Premier League predictions: Lawro v singer-songwriter Mike Rosenberg aka Passenger

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Lawro's predictionsImage source, BBC Sport

How will Liverpool respond after their heavy home defeat by Manchester City when they travel to play third-placed Leicester on Saturday?

"It will be interesting to see what Liverpool do," said BBC football expert and former Reds defender Mark Lawrenson. "Firstly in terms of personnel, then how they play, and with how much energy.

"But the pressure is off for Jurgen Klopp's side now because the title has gone, so they can probably play with a bit more freedom. It also helps them that Leicester's home record is nowhere near as strong as it is on the road."

Image source, BBC Sport

Lawro is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's Premier League fixtures, he is up against singer-songwriter Mike Rosenberg, also known as Passenger.

Image source, Mila Austin
Image caption,

Passenger's first hit Let Her Go sold more than one million copies in 2013 and reached number one in 19 different countries. It has racked up 2.9 billion views on YouTube

Passenger released his latest album, Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted, in January. He is an Arsenal fan - although he admits he almost ended up supporting Sheffield Wednesday.

"My dad is from the United States and knows nothing about football so I was born into an ocean of uncertainty as far as who I support," he explained.

"I just remember watching Arsenal against Wednesday in the 1993 League Cup final. Who my team should be was hanging in the balance because I was eight, and basically it was whoever won that cup final - and then the FA Cup final between the same teams a couple of months later sealed the deal.

"So, Arsenal it was - they won both games.

"It has worked out all right for me, especially living in Brighton - I don't think there are too many Sheffield Wednesday fans down here - so it was lucky fate-wise, although it is not a particularly great time to be a Gunner now of course.

"We have had some great teams in the time I have been following Arsenal, and Arsene Wenger built two of them.

"Wenger inherited a solid foundation at the back with his first title-winners, added the likes of Patrick Vieira and Marc Overmars, and got Dennis Bergkamp to pull the strings.

"That side was class, and perhaps had more muscle, but the 'Invincibles' era of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg - and Bergkamp too of course - was just untouchable as far as winning things and playing beautiful football goes.

"What a wonderful time that was to be watching Arsenal. It's been slightly more difficult in the past few years - we have still had some fantastic players and had some wonderful moments, but it's been like watching an empire slowly fall apart."

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

This season has been a frustrating one for Arsenal fans but Passenger is convinced better times are ahead under Mikel Arteta. "The ship is starting to turn in the right direction again," he said. "It is just going to take a bit of time to build up some momentum."

Premier League predictions - week 24

Result

Lawro

Mike

SATURDAY

Leicester v Liverpool

3-1

1-1

2-1

Crystal Palace v Burnley

0-3

1-1

1-1

Man City v Tottenham

3-0

2-1

3-1

Brighton v Aston Villa

0-0

2-1

1-1

SUNDAY

Southampton v Wolves

1-2

0-1

2-2

West Brom v Man Utd

1-1

0-2

0-3

Arsenal v Leeds

4-2

2-1

3-2

Everton v Fulham

0-2

2-0

2-1

MONDAY

West Ham v Sheff Utd

3-0

2-0

3-1

Chelsea v Newcastle

2-0

2-0

2-0

A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.

LAWRO'S PREDICTIONS

SATURDAY

Image source, BBC Sport

Leicester 3-1 Liverpool

Lawro's prediction: 1-1

Mike's prediction: This is such a tough one to call. Liverpool could respond to the drubbing they got from Manchester City, but I actually think Leicester are going to beat them. 2-1

Match report

Image source, BBC Sport

Crystal Palace 0-3 Burnley

Lawro's prediction: 1-1

Mike's prediction: This has got a low-scoring draw written all over it. 1-1

Match report

Image source, BBC Sport

Man City 3-0 Tottenham

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

Mike's prediction: 3-1

Match report

Image source, BBC Sport

Brighton 0-0 Aston Villa

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

Mike's prediction: 1-1

Match report

SUNDAY

Image source, BBC Sport

Southampton 1-2 Wolves

Lawro's prediction: 0-1

Mike's prediction: 2-2

Match report

Image source, BBC Sport

West Brom 1-1 Man Utd

Lawro's prediction: 0-2

Mike's prediction: I just can't see anything other than a big win for United. 0-3

Match report

Image source, BBC Sport

Arsenal 4-2 Leeds (16:30 GMT)

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

Mike's prediction: It is potentially going to be a goal-fest. 3-2

Match report

Image source, BBC Sport

Everton v Fulham

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Mike's prediction: 2-1

Match report

MONDAY

Image source, BBC Sport

West Ham 3-0 Sheff Utd

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Mike's prediction: 3-1

Match report

Image source, BBC Sport

Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Mike's prediction: 2-0

Match report

Lawro and Mike were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

How did Lawro do last time?

From last weekend's Premier League games, Lawro got seven correct results from 10 matches, including three exact scores, for a season-best total of 160 points.

He beat BBC Morning Live presenter Gethin Jones who got three correct results, with no exact scores, giving him a total of 30 points.

Image source, BBC Sport

+/- DENOTE POSITION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAWRO'S TABLE AND ACTUAL POSITION

TEAM

P

W

D

L

PTS

+/-

1

Man City

22

18

4

0

58

0

2

Man Utd

23

18

3

2

57

0

3

Chelsea

23

17

4

2

55

+2

4

Liverpool

23

15

7

1

52

0

5

Leeds

22

16

1

5

49

+5

6

Tottenham

22

13

5

4

44

+2

=7

Arsenal

23

12

3

8

39

+4

=7

Leicester

23

12

3

8

39

-4

9

Wolves

23

7

9

7

30

+5

10

West Ham

23

8

5

10

29

-4

11

Southampton

22

8

2

12

26

+1

=12

Aston Villa

21

6

5

10

23

-3

=12

Everton

21

5

8

8

23

-5

=14

Brighton

23

6

4

13

22

+1

=14

Newcastle

23

7

1

15

22

+2

16

Burnley

22

5

6

11

21

+1

17

Crystal Palace

23

4

6

13

18

-4

18

Sheff Utd

23

4

4

15

16

+2

19

Fulham

22

3

0

19

9

-1

20

West Brom

23

0

2

21

2

-1

GUEST LEADERBOARD 2020-21

Score

Guest

110

Sister Bliss, Amy Macdonald, Steve White

90

Adam Devonshire, Becky Hill, Chris Shiflett

80

Celeste, Dan Flint, Raye

78

Lawro (average after 23 weeks)

70

Lou Cotterill, Peter Hooton

60

Caroline Weir

50

Declan McKenna, Paul Smith, Alex Sprogis, DJ Target

40

Gavin 'Mo' Edgeley

30

Rick Astley, Lewis Evans, Gethin Jones, Fraser T. Smith

20

Charlie Forbes, Dougie Payne

0

Rema

Total scores after week 23

Lawro

1,790

Guests

1,460

Lawro v Guests

P23

W14

D1

L8