We’ve a funny old weekend in the Premier League this time around with the FA Cup quarter finals taking place on Saturday and Sunday. We’ve just seven top flight games to get stuck into with Nottingham Forest v Newcastle getting us underway on Friday night.
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Chelsea hosting Everton is your Saturday-night fare and there’s just the one game in the Premier League on Sunday, Arsenal at home to struggling Crystal Palace.
So, with Friday night’s game hurling towards us there’s no time to waste and it’s only right that we bring in our resident tipster and Premier League predicting guru, Mark Lawrenson. He’s in blistering form so sit up and take note, here’s Lawro’s predictions this weekend.
Friday 8pm: Nottingham Forest v Newcastle
TV: Sky Sports
Nottingham Forest got battered at Tottenham last time but Newcastle got a much-needed win. I think Newcastle might just pick up now towards the end of the season. They did get a bit lucky against Wolves with Nick Pope not getting sent off but Forest seem to get all their points away from home. Nottingham Forest 1-2 Newcastle United.
RESULT: Forest 1-2 Newcastle
Saturday 3pm: Aston Villa v Bournemouth
Bournemouth played really well against Liverpool and, after that result at Arsenal, it was really god for them to hang on and not capitulate this time. That said, I think Villa will have too much for them on home soil. Aston Villa 2-0 Bournemouth.
RESULT: Villa 3-0 Bournemouth
Saturday 3pm: Brentford v Leicester
Brentford won during the week which was a good result after losing against Everton at the weekend. Leicester are a mess but I think this might be a draw. I fancy Leicester to score in this game and, with Brentford playing during the week, that might have taken it out of them a bit. Brentford 1-1 Leicester.
RESULT: Brentford 1-1 Leicester
Saturday 3pm: Southampton v Tottenham
Southampton had another bad result during the week but you just can’t predict anything with any certainty for Tottenham. They’re just bonkers. But maybe they’ll have a little bit of a run in the league with no European football to worry about anymore. Southampton 0-2 Tottenham.
RESULT: Southampton 3-3 Tottenham
Saturday 3pm: Wolves v Leeds
Both of these struggle to score, though Leeds did get two against Brighton so maybe they’re starting to come into form. I can’t remember the last time Leeds won a game so the law of averages says they must be due one! Wolves 0-1 Leeds.
RESULT: Wolves 2-4 Leeds
Saturday 5.30pm: Chelsea v Everton
TV: Sky Sports
Chelsea are on a good run now, all of a sudden, with three wins on the bounce. Everton, it’s their home form that’s going to keep them up not what they do away from Goodison so I think you have to fancy Chelsea. Graham Potter will just be delighted that he’s not the story on everyone’s lips at the moment. Chelsea 2-1 Everton.
RESULT: Chelsea 2-2 Everton
Sunday 2pm: Arsenal v Crystal Palace
It’s a big game for Patrick Vieira and what a place to have it for him as well. They just can’t get a shot on target let alone score at the moment. They’ve got good players throughout the squad they just don’t have any decent strikers. Arsenal were imperious against Fulham so it’s got to be a comfortable home win. Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace.
RESULT: Arsenal 4-1 Palace
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 £/€200 up for grabs this week as Lawro saw off our good friend Matt the Ipswich fan from Felixstowe in Suffolk with a comprehensive 11-7 win last time out. Next in the firing line is Elliot the Manchester City fan from Manchester and here’s his verdict.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Newcastle
Aston Villa 2-1 Bournemouth
Brentford 3-1 Leicester
Southampton 0-1 Tottenham
Wolves 1-0 Leeds
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
Arsenal 4-0 Crystal Palace
*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.
RESULT:
Lawro’s winning streak goes on! Our star punter correctly predicted two scores (Newcastle’s win at Forest, and Brentford and Leicester’s draw) in a haul of nine points, with our challenger Elliot only managing two points from correct results in the Arsenal and Villa games.
So, the prize pot ticks over, meaning there’s a stonking £/€250 up for grabs after the international break. Woof.
The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com right now
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