Premier League festive predictions: Lawro v Tears for Fears’ Manchester United fans Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal

Manchester Metropolis are high of the Premier League this Christmas, however will they level-headed lead the model when it issues in Could also merely?

“The system it is poised for the time being, the image can also affirm very a couple of after appropriate one location of results. These three will no longer sleep obvious and it might well probably well also be their video games against every a couple of that decides who finishes the build.”

Lawro is making predictions for all 380 high-flight matches this season, against a form of company.

This week it be Tears for Fears’ Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal, who are every Manchester United fans.

The duo luxuriate in bought better than 30m albums since they formed Tears for Fears within the early 1980s and are help in February 2022 with The Tipping Point, their first album for nearly 18 years.

Smith grew up a die-laborious United fan, however Orzabal converted great later. He supported his local membership Portsmouth as a young boy sooner than he moved to Bath as an adolescent and met his bandmate, drifting far flung from the game until the late 1990s.

“Curt was once a boyhood United fan, however I used to be once born appropriate open air Portsmouth, in articulate that they had been my first fancy,” Orzabal told BBC Sport.

“After I moved to Bath I misplaced hobby in football utterly for decades and it was once finest in 1998, after I used to be once dragged by my neighbour within the west nation to glance the World Cup, that issues changed.

“Portion of football for me as a baby had been the player playing cards you ancient to receive, so I knew the total teams. Nonetheless the final time I will have the ability to also watched any person generally was once the days of Billy Bremner and Norman ‘Bites Yer Legs’ Hunter [at Leeds], and it was once all muddy pitches and long balls.

“And then all without delay in 1998, I’m watching these pleasing colour renditions and this guy called David Beckham was once placing the ball on a dime. Without note the total world spread out for me, so I started following the total high golf equipment – as adversarial to Arsenal, because they had been my elder brother’s crew so I could no longer luxuriate in that.

“I appropriate seen myself that after I used to be once watching Manchester United that I’d receive in actual fact heart-broken when they misplaced. That’s how I realised I used to be once turning into a fan. At roughly the same time, Curt and I obtained help together after a protracted hiatus, and we had this thing in weird and wonderful.”

Smith is primarily based in Los Angeles now and is a season be aware holder at Main League Soccer aspect LAFC, however United are never removed from his thoughts.

“My affinity for United goes a loyal distance help,” he explained. “I grew up with the crew of George Very top, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton. George was once my childhood hero and he level-headed is. At instances, watching him play was once appropriate incredible – the suitable folks which luxuriate in attain end are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

“It is candy to affirm Ronaldo help at United. It is far no longer the same as when he was once with us first time spherical however, having said that, he came help and started scoring straightaway. It was once be pleased ‘welcome home!’.

“Despite that, it be been slightly significant season for varied reasons. As great as I loved Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, I never thought of him as a manager of the same calibre as Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel, and it was once definitely the suitable time for a substitute.

“One would hope that issues resolve now below Ralph Rangnick and within the past couple of video games, we’ve been better – nothing thrilling, however more organised, which I affirm was once the problem sooner than.

“Expectantly that sticks until the dwell of the season, and we preserve getting a minute of better so we’re level-headed up there, vying for the head four, which I affirm is the finest we can hope for. Then, within the summertime, they might be able to seize what happens next.”

P-P = Postponed attributable to Covid-19 outbreaks.

An even consequence (deciding on a have, map or defeat) is price 10 suggestions. The real ranking earns 40 suggestions.

LAWRO’S PREDICTIONS

SUNDAY, 26 DECEMBER

Liverpool P-P Leeds

This game was once postponed attributable to a Covid-19 outbreak.

Wolves P-P Watford

This game was once postponed attributable to a Covid-19 outbreak.

Burnley v Everton (15: 00 GMT)

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin have to level-headed be in action in this game, however definitely he’ll no longer originate up, even supposing his aspect are short of gamers.

Calvert-Lewin has been out since August and they have to be careful with him, even supposing they clearly need him, especially with Richarlison injured. It be doubtlessly a better belief to attach him on the bench.

Burnley haven’t played great football within the past few weeks so it be laborious to know what to take a look at from them. They definitely need the decisions, though, because they’ve finest won once all season.

I even luxuriate in a sense the Clarets will edge it, though I will have the ability to also be great more assured about their probabilities if it turns out their leading scorer Maxwel Cornet is on hand again and participating in.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-1

Roland’s prediction: 1-1

Curt’s prediction: 0-2

Man Metropolis v Leicester (15: 00 GMT)

Leicester attach out a solid crew at Anfield within the Carabao Cup on Wednesday however ended up going out, which more or much less sums up the model their season has gone to this point. Issues are appropriate no longer going on for them.

In distinction, Manchester Metropolis luxuriate in won eight league video games in a row and luxuriate in realized their rhythm, no topic who Pep Guardiola picks. Leicester luxuriate in done slightly wisely against them within the past, however no longer this time.

Lawro’s prediction: 3-0

Roland’s prediction: Leicester are on the toddle and had been since Brendan Rodgers was once tipped to be the following United manager. Manchester Metropolis’s self belief is by the roof and this can also be any other big have, be pleased their 7-0 against Leeds. 4-1

Curt’s prediction: There are a bunch of Manchester Metropolis fans in LA however that is the total model down to the publicity that they’ve had within the past couple of years. So, after I mutter ‘Metropolis fans’, I imply folks carrying Metropolis shirts. There are level-headed more United fans right here, I’m contented to claim. 4-1

Norwich v Arsenal (15: 00 GMT)

Arsenal are flying for the time being. The video games are coming thick and hasty however they’ll feel free to preserve taking part in whereas they’re level-headed winning.

As I’ve said sooner than I invent infrequently ever fancy the Gunners on the avenue, however they enjoyed themselves at Elland Avenue against an out-of-kinds Leeds aspect final weekend and that’s any other away game the build they’ll be pondering they resolve on to level-headed have.

What more or much less performance we watch from Norwich will depend so a lot on which gamers they’ve on hand.

They pushed Manchester United end at Carrow Avenue about a weeks ago, however I level-headed affirm a assured, in-bear Arsenal will rob the decisions.

Lawro’s prediction: 1-2

Roland’s prediction: Staring at Norwich against United fair currently, I used to be once pondering why are no longer they doing better? Arsenal are starting to click on, which is irritating, however I will have the ability to not help them to have. 2-2

Curt’s prediction: 1-2

Tottenham v Crystal Palace (15: 00 GMT)

It is to this point, so fair appropriate for Tottenham manager Antonio Conte, who’s level-headed unbeaten within the Premier League after five video games to blame and is starting to mold his squad into his luxuriate in crew.

Palace out-played Spurs at Selhurst Park in September, which was once the starting build of the dwell of Nuno Espirito Santo’s short reign as Tottenham boss.

The Eagles will level-headed pose a threat however that is a in actual fact a couple of Spurs crew, and it is intelligent to affirm Conte giving probabilities to gamers who had been on the periphery below his predecessor. His crew decisions are knowing slightly wisely.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-0

Roland’s prediction: 2-1

Curt’s prediction: We’re appropriate starting to affirm Conte’s have an effect on. It was once gigantic to affirm Dele Alli and Harry Winks taking part in so wisely for Spurs against Liverpool. 2-0

West Ham v Southampton (15: 00 GMT)

West Ham luxuriate in hit a minute of a sticky patch and it be no surprise it has coincided with them struggling about a injuries to key gamers at a time they’ve had a bunch of video games.

This can help the Hammers if Michail Antonio is help to lead the line after a length atmosphere apart with Covid, however I’m able to observe their harmful streak continuing.

Southampton are a significant crew to foretell and they haven’t won for a whereas either – six video games to be actual – however if West Ham invent no longer play wisely again and this will get scrappy, then I’m able to observe Saints nicking it.

Lawro’s prediction: 1-2

Roland’s prediction: Am I anti-Saints attributable to my Portsmouth background? Absolutely. I invent no longer know why, because I moved far flung from Portsmouth after I used to be once seven, nonetheless it be obtained to be a West Ham have. 3-1

Curt’s prediction: 2-0

Aston Villa v Chelsea (17: 30 GMT)

It is laborious to construct a prediction whenever you occur to invent no longer know who’s on hand for either crew, however Chelsea have to level-headed level-headed be the stronger aspect.

Villa will give it a good lunge, appropriate as they did when they played Manchester Metropolis at Villa Park about a weeks ago, however, be pleased Metropolis did, Chelsea have to level-headed level-headed receive one way to have.

It has no longer been a huge few weeks for Thomas Tuchel’s aspect for varied reasons – he clearly felt final week’s game with Wolves have to level-headed had been postponed – however I’d no longer be taken aback within the occasion that they attach together a minute of a streak now. Their game against Liverpool on 2 January is going to be very intelligent.

Lawro’s prediction: 0-2

Roland’s prediction: 1-2

Curt’s prediction: Chelsea luxuriate in dropped in bear and I’m able to observe them shedding more suggestions. 1-1

Brighton v Brentford (20: 00 GMT)

It is 11 video games since Brighton final won within the league, better than three months ago.

The Seagulls luxuriate in obviously slipped down the desk since then, however I invent no longer affirm they’re doing too great sinful. They are 13th, which are spherical regarding the build you’d take a look at them to be. It is appropriate that they started the advertising and marketing and marketing campaign so wisely, which raised expectations with their fans.

Brentford are mid-desk too, so every teams are checking out that the Premier League season is a slog – no topic how wisely you originate up.

Each teams will likely be horny in phrases of staying out of effort, however I’m going with a Brighton have this time. It has to occur within the waste, anyway.

Lawro’s prediction: 1-0

Roland’s prediction: 1-2

Curt’s prediction: 0-1

MONDAY, DECEMBER 27

Newcastle v Man Utd (20: 00 GMT)

Eddie Howe has improved Newcastle, however no longer ample to receive them many more suggestions than they already had. Yes, he brought them their first have of the season however they’re level-headed losing a bunch of video games. They’ve left themselves a gigantic task to no longer sleep.

Lose this too and they’ll luxuriate in earned 10 suggestions from their first 19 video games. If they’ll attain the frequent 40-point mark that guarantees security, they’ll need 30 suggestions from their final 19 video games which, whenever you occur to affirm at the desk now, is more-or-much less high-six bear.

They’ll also merely no longer need 40 suggestions obviously, nonetheless it would no longer be far off it – and even reaching 35 suggestions, which has been what teams luxuriate in wished for survival in two of the past three seasons, will rob a dazzling effort from right here.

If they snarl on deciding on up suggestions at the same price as they’ve been below Howe, they’ll no longer sleep on 24 suggestions and will almost definitely be relegated.

I do know they’ve obtained the January transfer window to enhance the crew however getting that appropriate will likely be a misfortune in itself, and they’ve attach themselves below gargantuan stress to recruit wisely. They can not hang about either because they’ve obtained gargantuan video games against Watford and Leeds within the guts of that month.

I raise out affirm this game will dwell in any other defeat for the Magpies too. Yes, they had been competitive at Anfield, and apart from they had a gigantic resolution lunge against them against Manchester Metropolis, however the facts are they had been appropriate no longer fair appropriate ample defensively to receive one thing out of either game.

I’m looking ahead to a identical narrative right here. Manchester United luxuriate in had about a weeks off since their final game attributable to a Covid-19 outbreak, however their coaching ground reopened this week and Ralph Rangnick might perchance perchance had been working them laborious. They’ll be going to St James’ Park to have.

Lawro’s prediction: 0-2

Roland’s prediction: I’m able to finest lunge alongside with a have for us, however I raise out hope Eddie Howe will get it appropriate. He appears be pleased a good guy and Newcastle is any such gigantic build and their fans are astonishing. 0-3

Roland on Man Utd’s potentialities: “I affirm our order currently is we’ve been in actual fact sluggish to modernise. After any such sublime time below Sir Alex Ferguson, we’ve in actual fact been led by our heart over our head so great. We tried to hold on to these romantic notions of gentle gamers being fervent – first it was once Ryan Giggs as caretaker manager then the return of Solskjaer – slightly than receive any individual that can also accelerate about a folks within the peer.

“I wish we would gone with Jose Mourinho when Ferguson left in 2013 because he would had been the suitable particular person for 2 or three years. Then he would luxuriate in gone, nonetheless it would had been the suitable transition into the fashionable world. Instead, we obtained him later after which went with any person with historic past at the membership in Solskjaer.”

Curt’s prediction: Newcastle will ranking, however we can have. 1-3

Lawro, Roland and Curt had been talking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.

How did Lawro raise out final week?

From final weekend’s Premier League fixtures, Lawro obtained three fair appropriate results from four matches, with no actual ratings, for a whole of 30 suggestions.

For now, it goes down as a defeat for Lawro because though one of his company, Femi from Ezra Collective, has 20 suggestions to this point after getting two fair appropriate results and no actual ratings, his brother TJ obtained three fair appropriate results and one actual ranking for a whole of 60 suggestions.

A whole of six video games had been postponed final weekend attributable to Covid-19 outbreaks. Femi and TJ’s predictions for those matches are below, and any suggestions they develop will likely be added to their overall ranking when those video games are played, which could also substitute the general consequence.

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