The football just keeps coming, and back once again with his Premier League predictions is our tipster in residence, Mark Lawrenson.
Take it away, Lawro…
Brentford v Liverpool
Monday, 5.30pm – Sky Sports Main Event
Brentford have had a really good period with four points from Tottenham and West Ham. It looks live Ivan Toney might play too. This might sound daft after two wins, but I think this is a good time to play Liverpool. They’ve got a soft centre. Despite that, I’ll go for a narrow away win. BRENTFORD 1-2 LIVERPOOL.
RESULT: Brentford 3-1 Liverpool
Arsenal v Newcastle
Tuesday, 7.45pm – Sky Sports Main Event
This is a big test for both. We know Newcastle don’t concede many, and Arsenal score lots. They’ll take the game to them here, and I think they’ll have too much quality. They’re the best team in the league, and the ones to beat. If they keep playing the way they are, they’ll be hard to catch.
They lost Gabriel Jesus and have just got on with it. The best thing for them was Mikel Arteta telling Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to do one. That sent a statement to the dressing room. ARSENAL 2-0 NEWCASTLE.
RESULT: Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
Everton v Brighton
Tuesday, 7.45pm
Everton did well at City, and stood up for themselves, but can they do it two games running? Brighton got taken apart by Arsenal but are still right up the table. I was leaning towards a draw, but I reckon it’ll be like the Colosseum and the fans will get behind them and pinch the win.
They’re competitive and good defensively. It’s difficult to go there because you really feel hemmed in. The supporters really make a difference. EVERTON 2-1 BRIGHTON.
RESULT: Everton 1-4 Brighton
Leicester v Fulham
Tuesday, 7.45pm
Leicester should have got a point at Liverpool the other night, if not three. They had loads of opportunities and impressed me. Wout Faes is a really good player and he just had a bad night with the two own-goals. I think they may have got their mojo back.
Fulham have been one of the stories of the season so far. Their recruitment has been spot on, buying the right players in the right positions. LEICESTER 2-0 FULHAM.
RESULT: Leicester 0-1 Fulham
Man Utd v Bournemouth
Tuesday, 8pm
Bournemouth are starting to fall. I worry for them. Without playing well, United are winning. And if you can do that, you’re a good side. They’re solid and improving. MAN UTD 3-0 BOURNEMOUTH.
RESULT: Man Utd 3-0 Bournemouth
Southampton v Nottingham Forest
Wednesday, 7.30pm
Forest did well getting that draw with Chelsea, but I think this could be a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’. I thought Southampton were unlucky against Brighton. They started well and created a few chances. I fancy them to edge a close one. SOUTHAMPTON 2-1 FOREST.
RESULT: Southampton 0-1 Forest
Leeds v West Ham
Wednesday, 7.45pm
Leeds were a little bit unlucky against Man City, and did well at Newcastle, but those two games could have really taken it out of them. West Ham are on a poor run but they’ll be fine. Two wins and they’d be in mid-table, and they’ve got the quality in the squad and know-how in the dugout. LEEDS 0-2 WEST HAM.
RESULT: Leeds 2-2 West Ham
Aston Villa v Wolves
Wednesday, 7.45pm
Villa were really good against Spurs, with Unai Emery working his magic. He’s a good manager, and was unlucky to lose his job at Arsenal. He knows what he’s doing. Julen Lopetegui will probably end up with two or three new players this month and they’ll climb up the table. VILLA 2-1 WOLVES.
RESULT: Villa 1-1 Wolves
Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Wednesday, 8pm – Sky Sports Main Event
Antonio Conte’s got loads of players. The problem is they don’t know how to start a game. They only turn up when they’re 2-0 down. It’s all a bit weird, he seems very flat, and so do the team.
Palace got a good win at Bournemouth the other day, but this could be the revival of Tottenham if they get the supply to Harry Kane right. PALACE 1-2 SPURS.
RESULT: Palace 0-4 Spurs
Chelsea v Man City
Thursday, 8pm – Sky Sports Main Event
It doesn’t look like Graham Potter knows what his best team is, or even the best formation. He’s under pressure. City of course only drew with Everton, but they turn up for these types of games. They’ll be at it. CHELSEA 1-2 MAN CITY.
RESULT: Chelsea 0-1 Man City
LAWRO V PUNTER CHALLENGE
So, you’ve heard what Mark Lawrenson has to say, but can this week’s Paddy Power punter take down our game-guessing guru with their Premier League predictions?
If you don’t know what we’re talking about, where have you been? Every Premier League gameweek we’re putting up at least £/€50 – more if there’s a rollover – to anyone who can outsmart Lawro in guessing the outcome of that week’s games. All the rules are here, but in a nutshell it’s three points for a correct score, and one point for a correct result. Simples.
The New Year got off to the perfect start for our last challenger, Newcastle fan David from York, who took home £100 after correctly predicting four correct results to Lawro’s two (there were no correct scorelines). Stepping up to the tipping oche this weekend is Aberdeen fan Craig who lives in Edinburgh. Here’s his fancies…
Brentford 1 Liverpool 2
Arsenal 1 Newcastle 1
Everton 1 Brighton 1
Leicester 2 Fulham 1
Man Utd 2 Bournemouth 0
Southampton 2 Forest 1
Leeds 1 West Ham 1
Aston Villa 2 Wolves 1
Palace 1 Spurs 1
Chelsea 1 Man City 2
RESULT
It was a win for Lawro this week with a game to spare. The ex-Liverpool man scored four points from correctly predicting Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Tuesday and Tottenham’s victory at Crystal Palace 24 hours later.
Our challenger, Craig, correctly called the Man Utd result and draws in the Arsenal v Newcastle and Leeds v West Ham game for three points, however he wasn’t able to overtake Lawro in the week’s final game as they’ve both backed a 2-1 win for Man City away at Chelsea tonight.
As it was, they both got the result correct, but not the score, as City won 1-0.
It means we have a rollover, folks, with £/€100 up for grabs next time out.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
MORE FOOTBALL TIPS
- Check out Crouchy’s 25/1 Chelsea v Man City tips tonight
- PHIL THOMPSON: Here’s my 10/1 Chelsea v Man City tips
The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com right now