Premier League predictions: Lawro v comedian, author and Chelsea fan David Baddiel
- Published
Arsenal's long wait for a win is over, but how will they fare on Sunday when they host a Manchester City side still stinging from last weekend's derby defeat?
"The Gunners did well to come back from a goal down to beat West Ham on Monday, but that does not mean their problems are over," said BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson.
"They still have huge issues at the back and the fact they beat a struggling West Ham team does not change that.
"Whoever is in charge, things are not going to improve overnight.
"What interim boss Freddie Ljungberg seems to be trying to do is put a smile back on everyone's face. That is the right thing at this stage, so the players are enjoying themselves again, but I do not see them beating City."
Lawro is making predictions for all 380 top-flight matches this season, against a variety of guests.
This week he is up against comedian and author David Baddiel, who is touring with his new show 'Trolls: Not the Dolls'.
Baddiel has been a season ticket holder at Stamford Bridge for 30 years
Baddiel, who co-wrote England football anthem 'Three Lions' with fellow comic Frank Skinner and Ian Broudie of the Lightning Seeds, is a Chelsea fan and is enjoying life under Blues boss Frank Lampard.
He told BBC Sport: "I like what is happening at Chelsea at the moment.
"After having to deal with the transfer ban last summer, Frank built a really good team with the players he had. Now that has been lifted I think it is a good time at the club.
"We have got a really good core of players as it is, plus people like Ruben Loftus-Cheek coming back from injury.
"The young players are doing very well, Frank has sorted out the balance in midfield and if we could add a couple of big players to that - maybe a striker and one or two to shore up the defence - then I think we are going to be the team next season."
Premier League predictions - week 17 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Result | Lawro | David | |
SATURDAY | |||
Liverpool v Watford | 2-0 | 3-0 | 4-1 |
Burnley v Newcastle | 1-0 | 2-0 | 2-2 |
Chelsea v Bournemouth | 0-1 | 2-0 | 3-0 |
Leicester v Norwich | 1-1 | 3-0 | 3-1 |
Sheff Utd v Aston Villa | 2-0 | 2-1 | 1-0 |
Southampton v West Ham | 0-1 | 2-1 | 2-2 |
SUNDAY | |||
Man Utd v Everton | 1-1 | 2-0 | 2-1 |
Wolves v Tottenham | 1-2 | 0-2 | 1-2 |
Arsenal v Man City | 0-3 | 0-2 | 2-3 |
MONDAY | |||
Crystal Palace v Brighton | 1-1 | 2-1 | 1-0 |
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
Liverpool 2-0 Watford
Lawro's prediction: 3-0
David's prediction: This is quite an easy one to start with - top versus bottom, and Liverpool are playing brilliantly while Watford are not. 4-1
Burnley 1-0 Newcastle
Chelsea 0-1 Bournemouth
Leicester 1-1 Norwich
Sheff Utd 2-0 Aston Villa
Southampton 0-1 West Ham
Lawro's prediction: 2-1
David's prediction: 2-2
SUNDAY
Man Utd 1-1 Everton
Wolves 1-2 Tottenham
Arsenal 0-3 Man City
MONDAY
Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton
Lawro's prediction: 2-1
David's prediction: 1-0
Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
How did Lawro do last week?
From the midweek fixtures, Lawro got five correct results, including two exact scores for a total of 110 points.
He beat University Challenge star Bobby Seagull, who got six correct results, but with one exact score, for a total of 90 points.
+/- DENOTE POSITION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAWRO'S TABLE AND ACTUAL POSITION | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TEAM | P | W | D | L | PTS | +/- | |
1 | Man City | 16 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 45 | +2 |
2 | Liverpool | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 44 | -1 |
3 | Tottenham | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 37 | +4 |
4 | Chelsea | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 36 | 0 |
5 | Arsenal | 16 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 31 | +5 |
6 | Leicester | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 28 | -4 |
7 | Man Utd | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 26 | -1 |
8 | Burnley | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 21 | +5 |
9 | West Ham | 16 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 20 | +7 |
=10 | Aston Villa | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 19 | +7 |
=10 | Everton | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 19 | +4 |
=10 | Wolves | 16 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 19 | -4 |
13 | Watford | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 18 | +7 |
14 | Bournemouth | 16 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 17 | +1 |
15 | Newcastle | 16 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 16 | -4 |
16 | Brighton | 16 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 14 | -4 |
17 | Southampton | 16 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 12 | +1 |
=18 | Crystal Palace | 16 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 11 | -8 |
=18 | Sheff Utd | 16 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 11 | -10 |
20 | Norwich | 16 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 6 | -1 |
GUEST LEADERBOARD 2019-20
Score | Guest leaderboard |
|---|---|
160 | Gabriel Luna |
140 | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
100 | Adam Peaty |
90 | Helen Housby, Jo Harten, Bobby Seagull, Geraint Thomas |
86 | Lawro (average after 16 weeks) |
80 | Andy Murray, Stephen Graham |
70 | Michael Johnson, Craig Mitch, Alex Scott |
60 | Sonny Bill Williams, Stefan Ratchford |
50 | Chelcee Grimes, Reece Parkinson, Sam Warburton |
40 | Stephen Fry, Neil Jones, Tommy O'Dell |
30 | Seth Rollins |
Total scores after week 16 | |
|---|---|
Lawro | 1,380 |
Guests | 1,180 |
Lawro v Guests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
P16 | W13 | D1 | L2 |