Football expert Mark Lawrenson's predictions

His first opponent of the new campaign is Hollywood actor Jason Sudeikis, the former Saturday Night Live comedian who plays Tottenham's clueless American coach Ted Lasso in an NBC commercial promoting their coverage of the Premier League.

Comedian Jason Sudeikis impersonates Spurs coach

Sudeikis goes for big wins for Liverpool, Sunderland and West Ham, giving some original reasons for his choices. He also predicts defeat for David Moyes at Swansea, in his first game in charge of defending champions Manchester United.

"Swansea versus 'Man U' is like David vs Goliath," Sudeikis told BBC Sport. "I'm going to guess 'Man U' will seem like they are going to win until the last five minutes. They will be 4-0 up and then there is going to be a five-goal outburst and Swansea are going to win. You watch and see."

You can see all of his predictions on Football Focus at 12:00 BST on BBC One and this website in the UK.
Predictions Score Lawro Ted Lasso

SATURDAY

Liverpool v Stoke
x-x
1-0
20-0
Arsenal v Aston Villa
x-x
2-0
7-7
Norwich v Everton
x-x
2-1
1-0
Sunderland v Fulham
x-x
1-1
24-0
West Brom v Southampton
x-x
2-1
2-0
West Ham v Cardiff
x-x
2-0
15-1
Swansea v Man Utd
x-x
1-1
5-4
SUNDAY
Crystal Palace v Tottenham
x-x
1-2
0-2
Chelsea v Hull City
x-x
2-0
4-0
MONDAY
Man City v Newcastle
x-x
2-0
2-4

A correct result is worth ONE point. A correct score earns THREE points.
LAWRO'S PREDICTIONS

All kick-offs at 15:00 BST unless otherwise stated.
SATURDAY

Liverpool v Stoke

Liverpool's summer has been dominated by Luis Suarez and whether he is staying or going. We are hearing lots of mixed messages but I think the upshot is that he does not want to play for them anymore, and that is what will decide the outcome.

The club have been quite cute about it, saying that he is not going anywhere. But, at the moment, we don't know if they are saying that because they want some more money for him.

Because of that, and because of what an important player Suarez is for Liverpool, it is hard to say what their season will be like until the transfer window is shut and he is either staying, or has left.

Stoke are starting life without Tony Pulis but I cannot see the transition to Mark Hughes being a troublesome one. it is a good job to get because Pulis has put the foundations in place - this is not a situation comparable to when Sam Allardyce left Bolton, for example.

The Potters have not been too active in the transfer market so far but Hughes inherited a strong squad that should keep them in mid-table in the Premier League.

I think Hughes will try to get Stoke playing a bit more football than Pulis did, but the important thing is that they are so strong defensively.

Last year, under Pulis, the problem was going forward - their delivery from wide areas was not as good as it had been and they did not seem to have any other ideas. That side of things needs tinkering with, but Hughes has a group of players with a great mentality, and quality too.

I have a feeling the first Premier League game of the season will be a bit dour. Liverpool are at home so I am going to go for a narrow win for them.

Prediction: 1-0

Arsenal v Aston Villa

The Luis Suarez saga is having a similar effect on Arsenal's summer too. We are waiting to see what happens there, and the Gunners have not made a significant signing yet, despite supposedly having £70m to spend.
It appears they missed out on Gonzalo Higuain, who joined Napoli from Real Madrid instead and, although Wenger has claimed his side can win the title with or without Suarez, I don't think they can with what he has got in his squad at present.

Benteke asked to leave Aston Villa but ended up signing a new contract lasting until 2017
Even so, they are still capable of beating Aston Villa at home. I do think Villa will have a better season than last year, though, and they did brilliantly to keep Christian Benteke.

They put a £25m price tag on him and nobody who wanted him was prepared to pay that, so they kept hold of him and he got a new contract - everybody is happy.
Villa are a well-run club under Paul Lambert and I see them staying out of trouble this season. Their younger players will be better for the experience they have picked up and, in Benteke, they have got goals in them.
Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Norwich v Everton

Norwich have been preparing for the new season since March, when they signed Ricky van Wolfswinkel, and they look in decent shape.

Norwich paid Sporting Lisbon £8.5m for Dutch striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel
I think Chris Hughton has looked at his squad and realised that, in the Premier League, you have to have a goal threat. They did not have that last year: Grant Holt did not have the same impact as he did in the season before, and has now left but, with van Wolfswinkel and Gary Hooper arriving, they should not have problem scoring.

The key for the Canaries is that, although they will get beaten by the top teams, they need to be able to beat the teams in the bottom half of the table who are likely to be around them. I don't see that being a problem for them.
I think they will beat Everton on Saturday too. Roberto Martinez faces a tough task in replacing David Moyes as Everton manager. When you follow somebody like Moyes who has been there for 11 years then you inherit a club that has everyone indoctrinated into the way your predecessor wanted to play.
Martinez needs a good start but he will get time if results do not go well at first. Everton finished sixth last season but anything in the top 10 would be an achievement for Martinez this time. He has been able to make some signings already but he does not have a fortune to spend.
Sudeikis says: "It's time for the underdogs. Norwich are going to win by a last-second goal and it is going to be a bicycle kick, like in that movie 'Escape to Victory'. It will be dramatic."
Prediction: 2-1

Sunderland v Fulham

Sunderland have signed 10 players but not many of them have any Premier League experience and it is difficult to know exactly what to expect from the Black Cats on Saturday, or over the coming season.

I doubt very much that Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio knows his best team at this stage and the only thing we can say for sure is that we will see more of his touchline antics over the next few months, that is a given.

Fulham have a new American owner in Shahid Khan and they have made some decent signings over the summer. It looks like Martin Jol is about to take Darren Bent from Aston Villa and he has already signed Adel Taarabt from QPR and Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg from Roma.

I would back them to have another solid season under Jol, starting with a point at the Stadium of Light.

Sudeikis says: "Sunderland is going to beat them, just because of Kiefer and Donald Sunderland. And it will be 24-0 because of Kiefer Sutherland, I mean Sunderland."

Lawro's prediction: 1-1

West Brom v Southampton

Southampton are another team who have got goal power - they had it last season too.
Their problems were at the other end and, on that note, I like the look of Mauricio Pochettino's summer signings, Croatian defender Dejan Lovren from Lyon and Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama from Celtic.
West Brom have brought in Nicolas Anelka to bolster their attack but I think their best signing is Matej Vydra, who has joined on loan from Udinese. He did so well up front for Watford last year and his pace will bring him a lot of chances - he is rapid.
Even if they don't start as strongly as they did last year, I think the Baggies will finish halfway up the table. They should begin with a win on Saturday, though.
Sudeikis says: "I'm more excited about the game between East Brom and Northampton - that is the one you want to watch."

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

West Ham v Cardiff

This is a tough start for Malky Mackay and I think his Cardiff side are in for a tough season - their aim will be to be top the bottom six.

Mackay is probably looking at his squad and wondering where the goals are going to come from. He has signed 6ft 4in striker Andreas Cornelius from FC Copenhagen so it looks like the plan will be to play off him.

Going to Upton Park is a baptism of fire, though, and very different to the kind of Premier League test that Cardiff will get from the leading sides.

The Bluebirds will have to be on their toes and they will have to be ready to defend the first and second ball. The Hammers will go at them and this game has got a 2-0 home win written all over it.

Sam Allardyce helped West Ham make the transition from a newly promoted team last season and this should be another stepping stone for them. They should finish comfortably in mid-table.
Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Swansea v Man Utd

Swansea's Europa League qualifier with Malmo will have done them good because they have got a couple of competitive games under their belt already, which are better than any friendlies you can play.

Moyes has complained about Manchester United's tough run of games at the start of the season
Bony looks a good signing and everything points to them kicking on again - this is season three for them in the Premier League and, after finishing ninth and winning the Capital One Cup, they will be looking for more progress.
The thing with Manchester United is that we are all waiting for the one or two big signings that they are going to make before the transfer window shuts.

While I am sure new manager David Moyes will be saying he is quite happy to start the defence of their title with the squad he has already got, I think he will have ambitions to win the Champions League and he will want at least one stellar name to help with that.

Could it still be Cesc Fabregas? Some people are saying that deal is dead in the water but I am sure speculation will continue.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are the other names in the frame and they are kind of players they will need.

If they get the players they want, then I think they would sell Wayne Rooney. I just feel Rooney has made his mind up that he is going to go, even though I am not sure life is going to be any better for him anywhere else.

Back to Saturday, though, and this looks like a tricky test for Moyes. Swansea can just keep the ball and United cannot hurt them if they do not have possession.

Prediction: 1-1
SUNDAY

Crystal Palace v Tottenham

Lawro's three to go down

(in no particular order): Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Cardiff

"Of the three promoted teams, Cardiff and Palace will be down there but Hull look best equipped to stay up. For all the promoted teams, we are talking about a bottom-six finish and their aim will be to finish top of the bottom six. Going up from the Championship is such a massive step.

"From the teams that struggled last year, there are still question marks over Sunderland - yes, Paolo Di Canio kept them up last season and in the short term it was an appointment that worked. It could all still end in tears, though."

In lots of ways, Palace under Ian Holloway in the Premier League remind me of Blackpool under Ian Holloway in the Premier League - they are going to look to get lots of players forward and score lots of goals. They will probably concede lots too, but it is going to be fun to watch them!

Palace will have a go at teams, starting with Spurs on Sunday, but I cannot help but feel it will end up with the same outcome as when Blackpool had their season in the top flight in 2010-11, which was relegation.

If they keep hold of Gareth Bale, then Tottenham will push Arsenal all the way for fourth-place again. Will they keep him? Well, I am not sure Real Madrid have got enough money to buy him, or if they actually need him that badly.
If Bale stays, then that will be a big boost but Spurs have already strengthened their squad and spent a lot of money on Paulinho from Corinthians and Roberto Soldado from Valencia.

Sudeikis says: "Crystal Palace sounds like a place where a kid has a birthday party - where you can race go-karts, do a little laser-tag and play some video games - no-one can take that seriously.

"The Tottenham Spurs, they have this exciting new coach in Ted Lasso that I think with AVB's help assisting will win 2-0."
Lawro's prediction: 1-2

Out of the three promoted teams, Hull look the best equipped for survival. Tigers boss Steve Bruce has made some very good signings

"
Jose Mourinho returning to Stamford Bridge is an undoubtedly big lift for Chelsea. You cannot question his record as a manager and he is an outstanding coach. Going back to the scene of your former glories does not always work out, though.

I am not convinced he is going to make the difference, by that I mean win the league, but they will have a good season and I definitely think they will beat Hull.
Out of the three promoted teams, Hull look the best equipped for survival. Tigers boss Steve Bruce has made some very good signings, such as Tom Huddlestone from Tottenham, and they have given themselves a fighting chance.
Bruce himself will be key. He has been here before, and he knows what life in the bottom half of the Premier League is like. I'd argue that they will be more competitive than Cardiff or Crystal Palace.
Lawro's prediction: 2-0
MONDAY

Man City v Newcastle

This should be a routine home win for Manchester City but it will also show their fans the quality of the players that Manuel Pellegrini has brought in, to add to the quality of players that were already there.
City have got more top players than any other team in the league and in Pellegrini they have a manager who is a wise old owl.
Lawro's 1-2-3-4

1. Man City 2. Chelsea 3. Man Utd 4. Arsenal.

"My pick for the title is Man City. Looking at the squads of the top four teams from last year, City's is the best.

"They need another central defender before the deadline but that is about it and, in new manager Manuel Pellegrini, they have got a wise old owl.

"The other thing with City and Pellegrini is that he will go about his business off the field quietly, which is not going to happen with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.

"On that note, it is going to be a difficult season for Manchester United and David Moyes. Yes he will expect to be under the microscope as the man to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson, but it will be a whole different level of scrutiny into every aspect of their results and league position.

"Arsenal and Tottenham will be in a dogfight for fourth place but I would pick the Gunners to edge that battle, even though they have not signed anybody of note yet."

Newcastle's summer seemed to be more about stories off the pitch - Papiss Cisse refusing to wear the sponsor on his shirt, Joe Kinnear coming in as director of football and Mick Harford turning down a job as his assistant.

Kinnear was a strange appointment as director of football. From the outside looking in, no matter what the message is from the club, you think straight away that Magpies manager Alan Pardew is under pressure.

I could be wrong but I get the impression that Kinnear thinks he should still be manager.

One positive thing for Newcastle is the arrival of Loic Remy from QPR on loan - he is a decent striker and will get goals - to improve a department that was a bit of a problem for them at times last season.

Pardew has got plenty of good players of course, but I am also looking at them and wondering if he will keep his squad together between now and the end of the transfer window.

The club just seems in a state of flux. In 2011-12, they did fantastically well. Last year, they struggled but had lots of injuries to deal with. This year? Well, they have got enough quality in their squad to ensure they will not be anywhere near the relegation zone but I can still see them getting in a bit of a mess. If they don't start well, the pressure will be on Pardew and I think he deserves better than that.

Sudeikis says: "I do like Newcastle beer. I'll go for a Newcastle win. It usually takes me about four pints to really feel it, two if I haven't had any food, so we'll say 4-2."
Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Source: BBC NEWS