EPL: Mark Lawrenson predicts scorelines for Arsenal vs Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool games
Mark Lawrenson, a former Liverpool player, has predicted the scorelines of some of the Premier League games that will be played this weekend.
Leicester City will host Manchester United on Saturday evening at King Power Stadium, while Chelsea will face Brentford in an away Premier League tie.
Arsenal will host Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on Monday night, Liverpool will tackle Watford on Saturday afternoon, and Manchester City will face Burnley at Etihad Stadium.
Providing his predictions, Lawrenson told BBC Sport, “This game is mainly going to be about whether Liverpool can break Watford down, anyhow. I think Ranieri will try to make them very difficult to beat, rather than to think too much about how to start with a win.
“Ranieri has promised to take the Watford players out for dinner if they keep a clean sheet, rather than just buying them a pizza like he once said he would do with Leicester, but I think he’ll get to keep his wallet in his pocket at the weekend. Watford 0, Liverpool 2.”
Commenting on the Leicester vs Man Utd match, Lawrenson said, “Manchester United are without their two first-choice centre-backs, Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire, but it’s hardly a crisis because they’ve got Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly to come in instead.
“With [Jamie] Vardy in form, the Foxes always have a chance in games, and I think they will get something here. Leicester 1, Man Utd 1.”
Speaking on the Brentford vs Chelsea fixture, Lawrenson said, “This is the first time these two west London clubs have met in the league since 1947, so Brentford’s ground will be rocking again for this one, but I just fancy Chelsea to silence them on Saturday. Brentford 0, Chelsea 2.”
On the Arsenal vs Palace game, Lawrenson said, “This is a big moment for Vieira, who’s taking his new team back to his old club. He’ll get a great reception, but Arsenal are on a roll and I think they’ll create enough chances to win this one quite comfortably. Arsenal 2, Palace 0.”
