We’ve a slightly truncated Premier League fixture list this weekend with the FA Cup semi finals taking place at Wembley. But we’ve still got eight top flight games to get stuck in to and, first up, Arsenal take on Southampton on Friday night.
It’s Fulham v Leeds in Saturday’s early game before Newcastle host Tottenham on Sunday in a huge top-four shootout which could see the Toon take a massive step towards next year’s Champions League with a win.
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So, with the weekend hurling towards us once again 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: Arsenal v Southampton
TV: Sky Sports
Arsenal have been 2-0 in front in their last two games and surrendered the lead. I’m going to go for a big win for them here, though. I think Southampton are doomed. Ruben Selles has done quite a good job but when you’ve not got that quality you’ve got no chance I’m afraid. Arsenal 3-0 Southampton.
Saturday 12.30pm: Fulham v Leeds
TV: BT Sport
Fulham won at Everton quite comfortably last time and Leeds were thumped by Liverpool. It’s the way they’re conceding. I know Liverpool’s goals in general were really, really good but the door was never closed, was it? I’m not blaming him but Illan Meslier looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights at the moment. But, actually, I’m going to go for a draw here because the one thing about Leeds is they scrap. Fulham 1-1 Leeds.
Saturday 3pm: Brentford v Aston Villa
Aston Villa might fancy a shot at fourth the way they’re playing. Obviously Ollie Watkins is getting most of the plaudits. Unai Emery’s told him to stay within the 18-yard box and now he can’t stop scoring. Brentford, even though they’re having a bit of a poor run, they’re still very, very difficult to beat. I’m going to go fo a bit of an upset and a Brentford win. Brentford 2-1 Aston Villa.
Saturday 3pm: Crystal Palace v Everton
Crystal Palace are flying and I thought Everton would get something againast Fulham when they got it back to 1-1 but it wasn’t to be. I just feel that this might be an Everton win. I expect it to be really, really scrappy and if you’re Sean Dyche you’re going to make sure that the better Palace players don’t get much opportunity on the ball. Crystal Palace 0-1 Everton.
Saturday 3pm: Leicester v Wolves
This isn’t going to be 3-3! Absoltely no chance. Wolves beat Chelsea and Leicester lost to Manchester City. I’ll go for a score draw which would suit Wolves rather more than Leicester. Unfortunately with Leicester they’re sinking like a stone. Leicester 1-1 Wolves.
Saturday 3pm: Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
Much has been made about Trent Alexander-Arnold playing in this inverted midfielder position which Oleksandr Zinchenko plays for Arsenal and John Stones for Manchester City. The clever thing with that is that he sees things that most others in that team, other than Thiago, don’t. Nottingham Forest can’t win away and they can’t score. Liverpool 3-0 Nottingham Forest.
Sunday 2pm: Bournemouth v West Ham
I’m going to go for West Ham to win. They’re starting to put a decent run together and I know they play on Thursday night. The thing with Bournemouth is that they’ve had some fab results but they just tend to slip up. You know with David Moyes, like he did last week against Arsenal, it’s just make sure you’re not beaten, that’s the first thing. Bournemouth 1-2 West Ham.
Sunday 2pm: Newcastle v Tottenham
TV: Sky Sports
Newcastle disappeared last week which is most unusual for them because even when they don’t play well they’re usually really difficult to beat. Tottenham did what Tottenham do. Spursy as we all know them. I’m going to go for Newcastle to win. Obviously it’s a big game for both team but I just don’t know what happens with Tottenham from one week to the next, I really don’t. Newcastle 2-1 Tottenham.
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 £/€150 up for grabs this week as Lawro just edged out Paddy punter Paul to make it back-to-back wins. Next up, having a crack at our handsome prize pot, is David the Hearts fan from Port Seton and here’s his picks…
Arsenal 4-1 Southampton
Fulham 2-2 Leeds
Brentford 1-1 Aston Villa
Crystal Palace 2-0 Everton
Leicester 1-2 Wolves
Liverpool 5-1 Nottingham Forest
Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham
Newcastle 2-1 Tottenham
RESULTS
It’s a narrow win for our punter David on a tricky punting weekend.
Arsenal’s draw against Southampton stung both Lawro and David but our punter recovered better and predicted the correct score (1-1) in Brentford v Aston Villa.
Lawro predicted the right result in Liverpool v Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth v West Ham and Newcastle v Tottenham.
David did the same in the Liverpool and Newcastle games and it was his correct score in the Brentford match that proved the difference.
The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com right now
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