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Saturday, 14 October 2006
Arsenal v Watford, 15:00
Aston Villa v Tottenham, 15:00
Liverpool v Blackburn, 15:00
Man City v Sheff Utd, 15:00
Middlesbrough v Everton, 15:00
Portsmouth v West Ham, 15:00
Reading v Chelsea, 17:15
Wigan v Man Utd, 12:45
Sunday, 15 October 2006
Newcastle v Bolton, 16:00
Monday, 16 October 2006
Fulham v Charlton, 20:00
Lawrenson Predicts:
SATURDAY (All kick-offs 1500 BST unless specified)
Wigan v Man Utd (1245 BST)
Man Utd did pretty well against Wigan when they played last season and the Latics still have quite a few new faces trying to gel together.
United simply have to win games like this in order to keep up the pressure on Chelsea.
As for Wayne Rooney, I'd say he was arguably England's best outfield player against Croatia. The only way he'll get his form back is by playing and that's what he's got to do.
Match preview
Prediction: 1-2
Arsenal v Watford
Regardless of the fact that a lot of Arsenal players will have been away this week and not many Watford ones will have been, you have to go for the home team comfortably here.
Away from home it's been a real struggle for Watford and they know that any mistake they make will get punished.
Arsenal had a slowish start, but they've got very good players and the new ones are slotting into the team very nicely. Plus they've started winning at the Emirates Stadium, too.
Match preview
Prediction: 3-0
Aston Villa v Tottenham
This should be a draw, on the basis that Tottenham's results have got to start picking up now after a terrible start to the season.
But I'm only saying draw if Ledley King recovers from his knee injury in time to play. He's such a good player, he pulls the team together when he plays and if he doesn't recover I think Villa might win.
Villa have had some excellent results, especially their away results, picking up points at Arsenal and Chelsea and they are still unbeaten in the league.
Match preview
Prediction: 1-1
Liverpool v Blackburn
There will be a bit of feeling here. There's always a bit going on in this fixture, plus now there's Craig Bellamy's move to Liverpool and the Lucas Neill deal that did not happen in the summer.
I think Liverpool's home form has been very good and this is the sort of chance where it's okay to change things around a bit.
They've rightly been criticised for changing the team too often this season, but after international games it is a good thing to do, if some of them are jaded or have been travelling across Europe for a week.
Match preview
Prediction: 2-0
Manchester City v Sheffield United
Despite their last-gasp draw at Everton, City have still got their problems and I cannot see where their goals are coming from at the moment.
Sheffield United had that great win against Middlesbrough last time around and they will see this as a great chance to get their first away point of the campaign.
It'll have that kind of Lancashire-Yorkeshire derby atmosphere and I don't think the defences will be on top.
Match preview
Prediction: 2-2
Middlesbrough v Everton
There's no Jonathan Woodgate for Middlesbrough, he's already got injured and that is a major blow to them, though they are talking about Robert Huth playing.
I'm going to upset the applecart here and go for a Boro win, because Everton have had a good start and got good results, but they've got into the habit of drawing games and not killing teams off.
I feel it might be Boro's turn to win at home, which they desperately need to do. If they don't they really are in danger of getting sucked in at the bottom.
Match preview
Prediction: 2-1
Portsmouth v West Ham
When will West Ham's form change? That's the question. I don't think they are as bad as their position suggests, they played well against Reading but lost to a super goal.
Portsmouth are just hiccuping after a great start, losing their last two, but there will be lots of feeling in the game because Harry Redknapp is still seen as being such a West Ham man.
The takeover talk at West Ham will be affecting them. Having Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano in the dressing-room will have affected them too, not because of a personality clash, but just because they are there.
Match preview
Prediction: 1-1
Reading v Chelsea (1715 BST)
Reading have got pace in the side, they are well-organised and they are going extremely well, but this is a different animal they are taking on on Saturday in Chelsea.
This is a team that can come to your ground, not play well and win. The fact is that they are going to go to the majority of league grounds this season and win.
In saying that, Reading are sat on 13 points, which is a great start for them.
Match preview
Prediction: 0-2
SUNDAY
Newcastle v Bolton
Bolton are on a great run. They have moved up to third, they are not conceding any goals and they had a fantastic win over Liverpool last time around.
I feel with Newcastle that they are a long way away from being a consistent team, let alone a good one. You just never know what you are going to get with them.
I'll tip Bolton to produce another one of those Scrooge-like performances and continue their run, whereas Newcastle are just so unpredictable and when they are put under pressure they always look like conceding.
Match preview
Prediction: 1-2
MONDAY
Fulham v Charlton
This is a big, big game for Charlton manager Iain Dowie and there might be more problems after for him, though he is starting to get some of his players back fully fit.
It was always going to happen this season at Charlton after having the same manager for so long, but it underlines what a great job he did. If they stay up, I think they'll be quite happy.
Fulham had an amazing 3-3 result at Watford last time and they are sitting well at the moment, which is a surprise because I thought they would struggle this season.
Match preview
Prediction: 2-1
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I think Everton might scrape a draw at Boro.
Pompey I think will beat West Ham
And I think Aston Villa might fall short V Spurs - Spurs confidence is up now and if Berbatov is on form I think they may scrape this one.
Depends how Robbo does post-criticism
Arsenal v Watford, 15:00
Aston Villa v Tottenham, 15:00
Liverpool v Blackburn, 15:00
Man City v Sheff Utd, 15:00
Middlesbrough v Everton, 15:00
Portsmouth v West Ham, 15:00
Reading v Chelsea, 17:15
Wigan v Man Utd, 12:45
Sunday, 15 October 2006
Newcastle v Bolton, 16:00
Monday, 16 October 2006
Fulham v Charlton, 20:00
Lawrenson Predicts:
SATURDAY (All kick-offs 1500 BST unless specified)
Wigan v Man Utd (1245 BST)
Man Utd did pretty well against Wigan when they played last season and the Latics still have quite a few new faces trying to gel together.
United simply have to win games like this in order to keep up the pressure on Chelsea.
As for Wayne Rooney, I'd say he was arguably England's best outfield player against Croatia. The only way he'll get his form back is by playing and that's what he's got to do.
Match preview
Prediction: 1-2
Arsenal v Watford
Regardless of the fact that a lot of Arsenal players will have been away this week and not many Watford ones will have been, you have to go for the home team comfortably here.
Away from home it's been a real struggle for Watford and they know that any mistake they make will get punished.
Arsenal had a slowish start, but they've got very good players and the new ones are slotting into the team very nicely. Plus they've started winning at the Emirates Stadium, too.
Match preview
Prediction: 3-0
Aston Villa v Tottenham
This should be a draw, on the basis that Tottenham's results have got to start picking up now after a terrible start to the season.
But I'm only saying draw if Ledley King recovers from his knee injury in time to play. He's such a good player, he pulls the team together when he plays and if he doesn't recover I think Villa might win.
Villa have had some excellent results, especially their away results, picking up points at Arsenal and Chelsea and they are still unbeaten in the league.
Match preview
Prediction: 1-1
Liverpool v Blackburn
There will be a bit of feeling here. There's always a bit going on in this fixture, plus now there's Craig Bellamy's move to Liverpool and the Lucas Neill deal that did not happen in the summer.
I think Liverpool's home form has been very good and this is the sort of chance where it's okay to change things around a bit.
They've rightly been criticised for changing the team too often this season, but after international games it is a good thing to do, if some of them are jaded or have been travelling across Europe for a week.
Match preview
Prediction: 2-0
Manchester City v Sheffield United
Despite their last-gasp draw at Everton, City have still got their problems and I cannot see where their goals are coming from at the moment.
Sheffield United had that great win against Middlesbrough last time around and they will see this as a great chance to get their first away point of the campaign.
It'll have that kind of Lancashire-Yorkeshire derby atmosphere and I don't think the defences will be on top.
Match preview
Prediction: 2-2
Middlesbrough v Everton
There's no Jonathan Woodgate for Middlesbrough, he's already got injured and that is a major blow to them, though they are talking about Robert Huth playing.
I'm going to upset the applecart here and go for a Boro win, because Everton have had a good start and got good results, but they've got into the habit of drawing games and not killing teams off.
I feel it might be Boro's turn to win at home, which they desperately need to do. If they don't they really are in danger of getting sucked in at the bottom.
Match preview
Prediction: 2-1
Portsmouth v West Ham
When will West Ham's form change? That's the question. I don't think they are as bad as their position suggests, they played well against Reading but lost to a super goal.
Portsmouth are just hiccuping after a great start, losing their last two, but there will be lots of feeling in the game because Harry Redknapp is still seen as being such a West Ham man.
The takeover talk at West Ham will be affecting them. Having Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano in the dressing-room will have affected them too, not because of a personality clash, but just because they are there.
Match preview
Prediction: 1-1
Reading v Chelsea (1715 BST)
Reading have got pace in the side, they are well-organised and they are going extremely well, but this is a different animal they are taking on on Saturday in Chelsea.
This is a team that can come to your ground, not play well and win. The fact is that they are going to go to the majority of league grounds this season and win.
In saying that, Reading are sat on 13 points, which is a great start for them.
Match preview
Prediction: 0-2
SUNDAY
Newcastle v Bolton
Bolton are on a great run. They have moved up to third, they are not conceding any goals and they had a fantastic win over Liverpool last time around.
I feel with Newcastle that they are a long way away from being a consistent team, let alone a good one. You just never know what you are going to get with them.
I'll tip Bolton to produce another one of those Scrooge-like performances and continue their run, whereas Newcastle are just so unpredictable and when they are put under pressure they always look like conceding.
Match preview
Prediction: 1-2
MONDAY
Fulham v Charlton
This is a big, big game for Charlton manager Iain Dowie and there might be more problems after for him, though he is starting to get some of his players back fully fit.
It was always going to happen this season at Charlton after having the same manager for so long, but it underlines what a great job he did. If they stay up, I think they'll be quite happy.
Fulham had an amazing 3-3 result at Watford last time and they are sitting well at the moment, which is a surprise because I thought they would struggle this season.
Match preview
Prediction: 2-1
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I think Everton might scrape a draw at Boro.
Pompey I think will beat West Ham
And I think Aston Villa might fall short V Spurs - Spurs confidence is up now and if Berbatov is on form I think they may scrape this one.
Depends how Robbo does post-criticism
Need more pace. Finnan and Riise would work. 
