[EPL24R] Lawro's predictions

Lawro's predictions

By Mark Lawrenson  BBC Sport football expert HOW DID LAWRO DO LAST TIME? Lawro's predictions Sunderland 2-0 Fulham West Brom 0-2 Man Utd Portsmouth 1-1 Aston Villa Tottenham 2-1 Stoke Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough Man City 2-0 Newcastle Wigan 0-2 Liverpool Blackburn 1-0 Bolton Everton 0-0 Arsenal West Ham 2-2 Hull Actual results Sunderland 1-0 Fulham West Brom 0-5 Man Utd Portsmouth 0-1 Aston Villa Tottenham 3-1 Stoke Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough Man City 2-1 Newcastle Wigan 1-1 Liverpool Blackburn 2-2 Bolton Everton 1-1 Arsenal West Ham 2-0 Hull Lawro got SIX results right, with ONE perfect score. PREMIER LEAGUE PREDICTIONS (All kick-offs are 1500 GMT unless specified) SATURDAY Stoke v Man City (1245 GMT) Stoke have not won in nine league matches and are in a lot of trouble. I don't think this is match when they'll turn their fortunes around. City might start to go on a little bit of a run now. New players are still coming in, which will give them an extra boost. Not many have won at the Britannia, but I'm going for an away win. Verdict: 0-2 Match preview Arsenal v West Ham In October, I thought West Ham were about to implode. Alan Curbishley had left by this point and new boss Gianfranco Zola saw his new team lose four games during the month. But since then, Zola has turned things around and they're getting results by playing football. Arsenal are on a great unbeaten run. They drew against a tough Everton side, but scored late again in a match which shows that they are fit enough. Verdict: 2-0 Match preview Aston Villa v Wigan Villa go from strength to strength. The introduction of striker Emile Heskey has given them another dimension. Heskey will also have been boosted by having scored on his debut and it is likely he will face his old club. Wigan got a good scrapping point against Liverpool, during what has been a good season for them, but I think this will be a home win. Verdict: 2-1 Match preview Bolton v Tottenham Bolton's inability to close the game at 2-0 against neighbours Blackburn doesn't bode well for the visit of Tottenham. Spurs are generally not great on the road, but you just think that with Harry Redknapp in charge and the confidence the team will have gained from their win against Stoke, the Londoners will get at least a point. Verdict: 1-1 Match preview Fulham v Portsmouth There were defeats for both sides the other night, although Fulham have not played a game at home in four matches. Pompey were unlucky against Villa because they played good football. The problem is that they don't look like they have anyone to score their goals. Peter Crouch up front on his own just doesn't work. Verdict: 2-1 Match preview Hull v West Brom It has been a long time since Hull have won and they are in freefall, but this is a game that manager Phil Brown will want. They also have three home league fixtures in the next four and I think they'll pick up points from those. West Brom have all sorts of injuries and suspensions and they're coming into the match on the back of a 5-0 defeat. It will be a scrappy win for Hull but it will feel like winning the FA Cup. Verdict: 1-0 Match preview Middlesbrough v Blackburn Boro weren't bad for an hour at Chelsea. Then, in a team that's generally good defensively, they made two stupid mistakes from set-pieces. Blackburn, under Sam Allardyce, have been difficult to beat. They have the belief they can bounce back from whatever tough situation they face. An example of this was when they fought back from 2-0 down the another night. However, I don't think people will be flying across the Atlantic for a football spectacle. Verdict: 1-1 Match preview Man Utd v Everton (1730 GMT) Everton have been nothing short of outstanding lately. They've had a run of fixtures which, including next Wednesday, will have seen them play three of the top four in five games, which is incredible. But I'm going to go for a United win, handing Everton their first blank since the 3-2 home defeat to Villa in early December. Verdict: 2-0 Match preview SUNDAY Newcastle v Sunderland (1330 GMT) Sunderland will be fine this season - there's no doubt about that. They've got a bit of strength in depth, pace and quality up front. Newcastle are plummeting like a stone. Joey Barton and Michael Owen are out injured. The natives are getting restless at St James' Park because they're losing games and haven't brought many players in during the transfer window. Verdict: 1-1 Match preview Liverpool v Chelsea (1600 GMT) Since Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez had his kidney stones removed I think it has done something to him. All of a sudden it's back to cautious Rafa. We've seen Rafa react to Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, and he took Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres off during the late stages of the Wigan match. There have been some strange decisions made. Chelsea, if they avoid defeat, will be pleased with a draw, which I reckon is a nailed on result. Verdict: 1-1 Match preview Mark Lawrenson was talking to BBC Sport's Saj Chowdhury