Former Liverpool defender, Mark Lawrenson has tipped Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea to beat Huddersfield Town 2-0 on Saturday evening when both sides clash in the Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge.
He also predicted Tottenham Hotspur to play a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United in today’s Premier League clash at Wembley Stadium
Lawrenson told BBC Sport: “What is happening at Chelsea? It is very odd.
“They are into the Carabao Cup final, they have just signed Gonzalo Higuain, and they got an exciting draw in the FA Cup fifth-round with Manchester United.
“Then they to go to Bournemouth, who were without injured striker Callum Wilson, lose 4-0 and put in a performance like they did. It is baffling.
“Maybe their manager Maurizio Sarri was right when he criticised his team after they lost to Arsenal a couple of weeks ago but I don’t think he has helped himself – and if one, two or more of his players still cannot get themselves psyched up after all that then he is trouble.
“But as bad as the Blues were against Bournemouth, I still think they will beat Huddersfield. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Higuain opened his account for the club too.
“I don’t think Jan Siewert has been appointed Huddersfield boss to try to keep them up, he has got the job to get them back up next season.
“He has got a chance to take a look at his squad over the next few months to get to know his players and work out what he needs to do over the summer. “Prediction is Chelsea 2, Huddersfield 0.”
Commenting on the Tottenham vs Newcastle game, Lawrenson said: “Newcastle got an excellent win against Manchester City on Tuesday, but it did leave me looking at the Magpies players and wondering where that type of performance has been all season?
“That is the one thing I always wonder about teams that pull out results like that against the top sides.
“I know City didn’t play well but it is a little bit bizarre when you compare Newcastle’s display to some of their other home games this season.
“Tottenham, meanwhile, left it late to come back and beat Watford but it was one of their best results for a while when you consider the players they had missing.
“I think Spurs will find it tough going again on Saturday.
“That win over City was such a good one for Newcastle that it would not surprise me if they did something similar at Wembley, sitting in to nick a point.
“Last season, when the Magpies got a very good result they followed it up by stringing a little run together and I can see something similar happening here. “Prediction is Tottenham 1, Newcastle 1.”
The kick-off time for the Chelsea vs Huddersfield match is 4pm, while that of Tottenham vs Newcastle is 1:30pm.
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