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arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Sunderland
Last weekend, Lawro got five correct results from 10 Premier League games, with one perfect score. His tally of eight points saw him defeat British world champion boxer Kell Brook, who got two correct results and managed one perfect score, for a total of five points.
Here is Lawro’s predictions for the week:
Burnley v Man Utd (12:45 BST)
Poor Manchester United. I think people are starting to understand the enormity of the task faced by former manager David Moyes when he got the job. Last season they thought, ‘if Moyes goes we’ll get this unbelievable manager and he’ll sort it out’. That’s not happened has it?
You can talk about not having great pace, players injured and a new system, but at the moment there are too many players at manager Louis van Gaal’s United who are just not performing. I’m sure they are hoping record signing Angel Di Maria can reinvigorate the side.
I was surprised with what I saw in the League Cup against MK Dons.
Van Gaal should have played a back three of players who might play at the weekend. It would have been good to give them a pressure game against lower league opposition.
I just thought they threw away a good chance. They should have played a stronger team – it was only their third game of the season, so the players wouldn’t have been tired.
Burnley have now lost three straight, following the defeat by Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup. They did, however, play well in the second half of last week’s 1-0 loss at Swansea.
A lot of big teams will go to Turf Moor and win, but United are full of mistakes at the moment which is why I’m going for the draw.
Lawro’s prediction: 1-1
Man City v Stoke
Stoke manager Mark Hughes going back to City adds to the fun, but they will be overrun by the team in blue.
Until City scored the first goal against Liverpool last Monday, it was quite even-stevens. However, the thing about Manuel Pellegrini’s side is that they, alongside Chelsea, can be under pressure for periods of the game and be able to deal with it.
They can call on players of the class of striker Sergio Aguero, who came on to score in the 3-1 win against Brendan Rodgers’ men, and winger Jesus Navas, who was involved in a goal.
City look very, very strong and appear ready for the season. To look ready for the season so early is a good sign for that team.
Last season’s signing Stevan Jovetic scored twice in that game. It’s taken him a while to settle in at the club, and he’s been injured. But anybody who saw him play for Fiorentina knows he was a good signing.
Lawro’s prediction: 2-0
Newcastle v Crystal Palace
Neil Warnock is the right manager at Palace at the right time. He will get the south London team to play in a not-too dissimilar way to how former boss Tony Pulis got the team to play.
He’s one of those managers that likes his players to get in the opposition’s faces. He’ll also manage within the demands of co-chairman Steve Parish and the board.
Warnock’s first match is away to Newcastle though.
Goals have been difficult to come by for the Magpies, but they got one in the League Cup win in midweek, and I think they’ll have too much class for Palace at St James’ Park.
Lawro’s prediction: 2-0
QPR v Sunderland
QPR have had a bad start. Manager Harry Redknapp’s team were woeful at Tottenham last week.
The biggest concern that day was that they didn’t put in the hard work. However, I’m going for a Hoops win. In that opening home match of the season against Hull, they created lots of chances and played quite well despite losing – that’s why I think they’ll edge it.
Sunderland, like QPR, might have a problem with getting goals this season. How many will Jozy Altidore, Steven Fletcher and Connor Wickham get this season?
Lawro’s prediction: 2-1
Swansea v West Brom
Some have said Swansea have been the surprise package so far, but that’s because they defeated United in the opening game.
You would have expected Garry Monk’s side to then go on and beat Burnley last week.
I’m sure the fans were happy to see new striker Bafetimbi Gomis score his first goal for the club in the League Cup. It should be some partnership with fellow forward Wilfried Bony alongside him.
At the moment, the Swans look like a middle-of-the-table side looking upwards. I think they’ll maintain their 100% record against Alan Irvine’s West Brom.
The Scot is still building his team and needs Nigeria forward Brown Ideye to open his account for them soon.
They are another one of these teams in the Premier League where you question where the goals are going to come from.
Lawro’s prediction: 2-1
West Ham v Southampton
The Hammers were pretty good during their 3-1 win at Crystal Palace last week.
There were moans after the opening league defeat against Tottenham, but I actually thought they were OK.
I think they look a better side without big target man Andy Carroll – they try to play a bit more. And both new forward signings, Mauro Zarate and Enner Valencia, are ball players.
However, I expect them to be held by a Southampton side who are better than the results show.
Manager Ronald Koeman bought some of his new signings after the club sold the likes of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Luke Shaw, but the new bodies will need time to adapt to the Premier League and the new system.
The Saints should be fine this season though.
Lawro’s prediction: 1-1
Everton v Chelsea
This will be the Blues’ biggest test of the season so far.
Jose Mourinho’s side turned it on against Burnley and then Leicester when they needed to. What I like about this current crop is that they are keeping the opposition at arm’s length, and with the players they have going forward, that is a fantastic recipe for success.
It is already apparent that Mourinho has tweaked the system because he does not have Frank Lampard – the rampaging midfielder who used to get him double figures per season.
But he and his coaching staff have obviously sat down and planned this new way of playing, which includes new star central midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
Everton will throw everything at their opponents, but I’m just worried about them at the back.
Central defender Sylvain Distin has been absolutely outstanding for them in recent times, but defensively they are starting to creek.
Lawro’s prediction: 1-2
Aston Villa v Hull (13:30 BST)
I know Villa didn’t have a shot on goal in the 0-0 draw against Newcastle last week and they lost to Leyton Orient in the League Cup this week, but they should be a little too good for Hull.
They look better in defence this year – with Philippe Senderos, Alan Hutton, Aly Cissokho and Ron Vlaar impressing against the Magpies.
At the other end, like many other teams, they are struggling to score, but as soon as Christian Benteke returns they’ll be fine.
Hull have just played in the Europa League – that ‘Thursday game-Sunday game’ thing is hard to do.
In attack, they’ve lost Robert Snodgrass to injury, failed to sign Jordan Rhodes and Shane Long has gone – I don’t think they’ll score against Villa.
Lawro’s prediction: 1-0
Tottenham v Liverpool (13:30 BST)
Liverpool have been OK so far.
They defeated Southampton, by not playing particularly well, then they became unhinged against Manchester City. Defensively, they are still finding their feet.
Apart from how the defence will cope, the other question is will new signing Mario Balotelli play up front?
There is a way of incorporating him in the team, which is with a ‘diamond’ formation. They played that system seven or eight times last season and they won seven times. The ‘diamond’ enables them to play two up front.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham were fortunate to win at West Ham and then thoroughly deserved to beat QPR last week.
Lots of teams will go to White Hart Lane and come away with nothing; Liverpool went there and spanked them 5-0 last season, but I don’t see that happening on Sunday.
Lawro’s prediction: 1-1
Leicester v Arsenal (16:00 BST)
What a start to the season for Leicester – Everton, Chelsea and now Arsenal.
Nigel Pearson’s Foxes – as we’ve seen this season – are very much a high energy team, with pace up front and wide players that get at you, early doors. They’ll have to wait a bit longer for their first win though.
Arsenal have been alright so far, but I reckon manager Arsene Wenger thinks, “we should be better than this”, having spent good money on the likes of attacking players Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, in the past two seasons.
What we have seen in fits and starts is the different players Wenger can choose to play through the middle and the pace they have on the counter-attack – and that’s without the injured Theo Walcott.
It should be another win for Arsenal.
Lawro’s prediction: 1-2