Premier League predictions: Lawro v Dot Major from electro-pop band London Grammar

Chelsea are still unbeaten under new boss Thomas Tuchel – but will his impressive start continue against Manchester United on Sunday?

“I am pretty sure his remit is to get them a top-four finish, so they are back in the Champions League again next season. From what we’ve seen so far, he’s got a really good chance of doing it.”

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 Dot Major from electro-pop band London Grammar, who is a Chelsea fan.

“I’ve grown up my whole life with a Chelsea season ticket,” Dot told BBC Sport. “My dad is a big fan so I started going with him in the mid-1990s, when we’d just starting bringing big foreign stars like Ruud Gullit to the club.

“I’m from Northampton and have always followed the Cobblers on and off but we would charge down the M1 to get to Chelsea games and then on our way home I always remember lying in the back of the car hearing James Alexander Gordon read the scores out on the radio.

“Now I live in London, I still have a season ticket and am quite close to Stamford Bridge after moving further west, which is handy – or will be when we can start going to games again.

“My favourite player was always Gianfranco Zola, who was like our figurehead even if his output wasn’t as prolific as players like Eden Hazard that have followed him. But then I loved Dennis Wise as well and that whole team of Dan Petrescu and Gus Poyet was just special.”

Dot has been there to witness most of Chelsea’s many successes in the past 25 years, but two in particular stand out.

The first was at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium in April 2005, when the Blues clinched the Premier League title.

“I was in the home section and we were being really quiet when Frank Lampard put us 1-0 up, but it turned out half the stadium were Chelsea fans,” he explained. “We hadn’t won the league for 50 years so to see that was pretty amazing.

“It is still my dad’s favourite moment so it was really good to see that with him. I was 14 at the time so I didn’t really understand the significance, but I do now.”

The other was a game he wasn’t at – the 2012 Champions League final against Bayern Munich, which Chelsea won on penalties

“Even though I wasn’t in Munich, it was just amazing to see that group of players I’d grown up with finally win it,” he added. “We’d been the best team in it for a few years without going all the way, and I’d resigned myself to it never happening.

“When Didier Drogba won it for us, with what we thought at the time would be his last kick of the ball for the club, something in that moment actually changed for me as a Chelsea fan, where nothing we could do would ever mean as much to me as that did.”

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

LAWRO’S PREDICTIONS

SATURDAY

Man City v West Ham (12:30 GMT)

West Ham are flying along in fourth place and got a great win over Tottenham last weekend – they are doing so well anyway but to beat their rivals like that must have been pretty sweet.

I really like the way David Moyes has made them so solid at the back, with a well-drilled back-four and Declan Rice sitting in front of them, but this is a big test for that defence – they are going to Etihad Stadium, and obviously Manchester City are sweeping all before them and on a run on 19 straight wins.

The Hammers took a point from them at London Stadium back in October, but City look a completely different beast now.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-0

Dot’s prediction: I think the Premier League is already done. No-one is stopping City now. 3-1

West Brom v Brighton (15:00 GMT)

You could argue that last week’s results were a travesty for both of these teams.

West Brom’s 10 men could easily have won by two or three goals at Burnley, but drew 0-0. Brighton deserved a victory by a similar margin against Crystal Palace, but lost in stoppage time.

West Brom obviously need the points the most. They have improved, but it is an awfully long time since they won at home – 28 November against Sheffield United to be precise.

So, I am going for a draw here. That would be a better result for Brighton than the Baggies, but they are not out of the woods yet because they have not picked up as many points as they have deserved in recent weeks, not just against Palace.

Lawro’s prediction: 1-1

Dot’s prediction: 0-0

Leeds v Aston Villa (17:30 GMT)

Leeds were really strong against Southampton in midweek, and won without Kalvin Phillips in their team.

The only other time that has happened this season came when they beat Aston Villa in the reverse of this fixture in October. Phillips is still injured and I am going for the same outcome again this time.

I’ve talked before about how Phillips knits Leeds together and they are not the same without him – well, we found out what Villa are like without Jack Grealish when they lost to Leicester at the weekend. They looked ordinary against the Foxes.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-0

Dot’s prediction: Leeds are without Phillips and Villa have had some good away wins this season. 1-2

Newcastle v Wolves (20:00 GMT)

Newcastle are sinking like a stone. They have the pallid look of relegation about them, and it’s hard to know where their next win is coming from.

In contrast, Wolves are looking like the team they were last season, and have won their past two games. I think they will make it three in a row at St James’ Park.

Lawro’s prediction: 0-2

Dot’s prediction: 0-1

SUNDAY

Crystal Palace v Fulham (12:00 GMT)

Crystal Palace rode their luck to beat Brighton and that win put them one step closer to being sure of staying up.

Fulham are still fighting for survival and Eagles boss Roy Hodgson knows all about that – he was in charge of the Cottagers for one of the greatest escapes the Premier League has ever seen, in the 2007-08 season.

This one will be close, but I am going with Palace to edge it. I’m not writing off Fulham’s chances, though – their home game against Newcastle on the final day of the season has got last-day decider written all over it.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-1

Dot’s prediction: 1-1

Leicester v Arsenal (12:00 GMT)

Manchester City toyed with Arsenal last weekend and took it easy towards the end of their 1-0 win, which made the game look closer than it was.

Leicester, meanwhile, were impressive against Aston Villa. Their front three of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Jamie Vardy all looked really sharp, and I don’t think the Gunners will be able to handle them.

Arsenal are stuck in mid-table and this game might show what they are missing from what it takes to get in the top four.

Leicester play on the front foot and they are solid, have plenty of attacking spark and take their chances – the days where you might say they rely on Vardy to score his trademark breakaway goals are long gone.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-1

Dot’s prediction: Arsenal still have a bit of a soft centre 2-0

Tottenham v Burnley (14:00 GMT)

Both of these sides have been out of sorts recently, although Tottenham did get a good result in the Europa League on Wednesday.

It will be very interesting to see what Spurs boss Jose Mourinho does here, because when he unleased Gareth Bale off the bench last weekend, to join Harry Kane and Son Heung-min in attack in the second half, they created a lot of opportunities.

Will he revert to type here, or will he pick an extra attacking player because his side badly need a league win? I’m going to go for the latter.

I’ve never seen Burnley as easy to get at as they were against West Brom last week. They were lucky to hang on for a point against 10 men.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-0

Dot’s prediction: It has been so good to see Spurs falling apart in the past few weeks. More of the same here, hopefully. I can’t wait to see them lose the Carabao Cup final too. 0-10

Chelsea v Man Utd (16:30 GMT)

Manchester United won convincingly enough in the end against Newcastle last weekend – but they had a wobble like they do in most games.

United have been excellent on the road this season but you just know that Chelsea will make it difficult for them.

Lawro’s prediction: 1-1

Dot’s prediction: If I was being completely objective I would probably say 1-1 because these games are often really tight and tactical, but I have to go for a Chelsea win. Tuchel has done well and we are looking good for a top-four finish. 2-1

Dot on Frank Lampard’s exit: The honest truth is that I came to terms with Frank Lampard eventually being sacked on the day he was hired. We know how the club is run, in terms of hiring and firing managers, but we have always been successful so you can’t really argue with it, and nothing will ever take away what Frank did for us as a player – he is the biggest legend the club has ever had.

Sheff Utd v Liverpool (19:15 GMT)

Where do you start with Liverpool? Firstly, I have to say Everton thoroughly deserved their win at Anfield last weekend.

But, as bad as things have been for Jurgen Klopp’s side, I don’t see them slipping up again here.

Sheffield United have only won once at Bramall Lane all season and they were pretty poor in their defeat at Fulham last week too.

The Blades will know that the Reds have a weakness at the back and they really have to go for it here anyway – there is no point them playing for a draw. I just fancy Liverpool to pick them off though.

Yes, Liverpool have lost Jordan Henderson at the back to another injury, but their defensive problems won’t matter if they play like they can going forward.

Lawro’s prediction: 0-2

Dot’s prediction: I don’t see any way back for Sheffield United from here. 0-2

MONDAY

Everton v Southampton (20:00 GMT)

Saints are in a slump and this is a tough trip for them even if Danny Ings does return to their team.

Tactically, the Toffees got things spot on against Liverpool and it was pretty much the perfect all-round performance.

Now they need to follow it up. That long-awaited win at Anfield means nothing if they don’t follow it up with three points here.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-0

Dot’s prediction: Everton to build on that derby win. 1-0

Lawro and Dot were speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.

How did Lawro do last time?

From last weekend’s Premier League games, Lawro got three correct results from 10 matches, with no exact scores, for a total of 30 points.

He was beaten by Architects frontman Sam Carter who got four correct results, including one exact score, giving him a total of 70 points.

Lawro also picked up 10 points from Leeds’ 3-0 win over Southampton on Tuesday, which had been rearranged from week 18.

He went for a 2-1 Leeds win, while Cassia bassist Lou Cotterill went for a 1-1 draw.

With one game left from week 18 – Aston Villa versus Tottenham – Lawro now trails Lou and Shame drummer Charlie Forbes by 60-50. It is still down as a defeat for Lawro, for now.

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