The former Arsenal and Aston Villa star, who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, believes that lack of fans will be a problem for the Newcastle players.
The Premier League is set to get back underway this month, with no fans able to attend matches due to the lockdown rules in the UK.
Merson believes that the teams in danger of getting relegated to the Championship at the end of the season will have to hit the ground running.
The Sky Sports pundit has added that Newcastle players could lose focus with no fans cheering them on.
Merson wrote in The Daily Star: “If you don’t hit the ground running you could be in the bottom three very quickly. That’s an advantage for the teams who are chasing. It’s easier to make up ground quickly.
“I fear for Newcastle the most because they might struggle without 50,000 unbelievable fans behind them at home.
“Those fans keep your concentration levels high. They help you. With no crowd, you lose focus. And Newcastle might feel that more than anyone else.”
Relegation is unlikely
Newcastle are still mathematically in danger of going down, but it is very unlikely that the Magpies will not survive.
Steve Bruce’s side are as many as eight points above the Premier League relegation zone.
While there is a chance that the Magpies could suffer a collapse when football resumes, teams such as Norwich City, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Watford and West Ham United are in much bigger danger.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
