Premier League predictions
MARK LAWRENSON’S PICKS
Saturday 12.30pm: Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool
Saturday 3pm: Arsenal 2-0 Leeds
Saturday 3pm: Bournemouth 2-1 Fulham
Saturday 3pm: Brighton 2-0 Brentford
Saturday 3pm: Crystal Palace 1-1 Leicester
Saturday 3pm: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Wolves
Saturday 5.30pm: Chelsea 2-1 Aston Villa
Sunday 2pm: West Ham 2-0 Southampton
Sunday 4.30pm: Newcastle 1-0 Manchester United
Monday 8pm: Everton 1-1 Tottenham
The Premier League is back with a bang this weekend as Manchester City host Liverpool in Saturday’s early game. Later on, Chelsea welcome Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening before Southampton head to West Ham on Sunday.
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Newcastle v Manchester United looks set to be a juicy game on Sunday afternoon and it’s the relegation-threatened Everton taking on Tottenham on Monday Night Football. A bumper round of fixtures, we’re sure you’ll agree.
So, with another Premier League weekend fast approaching, 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.
Saturday 12.30pm: Manchester City v Liverpool
TV: BT Sport
It looks as though Erling Haaland probably won’t play and Phil Foden’s definitely out which obviously makes it easier for Liverpool but we don’t know which Liverpool will turn up. Because of that, I’m going to go for a draw. Defensively last time away from home at Bournemouth they were all over the shop. Again. I think Jurgen Klopp would have been on to them. They need to improve defensively or City will do them easily. I think it might be a low-scoring draw that won’t be much use to anybody. Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool.
Saturday 3pm: Arsenal v Leeds
Leeds won last time out but Arsenal have just been irrepressible for me. They’ve been very, very good. I’ve read that they might have a few players missing but I think they’ll have too much for Leeds, I really do. Leeds have definitely improved under Javi Gracia and I don’t worry about them in terms of getting relegated. Arsenal 2-0 Leeds.
Saturday 3pm: Bournemouth v Fulham
Bournemouth rode their luck a little bit in the end but, in saying that, they could have been 2-0 or 3-0 up at half time. They were really, really good going forward, it’s just that their defence is questionable. Fulham fell apart at Manchester United in the FA Cup and that was a game they should have won and now they’ve got suspensions to deal with as well. I’m just going to go for Bournemouth. I think you have runs in this league when you can go a few games unbeaten and this might be a chance for Bournemouth. Bournemouth 2-1 Fulham.
Saturday 3pm: Brighton v Brentford
Brighton are flying at the moment and Evan Ferguson scored for Ireland during the break. Everyone’s going nuts about him in Ireland but I’d just say, ‘Hold on a minute, he’s only 18! Give him a chance!’ Brentford drew with Leicester last time and Brighton beat Crystal Palace in their last league game. I fancy Brighton. The game’s easy for them at the moment. They’ve got the semi finals of the FA Cup to come, they make changes and they work, they’ve got a strong squad. It’s all positive. Brighton 2-0 Brentford.
Saturday 3pm: Crystal Palace v Leicester
Roy Hodgson’s coaching is generally filling in the blanks, as in, when the opposition look up when they’re on the ball they’ve got no-one to pass to. That’s the way he’s always coached. I think this might a low-scoring draw. Leicester need better and the pressure is well on Brendan Rodgers now. It’s just not happening for him. Crystal Palace 1-1 Leicester.
Saturday 3pm: Nottingham Forest v Wolves
Nottingham Forest lost last time out but they’re in really good form at home. I think that’ll be enough so it’s a home win for me here. Nottingham Forest 2-1 Wolves.
Saturday 5.30pm: Chelsea v Aston Villa
TV: Sky Sports
Chelsea look a completely different team of late. I’m still not totally convinced by them because they’ve still not got a striker but they’ve started winning games which is the most important thing. You know with Aston Villa, with the way their manager Unai Emery is, that they’ll be absolutely on it. I think Chelsea will get it done though, they’re in good shape at the moment. Chelsea 2-1 Aston Villa.
Sunday 2pm: West Ham v Southampton
TV: Sky Sports
It’s been a while since everybody’s played. This is more like a 12 pointer than a six pointer! Saints, you’re not quite sure with them. They can look really good in games and then all of a sudden they concede and they collapse so I’m going to go for a West Ham win in front of a big crown and there might even be some noise there for once! West Ham 2-0 Southampton.
Sunday 4.30pm: Newcastle v Manchester United
TV: Sky Sports
In fairness Manchester United have recovered from that 7-0 and it looks as though Newcastle have got themselves back on the straight and narrow. I’m going to go for a Newcastle win actually. I think Manchester United are due a defeat and I think this is where it will come. I’m not sure whether Marcus Rashford’s back from this shopping trip or not, though. Newcastle 1-0 Manchester United.
Monday 8pm: Everton v Tottenham
TV: Sky Sports
Cristian Stellini’s done a great job stepping in for Antonio Conte until they went and lost to Sheffield United in the FA Cup. Conte’s wanted to go for ages, that was obvious. It was one of the world’s worst-kept secrets. He did what he did in that press conference knowing that they’d have to sack him. You just don’t know what Tottenham are going to turn up. It’s a big game for Everton, I think they’ll be into them. Goodison, when the supporters know they need a win, is a real difficult place to go. Everton 1-1 Tottenham.
Lawro’s Weekend predictions
Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool
Arsenal 2-0 Leeds
Bournemouth 2-1 Fulham
Brighton 2-0 Brentford
Crystal Palace 1-1 Leicester
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Wolves
Chelsea 2-1 Aston Villa
West Ham 2-0 Southampton
Newcastle 1-0 Manchester United
Everton 1-1 Tottenham
*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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