Blasphemy! Seven clubs lock horns for the title after sir Alex Ferguson's retirement!

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Premier League
Round 26

Saturday 6th February 2016:

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Manchester City - Blackburn 4-1​
Messi (5, 21, 30), Ronaldo (25); Robben (59)
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Chelsea - Aston Villa 3-2
Hazard (57, 65, 72); Podolski (23), Snodgrass (59)
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Newcastle - Everton 3-1
Grimm (2), Remy (8), Suarez (84); Jelavic (6)
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Arsenal - Crystal Palace 1-0
Vela (83)
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Cardiff - Manchester United 0-1
Hamsik (13)
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Swansea - Tottenham 2-1
Michu (8), Richards (53); Benzema (6), Diego Costa sent off (89)
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League Table:

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Premier League predictions: Lawro v Charlize

BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson is pitting his wits against a different guest each week this season.

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This week he takes on South African and American actress and Chelsea fan Charlize Theron. Charlize rose to fame in the late 1990s following roles in the films The Devil's Advocate, Mighty Joe Young and The Cider House Rules. Theron received critical acclaim for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, for which she won the Silver Bear, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Academy Award for Best Actress among several other accolades, becoming the first South African to win an Academy Award in a major acting category. Theron became a U.S. citizen in 2007, while retaining her South African citizenship. In recent years she has moved into the field of producing, both in television and film. With the notable exception of Prometheus, which killed the childhood memories of lifelong fans of the Alien movie series.

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Lawro vs Chelsea fan Charlize Theron

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A correct result is worth ONE point. A correct score earns THREE points.

Aston Villa - Manchester City
Charlize Theron: This is a potential slip-up for the Citizens. 1-1.
Mark Lawrenson: The Citizens will take this game, question is how many will they score. 0-3.

Nottingham Forest - Newcastle
Charlize Theron: Couldn't see a surprise here. 1-4.
Mark Lawrenson: I don't think Forest have enough quality to stop the Magpies right now. 0-4.

Southampton - Chelsea
Charlize Theron: It will be tough for us but we simply must win to keep pressure on the champions. 1-2.
Mark Lawrenson: It's tempting to go for a shock result here but I think the Blues will extend their winning form! 1-3.

Tottenham - Cardiff
Charlize Theron: Home win, period. 2-0.
Mark Lawrenson: I think Spurs should take this. 2-1.

Blackburn - Arsenal
Charlize Theron: I'll go for a draw in this one. 1-1.
Mark Lawrenson: I expect Rovers to win this one. 2-1.

Manchester United - Hull
Charlize Theron: No surprises at Old Trafford. 3-1.
Mark Lawrenson: I can't see past the Red Devils in this one. 3-0.

Last week, Lawro got five results right, with one perfect score. His score of 7 was just good enough to beat the predictions of Liverpool fan Lana Del Rey, who scored 4, managing four correct results with no perfect scores.

Total scores after Week Twenty Six
Lawro: 119
Guests: 91
 
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Premier League
Round 27

Tuesday 9th February 2016:

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Aston Villa - Manchester City 0-3
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Ronaldo (pen 42), Jovetic (51, 83)
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Tottenham - Cardiff 1-1
Andre Ayew (15); Inui (62)
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Nottingham Forest - Newcastle 1-1
Graham (56); Donovan (5)
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Southampton - Chelsea 0-2
Thiago Alcantara (50), Willian (90+3)
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Wednesday 10th February 2016:

Blackburn - Arsenal 1-1
Ljajic (31); Vela (4)
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Manchester United - Hull 3-0
Hernandez (62), van Persie (74), Fellaini (81); Diakite sent off (86)
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League Table:

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KevinHann said:
Nottingham Forest - Newcastle 1-1
Graham (56); Donovan (5)​
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What a costly and totally unexpected slip up for us! A lengthy injury to Javi Martinez with Moussa Sissoko struggling to return from his own knock left us thread-bare in central midfield and asking Adnan Januzaj to fill in didn't work out... Reluctance to field a stronger team considering the impending cup clash with Man United might return to haunt us in the run in!
 
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English Title Contenders Cup Watch

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Fifth Round

Saturday 13th February 2016:

Nottingham Forest - Chelsea 2-3
Lees (18), *** (67); Lewandowski (3), Hazard (76), Caulker (90+3)​
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Newcastle - Manchester United 3-0
Suarez (3, 65), Alex Sandro (49), Alex Sandro sent off (50)​
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Tottenham - Arsenal 2-2
Griezmann (40, 86); El Shaarawy (45+1), Wilshere (61), Filipe sent off (86)​
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KevinHann said:
Newcastle - Manchester United 3-0
Suarez (3, 65), Alex Sandro (49), Alex Sandro sent off (50)​
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At least our rotation worked in the key clash with our bogey team despite some more left back lunacy from Alex Sandro who got himself sent off for a second yellow for pulling his shirt off after scoring... Well done for Suarez though powering a terrific 3rd minute free kick in the net with usual set-piece takers Cabaye and Depay out of the starting team!
 
KevinHann said:
Quarter Final Draw

Tottenham/Arsenal - Q.P.R.
Newcastle - Chelsea
Preston/Huddersfield - Aston Villa
Blackburn - Fulham​
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Very tough draw once again for the FA Cup Quarters considering teams like Preston and Huddersfield are still in the running... at least it is another home game which perhaps gives us a small edge over a very strong Chelsea team!
 

Marcelo Bielsa has been fired by Liverpool President Thomas Werner. Bielsa's departure comes in the wake of a recent run of bad play for the Reds culminating with the FA Cup Fifth Round 1-0 defeat by Q.P.R. at Loftus Road. The club felt a change was needed for the good of the team.

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Marcelo Bielsa becomes first casualty this season​

Bielsa had been at Liverpool since December 2013, having previously managed Athletic Bilbao. During his time with the Los Leones, Bielsa's team finished runners-up in the Europa League in 2012 and runners-up in the Spanish Cup in 2012. Liverpool have been disappointing in the Premier League this season and find themselves below expectations in 18th place. Liverpool have lost four of their last five games in the league. FC Bayern manager Josep Guardiola is already being touted by the media as the favorite to take over at Anfield. A host of other high-profile managers are also being linked with the post including Diego Simeone, Gerardo Martino and Ian Holloway.

Odds for next Liverpool manager:
5-2 Josep Guardiola (FC Bayern)
3-1 Diego Simeone (Dortmund)
3-1 Gerardo Martino (Barcelona)

Odds for next manager to get the sack:
7-4 Paul Lambert (Aston Villa)
7-4 Roberto Martinez (Cardiff)
7-4 Brendan Rodgers (Crystal Palace)
 
English Title Contenders European Watch
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First Knockout Round First Leg

Tuesday 16th February 2016:

Steaua - Paris Saint-Germain 1-0

Inter - Chelsea 0-0
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Wednesday 17th February 2016:

FC Porto - Napoli 2-2

Benfica - Newcastle 0-3
Lamela (32), Depay (79), Remy (90+1)
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First Knockout Round First Leg

Thursday 18th February 2016:

Viktoria Plzen - Swansea 3-4

Zenit - Manchester United 1-6
Danny (14); Smalling (3), Eriksen (23), Smyshlyaev o.g. (38), Hernandez (43, 48, 62)
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Sevilla - Arsenal 1-2
Gameiro (pen 22); Isco (4), Cavani (72)
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Sampdoria - Tottenham 0-0​
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Liverpool have named Spanish boss Josep Guardiola as their new manager. The highly-respected Guardiola, who turns forty-six next birthday, was introduced to fans and journalists at Anfield this morning.

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Guardiola takes Anfield hot seat!​

In addition to Liverpool and FC Bayern, Guardiola has managed Barcelona. FC Bayern will be paid 5.25 million pounds in compensation. He won 13 trophies during his time with Barcelona and 7 more as manager of FC Bayern.
 
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Premier League predictions: Lawro v Ant & Dec

BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson is pitting his wits against a different guest each week this season.

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This week he takes on English comedy and TV presenting duo from Newcastle upon Tyne - and, surprisingly, Newcastle fans - Ant & Dec. Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly first rose to fame as actors on the children's television show Byker Grove, during which and in their subsequent pop career they were respectively known as PJ & Duncan - the names of the characters they played on the show. Since then, they have had a very successful career as television presenters.

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Lawro vs Newcastle fans Ant & Dec

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A correct result is worth ONE point. A correct score earns THREE points.

Manchester City - Southampton
Ant & Dec: We'd like to predict a draw in this one but that would be selfish and not rational. 3-0.
Mark Lawrenson: I'll go for a surprise even though the Citizens seem unstoppable in the moment. 2-2.

Newcastle - Swansea
Ant & Dec: We win this, easily! 3-0.
Mark Lawrenson: Don't expect any slip ups from the Magpies after what happened at Nottingham. 4-0.

Arsenal - Aston Villa
Ant & Dec: This one could end up with a draw. 1-1.
Mark Lawrenson: The Gunners have enough to see out Villa at home. 3-1.

Q.P.R. - Manchester United
Ant & Dec: Rangers could deliver a shock result here. 1-1.
Mark Lawrenson: I don't think the Red Devils will slip up there. 1-3.

Hull - Tottenham
Ant & Dec: Spurs should win there. 0-2.
Mark Lawrenson: I will go for another draw in this one. 1-1.

Chelsea - Leeds
Ant & Dec: Home win. 2-0.
Mark Lawrenson: This time I'll not side with calls for a surprise result. 3-2.

Last week, Lawro got five results right, with one perfect score. His score of 7 was just good enough to beat the predictions of Chelsea fan Charlize Theron, who scored 5, managing three correct results with one perfect score.

Total scores after Week Twenty Seven
Lawro: 126
Guests: 96
 
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Premier League
Round 28

Saturday 20th February 2016:

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Manchester City - Southampton 3-0
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Thiago Silva (21), Ronaldo (45, 67)
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Sunday 21st February 2016:

Q.P.R. - Manchester United 1-3
Hooper (34); Hernandez (31), Di Maria (35), Bale (82)
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Newcastle - Swansea 3-0
Suarez (6), Santon (10), Grimm (16)
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Arsenal - Aston Villa 2-0
Vela (48), Cavani (65)
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Hull - Tottenham 0-1
Bonaventura (19)
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Monday 22nd February 2016:

Chelsea - Leeds 2-0
Shaqiri (13), Fabregas (63)
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League Table:

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English Title Contenders European Watch

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First Knockout Round First Leg

Thursday 25th February 2016:

Besiktas - Valencia 1-1

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First Knockout Round Second Leg

Thursday 25th February 2016:

Swansea - Viktoria Plzen 1-1 (5-4)

Arsenal - Sevilla 3-1 (5-2)
Candreva (32), El Shaarawy (44), Vela (90+1); Chico (82), Pareja sent off (85)
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Manchester United - Zenit 2-0 (8-1)
Henrandez (45+1), Pogba (57)
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Tottenham - Sampdoria 2-1 (2-1)
Benzema (79), Soldado (85); Bollini (39)
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Premier League predictions: Lawro v Spike

BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson is pitting his wits against a different guest each week this season.

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This week he takes on American film director, producer, writer, actor and Arsenal fan Spike Lee. His production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983. Lee's movies have examined race relations, colorism in the black community, the role of media in contemporary life, urban crime and poverty, and other political issues. Lee has won numerous awards, including an Emmy Award. He has also received two Academy Award nominations.

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Lawro vs Arsenal fan Spike Lee

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A correct result is worth ONE point. A correct score earns THREE points.

Manchester City - Fulham
Spike Lee: I don't see how the Cottagers will get anything from this game. 3-0.
Mark Lawrenson: I also favor the Citizens to get a big win at home. 4-0.

Stoke - Tottenham
Spike Lee: Spurs will suffer, as usual, I don't know why they even try. 1-1.
Mark Lawrenson: I'll back Spurs for a win even though it could go either way. 1-2.

Chelsea - Manchester United
Spike Lee: This is a big game but I think there won't be a winner. 2-2.
Mark Lawrenson: I'll back the Blues because of home advantage and their much more impressive front line. 2-1.

Newcastle game already played

Arsenal game postponed

Last week, Lawro got four results right, with one perfect score. His score of 6 was nowhere near good enough to beat the predictions of Newcastle fans Ant & Dec, who scored 10, managing four correct results with three perfect scores.

Total scores after Week Twenty Eight
Lawro: 132
Guests: 106
 

Gary Lineker: Good evening and welcome to Match of the Day for our thoughts on the 2015/16 Premier League season! It seems the race will be as tight as ever this time around and as we all know it is those direct 6-pointer clashes that play a decisive part in deciding who will fly and who will fall. For this reason we will be focusing solely on those giant games in Match of the Day. Stay with us as Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer aid me on analyzing the key aspects of what happened and why it happened for you!

Chelsea - Manchester United
2-0
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Gary Lineker: Manchester United arrived at Stamford Bridge knowing defeat was not an option as they were already trailing 1 point behind their hosts, as well as Man City and Newcastle. The Blues needed the win to keep pace with the other two though and could lean on superior quality up front. It showed as Fabregas and Neymar scored once in each half to deliver a very important win for Chelsea and the visiting fans had to take the train to Manchester in low spirits.
Alan Hansen: At this stage of the season it is all about getting the result and Mourinho is second to nobody in that regard. He knew he had better players than David Moyes and turned it into a tight affair waiting for his big boys to deliver. The Red Devils took the fight to their half of the pitch and had their own chances on the counter but there weren't any clear-cut opportunities for either side. Chelsea's possession eventually lead up to two goals and they deserved the win.
Alan Shearer: It was a very strong team performance for the Blues, Ashley Cole and David Luiz put on special performances and the former earned the PoM award. No Man United players impressed me but Phil Jones, Alba, Fellaini and Hernandez had an off day and it cost their team at least a point.
Gary Lineker: This was a very big result for the title fight, Chelsea have joined a group of three on same points, but Man United are now four behind and have very little time to make up for it!
 
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Mark Lawrenson Capital One Cup Final preview

28 February 2016

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This season's Capital One Cup sees Bernd Schuster take newly promoted moneybags Leeds against reigning champions and current holders Newcastle. The Magpies are heavy favorites for this match but the Whites will be desperate to prove doubters wrong and celebrate their first season back in the big time with silverware.

Team news:
Leeds - Christos Ntaflas, Adam Campbell ineligible; Paul McPherson, Sercan Sararer injured
Newcastle - Javi Martinez, Markus Grimm injured
Weather report:
Breezy, 10C

We will be with you at Wembley after a quick commercial break!

 
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