Selectabet’s Picks v Lawro’s Predictions: Boxing Day

Football-know-it-all Mark Lawrenson continues to demonstrate his wonderful grasp of the beautiful game with yet another week of making a loss in the Lawro Challenge. He’s still propping up the table and he’s so bad at his weekly predictions that he probably couldn’t even forecast what date Christmas will be.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Challenge, each week I go head-to-head with Lawro to see who can guess the results and scores of all the Premier League matches. A virtual £10 stake is wagered on each match result and correct score – so far it’s so good for me.

Feel free to have go yourself in the comments below, like Jay who tops the table after a great run of predictions – well done mate

Here goes with my predictions for the fixtures this Boxing Day;

Stoke v Man Utd

United have triumphantly returned as World Champions after their short sojourn to the far east but they’ll be even more pleased that none of their title rivals manged to make any headway on them whilst they were away with Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all failing to win.

And so United must and should take full advantage by winning at the Britannia on Boxing Day. Stoke have had decent results against Liverpool and Arsenal so far but Sir Alex knows his team must win and I think they’ll be too strong for Tony Pulis’ men. This should be a comfortable away win.

Lawro’s Verdict: Man Utd 4/11 (Ladbrokes)

Lawro’s Score: Stoke 0 Man Utd 2 11/2 (Bet Direct, Stan James)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Man Utd 4/11 (Ladbrokes)

Selectabet’s Score: Stoke 0 Man Utd 3 8/1 (Blue Sq)

Chelsea v West Brom

Rumours of unrest at Stamford Bridge just won’t go away and with just two wins in their last eight home games this game can’t come quickly enough for the Blues.

A home game against bottom of the table West Brom may just be the type of game Big Phil’s side need to kickstart their season. JT will be missing at the back but Chelsea have outscored the Baggies by 22 goals in the league so far and should make that at least 23 after this one.

Lawro’s Verdict: Chelsea 1/5 (Ladbrokes)

Lawro’s Score: Chelsea 2 West Brom 0 11/2 (SkyBet, William Hill)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Chelsea 1/5 (Ladbrokes)

Selectabet’s Score: Chelsea 4 West Brom 0 10/1 (Blue Sq)

Portsmouth v West Ham

Both these sides are struggling for any kind of form but it’s Gianfranco Zola who is most desperate to pick up a win. The Hammers’ season is in danger of descending into a relegation dogfight if they don’t start to pick up wins soon.

But West Ham have never beaten Pompey in the Premiership and it’d be a big ask for them to pick up all 3 points in this one, however they’ve saved their best form for away games recently and I think they might be able to hold out for a draw. There hasn’t been many goals in the Hammers games of late and this could be 0-0.

Lawro’s Verdict: Portsmouth 6/5 (Bet365, VCBet)

Lawro’s Score: Portsmouth 2 West Ham 1 9/1 (William Hill)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Draw 12/5 (Blue Sq, Boylsports, SkyBet)

Selectabet’s Score: Portsmouth 0 West Ham 0 10/1 (Sportingbet)

Spurs v Fulham

Despite Fulham’s recent good form they’ve still to record an away win in the league this season an visit White Hart Lane where they’ve only won once in the Premier League since it began. Fulham don’t do well on Boxing day and Spurs thumped them 5-1 on the exact same day last year. This one looks like a home win.

Lawro’s Verdict: Spurs 5/6 (Blue Sq)

Lawro’s Score: Spurs 2 Fulham 1 15/2 (Blue Sq, Sportingbet)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Spurs 5/6 (Blue Sq)

Selectabet’s Score: Spurs 4 Fulham 2 66/1 (Blue Sq, Sportingbet)

Liverpool v Bolton

After 3 home draws the Anfield faithful will be keen to see a home victory for a change but visitors Bolton will provide a stern test, after all they’ve won 3 of their last 4 on the road.

If Torres returns in time for this game it’ll give the home side a massive boost and could increase the margin of victory for the Reds. Bolton have failed to score in their last 4 visits to Anfield and haven’t won there since 1954. They won’t do so on Boxing Day either.

Lawro’s Verdict: Liverpool 19/50 (Centrebet)

Lawro’s Score: Liverpool 2 Bolton 0 11/2 (Blue Sq, SkyBet)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Liverpool 19/50 (Centrebet)

Selectabet’s Score: Liverpool 1 Bolton 0 13/2 (Totesport)

Man City v Hull City

The return of Robinho to the Man City side makes this one a bit more difficult to call. His influence on games at Eastlands is undeniable and Mark Hughes’ side’s chance look far better with him on board. But Hull are a side who relish playing away from home and their counter-attacking style has caused problems for better teams than City.

This could go either way so I’m sitting on the fence and going for a repeat of the scoreline when the two sides met in November

Lawro’s Verdict: Man City 5/6 (Betfred, Ladbrokes)

Lawro’s Score: Man City 2 Hull City 1 15/2 (Blue Sq, Sportingbet)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Draw 13/5 (Bet365, William Hill)

Selectabet’s Score: Man City 2 Hull City 2 17/1 (Canbet)

Middlesbrough v Everton

I’m glad I don’t have a ticket for this one! Everton are without a recognised striker while Boro have only scored twice in their last 4. 9 of the last 10 meeting between the two teams have finished with under 2.5 goals, averaging just 1.5 goals per game. Bore draw.

Lawro’s Verdict: Draw 23/10 (Bet365, Betfred)

Lawro’s Score: Boro 1 Everton 1 6/1 (Blue Sq)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Draw 23/10 (Bet365, Betfred)

Selectabet’s Score: Boro 0 Everton 0 9/1 (SkyBet)

Sunderland v Blackburn

Both of these clubs have enjoyed an upturn in fortunes since their old bosses have left the building. Ricky Sbragia’s Sunderland recorded a great 4-1 win at Hull last week to further enhance his job prospects while Big Sam made a winning debut with a 3-0 win at home to Stoke.

Blackburn have won on their last 3 visits to Sunderland and I think Allardyce can notch another victory and prove to Niall Quinn and his board that they should have snapped him up when they had the chance.

Lawro’s Verdict: Sunderland 13/10 (William Hill)

Lawro’s Score: Sunderland 2 Blackburn 1 9/1 (William Hill)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Blackburn 5/2 (Coral)

Selectabet’s Score: Sunderland 1 Blackburn 2 12/1 (Blue Sq)

Wigan v Newcastle

Two of the league’s form teams meet at the JJB where a win for either side would almost certainly lift them into the top half of the table. Wigan have won their last 3 at home while Newcaste are unbeaten in 3 away. This is a tricky one to call.

But with all of the last 4 meetings between these two at the JJB ending in a 1-0 win for Wigan I’m going for another narrow home win.

Lawro’s Verdict: Draw 5/2 (Coral)

Lawro’s Score: Wigan 1 Newcastle 1 6/1 (Blue Sq, Coral, SkyBet)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Wigan 13/10 (Blue Sq, Paddy Power)

Selectabet’s Score: Wigan 1 Newcastle 0 7/1 (Coral, Ladbrokes)

Aston Villa v Arsenal

It feels like it’s one step forward, two steps back for Arsenal at the moment. News that Cesc Fabregas will be out for a while is just another blow to their title ambitions and tomorrow could see another nailed hammered into that particular coffin.

Villa have a determined eye on that 4th Champions League slot and having won at the Emirates in November they’ll be confident they can do so again. Arsenal are unbeaten in 9 at Villa Park though and it could suit everyone if it was honours even.

Lawro’s Verdict: Draw 12/5 (Boylesports, Coral)

Lawro’s Score: Aston Villa 1 Arsenal 1 6/1 (Blue Sq, SkyBet)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Draw 12/5 (Boylesports, Coral)

Selectabet’s Score: Aston Villa 1 Arsenal 1 6/1 (Blue Sq, SkyBet)

Don’t forget you can still take part in the Challenge – it’s just for fun so leave your predictions and odds in the comments below

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