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Mark Lawrenson's Premier League Predictions for Matchday 25

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by THFC6061, Feb 9, 2012.

  1. THFC6061

    THFC6061 Well-Known Member

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    All kick-offs 1500 GMT unless stated

    SATURDAY

    Man Utd v Liverpool (1245 GMT)


    Liverpool are on a good run and have seen off both Manchester teams in the cup competitions in recent weeks. Now they need to decide how to go about this game in terms of trying to attack Manchester United.

    United do concede goals, and there is a bit of a weakness at the back - as we saw at the weekend in their 3-3 draw with Chelsea - but Liverpool are never going to be gung ho about taking advantage of it.

    I wouldn't be surprised if Kenny Dalglish starts with Luis Suarez as his lone striker up front, with the likes of Craig Bellamy supporting him, and Liverpool's approach will probably be to sit back with five across the middle when they haven't got the ball and then break forward when they do have it.

    With the likes of Suarez and Bellamy in their team, that can work for them.

    United have to be very careful. They are probably going to have more of the ball but they have to watch they don't get caught on the counter-attack.

    Prediction: 1-1



    Blackburn v QPR


    This is a return to familiar ground for QPR boss Mark Hughes, who did well at Blackburn during his time in charge there.

    Chris Samba was left out of Rovers' 7-1 defeat by Arsenal, despite again saying he was available. I think Blackburn boss Steve Kean has made his point now, after Samba had said he wanted to leave. I'd definitely be playing him this weekend, especially with Bobby Zamora up front for QPR.

    The focus for Blackburn has to be on winning games, especially after that drubbing at the Emirates Stadium. They are without Gael Givet after his red card against the Gunners, which is another reason why Samba has to play here. If he does, I think Blackburn will get a big performance out of him, and I think they will get a win.

    QPR looked in decent shape against Wolves last weekend until Djibril Cisse's needless red card, and his absence because of his moment of madness is another reason why I am going for a Rovers win here.

    Cisse provides them with a cutting edge because of his pace, and his ability to run in behind defenders. If he was playing, it might be a completely different story at Ewood Park because he really does give you the ability to stretch defences. Zamora is a good striker, who holds the ball up really well, but he doesn't run in behind people.

    Prediction: 2-1



    Bolton v Wigan


    Bolton went to the DW Stadium in October and got a 3-1 win that lifted them off the bottom of the table, and I have the feeling they will get a similar result at the Reebok Stadium too.

    Wanderers still have quite a few problems, of which scoring goals is their biggest. They didn't really show any fight in last week's defeat by Norwich which I thought was really strange for a team in their position.

    I said before they drew with Everton on Saturday that Wigan have to win more than 50% of their games to stay up, and that is not realistically going to happen. I think they will cause Bolton a few problems but, ultimately, Wanderers have got a bit more about them than the Latics.

    From Bolton's point of view, they can leave Wigan down among the dead men with a win, and start to look up the table. They need to try close the gap on the teams like West Brom and Fulham who are hovering just above the relegation dogfight.

    Prediction: 2-0



    Everton v Chelsea


    Everton have had a good run and had a very good start to 2012 in general. David Moyes used his initiative and invention in the transfer market in January and they look much stronger than they did a couple of months or so ago.

    Chelsea were good in parts during their 3-3 draw with Manchester United on Sunday, but awful in others. To be 3-0 up and not be able to protect that lead was a very strange display, even against a United side renowned for their fightbacks.

    I think this game will be a lot tighter, but I cannot see Andres Villa-Boas and his side leaving Goodison Park with a win.

    We know the Blues are a work in progress at the moment but unfortunately, as far as their owner Roman Abramovich is concerned, I think the progress is a little bit slow.

    Chelsea are back in Champions League action later this month in the last 16 against a dangerous Napoli side, who play a 3-4-3 formation that suits the pace in their side really well.

    If they go out of Europe, there will be more pressure on Villas-Boas but I think, in terms of his future at Stamford Bridge, making sure they qualify for the Champions League next year is his priority at the moment.

    Prediction: 1-1



    Fulham v Stoke


    Fulham didn't really turn up at the Etihad Stadium last Saturday evening and Manchester City saw them off far too easily in the snow. As we know, however, the Cottagers are a different proposition at home.

    Stoke are not particularly great on the road but I do worry about where Fulham's goals are going to come from and I think the Potters might just nick the points here. I don't think it will be a game for the purists, either.

    Prediction: 0-1



    Sunderland v Arsenal


    Like Harry Redknapp at Tottenham, managing men is something that Martin O'Neill is very good at. His fabulous run as Sunderland boss continued last week with wins at Stoke and then Middlesbrough in the FA Cup, and what a fantastic run it is.

    Players that wouldn't have been close to featuring under Steve Bruce are now suddenly playing for the Black Cats, who are looking as if they are Europe-bound.

    But I think they might run into a brick wall in the shape of Arsenal. I really like the Gunners' forward players and the emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has energised them all of a sudden.

    I don't often get excited by young players but I think this boy is going to be a real star.

    Oxlade-Chamberlain can play anywhere across the front three and he's got an extremely mature football brain for such a young guy, because he understands how to come in from wide areas to join attacks, and he can definitely score goals too. A lot of that will have come from his dad, former England international Mark Chamberlain, down the years and it is all very impressive.

    Arsenal resume their Champions League campaign against AC Milan on Wednesday, which is another tricky tie but you would not want to play them when they are on their game - the front three of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and of course Robin van Persie can tear you up and beat you up because of their pace.

    It's at the back that they have their problems but, thoughout their team, they are more than capable of keeping hold of the ball, which is the best form of defending I've ever known.

    Prediction: 1-2



    Swansea v Norwich


    These are two promoted teams who are doing very nicely indeed in their first season in the top flight.

    Swansea got a great win at West Brom last week and Norwich were too strong for Bolton, so they both come into this game full of confidence. Both of them are also able to bounce back from a defeat as well, which is probably why they are both in the top half of the table - they don't dwell on any setbacks.

    They are both extremely well-coached, and both extremely well-managed and, by the looks of things, they are going to be in the Premier League for a while. I think they will both pick up a point on Saturday too.

    Prediction: 2-2



    Tottenham v Newcastle (1730 GMT)


    Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp will be in a bubbly mood. He walked free from court this week after being found not guilty of tax evasion and he is being talked about as the next England manager after Fabio Capello's resignation.

    Will speculation about losing Redknapp put Tottenham off their stride? No. They have got some outstanding players, who will just keep going between now and the rest of the season. They would have done that anyway, but they might even put extra effort in now in order to try to persuade their manager to stay.

    As I've said, I dont see a reason why Redknapp couldn't do both jobs, though. Being England manager is not a full-time occupation as far as I'm concerned.

    This should be a cracking game because, with their front line, Newcastle are a test for any team. Demba Ba is back and Papiss Demba Cisse marked his Premier League debut with that wonder goal against Aston Villa.

    The Magpies are still missing a few players of course, and it will be interesting to see how many chances they manage to fashion here.

    But it is obvious there is belief and spirit in their squad and they are extremely well coached. I look at teams when they don't have the ball and when they are under pressure to see how they are set up, and Newcastle's organisation is exceptional.

    Prediction: 2-0



    Here are all 250 of Mark Lawrenson's 2011-12 Premier League predictions, together with how the League Table would look like based on his forecasts...

    Lawro's 2011-12 Predictions
     
    #1
  2. THFC6061

    THFC6061 Well-Known Member

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    SUNDAY

    Wolves v West Brom (1330 GMT)


    This is an interesting one - Wolves had a good result last week at long last when they beat QPR, while West Brom seem to pick up the majority of their points on the road.

    Wolves had to wait a long time to return to winning ways in the Premier League and maybe the ball will start to run for them a little bit now. They have had some bad news that Emmanuel Frimpong is out for so long with a knee ligament injury but I think having Kevin Doyle back scoring goals is very important for their survival.

    The thing with Wolves boss Mick Mcarthy last week was that he gambled. When he made his substitution to bring Doyle on at half-time against QPR, it was an attacking change and it gave them more of a cutting edge. Maybe he will be thinking about doing that more often now.

    It is going to be Wolves' home form that keeps them up and this is definitely a home game they would look at as a must-win.

    Prediction: 2-0



    Aston Villa v Man City (1600 GMT)


    I was quite impressed with Villa in their 2-1 defeat by Newcastle last weekend - I thought they should have got something from the game.

    Robbie Keane is proving pretty elusive to pick up in that deeper forward role they use him in, behind Darren Bent.

    Keane is enjoying his football and I wouldn't be surprised if he is ruing his decision to go back to Los Angeles Galaxy at the end of the month because he has convinced himself and everybody else over the last few weeks that he is good enough to play in the Premier League for another 18 months, especially in that position.

    Bent has started scoring again too, but I just fancy Manchester City here. They should be too strong for Villa in every department and, with Yaya and Kolo Toure both back soon from the Africa Cup of Nations, we might just see them kick on now after a difficult few weeks.

    Speaking of players returning, I'm still convinced there is a part to play for Carlos Tevez for City between now and the end of the season. He has been registered as a player again, so it's a possibility.

    Prediction: 1-2



    Here are all 250 of Mark Lawrenson's 2011-12 Premier League predictions, together with how the League Table would look like based on his forecasts...

    Lawro's 2011-12 Predictions
     
    #2
  3. Nazara

    Nazara Active Member

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    Lawro playing it safe as usual with a 1-1 Manc Scouse draw. <ok>
     
    #3
  4. Sanj

    Sanj Well-Known Member

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    Or being a biased twat.
     
    #4
  5. YeOldeYozzwolde

    YeOldeYozzwolde Active Member

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    Oh, i do hope united beat the wheel pinchers,would be nice if Villa hold their own against city.
    Couldn't give a **** about the others. <ok>
     
    #5
  6. THFC6061

    THFC6061 Well-Known Member

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    Lawro's points predictions for the season so far...

    please log in to view this image
     
    #6

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