Premier League predictions: Lawro v indie band James – BBC Sport

BBC Sport’s football expert Mark Lawrenson is pitting his wits against a different guest each week this season.

Lawro’s opponent for this weekend’s Premier League fixtures are Jim Glennie and Saul Davies of indie band James.

Bassist Glennie is a Manchester City fan from Moss Side with fond childhood memories of Maine Road.

Glennie told BBC Sport: “For some reason they used to open the main exit gates at half-time, so a load of us kids just used to wait and get in for free.

“I do miss Maine Road, it is hard to leave the nostalgia behind and remember the harsh realities of some of the rougher edges of a venue like that but it was an amazing place with so much history.

“You have to start that again when you move somewhere else. It was difficult when we went to Etihad Stadium in 2003 – the atmosphere was odd. It has taken a long time, but it is much better now.”

Guitarist Davies is a Barcelona fan who fell in love with the late Johan Cruyff’s team twice – once when he watched him as a player at Anfield in 1976 and then when he saw the team he managed at the Nou Camp in the 1990s.

Davies explained: “That game at Anfield was a turning point in my life really because I was suddenly able to touch something that felt very far away when I lived in the north of Scotland and didn’t have a TV – everything came through the radio – but suddenly it was there in front of me.

“I stopped going to football in the 1980s because the atmosphere at games got really nasty. I got into music and girls instead.

“Then I moved to Barcelona because of a girl and her brother asked me to go to the Nou Camp to watch a pre-season game. Cruyff had amazing players like Romario and Hristo Stoichkov in his team and the reasons I loved football came flooding back.”

You can hear more from both members of James on Football Focus at 12:10 BST on Saturday on BBC One and the BBC Sport website.

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

In the last round of Premier League games before the international break, Lawro got five correct results from 10 matches, with one perfect score for a total of 80 points.

He lost to BBC athletics commentator Steve Cram, who got five results correct, with two perfect scores, to go joint top of the guest leaderboard with 110 points.

Make your own predictions now, compare them to Lawro and other fans and try to take your team to the top of the leaderboard by playing the BBC Sport Predictor game.

LAWRO’S PREDICTIONS

All kick-offs 15:00 BST unless otherwise stated

SATURDAY

Aston Villa v Chelsea (12:45 BST)

It is all unravelling at Aston Villa, with manager Remi Garde the latest to go. He is probably better off out of there.

The most telling thing about Garde’s brief time in charge was that he was unable to sign a player in the January transfer window – what kind of statement is that from the club? It is basically saying ‘we don’t trust you’.

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Who will be Villa’s next manager? Nigel Pearson would be a good fit to get them back up out of the Championship but, whoever it is, they will have an awful lot of rebuilding to do and the only way they will get out of that division is if they are able to buy and sell players themselves.

As far as Saturday goes, it will be interesting to see the atmosphere at Villa Park but I don’t see the result as being in much doubt.

Lawro’s prediction: 0-2

James’ prediction: (Saul) Villa are almost down mathematically now but I don’t think Chelsea have got much to play for either. 1-1

Arsenal v Watford

Watford knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup and are in the semi-finals but the Hornets’ league form has been poor – they have won only two out of 13 Premier League games since Boxing Day.

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I think Arsenal will come on a late run now, as they tend to do – but it is too late for them as far as the title is concerned.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-0

James’ prediction: (Jim) It pains me to say it, because I am desperately hoping the teams around City do as badly as us to help us make the top four, but I think Arsenal are going to win. 1-0

Bournemouth v Man City

Bournemouth are safe and will have a real go at City, whose form has been horrendous on the road.

After winning their first three away games of the season, Manuel Pellegrini’s side have taken just 11 points from a possible 33 on the road, and have scored only seven goals in their last 11 away games.

The way City are playing at the moment, it is hard to see them improving on that too much at Vitality Stadium.

Lawro’s prediction: 1-1

James’ prediction: The way City are playing anything could happen, but I think we will squeak it. 1-2

Norwich v Newcastle

I was at the Republic of Ireland’s friendly draw with Slovakia where Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliott was injured, and I am still not sure who will replace him for the Magpies on Saturday.

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Newcastle’s defence is the biggest reason they are in the bottom three so, whoever does come in to play in goal, where is he going to get any confidence from? Good luck with that one.

Norwich’s win at West Brom before the international break was massive, and just what they needed to set them up for the games they have coming up against the teams around them.

After playing Newcastle, the Canaries are away at Crystal Palace (9 April) then home to Sunderland (16 April).

At the very least, their aim will be to come through those three games unbeaten but, on Saturday, I fancy them to do better than that.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-1

James’ prediction: (Saul) This is going to be fiery isn’t it? I think Newcastle will win though. 1-2

Stoke v Swansea

The Swans are not mathematically safe yet, but they are no longer in any serious danger of the drop after winning three of their last four games.

Stoke are eighth with 46 points from their first 31 games, and are on course to break their club record for their highest Premier League points tally and finishing position, which was 54 points and ninth last season.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-1

James’ prediction: (Jim) Neither of these teams have too much to play for. 1-1

Sunderland v West Brom

With Norwich and Newcastle playing each other, Sunderland desperately need to get something from this game.

If the Black Cats win and Norwich don’t then Sunderland are out of the drop zone, but if they lose and Norwich win then Sam Allardyce’s side are five points adrift of safety with seven games left.

The problem for Allardyce is that his side’s recent results have not reflected their performances – he talks a lot about their lack of clean sheets and that boils down to the way they manage games, especially when they are ahead.

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Sunderland have taken the lead in their last three games, but only picked up three points.

If they go ahead again this weekend, I don’t see West Brom lying down either, especially after losing at home to Norwich in their last game.

Lawro’s prediction: 1-1

James’ prediction: (Saul) This is a difficult one to call. Sunderland need to win but I think they will lose. 0-1

West Ham v Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace’s long wait for a league win this year continues and, while it does, they are getting dragged closer to the relegation scrap that is happening below them.

They will win somewhere – even Aston Villa have won away from home once this season – but I don’t see it happening this weekend, because West Ham have been so good at Upton Park.

After losing their first two home Premier League games of the season, the Hammers have been unbeaten there since August. I am backing them to make it four home league wins in a row on Saturday.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-1

James’ prediction: (Jim) I thought West Ham would crumble but it is not going to happen now. They deserve to be up there and I think they might knock Manchester City out of one of the Champions League spots. 2-0

Liverpool v Tottenham (17:30 GMT)

Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat against Southampton after leading 2-0 pretty much summed up how things have been under Jurgen Klopp.

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There is lots of promise and you can see green shoots of recovery and then something happens to make you go ‘whoa, hold on a minute’.

When I was a player in the 1980s, when Tottenham had to cross the Watford Gap you used to just forget about them – they used to get beaten a lot when they travelled north.

There is no way you would describe them as soft touches on the road under Mauricio Pochettino, though.

They have strength and steel as well as ability and I don’t think they will come away from Anfield empty handed.

Would a draw be enough for their title hopes? With Leicester playing on Sunday, I think they would take a point and see what happens.

Pochettino is not going to go all out for a win because that would play into Liverpool’s hands, and I think avoiding defeat will be his priority. If they don’t win, then they are still in contention.

Lawro’s prediction: 1-1

James’ prediction: (Saul) Jurgen Klopp is probably still screaming at his Liverpool players for letting that lead slip against Southampton. I think they will beat Spurs. 2-1

SUNDAY

Leicester v Southampton (13:30 BST)

With Leicester duo Jamie Vardy and Danny Drinkwater starring for England this week, their confidence will be even higher than it was before the international break.

I spoke to Southampton striker Shane Long after he had played for the Republic of Ireland against Slovakia – he wasn’t moving great and had come off with a knee injury at half-time, so it will be interesting to see if he plays.

Whether Long is fit or not, I don’t think Saints are going to just sit behind the ball – they will fancy themselves to score, and their willingness to attack will help Leicester.

I said before the international break that I see Leicester as being on course to win the title and I don’t see anything in their remaining games to change that.

Yes they have to go to Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge in May, but forget the clubs they will play and look at their teams and their league position.

Manchester United are ordinary and Chelsea are poor, while Leicester are the best team in the league and have been all season.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-0

James’ prediction: (Jim) Leicester could well hold their nerve and take the title but there is going to be a lot of pressure on them in this game. I think they will squeak a draw. 1-1

Man Utd v Everton (16:00 BST)

Manchester United signed off before the international break with a great win in the Manchester derby but building on results like that has been a problem for them this season.

I just do not know what to expect from United, to be honest, but I think Everton will go there and attack.

Roberto Martinez’s side are better away from home at the moment – they have picked up 22 points on the road this season, compared to 16 at Goodison Park – and I can see them adding to that tally on Sunday.

Lawro’s prediction: 1-1

James’ prediction: (Saul) Everton have got a great team and can be amazing on their day but they keep messing up and they have no consistency. 1-1

Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.

*Does not include score for postponed games

Lawro’s best score: 160 points (week 19 v Guy Mowbray)

Lawro’s worst score: 20 points (week one v Graeme Swann & week 23 v Ice Cube and Kevin Hart)

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