Mark Lawrenson’s Premier League score predictions are out ahead of another busy schedule with the season’s end around the corner.
The former Preston, Brighton, Liverpool and Ireland footballer, turned Oxford and Peterborough manager, now a BBC Sport ‘football expert’, states who he’s backing.
Lawro and DJs Majestic & Joel Corry have now given their predictions for the matches taking place over the next few days, take a look at what they went with…
Aston Villa v Liverpool (20:00 BST – Tuesday)
Much will be made of Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard taking on Liverpool, just as it was when he went back to Anfield and lost 1-0 in December.
I’m more interested in whether Gerrard will go with two up front again after he partnered Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins in his attack in Saturday’s win at Burnley.
It worked well then but it will be interesting to see if he does the same against Liverpool, because that would make it a very open game.
Whatever Villa do, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp won’t change the way his side plays – they will go for it. They will expect leaders Manchester City to keep winning from here, so they have to try to do the same.
Klopp has got Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea to consider but I can’t see him making big changes to his side.
Liverpool lost ground to leaders Manchester City over the weekend but they are still in the title race, and they aren’t going away.
Lawro’s prediction: 1-2
Majestic’s prediction: We stopped City winning the quadruple in 2019 when we knocked them out of the Champions League and I think by drawing with Liverpool on Saturday we might have done the same to them this season. We defended like warriors to leave Anfield with a point, but we had chances to win it too. I think Liverpool react here, though. 1-3
Joel’s prediction: It’s getting to that crunch time of the season and I just feel like Liverpool are going to have an off-day. They still have the FA Cup final and the Champions League final to come but at the back of their minds they must be thinking ‘what if we just end up with the Carabao Cup?’ 1-1
Leeds v Chelsea (19:30 BST – Wednesday)
Leeds were frantic and frenzied against Arsenal on Sunday, and it didn’t help them very much.
They might have lost that game anyhow, but to be beaten the way they were was not a good sign for a team that is now in the thick of a relegation scrap.
Chelsea are not exactly in convincing form themselves. They threw away a 2-0 lead against Wolves on Saturday and are now looking over their shoulders at Arsenal and Spurs when they should already have their Champions League spot secured.
That doesn’t really help Leeds much, to be honest, because instead of looking ahead to the FA Cup final this weekend, the Blues need to get something from this game.
Chelsea are far from reliable at the moment but they have got some excellent players in their side.
In among the hurly burly I am expecting from Leeds, enough of that Blues quality should shine through.
Lawro’s prediction: 0-2
Majestic’s prediction: This is a huge game, even before you consider the history and rivalry behind this fixture. Leeds really need something and they are at Elland Road. Chelsea are the better team but to make their season a success they will want a trophy so will their minds be on Wembley? 1-1
Joel’s prediction: I know we can still catch Chelsea but after seeing us beat Leeds on Sunday I don’t think Chelsea will have too many problems here. I think they are going to slam them. 1-3
Leicester v Norwich (19:45 BST – Wednesday)
I thought that because Norwich were already down, they might have just gone out against West Ham on Sunday and played with a bit of freedom – but that didn’t happen. Instead, the Canaries just got taken apart.
Leicester lost too, despite putting a strong team out against Everton. I’d tipped the Toffees to win, but that was because I thought Leicester would rest a few players after playing in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
I was wrong about their line-up but we saw again how Brendan Rodgers’ side just cannot defend set-pieces, whoever is in their side. They should still have too much for Norwich though.
Lawro’s prediction: 2-0
Majestic’s prediction: Leicester have had such a strange season and have not won any of their past five league games, but I can see them making a point with a much better performance here. 3-0
Joel’s prediction: 2-1
Watford v Everton (19:45 BST – Wednesday)
Everton are going for their third win on the spin. If they get it, they would be very close to being sure of staying up – they are playing well anyway, and their application is completely different to how it was earlier in the campaign.
It’s a good time for them to be playing Watford too. We already know Hornets boss Roy Hodgson is leaving in the summer and it appears many of their players are thinking the same thing.
Watford have lost their past 11 home games and I’m not sure they will put up much of a fight.
Lawro’s prediction: 0-2
Majestic’s prediction: Funnily enough I fancy Watford here. Everton are on this great run but they have been so topsy-turvy and I think there is going to be another spanner in the works for them. 2-1
Joel’s prediction: Everton need a win and I think they will get it – there will be some drama though. 2-3
Wolves v Man City (20:15 BST – Wednesday)
Manchester City are missing a few defenders through injury but, even if Fernandinho has to fill in at the back, I still think they will be OK at Molineux.
I don’t know what has happened to Wolves, because they are usually difficult to play against and I wouldn’t describe them as being that way at the moment.
I know they came back to rescue a draw with Chelsea on Saturday, but that was more down to a wobble by the Blues than anything else.
City’s run-in is probably a little bit more difficult than Liverpool’s, with Sunday’s trip to West Ham probably the most difficult game of the lot, but the Reds have to play an extra game in the next fortnight, because they are in the FA Cup final on Saturday – so I think it evens itself out.
Lawro’s prediction: 0-2
Majestic’s prediction: City are just too good. With the Champions League gone, the title is their only focus and they will go for the jugular. 0-3
Joel’s prediction: Just as with Liverpool’s game at Villa on Tuesday, I just think we will see City slip-up here. 2-2
Tottenham v Arsenal (19:45 BST – Thursday)
I am not really expecting a good match here in the usual sense because it will be played at 100mph but it will be a good one to watch even if the quality is not there.
Tottenham are the team who have to win, but it is going to be interesting to see how Arsenal approach it. They don’t find it easy to control most games, let alone games like this one where there will be loads of bookings and maybe not much football played.
I don’t actually think there will be that many goals either, and it is very hard to pick a winner.
Lawro’s prediction: 1-1
Majestic’s prediction: Arsenal are going to score, but we are going to win. If we score one, a couple more will follow because that is the way we are at the moment. If we can get in front and they come at us, that is where the gaps come. 3-1
Joel’s prediction: I see a lot of goals, and a lot of drama but of course I am going to back Arsenal to come out on top. I fancy Eddie Nketiah to score again, because he is on fire at the moment. 2-3
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