Чемпионат Англии

SATURDAY

Man City v Arsenal (1245)

City are not playing particularly well at the moment, they are struggling in all areas - they are conceding goals, and they are not scoring many.

I think Sven-Goran Eriksson will set up his team with a packed midfield and hope to deny Arsenal any space, but I think Arsenal will be too clever to be stifled in that way.

Prediction: 0-2

Birmingham v Derby

You always think you've got a banker of a home win when Derby come to town - and Birmingham certainly need a victory as they have been very inconsistent.

Derby's performances have been a little better of late, they have shown a bit of spirit and they have a couple of new players, which has helped, but defensively they are still woeful.

Prediction: 2-1

Blackburn v Everton

Everton have stumbled a little bit recently, with their Carling Cup defeats to Chelsea and a draw against Tottenham, and I think that unwelcome run will continue here.

I expect this to be a keenly-contested match - it would not surprise me if someone got sent off - and I think Blackburn will come out on top, as they are due a resurgence.

Prediction: 2-1

Portsmouth v Chelsea

Even if Chelsea do not play well, they remain very difficult to beat - they can play any kind of style, they can play skillfully and they are also physically imposing.

But Portsmouth are also a big, strong side and I have a sneaky feeling that they might just get something out of this game.

Prediction: 1-1

Reading v Bolton

Bolton really worry me - I just cannot see who is going to score their goals now that Nicolas Anelka has joined Chelsea. Surely they are not going to rely on El-Hadji Diouf to come back and start being a regular scorer? I don't think that is on.

Reading are in a dogfight but their home form has been good and I think it will be their advantage again here. They have pace and width and that will secure them three points.

Prediction: 1-0

Tottenham v Man Utd

Tottenham's improvement is there for all to see and they have also strengthened by bringing in Alan Hutton - who looks like he will be a really good player - and Jonathan Woodgate.

I think this will be Manchester United's toughest league fixture for a while. Yes, they beat Spurs in the FA Cup last week but that was a much closer game than the 3-1 scoreline suggested.

Prediction: 1-1

Wigan v West Ham

Manager Steve Bruce has made Wigan more difficult to beat, but I think they lack a bit of a guile and the kind of players who can change games when it is not quite going their way.

West Ham have been ticking along, picking up a result when they need to, and Alan Curbishley has done a decent job.

Prediction: 1-1

Liverpool v Sunderland 1715

Liverpool are a shadow of the side that started the season. I think they really need to go back to basics, manager Rafael Benitez needs to pick his best team, and a win is much-needed here.

Although Sunderland had a great result with the win over Birmingham in midweek - and they did not even play well - I think they will struggle to pick any points here.

Prediction: 2-0

SUNDAY

Newcastle v Middlesbrough 1330

If Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan needed any reminder how short he is of good players, the last two matches - both 3-0 defeats by Arsenal - have provided it.

I think he will get his first win here - and the team will score their first goals - since his return to St James' Park, but they will be nervously hanging on at the end.

Prediction: 2-1

Fulham v Aston Villa 1600

When you look at the players available to Fulham, you have to think that they are not good enough to stay in the premier League. They need three or four wins on the spin and I cannot see that happening.

Villa seem to take giant steps forward and then have a little setback and I feel that they are maybe a couple of players short of being a very good team.

Prediction: 1-1

Mark Lawrenson was talking to BBC Sport's Ian Hughes