Premier League predictions: Lawro v rapper and Arsenal fan Wretch 32
- Published
Jose Mourinho parked the bus last time he took Manchester United to Anfield, but what will he do when he returns on Saturday?
BBC Sport football expert Mark Lawrenson is expecting United to have a more ambitious approach, but not by much.
Lawro said: "United are a better team now than they were last year, and I don't see them being as negative in their outlook as they were this time last year.
"But he is never going to send them out all guns blazing. Sadio Mane is injured, but Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho will do some damage for Liverpool if United give them space, so I think Mourinho will set up his side to stop that happening."
Lawro is going for a 1-1 draw - do you agree? You can make your own predictions now, take on Lawro and other fans, create your own league and try to make it to the top of the table by playing the new-look BBC Sport Predictor game.
Lawro picked up 110 points in week seven, which saw him climb to 11,088th place out of a total of more than 225,000 users.
He will be making a prediction for all 380 top-flight games this season, against a variety of guests.
Lawro's opponent for this weekend's fixtures is rapper Wretch 32.
Tottenham-born Wretch 32 describes himself as a "proper Gooner", telling BBC Sport: "I've been an Arsenal fan for as long as I can remember.
"I've almost got too many heroes to mention, but I've got to start with Ian Wright. He is an absolute legend and the reason I supported Arsenal in the first place.
"I idolised him as a kid, wanted to play like him, wanted to meet him, wanted to know him, everything.
"Fast forward a few years and there are players like Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp... the list is endless."
Wretch 32 on his love for Arsenal and Ian Wright
Wretch 32 took part in the Grenfell Tower charity match at Loftus Road in September - the Game 4 Grenfell., external And he can count on some current players as fans.
"I've met quite a few," he said. "I'm quite good mates with Daniel Sturridge and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Liverpool, and Arsenal's Alex Iwobi.
"Whenever I'm doing a performance, if I am up in Liverpool or down here, then depending where the lads are they will come down and watch. It is always good fun."
Premier League predictions - week 7 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Result | Lawro | Wretch 32 | |
SATURDAY | |||
Liverpool v Man Utd | 0-0 | 1-1 | 1-2 |
Burnley v West Ham | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-0 |
Crystal Palace v Chelsea | 2-1 | 0-2 | 0-2 |
Man City v Stoke City | 7-2 | 3-0 | 1-1 |
Swansea v Huddersfield | 2-0 | 2-0 | 1-0 |
Tottenham v Bournemouth | 1-0 | 2-0 | 1-0 |
Watford v Arsenal | 2-1 | 0-2 | 0-3 |
SUNDAY | |||
Brighton v Everton | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-1 |
Southampton v Newcastle | 2-2 | 2-1 | 2-2 |
MONDAY | |||
Leicester v West Brom | 1-1 | 2-0 | 2-0 |
A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.
Remember you can try to beat Lawro yourself by playing the BBC Sport Predictor game.
LAWRO'S PREDICTIONS
All kick-offs 15:00 BST unless otherwise stated.
SATURDAY
Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd
Lawro's prediction: 1-1
Wretch 32's prediction: I think this will be a very close game but United will take it. Liverpool have been playing well but United are on fire right now. 1-2
Crystal Palace 2-1 Chelsea
Lawro's prediction: 0-2
Wretch 32's prediction: Sorry to my mate 'Punch' [Palace winger Jason Puncheon] but I am going for Chelsea, because I don't think Palace will cope with their attack. 0-2
Man City 7-2 Stoke
Lawro's prediction: 3-0
Wretch 32's prediction: I don't think anyone else in the Premier League has a set of forwards to compare with Manchester City, but I think this one will end up a draw - or at least I hope so anyway. 1-1
Tottenham 1-0 Bournemouth
Lawro's prediction: 2-0
Wretch 32's prediction: The world will probably hate me for saying this but I have to be honest - Spurs will win. 1-0
Watford 2-1 Arsenal
Lawro's prediction: 0-2
Wretch 32's prediction: I am going for a 3-0 win - to Arsenal, of course. Arsene Wenger in or out? Wenger in for this season and then next season, we will sort it out.
SUNDAY
Brighton 1-1 Everton
Lawro's prediction: 1-1
Wretch 32's prediction: Everton will take this and Rooney will score the winner. 0-1
MONDAY
Leicester 1-1 West Brom
Lawro's prediction: 2-0
Wretch 32's prediction: Jamie Vardy will get at least one goal, and Leicester will win. 2-0
Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
How did Lawro do last time?
In the round of fixtures before the international break, Lawro got five correct results, including two perfect scores, from 10 matches, for a total of 110 points.
He lost out to Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett, who got seven results correct with two perfect scores, for a total of 160 points.
Total scores after week 7 | |
|---|---|
Lawro | 570 |
Guests | 510 |
Lawro v Guests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
P7 | W3 | D0 | L4 |
SCORE | GUEST LEADERBOARD |
|---|---|
160 | Chris Shiflett |
120 | Will Poulter |
81 | Lawro (average after seven weeks) |
70 | Brendan Foster*, Mark Strong |
60 | Non Stanford |
50 | Steve Cram, Channing Tatum, Osi Umenyiora and Jason Bell |
*Foster and Cram both provided predictions on week one, but only Foster's score contributes to the guest total.
Lawro's best score: 120 points (week one v Foster and Cram)
Lawro's worst score: 40 points (week four v Umenyiora and Bell, and week five v Non Stanford)
+/- DENOTE POSITION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAWRO'S TABLE AND ACTUAL POSITION | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | PTS | +/- |
1 | Man Utd | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 | +1 |
2 | Tottenham | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 19 | +1 |
3 | Man City | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 17 | -2 |
4 | Arsenal | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 16 | +1 |
5 | Liverpool | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 15 | +2 |
6 | Bournemouth | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 13 | +13 |
7 | Chelsea | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 12 | -3 |
8 | Southampton | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | +4 |
9 | West Ham | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 9 | +6 |
10 | Burnley | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | -4 |
11 | Crystal Palace | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | +9 |
12 | Everton | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | +4 |
13 | Leicester | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | +4 |
14 | West Brom | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | -4 |
15 | Stoke | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -2 |
16 | Swansea | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6 | +2 |
17 | Brighton | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | -3 |
18 | Watford | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | -10 |
19 | Huddersfield | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | -8 |
20 | Newcastle | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | -11 |