of most assists in a single season.

Merson praised Fernandes’ influence on the pitch for United in the current campaign, but he feels that Declan Rice is the Premier League Player of the Season.

“The big debate across the country is about who should win the PFA Player of the Year award,” he explained.

“I don’t even see a comparison between Bruno Fernandes and Declan Rice to be honest! Bruno plays just once a week, but Rice is carrying Arsenal week in, week out in the Premier League and Champions League.

“Don’t get me wrong, Fernandes is having a great season. But there is no debate when it comes to Rice in my opinion.”

Man Utd and Sunderland’s Premier League clash at the Stadium of Light is slated for a 3pm kick-off time on Saturday in the UK.