Premier League predictions: Lawro v NFL stars Mohamed Sanu and Ryan Fitzpatrick
- Published
Manchester City have three games in the next week that will "define" their title challenge, according to BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson.
City, who are five points behind leaders Liverpool, play Arsenal at home on Sunday, then travel to Everton on Wednesday and host Chelsea next weekend.
"The pressure is really on Pep Guardiola's side and they just need to forget about Liverpool because you can take them out of the equation for the moment," Lawrenson says.
"Regardless of how Liverpool do in their fixtures, this week will define whether or not City can win the league. If they win one, draw one and lose one, then things will become very difficult for them."
Lawro is making predictions for all 380 top-flight matches this season, against a variety of guests.
This week he is up against Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarter-back Ryan Fitzpatrick and Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mohamed Sanu.
Sanu (left) played in the 2017 Super Bowl when his Atlanta Falcons side lost to New England Patriots. Earlier this season, Fitzpatrick became the first NFL quarter-back to throw 400 yards in three straight games
The pair, who were in the UK this month for a NFL UK Live show, will be watching Super Bowl LIII on Sunday rather than playing in the showpiece game in Atlanta.
The BBC will bring you comprehensive coverage of Super Bowl LIII between New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams across all platforms from 22:45 GMT on Sunday, 3 February.
Super Bowl 53: Why Atlanta artist Occasional Superstar paints murals of Colin Kaepernick
Premier League predictions - week 25 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Result | Lawro | Mo | Ryan | |
SATURDAY | ||||
Tottenham v Newcastle | 1-0 | 1-1 | 3-1 | 6-3 |
Brighton v Watford | 0-0 | 2-1 | 2-2 | 2-2 |
Burnley v Southampton | 1-1 | 2-0 | 0-4 | 0-4 |
Chelsea v Huddersfield | 5-0 | 2-0 | 3-1 | 3-1 |
Crystal Palace v Fulham | 2-0 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Everton v Wolves | 1-3 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 2-1 |
Cardiff v Bournemouth | 2-0 | 0-2 | 3-3 | 3-3 |
SUNDAY | ||||
Leicester v Man Utd | 0-1 | 2-1 | 2-4 | 5-4 |
Man City v Arsenal | 3-1 | 2-0 | 2-1 | 0-1 |
MONDAY | ||||
West Ham v Liverpool | 1-1 | 0-2 | 3-2 | 3-2 |
A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.
LAWRO'S PREDICTIONS
All kick-offs 15:00 GMT unless stated.
SATURDAY
Tottenham 1-0 Newcastle
Lawro's prediction: 1-1
Mo's prediction: 3-1
Ryan's prediction: 6-3
Burnley 1-1 Southampton
Lawro's prediction: 2-0
Mo's prediction: 0-4
Ryan's prediction: 0-4
Chelsea 5-0 Huddersfield
Lawro's prediction: 2-0
Mo's prediction: 3-1
Ryan's prediction: 3-1
Crystal Palace 2-0 Fulham
Lawro's prediction: 1-1
Mo's prediction: 0-0
Ryan's prediction: 0-0
Cardiff 2-0 Bournemouth
Lawro's prediction: 0-2
Mo's prediction: 3-3
Ryan's prediction: 3-3
SUNDAY
Leicester 0-1 Man Utd
Even if they lose, United will still be right in the hunt for a top-four place along with Arsenal and Chelsea but who finishes where in that mini-league is not going to be decided until the last half-dozen games.
Lawro's prediction: 2-1
Mo's prediction: 2-4
Ryan's prediction: 5-4
MONDAY
West Ham 1-1 Liverpool
Lawro's prediction: 0-2
Mo's prediction: 3-2
Ryan's prediction: 3-2
Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
How did Lawro do last time?
There were some what Lawro described as "bonkers" results in the midweek Premier League games, and he got two correct results, with no perfect scores, from 10 matches, for a total of 20 points - his lowest score of the season
He drew with Grime star Yizzy, who also got two correct results, with no exact scores, for a total of 20 points, that leaves him bottom of the guest leaderboard.
Total scores after week 24 | |
|---|---|
Lawro | 2,010 |
Guests | 1,810 |
Lawro v Guests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
P24 | W11 | D3 | L10 |
+/- DENOTE POSITION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAWRO'S TABLE AND ACTUAL POSITION | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TEAM | P | W | D | L | PTS | +/- | |
1 | Man City | 24 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 66 | +1 |
2 | Man Utd | 24 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 63 | +4 |
3 | Liverpool | 24 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 54 | -2 |
4 | Tottenham | 24 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 51 | -1 |
5 | Chelsea | 24 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 49 | 0 |
6 | Arsenal | 24 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 39 | -2 |
7 | Everton | 24 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 38 | -1 |
8 | Leicester | 24 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 37 | +3 |
9 | Newcastle | 24 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 32 | +3 |
10 | Burnley | 24 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 30 | +7 |
11 | Fulham | 24 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 28 | +8 |
=12 | Watford | 24 | 8 | 3 | 13 | 27 | -3 |
=12 | Wolves | 24 | 8 | 3 | 13 | 27 | -5 |
14 | Bournemouth | 24 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 26 | -4 |
15 | West Ham | 24 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 24 | -3 |
16 | Crystal Palace | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 23 | -1 |
17 | Southampton | 24 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 21 | -1 |
18 | Cardiff | 24 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 14 | 0 |
=19 | Brighton | 24 | 2 | 7 | 15 | 13 | -6 |
=19 | Huddersfield | 24 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 13 | +1 |
GUEST LEADERBOARD 2018-19
SCORE | GUEST LEADERBOARD |
|---|---|
160 | David Ginola |
140 | The 1975's Ross MacDonald |
120 | Joe Thomas |
110 | Yatez |
90 | Jim Glennie, Mario Hezonja, Karl Pilkington, Chris Stark |
84 | Lawro (average after 24 weeks) |
80 | Richard Ashcroft, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Greg James, Mark Wahlberg |
60 | Idris Elba, Dolph Lundgren, Mumford & Sons, Dillian Whyte |
50 | Bring Me The Horizon, Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Theo Ellis |
40 | Tom Grennan, Josh Warrington |
30 | Oti Mabuse |
20 | Yizzy |
Lawro's best score: 260 points (week seven v Karl Pilkington)
Lawro's worst score: 20 points (week 24 v Grime star Yizzy)