Mark Lawrenson’s Premier League predictions are revealed as we look forward to the next round of matches of this exciting season.
The former Preston, Brighton, Liverpool and Ireland footballer, turned Oxford and Peterborough manager, now a BBC Sport ‘football expert’, often reveals who he’s backing and can change up the Premier League table.
Lawro, along with actor and Crystal Palace fan Jim Piddock, have now given their Premier League predictions for the matches taking place over the next few days, take a look at what they went with…
Liverpool v Watford
Performances don’t matter now for Liverpool or Manchester City – results are all that matter from here in the title race.
Liverpool have won their past nine league games but they have to forget all the noise and just focus on winning this one. Their task on Saturday will be to break down Watford because we know exactly how Roy Hodgson will set the Hornets up.
I don’t think the Reds will have too much trouble there, though.
Watford got a good win last time out – at Southampton on 13 March – but we have seen them flicker into life before and then put in a disappointing display in their next game. I’d be very surprised if they held out for 90 minutes at Anfield.
Lawro’s prediction: 3-0
Jim’s prediction: 4-0
Brighton v Norwich
Watford have given themselves a glimmer of hope of staying up, but I don’t think Norwich have got a chance now.
The Canaries had a bounce under Dean Smith in January but they have lost their past six games and we pretty much know where they will be playing next season, even if it is not mathematically certain yet.
Brighton’s current form is actually just as bad – they have lost six in a row too – and only scored once during that run.
This is Norwich they are playing, though. If the Seagulls are going to break their scoring hoodoo then they will do it at home, against the bottom side.
I am actually tipping them to score twice on Saturday, which might sound unlikely, but if Norwich go 1-0 down they have to go for it and that would increase Brighton’s chances of getting another one. Well, that’s my theory anyway!
Lawro’s prediction: 2-0
Jim’s prediction: Palace fans are going to hate me for this but I have never really seen Brighton as our rivals. I get it, but because I go way back I have always felt Millwall and Charlton are more our rivals. So I don’t have any particular grudge against Brighton. However, that said, I love it when we beat them! 2-0
Burnley v Man City
Turf Moor will always be seen as one of those grounds which is ‘a difficult place to go’, but if you are going to win the league then by hook or by crook, you go there and win.
Burnley will give it everything they have got, of course…
…but this City side have been in this situation many times under Pep Guardiola and I’d back them to come back with the three points.
Lawro’s prediction: 0-2
Jim’s prediction: 0-3
Chelsea v Brentford
Brentford lost at Leicester before the international break but the two wins they got before that mean they have some breathing space above the bottom three.
I’m not surprised Ivan Toney has started scoring again now Christian Eriksen is in the Bees team, because he must be a joy for any striker to play with. It sounds simple but Eriksen puts the ball where the player wants it and the chances he creates means they will win plenty more games too.
Not this one, though. Chelsea have hit a decent bit of form despite everything that is happening at the club off the field and their forwards have started scoring again too.
Lawro’s prediction: 2-0
Jim’s prediction: 1-0
Leeds v Southampton
Having Patrick Bamford out injured again is a big blow for Leeds but at least they have a bit of momentum now after winning their past two games.
Their 3-2 victory at Wolves last time out was a crazy game but a great watch – and you just know Jesse Marsch’s side will have a real go again at Elland Road this time.
It’s hard to know what to expect from Southampton because they seem to go from being on a very good run to being on a very bad one. An entertaining draw probably isn’t a bad shout.
Lawro’s prediction: 1-1
Jim’s prediction: 2-2
Wolves v Aston Villa
I’m going for another draw here.
Villa have lost nine of their 11 games against the teams above them in the table so far this season…
…but they are only one place below Wolves and these two teams are pretty well-matched, quality-wise.
Lawro’s prediction: 1-1
Jim’s prediction: 0-0
Man Utd v Leicester
Manchester United’s last game was pretty typical for their season – they beat Tottenham 3-2 in a thriller but didn’t play particularly well and a brilliant individual performance by Cristiano Ronaldo got them out of jail.
Nothing that United do at the moment is especially convincing but the quality they have in their team means you think they have to get it right at some point – and they are still chasing fourth place so they have plenty to play for.
That’s why I’m backing them to beat Leicester, who can’t find any consistency themselves. The Foxes won at Old Trafford last season but they were having a very different campaign then.
Lawro’s prediction: 2-0
Jim’s prediction: 2-0
West Ham v Everton
My feeling is there may well be three worse teams than Everton who will go down instead of them. That is the only thing keeping them out of the relegation zone at the moment anyway.
Defensively, they just aren’t good enough. Individually and collectively, they make too many mistakes and if you can’t defend in the Premier League then you have got no chance, particularly away from home.
West Ham, in contrast, are solid even when they don’t play particularly well. They lost at Tottenham last time out, but that game was only a couple of days after they had got past Sevilla in the Europa League, which was brilliant for them.
Lawro’s prediction: 2-1
Jim’s prediction: 3-1
Tottenham v Newcastle
I just have a feeling Newcastle could have an indifferent run now.
The Magpies have lost their last two games and it worries me a bit that one or two of their players might think the job is done and they are safe.
It probably is, but they still need to maintain their form and show manager Eddie Howe they can be relied upon, on a regular basis and not just in a short burst.
So these next few games will be interesting and might tell us something about the characters in the Newcastle squad.
As for Tottenham, well I think they will win this game, but I still wouldn’t be confident about their chances of making the top four.
There always seems to be poor performance around the corner, when they look like a team who have just met for the first time. It’s what Spurs do.
Lawro’s prediction: 2-0
Jim’s prediction: 3-1
Crystal Palace v Arsenal
Arsenal have found a bit of steel that has got them through some tight games, especially away from home, and they will need more of the same here because Crystal Palace are playing well at the moment.
I love the way the Eagles play under Vieira – they are very structured, but in a fluid way, and their attacks come from either side with lots of width.
They will cause the Gunners lots of problems but Mikel Arteta’s side are dangerous too. This should be a really good game and a very close one as well.
Lawro’s prediction: 1-1
Jim’s prediction: After this game I’m going on the Highbury Squad podcast with Kevin Campbell so if we lose they are going to give me a lot of stick! As far my prediction goes, I’m playing it safe. 1-1
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