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BIG TEAM VS LEI’‘SHIT’'STER
Manchester United have not looked right since they lost the Manchester derby. I think Jose Mourinho has been picking who he thinks are his best players but, with the formations he has been using, it is not working.
Wayne Rooney, in particular, has been really poor. As good a player as he is, he is not playing well at the moment and I think it is time to take him out of the team.
It might only be for a game or two, just to get the message across of what he needs to do to get back in the team. At the moment it looks to me like Rooney has lost a little bit of his hunger and is not quite sure where he wants to play. I don’t think Mourinho knows either.
For me, Michael Carrick has to come back into United’s midfield, firstly to sit in front of the back four and shield them a little bit more. He can play centre-back anyway so when the full-backs push forward he can drop in and become the extra defender.
Carrick also sees passes in the way Marouane Fellaini doesn’t. He is like a metronome, and it is his calmness and ability to keep the ball that would make the biggest difference to United’s tempo.
Leicester have lost both of their away league games so far, at Hull and Liverpool. They are still a decent side but, understandably, they have struggled to replace N’Golo Kante and are not at the same level they were last season.
I think they will let United have some chances on Saturday and I am backing Mourinho’s side to win, with the proviso he has to address his selection issues - chiefly that of Rooney.
Lawro’s prediction: 2-1
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ARSESHIT VS CHELSEA
Arsenal have won three Premier League games in a row, and it is Chelsea who find themselves under scrutiny after the manner of their defeat by Liverpool.
Chelsea have only kept one clean sheet in six matches under Antonio Conte so far, against Burnley, and it is clearly going to take a bit of time for him to get his message across.
Both of these sides are on 10 points, five behind leaders Manchester City, but I don’t think either manager can, or will, worry about City’s start. There is a long way to go.
Lawro’s prediction: 1-1
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BURNLEY VS WATFORD
Credit to Watford, I did not fancy them against either West Ham or Manchester United but they ended up with two impressive wins.
This is a big game for Burnley because the onus is on them to win it. Their attacking record is poor - they are in the bottom two for shots at goal and shots on target this season.
Clarets boss Sean Dyche has a decision to make because if he plays two up front, his side look light defensively in midfield. If he doesn’t, they don’t create enough chances.
Watford generally play two up front, or a derivation of that, so if I am Dyche I am thinking we have got to go for it in this one. I think Burnley might nick it too.
Lawro’s prediction: 2-1
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WESTHAM VS SOUTHAMPTON
Southampton have the lowest shot conversion rate in the Premier League, just 6.45%.
Shane Long is probably most to blame for that, but Charlie Austin is a finisher and, as he showed last weekend against Swansea, if he is picked and gets a chance, he will take it.
West Ham have been struggling at the back but they have been working hard to improve defensively, and it will come.
The Hammers’ off-field issues are obviously not helping but things at the London Stadium will improve with time and this season was always going to be far more difficult than their last one, regardless of where they were playing.
Lawro’s prediction: 2-1
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SUNDERLAND VS CRYSTAL PALACE
I thought Sunderland played OK in their defeat at Tottenham last time out in the Premier League. Defensively they are getting better but their lack of quality in midfield is still a cause for concern.
That is a pity because with someone like Jermain Defoe in their side, they know if they make him a few chances, he will take some.
Sadly for Sunderland, it is creating openings that is their problem right now.
On average, they have had the fewest shots - an average of 5.6 - per game than any other top-flight side this season, and the three goals they have scored in their first five games is also a joint-low in the Premier League.
Palace, meanwhile, are going for their third win in a row.
The Eagles will fancy their chances at the Stadium of Light on the back of their upturn in form, but I just have a feeling Sunderland will edge this one.
Lawro’s prediction: 2-1
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Liverpool at the moment are very difficult to stop in attack. They have several players who are all rapid, interchangeable, comfortable on the ball and can drop a shoulder and beat somebody.
I thought they were just outstanding in the first half of last week’s win over Chelsea, when their one- and two-touch football was seriously impressive.
If Liverpool play as well as they can do against Hull, they will win - it won’t matter how many men Hull put behind the ball, because they will engineer some space.
But the key to the Reds making the top four will be whether they can win games like this one when they are just average. When I see them do that, I will be much more confident about their prospects.
Lawro’s prediction: 3-0