Premier League Predictions: Lawro's verdict on this week's games

Lawro’s Premier League Predictions:

Brentford 1-1 Tottenham
Crystal Palace 2-0 Fulham
Everton 2-1 Wolves
Leicester 1-0 Newcastle
Southampton 1-1 Brighton
Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool
Arsenal 1-2 West Ham
Chelsea 2-0 Bournemouth
Man Utd 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Leeds 0-2 Man City

Monday 12.30pm: Brentford v Tottenham

All eyes will be on Harry Kane won’t they? Brentford only had a handful of players away at the World Cup so they’ll be well prepared. I’m going to do for a 1-1 Draw in this, the early kick offs are always a bit drab. Brentford had a great result against Manchester City last time but that’s old news now. It’s almost like starting a new season.

Monday 3pm: Crystal Palace v Fulham

Crystal Palace are going okay and they’re comfortably midtable. Fulham will be looking to get stronger in January and they’ve done great. But Palace are at home and there’s always a good atmosphere so I’ll go 2-0 to Palace.

Monday 3pm: Everton v Wolves

This will be Julen Lopetegui’s first game as Wolves manager even though he’s been there six weeks. Wolves are another side who won’t have had too many players away and they will have had a bit of a pre season even though we’re in December. But with a big crowd at Goodison I’ll go 2-1 to Everton.

Monday 3pm: Leicester v Newcastle

These two won in the Carabao coming into this so they’ll be in high spirits. I’m going to go 1-0 to Leicester here. They’re at home and have been improving a lot. The last thing Newcastle wanted was a break in the season for the World Cup.

Monday 3pm: Southampton v Brighton

I think this might be 1-1. Southampton have got a new manger and that means everybody will try a bit harder. Nathan Jones did brilliant at Luton and he’s shown that he can work with and improve players on a small budget.

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Monday 5.30pm: Aston Villa v Liverpool

Liverpool have been in Dubai and they will have had a good build up. All the World Cup boys will be fit and ready to go whereas I don’t know if Emi Martinez will play for Villa. I’m going to go 2-0 to Liverpool.

Monday 8pm: Arsenal v West Ham

Gabriel Jesus is out for a while and that will be a big loss for Arsenal. I’m going to go for an upset here and go 2-1 to West Ham. All that momentum that Arsenal built up before the World Cup counts for nothing now because of the layoff. I just think that David Moyes would have taken the break as a pre season and he will have worked them really hard so I’ll go with the upset.

Tuesday 5.30pm: Chelsea v Bournemouth

Gary O’Neil’s been made permanent Bournemouth manager now but I think this will be a straightforward 2-0 win for Chelsea. I know they’re a bit light with injuries but they’ll have too much for Bournemouth.

Tuesday 8pm: Man United v Nottingham Forest

I’ll go for another 2-0 home win here as well. For some teams the World Cup has been a hinderance and for others it’s been a help and I would put Manchester United in the second category. Erik ten Hag will have refined them and there’s no Cristiano Ronaldo skulking about the place. I don’t think they’ve suffered any big injuries at the World Cup so 2-0 to United.

Wednesday 8pm: Leeds v Manchester City

Erling Haaland will be champing at the bit and Kevin De Bruyne wasn’t at the World Cup for very long so Manchester City are in good shape. I’ll go 2-0 to City in this one, a straightforward win. Leeds will give a load of effort and application but no, no surprises here.