Premier League predictions: Lawro v AJ & Curtis Pritchard

Published on: 12 March 2020

BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

This week he is up against Strictly Come Dancing star AJ Pritchard and brother Curtis.

The dance duo will make their predictions on Friday

Premier League predictions - week 30

Result Lawro AJ & Curtis

SATURDAY

Watford v Leicester x-x 0-2 *

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace x-x 1-1

Brighton v Arsenal x-x 2-0

Man City v Burnley x-x 3-0

Newcastle v Sheff Utd x-x 2-0

Norwich v Southampton x-x 2-0

Aston Villa v Chelsea x-x 0-2

SUNDAY

West Ham v Wolves x-x 2-1

Tottenham v Man Utd x-x 1-2

MONDAY

Everton v Liverpool x-x 1-1

*AJ and Curtis will make their predictions on Friday.

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

Watford v Leicester (12:30 GMT)

Leicester looked like they were back on top form when they took Aston Villa apart on Monday night, and that is a bad sign for Watford.

The Hornets got that great win over Liverpool but they did not follow it up against Crystal Palace last weekend, and this is going to be a tough afternoon for them.

Lawro's prediction: 0-2

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace

Bournemouth are still in the thick of the scrap at the bottom, although I was impressed with their performance in their defeat at Anfield last time out.

Three successive 1-0 wins have propelled Crystal Palace away from the relegation zone and, with 39 points, they look like they are already safe with nine games to go.

Palace's situation would allow them to play with a little bit more freedom than usual, but I am not sure Roy Hodgson will let that happen.

Lawro's prediction: 1-1

Brighton v Arsenal

Brighton have drawn five of their past seven games, including the impressive point they picked up at Wolves last time out, and are inching their way to safety one week at a time.

The Seagulls have been playing well and seem to have turned into a team that does not give much away - they don't concede many goals.

They still have not won since 28 December, but I have a feeling their wait will end here - which would be massive for them.

I know Arsenal have won their past three league games but they rode their luck against West Ham last week and there are not yet at the stage where I completely trust them.

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Man City v Burnley

Manchester City did not play well against Manchester United last weekend and it was a reminder that, as good as they are going forward, they still have a problem at the back.

It is a basic problem too - Nicolas Otamendi is so rash. He doesn't just look like he is capable of making a mistake every minute - he actually does.

Pep Guardiola's side usually batter Burnley, though - City have won eight of their nine meetings while he has been in charge, and they drew the other one.

Burnley made it seven league games unbeaten when they drew with Tottenham last week, but I am expecting that run to end on Saturday because City will be back on it.

Lawro's prediction: 3-0

Newcastle v Sheff Utd

Sheffield United's success story this season just keeps going on and on.

But Newcastle have made a habit recently of nicking wins - they did it again at Southampton last week - and I am going to tip them to do the same this time.

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Norwich v Southampton

This is a massive game for Norwich. I don't give them much hope of staying up but they need to win their home games to have any chance.

Southampton are 14th, with 34 points from 29 games. They have lost four of their past five matches. "They only need a win to be safe," says Lawro.

Form-wise, Norwich have been in marginally better shape than Southampton since Danny Ings' goals started to dry up - but the difference is that Saints have got points in the bag.

I fancy the Canaries here, though. One thing they always do at Carrow Road is have a real go at the opposition and create a load of chances.

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Aston Villa v Chelsea (17:30)

Aston Villa are in trouble - big trouble. Individual mistakes are costing them in a big way and they seem to be making them at crucial times in games.

I did not think they would be so deep in the mire but they have not been able to address their main problem. That is at the back, where they have conceded an average of two goals a game in the Premier League this season.

It means they usually need to score at least three a week to win, and if that is the case you are not going to get very far.

Villa have been looking to Jack Grealish for inspiration at the other end but, as good as he is, he has not been able to rouse them.

Chelsea blow hot and cold but, when they get it right going forward, they are hard to stop.

Put it this way - I don't see Villa keeping them out.

Lawro's prediction: 0-2

SUNDAY

West Ham v Wolves (14:00)

We know how good Wolves are but if West Ham play as well as they did in their defeat at Arsenal last week, they will win.

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

Tottenham v Man Utd (16:30)

Tottenham have gone six games without a win and it is hard to see them ending that run on Sunday.

They are so poor at the back, and they give a lot of goals away. I don't think Jose Mourinho knows how to sort that out, either.

It is going to be very tough for Mourinho against his former side. Manchester United suddenly look like a team now, from front to back. I am expecting them to finish the season strongly.

United do not concede many - they have kept eight clean sheets in their past 10 games - and are playing with purpose because they have a formation that really works.

Lawro's prediction: 1-2

MONDAY

Everton v Liverpool (20:00)

I am at this game for BBC Radio 5 Live and I would not be surprised if it ends up being played behind closed doors because of coronavirus fears.

I don't think the Premier League has much choice about going behind closed doors, if they want to get the season finished.

If that is the case, it will be very weird. Of all the times when Everton would want the backing of their supporters, it could be that this game is played in an alien environment.

If the fans are allowed in, Goodison Park will be rocking for two reasons - firstly, Liverpool are the enemy, but also because Everton have their own point to prove after losing 4-0 at Chelsea on Sunday.

One way or another, whether the stadiums stay empty or the season is suspended for a few weeks, it is just a matter of time before Liverpool win the title.

Everyone is asking 'how will they celebrate?' if they cannot get into the ground where and when the title is won but, after waiting 30 years to see it happen, I am sure Liverpool supporters will not mind waiting a few extra weeks for the party.

Lawro's prediction: 1-1

Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

How did Lawro do last time?

Last weekend, Lawro predicted six correct results, including two exact scores, from 10 Premier League games for a total of 120 points.

He beat singer Tom Grennan, who got four correct results, with no exact scores, for a total of 40 points.

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

TEAM P W D L PTS +/-

1 Liverpool 29 26 3 0 81 0

2 Man City 28 26 1 1 79 0

3 Chelsea 29 21 4 4 67 +1

4 Tottenham 29 18 6 5 60 +4

=5 Arsenal 28 13 8 7 47 +4

=5 Leicester 29 14 5 10 47 -2

7 Man Utd 29 12 8 9 44 -2

8 Burnley 29 12 5 12 41 +2

9 Wolves 29 12 4 40 40 -3

10 West Ham 29 11 5 13 38 +6

11 Everton 29 10 7 12 37 +1

12 Watford 29 10 5 14 35 +5

13 Aston Villa 28 10 4 15 34 +6

14 Bournemouth 29 10 2 17 32 +4

15 Newcastle 29 9 3 17 30 -2

16 Sheff Utd 28 7 4 17 25 -9

=17 Crystal Palace 29 6 6 17 24 -6

=17 Southampton 29 7 3 19 24 -3

19 Brighton 29 7 2 20 23 -4

20 Norwich 29 2 7 20 13 0

GUEST LEADERBOARD 2019-20

Score Guest leaderboard

160 Gabriel Luna

140 Arnold Schwarzenegger

110 Daisy May and Charlie Cooper

100 Adam Peaty

90 Avelino, Helen Housby, Jo Harten, Bobby Seagull, Geraint Thomas

80 Tom Davis, Andy Murray, Stephen Graham

74 Lawro (average after 29 weeks)

70 David Baddiel, Richard Hawley, Kojo, Michael Johnson, Craig Mitch, Alex Scott

60 Sonny Bill Williams, Georgia, Katie Ormerod, Serge from Kasabian, Stefan Ratchford

50 Chelcee Grimes, Reece Parkinson, Sam Warburton

40 Stephen Fry, Hugh Grant, Tom Grennan, Neil Jones, Tommy O'Dell, Steve Queralt

30 Matthew McConaughey, Seth Rollins

20 Sam Bird

Total scores after week 29

Lawro 2,160

Guests 1,940

Lawro v Guests

P29 W18 D3 L8

Source: bbc.com

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