We’ve another blockbuster weekend of Premier League action on the menu this Saturday, Sunday and Monday with the Manchester clubs involved in the biggest games.
City host Carabao Cup runners up Newcastle in the early game on Saturday while United head to Anfield to take on their old rivals Liverpool late on Sunday.
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There’s also a west London derby on Monday Night football where the well-performing duo of Brentford and Fulham go at it for local bragging rights.
With plenty of huge games on the horizon we thought it was only right to bring in our resident tipster and Premier League predicting guru, Mark Lawrenson. Take it away, Lawro…
Saturday 12.30pm: Manchester City v Newcastle
Newcastle weren’t at it in the Carabao Cup final. Once Manchester United went ahead they kept them at arm’s length. I can’t remember the last time they actually won to be honest, it’s been a while! I’ll go for a Manchester City win but it won’t be a romp because they are very good defensively, Newcastle, but I just don’t see them causing City problems at the other end. Manchester City 2-0 Newcastle.
RESULT: Man City 2-0 Newcastle
Saturday 3pm: Arsenal v Bournemouth
You would think this might be routine. Arsenal had a good win against Everton on Wednesday night. Bournemouth are still struggling and are in danger of getting cast adrift at the bottom. It looks like Arsenal are over their little wobble now. Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth.
RESULT: Arsenal 3-2 Bournemouth
Saturday 3pm: Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
Aston Villa just disposed of Everton last week and I think they’ll win here. They’ve had a hiccup recently but they seem to be back on track. Unai Emery’s a good manager and they’re doing well generally. Aston Villa 2-0 Crystal Palace.
RESULT: Villa 1-0 Palace
Saturday 3pm: Brighton v West Ham
West Ham went out of the FA Cup against Manchester United on Wednesday, though the performances have started to pick up. Brighton lost at home to Fulham in a smash-and-grab game last time but didn’t play last weekend. I’m going to go for the happy Hammers, they just look like they’re hitting a bit of form. Brighton 0-2 West Ham.
RESULT: Brighton 4-0 West Ham
Saturday 3pm: Chelsea v Leeds
In the 70s these two used to hate each other. After 30 minutes the referee used to say, ‘Right, shall we put the ball on the pitch now!’ There’s still that little bit of ranker there. Graham Potter’s under pressure but if you don’t have a centre forward what can you do?
He’s trying everything but Leeds have calmed down under Javi Gracia, they still run everywhere but there’s a little more thought about it now. I think this might be a draw which Leeds will take but it won’t solve any of Potter’s problems. Chelsea 1-1 Leeds.
RESULT: Chelsea 1-0 Leeds
Saturday 3pm: Wolves v Tottenham
Wolves didn’t land a punch on Liverpool during the week and Tottenham did what only Tottenham do in the FA Cup, crashing out against Sheffield United. They should be in the quarter finals of the cup but, and I don’t know why this is, they have three or four good results and then they just bomb out. Tottenham will go and win this, it’s just how they are. Wolves 0-2 Tottenham.
RESULT: Wolves 1-0 Spurs
Saturday 5.30pm: Southampton v Leicester
These two both went out of the FA Cup during the week with Southampton losing to Grimsby and Leicester to Blackburn. I’ll just go for a narrow home win. Southampton 1-0 Leicester.
RESULT: Southampton 1-0 Leicester
Sunday 2pm: Nottingham Forest v Everton
Both Nottingham Forest and Everton lost 4-0 in their most recent matches. I’m going to go for an Everton Win. I’m not sure there’ll be much football played in this game and I would have thought it wouldn’t be a nice feeling going into training at Everton when Mr Dyche is waiting for you after a 4-0 loss. Nottingham Forest 0-1 Everton.
RESULT: Forest 2-2 Everton
Sunday 4.30pm: Liverpool v Manchester United
I was at Liverpool v Wolves on Wednesday night and the visit of Manchester United was all anyone was talking about. I’m just going to go for Liverpool. They’ve kept clean sheets lately and they’re slowly starting to look a bit better. It’s just one of those games where I think they’ll be on it and it’ll need a strong referee because the tackles will be flying in from everywhere. Liverpool 2-1 Manchester United.
RESULT: Liverpool 7 – 0 Man United
Monday 8pm: Brentford v Fulham
Fulham’s goals against Leeds were brilliant. They’re just going from strength to strength. They’re hardly going to be jetlagged from the travel for this game but I think it might be a draw. Both teams are doing extremely well, it just shows you that you don’t have to spend gazillions in this league, you’ve just got to have a good head of recruitment. Brentford 1-1 Fulham.
RESULT: Brentford 3-2 Fulham
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.
There’s £/€100 up for grabs this week as Lawro saw off Jerry the Kerry fan following a blistering start. This time around it’s Anthony the Plymouth fan from… Plymouth! Here’s how he thinks things will play out this weekend.
Manchester City 2-2 Newcastle
Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth
Aston Villa 1-1 Crystal Palace
Brighton 2-1 West Ham
Chelsea 2-1 Leeds
Wolves 0-2 Tottenham
Southampton 1-2 Leicester
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Everton
Liverpool 2-2 Manchester United
Brentford 1-2 Fulham
RESULTS
It’s a win for Lawro! He got off to a flyer by correctly calling Man City’s 2-0 win over Newcastle in the opening game of the weekend, and followed that up with correct results for Arsenal and Aston Villa in the 3pms.
Another three-pointer came when Southampton beat Leicester 1-0 in the late kick-off. Lawro didn’t see Liverpool’s 7-0 hammering of Man Utd coming (who did?!) but he did correctly predict they would win, bringing his overall tally to the weekend to nine.
For our challenger, Anthony, it was a score of just four points, with no correct scorelines picked. We go again next week with £/€150 up for grabs.
*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.
The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com right now
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