EASTER MONDAY Everton v Sunderland No doubt all the buzz around Goodison Park is centred around next Saturday's FA Cup semi-final with Liverpool at Wembley. But Everton have a job to do before they think about reaching the FA Cup final for the second time in three years. Sunderland might be sitting comfortably in mid-table but not for one second do I think Martin O'Neill will allow his players to relax until the season is over. There are players playing for their futures while O'Neill will be determined to avenge the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Everton last month. I agree David Moyes, with one eye on the weekend, faces something of a selection dilemma but I doubt the Everton manager will make wholesale changes. Anyway Steven Pienaar is cup-tied so he will definitely be involved in this one. Prediction: 2-1 Newcastle v Bolton It's not long ago that everyone was banging on about giving Manager of the Year to Brendan Rodgers. I agree the Swansea manager has done a magnificent job but Alan Pardew's efforts at Newcastle have been just as impressive, if not more, in my eyes. Pardew has been playing down the prospect of qualifying for the Champions League, probably to protect his own players from pressure. But I can't see their winning run ending against a Bolton team who were disappointing in the 3-0 home defeat to Fulham on Saturday. This is a tough place for Owen Coyle's side to have to bounce back. And I really can't see them doing it. Prediction: 2-0 Tottenham v Norwich Norwich have not got the headlines that Swansea have this season but they have done just as well. I have been extremely impressed with the job Paul Lambert has done at Carrow Road but his team have just started to show signs that they could be running out of steam. There's no doubt they have exceeded everyone's expectations but one win in seven games suggests they cannot wait for the finishing line, and I can't see them getting any joy at White Hart Lane. Some Tottenham supporters will have been disappointed with the goalless draw at Sunderland on Saturday, but I thought it was a decent result. Sunderland sat in to frustrate Harry Redknapp's side but I can't see Norwich doing that. And Tottenham will be eager to ensure they finish third ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea. Prediction: 3-0 Aston Villa v Stoke (1730 BST) What a result for Aston Villa at Liverpool on Saturday but all that hard work will go to waste unless they secure three points against a Stoke side that has not won away from home for almost four months. I was particularly impressed with the performances of James Collins and Shay Given at Anfield and that point will have given the dressing room a huge lift. Villa's next game after this is Manchester United away - and they won't get anything from that. That's why it is so important they overcome a Stoke side that huffed and puffed their way to victory over a doomed Wolves team on Saturday. Villa's key to success in this fixture is overcoming the physical threat of their opponents - something I fully expect them to do. Prediction: 2-1 Fulham v Chelsea (2000 BST) Fortunate, lucky. Chelsea were both these in overcoming Wigan in a highly controversial game at Stamford Bridge. But not for one moment do I believe that Roberto di Matteo's players were guilty of having the forthcoming Champions League semi-final with Barcelona on their minds. Di Matteo made seven changes and, with an FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham at the weekend, I expect him to make more for the game at Craven Cottage. This has all the makings for a cracking match. Fulham are no pushovers and are buoyed by a tremendous result at Bolton while Chelsea are in the middle of a gruelling run of games. Whether Chelsea overcome their neighbours could depend on whether Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, both injured against Wigan, return but I'm expecting a tight game. Prediction: 1-1 TUESDAY Blackburn v Liverpool (2000 BST) The result might not suggest so but, having witnessed Liverpool's draw against Aston Villa, I believe Kenny Dalglish's side may have turned the corner. They were very good in spells and it looks as though Daniel Agger will be back to compliment Martin Skrtel at the back, while Glen Johnson is not a million miles away from returning after injury. This was the fixture that saw off Roy Hodgson last season. And although I expect Blackburn to give Liverpool as hard a test as they gave Manchester United last week, I believe Liverpool have enough quality to get a result at Ewood Park ahead of next week's FA Cup semi-final with Everton. Blackburn rolled over a bit against West Brom and Steve Kean will be demanding an immediate reaction from his players. I'm sure the Blackburn manager would have wanted to play this game on Wednesday so he could spend more time on the training ground with his side. Prediction: 1-1 WEDNESDAY Man City v West Brom (1945 BST) Manchester City are battling to keep their title challenge alive. They ought to overcome a West Brom side sitting safely in mid-table without too many problems but I can't help thinking that it will make little difference to the race for the Premier League. Roberto Mancini has been let down by the likes of Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli - players he thought he could trust. Balotelli might have scored the goals to fuel City's challenge at the top but do you honestly think Sir Alex Ferguson would have tolerated his behaviour across the road at Manchester United? Of course not. West Brom frustrated Manchester United for 35 minutes at Old Trafford recently. But it was comfortable for the hosts, who won 2-0, after that. I can see a similar outcome in this one. Prediction: 2-0 Wigan v Man Utd (1945 BST) Wigan have suffered from spankings at the hands of Manchester United recently. I don't see Wigan capitulating this time, particularly after their spirited performance at Chelsea on Saturday, but neither will Wigan stop the run of defeats they have suffered at the hands of their neighbours. Wigan manager Roberto Martinez faces a huge task lifting his players after the undeserved and controversial defeat at Stamford Bridge. But United are masters at going to places like Wigan, Bolton and Blackburn and carving out unspectacular yet priceless wins. For all their fine work against Chelsea, Wigan left themselves open and United will pick them off if they afford Sir Alex Ferguson's side as much space as they did Chelsea. United have a record 20th title in their grasp and they are not going to let it slip now. Prediction: 0-2 Wolves v Arsenal (1945 BST) Arsenal's recent defeat at QPR suggested they are still vulnerable to slipping up to relegation-threatened opposition. Not this time. They won't admit it but it is all over for Wolves and I think they are already preparing behind the scenes for life outside the Premier League. Arsenal still have plenty of hard work ahead to secure a top-four finish but if they mess up at Molineux then they don't deserve to play in next season's Champions League. Wolves cannot defend. Arsenal cannot stop scoring. That can only spell one outcome. Prediction: 0-2 QPR v Swansea (2000 BST) Enjoy it while you can QPR fans because while I expect them to overcome Swansea, I cannot see them staying up. Swansea have lost their last three games and are limping to the finishing line after a magnificent season in which they have been a joy to watch. QPR have enjoyed excellent result over Liverpool and Arsenal recently. They should win this one too if they can win the battle of the midfield. But I cannot help thinking that they have still left themselves too much to do. Djibril Cisse has also cost them dearly after getting himself a four-match ban. Prediction: 2-1 Here are all of Mark Lawrenson's 2011-12 Premier League predictions, together with how the League Table would look like if all of his forecasts were correct... Lawro's 2011-12 Predictions
