Premier League predictions: Lawro v Ride bassist Steve Queralt
- Published
Liverpool appear to have the Premier League title sewn up - but can they stay unbeaten for the whole season?
BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson does not often back the Reds to lose, but he thinks it is a big ask for Jurgen Klopp's side to emulate the 'Invincibles' of Preston in 1888-89 and Arsenal in 2003-04.
"They will win the league early, and if they are still in the Champions League then Klopp will make that the priority," Lawrenson said.
"Klopp is not bothered about records. He just wants to win the league, and whatever else he can get his hands on."
Lawro is making predictions for all 380 top-flight matches this season, against a variety of guests.
This week he is up against Ride bassist and Tottenham fan Steve Queralt.
Ride are currently on a tour of Europe and their new single 'Jump Jet' is out now
Steve grew up in Oxford but says peer pressure saw him start following Spurs, and he is now a season-ticket holder.
He told BBC Sport: "Two of my best friends were Tottenham fans so I just sort of drifted into supporting them from about the age of 10.
"The 1980s were a good time to be growing up as a Spurs fan, with Glenn Hoddle in the team. I remember going up to White Hart Lane with those two friends when we were very young - I cannot believe my parents let me do it. We used to get chips on Seven Sisters Road and walk up the High Road on our way to the game.
"It was amazing to see Hoddle. I cannot really remember much but just to say I have seen him play and, watching the clips back of games I went to - like the goal he scored against Oxford United where he feints one way and just sort of drifts through the whole defence and then the goalkeeper - they are special moments.
"He has to be my favourite Spurs player, and he was the player of the 1980s for me.
"My best moment as a Tottenham fan came last season in a bar in Amsterdam, in the Champions League.
Moura celebrates after scoring Tottenham's winner in THAT semi-final
"I did not actually get into the ground for the second leg of our semi-final against Ajax. We watched in a bar, but it was one of the greatest nights supporting Tottenham that I have ever had.
"The night before, Liverpool did the impossible when they came back from losing the first leg 3-0 to knock Barcelona out. We were 1-0 down from the first leg and thinking lightning does not strike twice.
"When we went 2-0 down on the night, I was thinking 'this is not going to happen' so to then fight back and leave it until the 96th minute to score the winner was absolutely incredible. I don't think anything will ever beat that."
Premier League predictions - week 24 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Result | Lawro | Steve | |
TUESDAY | |||
Aston Villa v Watford | 2-1 | 2-0 | 0-2 |
Bournemouth v Brighton | 3-1 | 2-1 | 1-1 |
Crystal Palace v Southampton | 0-2 | 2-1 | 1-2 |
Everton v Newcastle | 2-2 | 2-0 | 1-0 |
Sheff Utd v Man City | 0-1 | 0-2 | 1-2 |
Chelsea v Arsenal | 2-2 | 2-0 | 2-0 |
WEDNESDAY | |||
Leicester v West Ham | 4-1 | 2-1 | 3-0 |
Tottenham v Norwich | 2-1 | 2-1 | 2-0 |
Man Utd v Burnley | 0-2 | 1-1 | 2-0 |
THURSDAY | |||
Wolves v Liverpool | 1-2 | 1-1 | 2-1 |
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 19:30 GMT unless stated.
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
Tottenham 2-1 Norwich
Lawro's prediction: 2-1
Steve's prediction: I am going to this one. Norwich gave us a game at Carrow Road but I am going to have to say Spurs win - and I am going to go with a comfortable 2-0.
Manchester United 0-2 Burnley
Lawro's prediction: 1-1
Steve's prediction: Which United will show up? It has got to be a home win, and I don't think Burnley will score. 2-0
THURSDAY
Wolves 1-2 Liverpool
Lawro's prediction: 1-1
Steve's prediction: 2-1
Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
How did Lawro do last week?
Last weekend, Lawro got four correct results, with two exact scores for a total of 100 points.
He beat actor and comedian Tom Davis, who got five correct results with one exact score for a total of 80 points.
+/- DENOTE POSITION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAWRO'S TABLE AND ACTUAL POSITION | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TEAM | P | W | D | L | PTS | +/- | |
1 | Man City | 23 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 66 | +1 |
2 | Liverpool | 22 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 62 | -1 |
3 | Tottenham | 23 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 53 | +5 |
4 | Chelsea | 23 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 52 | 0 |
5 | Arsenal | 23 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 40 | +5 |
6 | Man Utd | 23 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 39 | -1 |
7 | Leicester | 23 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 35 | -4 |
=8 | Watford | 23 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 31 | +9 |
=8 | West Ham | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 31 | +8 |
10 | Burnley | 23 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 30 | +4 |
11 | Everton | 23 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 27 | 0 |
=12 | Bournemouth | 23 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 26 | +7 |
=12 | Wolves | 23 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 26 | -6 |
14 | Aston Villa | 23 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 25 | +4 |
15 | Newcastle | 23 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 23 | -3 |
16 | Southampton | 23 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 21 | -3 |
17 | Brighton | 23 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 20 | -2 |
18 | Sheff Utd | 23 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 18 | -11 |
19 | Crystal Palace | 23 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 14 | -10 |
20 | Norwich | 23 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 0 |
GUEST LEADERBOARD 2019-20
Score | Guest leaderboard |
|---|---|
160 | Gabriel Luna |
140 | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
100 | Adam Peaty |
90 | Avelino, Helen Housby, Jo Harten, Bobby Seagull, Geraint Thomas |
80 | Tom Davis, Andy Murray, Stephen Graham |
77 | Lawro (average after 23 weeks) |
70 | David Baddiel, Richard Hawley, Kojo, Michael Johnson, Craig Mitch, Alex Scott |
60 | Sonny Bill Williams, Serge from Kasabian, Stefan Ratchford |
50 | Chelcee Grimes, Reece Parkinson, Sam Warburton |
40 | Stephen Fry, Hugh Grant, Neil Jones, Tommy O'Dell |
30 | Matthew McConaughey, Seth Rollins |
Total scores after week 23 | |
|---|---|
Lawro | 1,760 |
Guests | 1,600 |
Lawro v Guests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
P23 | W15 | D2 | L6 |