Premier League Predictions- Week Five

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 1/2 January, the predictions below stand.

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

I expect the big winners this weekend to be Chelsea. Their 1-0 win against Bolton might just be the result they were looking for to raise the optimism around Stamford Bridge. The Champions have been struggling of late under Carlo Ancelotti and have dropped off the pace in the Premier League after not winning any of their 6 games previous to Wednesday's win.



Chelsea have been slipping down the Premier League, but John Terry will be looking to record some clean sheets heading into the new year.

Credit; here

You could see the relief when Florent Malouda scored the winner and it's clear that they aren't playing the flowing football we saw at the start of the season, but they're returning to their best line-up now, with Michael Essien, Frank Lampard and Nicolas Anelka now free of injury.

If they are to challenge for the title, they can't slip up at home to the likes of Sunderland and they usually do well against Aston Villa, beating them 7-1 at home last season after a 2-1 loss at Villa Park.

Perhaps the game might be another chance for Ramires to kick-start his career in English football. The Brazilian is yet to score for the side who sit 4th in the league, but will fancy his chances against a Villa side who are struggling to turn up to games at the moment.






Ramires has yet to find his feet in the Premier League.

Credit; here

I constantly predict Blackpool to lose on here and I love it when they surprise me with a result like their 2-0 away win against Sunderland.

It would be hard to suggest the Seasiders would come away from Eastlands with as good a result, after City beat Aston Villa 4-0 on Tuesday, but miracles do happen.

Mario Balotelli was the star on that occasion, scoring his first hat-trick in English football, but Roberto Mancini made changes which included Adam Johnson and Patrick Vieira coming in.

There is no guarentee that the fiesty Italian striker will start with Carlos Tevez all ready to be unleashed upon some unfortunate defence.





Carlos Tevez has 12 league goals this season but might not start against Blackpool after Mario Balotelli's showing against Villa.

At the other end, it seems crucial that Fulham and Wolves can start picking up results after their recent slides and, while I can't see Fulham having enough against Tottenham, Wolves' visit to West Ham is a vital game in both their seasons.

West Ham manager Avram Grant has yet to win over David's Gold and Sullivan and, after only one win in their crucial last three games, the pressure might not be fully off his shoulders.

Equally, Mick McCarthy's side might have beaten Liverpool in midweek, but they are average at the minute and this promises to be a dog scrap of the highest order at Upton Park.

One man who will be keen to shine is Carlton Cole, who has returned to form after a lacklustre year.





Carlton Cole has scored only 3 league goals this season but has improved in form of late.

He should be partnered by Frederic Piquionne or Victor Obinna as the Hammers look to climb out of the relegation zone, as do the Midlanders, who will be buoyed from midweek.

Good luck to everyone's teams this weekend.