'I expect': Paul Merson now gives his score prediction for Newcastle v Fulham

It's another huge game for the Magpies as in-form Fulham make the trip to Tyneside for a 3pm kick-off in the Premier League.

Newcastle will be desperate to get back to winning ways after losing three on the bounce and dropping out of Europe in midweek.

Meanwhile, Fulham won their last two games by the same 5-0 margin giving Eddie Howe plenty to think about.

Today's clash promises plenty of goals

With Fulham nabbing 10 goals in two games and Newcastle conceding seven in three, it's a game that has goals written all over it, but is that how the pundits see it?

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We thought Chris Sutton had gone a bit spicy with his prediction for the BBC, but recently it's been like Paul Merson and Sutton have been copying each other's homework with their predictions for the Newcastle games being the same for the past couple of games.

Paul Merson drew up his prediction for today's fixture for Sportskeeda on the day after Newcastle were eliminated from Europe but he's expecting the Mags to bounce back.

"I said a few weeks back that Fulham are in a relegation battle because they could[n't] score a goal at the time, but they've gone mad since! They can't stop scoring and it's absolutely amazing.

"Newcastle will be devastated after yesterday as they were so close to the knockouts, but now they're out of Europe altogether after finishing fourth in their group. They have to pick themselves up and show up against an inform Fulham team but will also have one eye on the cup game against Chelsea. Newcastle haven't won a trophy since I was born and I'm 55! For a club of that size, it's been too long.

"Fulham are on a bit of a mad run, but I expect the home side to show their class in this one.

"Prediction: Newcastle United 3-1 Fulham"

Could Merson and Sutton be onto something?

Merse has once again gone with the same score as Sutton. We'd love them to be right, obviously, but it just seems like a bit of a reach for us at the moment.

We've lost that little bit of something in front of goal and despite a few players coming back from injury, the majority of the starting lineup will be the same players who looked dead on their feet in the last couple of games.

Mind, there's nothing more Newcastle than giving someone a hiding when you least expect it, so who knows what to expect?