Sunderland v Newcastle (1200 BST) Both teams had good results last week, in different circumstances. Sunderland looked dead and buried in the first half at Anfield before improving to earn a point but, when you make a lot of signings like they have done, you are always going to take a while to bed in. Newcastle's draw with Arsenal was overshadowed by what Joey Barton got up to - now there's a shock. What is daft about all the attention Barton gets himself is that underneath all that he is a good footballer, and I wish he would concentrate on that. I am going to go for another draw here too. You would expect plenty of passion and tackling in a Tyne-Wear derby, but I think they might cancel each other out. Prediction: 1-1 Arsenal v Liverpool (1245 BST) Like Newcastle versus Sunderland, this is another fixture that you don't expect to see so early in the season. It is a massive game but I don't think the fans have had much time to build up to it. Arsenal have been shorn of two of their outstanding players after losing Cesc Fabregas and, by the looks of things, Samir Nasri sooner rather than later too. They are also without Alex Song and Gervinho because of suspension and have got a couple of injury concerns too. But Liverpool might also be licking their wounds a little bit after following such a bright first half against Sunderland with a very average second one. If you offered Reds boss Kenny Dalglish a draw at the Emirates now, he would probably take it. Yes, you can say it is a good time to play Arsenal because of their problems but you could argue the same about Liverpool while their new players settle in and get their fitness sorted out. Prediction: 1-1 Aston Villa v Blackburn Villa did well to get a draw at Fulham on the opening day of the season, and it was not a big surprise that Shay Given helped them do it with a couple of great saves. He looks a very good signing. I can see them building on that with a win here, which might bring a bit of relief for Alex McLeish in his first home game as Villa boss. He might not have been a popular appointment with the fans but I cannot see it taking him long to win them over. For me, Blackburn need a couple of new players, especially a centre-back. Another defeat here after they lost at home to Wolves might increase the pressure on Steve Kean but it is the board who should be asked a few questions, not him. Prediction: 2-0 Everton v QPR The good news for QPR is that the Tony Fernandes takeover is happening. Rangers manager Neil Warnock is two or three players short at the moment, and he might now get the funds to bring them in. Warnock's side were given a real welcome to the top division by Bolton last week and I cannot see them getting anything at Everton either. The QPR players might be thinking their trips to Manchester United and Chelsea will be tough but they should realise they will get a real examination at Goodison Park too. Everton have had a long time to prepare for this game after their opener against Tottenham was postponed. True, they have not signed any players but we should remember they are already a good side. They could do with a new striker, for example, but they are not playing Chelsea here, they are playing QPR. They will have plenty of chances so scoring goals will not be a problem. Prediction: 2-0 Swansea v Wigan Roberto Martinez might get a bit of stick coming back to Swansea, after leaving them to take charge of the Latics in 2009, but that is unfair. He started the revolution at the Liberty Stadium, and that should be recognised. This should be a cracking game, though, because both teams play some good football. I saw Swansea against Manchester City on Monday, and they passed it around very well. They had no cutting edge in that game, of course, but I think it might be a different story on their own patch, especially because this is their first home game back in the top flight and you would expect a fantastic atmosphere. A few Swansea players were there under Martinez so they will have a point to prove, which will make a difference, and I also think Wigan remain suspect defensively. Prediction: 2-1 Chelsea v WBA (1730 BST) I think Chelsea's draw at Stoke was a decent result in Andre Villas-Boas's first Premier League game in charge but what was more interesting was watching Fernando Torres. Torres looked very sharp, and once he gets a goal he might just get a bundle of them. He will probably start this game and might give West Brom a few problems. The Baggies looked OK against Manchester United, although they were cut open far too easily in the first half which will not have impressed their manager Roy Hodgson. Their defence might have another busy afternoon, and I would not bet against Torres getting on the scoresheet this time. Prediction: 2-0 SUNDAY Norwich v Stoke (1330 BST) Like Swansea, this is Norwich's first home game of the season, which will be a huge incentive for them to try to win it in front of a packed house. They made a bright enough start against Wigan last week so the euphoria you get at newly-promoted sides will still be a factor. Stoke have played a few games already because of their involvement in the Europa League and they are in Switzerland on Thursday night. It is only the first week of the season but it is already a demanding schedule and a big ask for their players to adapt to it. Prediction: 2-1 Wolves v Fulham (1400 BST) Wolves started the season with a win at Blackburn and they seem a completely different animal than they were last season, with far more belief. I thought Roger Johnson was an excellent signing to make them more solid at the back, and the rest of the squad have come to terms with the demands of the top flight. They have some talented players but with the fighting spirit of their manager Mick McCarthy. Fulham are another team that have been in action in the Europa League for a while now - their season began in June. They made a few chances in their draw with Aston Villa last weekend, but not loads of them. I would expect them to be more attacking on the road under Martin Jol than they were when Mark Hughes was in charge but it is early days, and we will have to wait and see. Prediction: 2-1 Bolton v Man City (1600 BST) Both these sides started with 4-0 wins over newly-promoted sides but this is going to be a very different game. Bolton thrashed QPR but they were facing a Premier League team who played like they were still a Championship team. Rangers gave them loads of chances, but Manchester City will not give them many. Whether or not Sergio Aguero starts the game will tell us a lot about City boss Roberto Mancini. I was at the Etihad Stadium to see Aguero destroy Swansea, and Mancini said afterwards that he still needs to get to know his team-mates and is not fully fit. But the only way to fix both those problems is by playing him, and he surely cannot leave him on the bench again after his performance on his debut. Aguero was outstanding - and when he came on, the other players suddenly came to life. As a player, you know when someone is pure class and that was the reaction you saw in his team-mates. We will have to wait and see what Mancini does with his formation in the future, because with Carlos Tevez still at the club and Samir Nasri seemingly on his way, there are a lot of players to fit in. Mancini may well stick with his tried and trusted formula of two defensive midfielders sat into his back four, but City will have so many different people in front of them who can change games, and they might just have a little bit too much about them for Bolton. Prediction: 1-2 MONDAY Man Utd v Tottenham (2000 BST) United might be starting the season with some very big home games, following the visit of Spurs with Arsenal and Chelsea, but for them it will just be another game. That is part of the reason they are so good. They already look lively. In their win over West Brom, we saw more of what we knew about United from their performance against Manchester City in the Community Shield, that is there are question marks over their young keeper David De Gea but Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young have already clicked together and Tom Cleverley looks like he has been playing in their midfield for years. Tottenham have had to wait to start their season but there is still uncertainty over Luka Modric's future and the other question is whether Emmanuel Adebayor will be arriving from Manchester City, and who will make way for him up front if he does. No doubt Spurs will go to Old Trafford and give it a go, but I cannot see them having any joy this time. Prediction: 2-1 How the Premier League table would look like if Lawro's 2011-12 predictions were correct... Lawro's 2011-12 Predictions
Mark Lawrenson what an idiot! He couldn't predict the killer in a colombo episode! Here he is just before Norwich go on a two-season long run that secures back-to-back promotions to the Premier League. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufZRA5gyXhQ
Quite standard Lawro predictions really. Predict Man Utd to win. Check. Predict the 'big 6' to win unless playing each other, then predict a draw OR if playing Man Utd predict a loss by one goal. Check. If there is a derby match predict a draw to avoid annoying either set of fans. Check. For the remaining matches predict the higher placed team to win. Check. Have a team near the bottom win a game to give the illusion he actually thinks about his predictions. Check.
