Premier League Predictions- Week Eight

Credit; here

Each week, I will now post my predictions for the weekend, and see if i can get more right than BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson.

This week, for the 22-24 January, the predictions below stand.

This week's predictions	Score	Lawro	Edward
Arsenal v Wigan	3-0	3-0	2-0
Aston Villa v Man City	1-0	1-1	1-3
Blackburn v West Brom	2-0	2-1	2-0
Blackpool v Sunderland	1-2	2-1	1-0
Bolton v Chelsea	0-4	1-1	1-2
Everton v West Ham	2-2	2-0	2-1
Fulham v Stoke	2-0	2-1	1-1
Man Utd v Birmingham	5-0	2-0	3-0
Newcastle v Tottenham	1-1	2-1	1-3
Wolves v Liverpool	0-3	1-1	0-2

Last weekend had huge amounts of potential but failed to entertain so much,especially on Sunday, with Wolves almost the fightback of the year against Manchester City.

I expect the big winners this weekend to be Manchester United. The Champions couldn't score against Spurs last weekend and have gone off the boil in front of goal.



Wayne Rooney has only scored twice in the league this season and had 15 at this point 12 months ago.

Credit; here

Despite having Rafael suspended, I think it could be an opportunity for Wayne Rooney to finally make his mark on this season.

With their game in hand against Blackpool looming on Tuesday night, now would be the ideal time for the Champions to step up the pace and stamp their authority on the league.

The other big winners, not on the scoreline, but for the result, might well be Blackpool, who face a Sunderland team which might still be shocked by the departure of top scorer Darren Bent to Aston Villa.

There have been links with Steve Bruce wanting Ricardo Fuller to replace the England striker, but nothing will happen before he prepares his side to play at Bloomfield Road tomorrow.

Blackpool love to attack, particularly at home, and could move 9 points away from the drop zone with a win, not a bad position to be in with 15 games left.

Crazy things can happen in the Premier League and a Sunderland win might take them 5th, but Charlie Adam and company have been scoring plenty of goals to suggest they might get something from the game.

DJ Campbell scored both goals as Blackpool beat Sunderland 2-0 on New Years Day at the Stadium of Light.

Credit; here

Not only that, but two goals from DJ Campbell sealed a Blackpool win in the Reverse fixture three weeks ago and they will be looking for the striker to link well with Luke Varney and Gary Taylor Fletcher, who has scored in each his last two starts.

The most entertaining game of the weekend could well be the Monday night football, with Chelsea travelling to Bolton Wanderers, who will be using the game as a celebration for the life of Nat Lofthouse and all he did for the club.






Nat Lofthouse was a club legend at Bolton Wanderers and his legacy will be remembered at the club forever.




Credit; here

It will be interesting to see whether the emotion gets to any of the players, who might not have been directly involved with Nat, but will be well aware of the effect he had on the club.

Bolton's home record has been good, with their last defeat coming in October, courtesy of a the last minute goal by Liverpool's Maxi Rodriguez.

Despite this, Wanderers have an awful record against Chelsea, with their last home win coming in 1997, when Dean Holdsworth scored in a 1-0 win.

Wanderers haven's scored in their last four against Carlo Ancelotti's side, and were twice beaten 4-0 last season, Didier Drogba scoring on both occasions.






Drogba has scored 4 in his last 5 starts against Bolton and has never lost against the Whites.

Credit; here

In other games, you wonder exactly how long Avram Grant has, especially if his West Ham side are to lose at Goodison Park against an improving Everton, while Newcastle v Tottenham could go either way, a bit like their bid to move into the Olympic Stadium.

Good luck to everyone's teams this weekend.