Mark Lawrenson's Premier League predictions - BBC Sport

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

His opponent is actor and comedian Russell Brand.

Brand, 37, who lives and works in America, is a life-long West Ham supporter, and told us: "My Dad supported West Ham and his Dad supported West Ham. Everyone at my school supported West Ham. It wasn't really an optional thing."

Brand is going for his beloved Hammers to beat QPR and expects Manchester United to win at Tottenham and for Manchester City to breeze past Fulham. He also thinks Arsenal will spring another home setback for Chelsea.

You can watch Russell Brand's predictions all the way from Los Angeles on Football Focus at 12:15 GMT on Saturday on BBC One and this website (in the UK).

Predictions	Score	Lawro	Brand
SATURDAY
Liverpool v Norwich	X-X	2-0	2-1
Man City v Fulham	X-X	3-0	3-0
Newcastle v Reading	X-X	2-0	1-1
Swansea v Stoke	X-X	1-2	1-0
West Ham v QPR	X-X	1-2	2-1
Wigan v Sunderland	X-X	2-1	2-2
West Brom v Aston Villa	X-X	2-0	2-0
SUNDAY
Chelsea v Arsenal	X-X	1-1	1-2
Tottenham v Man Utd	X-X	1-1	1-2
MONDAY
Southampton v Everton	X-X	0-2	0-2

A correct result is worth ONE point, while a correct score earns THREE points.

Last week, Lawro took on rappers Devlin and Wretch 32.

Lawro got seven results right, including two perfect scores, and his score of 11 saw him beat Wretch 32's tally of eight (four correct results including two perfect scores) and Devlin's score of ten (three results including one score).

Neither Lawro or BBC football pundit Peter Reid guessed the score of Wednesday's rearranged game between Chelsea and Southampton correctly.

This season, we will also be keeping a record of the total scores for Lawro and his guests (below), and showing a table of how the Premier League would look if all Lawro's predictions had come off (also at the bottom of the page).

LAWRO'S PREDICTIONS

SATURDAY

All kick-offs at 15:00 GMT unless otherwise stated.

Liverpool v Norwich

Liverpool looked a different team in the second half of their defeat by Manchester United last weekend, but they have done that a few times when they have been behind this season and for me it was a case of too little, too late.

They still haven't beaten a team in the top 10 but they don't have to worry about that on Saturday because they are at home against a Norwich team that is struggling generally at the moment.

Joe Allen yet to convince

"Joe Allen is a decent footballer but I don't think anyone else would have paid the money that Liverpool did for him. Because it was Brendan Rodgers, who managed him at Swansea, I have to say Swansea have been very clever and did very well to get £15m.

"In Liverpool's midfield, Lucas is the better player. Allen is the link-man, passing the ball around, but Lucas can do that and get his foot in. And I cannot remember seeing Allen pass anyone in for a chance yet. People tell me he will become more attacking. I hope they are right but I am yet to be convinced."

The Canaries stopped the rot last week, ending a four-game losing run with a draw against Newcastle that they badly needed.

They need to get back to the mentality they had after they made a poor start, when they started collecting points. A win would do them the world of good now too but I cannot see it happening on Saturday.

I just wonder if Reds boss Brendan Rodgers might have a couple of dilemmas, though. Firstly whether Joe Allen and Lucas can play together in a 4-3-3.

Do they really need both of them in their midfield? With Lucas you can play Steven Gerrard and Jose Enrique either side of him, and give you a really nice balance going forward.

And Rodgers has to decide on who plays up front, and where.

I think we might see Daniel Sturridge starting for the first time in the league, with Luis Suarez buzzing around behind him. Suarez could play tucked in on the left of the players behind Sturridge.

It will be interesting to see how it works out, but the end result this season is going to be that Liverpool finish seventh or eighth. They are not going to be any higher.

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Man City v Fulham

This seems a pretty straightforward home win to me.

Fulham are not on a particularly good run of form, although they did get past Blackpool in their FA Cup replay on Tuesday and are unbeaten in four games in 2013.

City's title defence on a knife edge?

"Manchester City midfielder David Silva spoke this week about how one more defeat could cost them the title, and they are on a little bit of a knife edge because they are seven points behind Manchester United. If City lose again and United keep winning then, yes, it will be a big problem.

"But the other factor that can come into play is if United get bogged down with the FA Cup and Champions League too. The further you go in Europe, the busier you are at the end of the season and, in March and April, you can be tired. You are allowed to be tired then, but not before."

But Manchester City have won five out of their last six league games so they are in decent shape at the moment.

Their win at Arsenal on Sunday was an eventful one, starting with Laurent Koscielny's early sending off.

From then on, the game reminded me of when City lost 3-0 to the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium in 2010 after having Dedryck Boyata sent off after five minutes. On that occasion, Arsene Wenger's side won at a canter, last week was City's turn.

City were very professional and they scored their goals at the right time, despite missing a penalty. I just think they have a little bit of a spark about them at the moment.

Lawro's prediction: 3-0

Newcastle v Reading

This is a crucial couple of weeks for Newcastle because, after this game against Reading, they go to another team who are below them, Aston Villa.

They clearly need to address their slide and, although they did not manage to bring in Marseille striker Loic Remy, they clearly know they need to replace Demba Ba following his sale, and they could end up signing two or three players before the end of the month.

Yohan Cabaye returned from a two-month injury absence when he came off the bench against Norwich last week

Despite their poor form, I still think Newcastle will end up finishing the season really strongly.

They have lots of quality in their team, but have had lots of injuries too - Yohan Cabaye should be fit to start on Saturday, though, and once other key players like Hatem Ben Arfa return to fitness, I think they will be fine.

They do need to sort the situation with Fabricio Coloccini out quickly, though. He has asked to leave for personal reasons but the compromise might be for him to stay until the summer, and then reassess the situation.

Reading pulled off a fantastic comeback to beat West Brom last week, and you just know they will keep chipping away.

I don't think anyone questioned the spirit or commitment of Brian McDermott's squad, or the way they are coached or organised as a team - the question was always about the quality.

It will be a real test for them to go to St James' Park and get a positive and I am confident the Magpies have turned the corner now following their draw at Norwich last weekend.

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Swansea v Stoke

For starters, I don't think Stoke forward Jon Walters will have a weekend like his last one, when he scored two own goals and missed a penalty against Chelsea.

Chairmen reap rewards for vision

"Both these clubs are in the top half of the table, and they have got there by playing completely different football. What they do have in common is two very astute chairmen in Huw Jenkins and Peter Coates. They have their own way of doing it but you could not argue against either. It just shows you that if you get someone running your club with a little bit of foresight, you can keep achieving in the Premier League. For Swansea and Stoke to be where they are is an real accomplishment."

He had a shocker, but you have to doff your cap to him because he followed that up by scoring twice - at the right end - against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup in midweek - and he comes across as a proper pro.

Swansea kept Everton at arms length last week in a 0-0 draw at Goodison, which is no mean feat, but I fancy the Potters to spring a bit of a surprise here.

Tony Pulis's side don't get turned over very often and I think they might have a bit too much muscle for the Swans.

Lawro's prediction: 1-2

West Ham v QPR

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"QPR have almost become a special case because there is no financial logic to the way they operate"

QPR have almost become a special case because there is no financial logic to the way they operate, apart from the fact that their owner Tony Fernandes is willing to write off a load of money to have a team in the Premier League.

I am not sure what return he gets, or whether he absolutely loves football and is prepared to throw his money at it. Good luck to him if that is the case.

Fernandes will enjoy Saturday whatever happens, because he is a big West Ham fan and had a little look into buying them in 2011.

But I think he will be celebrating a win for Rangers. They are picking up under Harry Redknapp, while West Ham have not won many recently - only one in eight games since the start of December.

Lawro's prediction: 1-2

Wigan v Sunderland

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"This might also be the start for Wigan to put some results together. This is the stage of the season where they usually kick on"

Sunderland beat West Ham very easily in their last Premier League game but they followed that up with a non-performance against Bolton to go out of the FA Cup on Tuesday.

They had fielded a strong line-up too, and their display was very unlike the sort you would expect from a Martin O'Neill team.

Wigan also had a replay and went to Bournemouth where a few people thought they might come unstuck but they came through that and are in the next round of the Cup.

The Latics have been in dreadful form in the league but I think they will turn Sunderland over, and it might also be the start for Wigan to put some results together.

This is the stage of the season where they usually kick on and it is important for them that they do.

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

West Brom v Aston Villa (17:30 GMT)

This is a big game in the west Midlands, and the start of a big week for Aston Villa - three days later they face Bradford in the second leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final.

West Brom are not in the greatest form, having been the victims of that Reading comeback then going out of the FA Cup to QPR.

I am not sure if Baggies boss Steve Clarke is the sort to read the riot act but now might be the time for him to get into one or two of his players, because they need to get back to the mentality they had at the start of the season, and make The Hawthorns a fortress again.

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

SUNDAY

Chelsea v Arsenal (13:30 GMT)

Chelsea are struggling to win at home and I could not believe they surrendered a 2-0 half-time lead against Southampton on Wednesday.

Benitez has won just one of six domestic home games as interim Chelsea boss

For me, they cannot win the title now and the situation at Stamford Bridge is even more interesting now Pep Guardiola has agreed to take charge of Bayern Munich.

It is no good for the Blues fans to keep booing Rafael Benitez during home matches - yes, do that at the final whistle if you want to, but not during the game.

The Blues went to the Emirates Stadium and won in September but their home form makes this a cast-iron draw for me. I think it will be a very tight game.

Arsenal are six points off the top four, albeit with a game in hand, but I would still back them to finish in the Champions League positions. It will be interesting to see how their results compare with Tottenham in the next few weeks.

Lawro's prediction: 1-1

Tottenham v Man Utd (16:00 GMT)

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"Antonio Valencia can play right-back and, if you have got a right-sided midfield player who is good going forward and defensively, then why wouldn't you play him against Spurs?"

I think this will be another close game and I wouldn't mind betting that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson would take a point now.

Tottenham are fourth and playing extremely well - and they won at Old Trafford earlier in the season.

Yes, Sandro is injured and Emmanuel Adebayor has gone to the Africa Cup of Nations but United will still have to deal with Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon.

Ferguson has got the depth in squad to counter that, though. He picked an attacking team against Liverpool last weekend but I don't think he will do the same at White Hart Lane.

He will tailor his team for the opposition and that might include stopping Bale by picking Antonio Valencia down United's right. We have seen Valencia can play right-back and, if you have got a right-sided midfield player who is good going forward and defensively, then why wouldn't you play him against Spurs?

United will unleash Robin van Persie and there have been some classic games between these two sides but I see it being a cagey afternoon.

I suspect Andre Villas-Boas will pack his midfield and I don't see there being much space for either side.

Lawro's prediction: 1-1

MONDAY

Southampton v Everton (20:00 GMT)

I had already predicted Southampton to lose this game before Nigel Adkins was sacked on Friday - I give them even less chance of getting anything out of Everton now they have got rid of him.

Everton are not the easiest opponents for Mauricio Pochettino in his first game as a Premier League manager.

Toffees boss David Moyes will be wary of a reaction from the Saints players in front of their new manager, but whether it is a good or bad reaction, Everton will be ready for it.

For Adkins to go at this stage of the season, and with his side on a good run of five league games unbeaten and out of the relegation zone, is very strange indeed. In fact it is a decision that beggars belief.

Pochettino arrives at St Mary's not knowing anything about his players, or with any Premier League experience.

He is going to get a crash course, and with a little bit of luck he might even know a few of their names by the time this game kicks off.

Lawro's prediction: 0-2

Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

GUEST LEADERBOARD	SCORE
Kevin Sinfield	11
Luke Campbell	10
Devlin	10
Wretch 32	8
Mo Farah	8
Lawro	7.5 (average)
James Arthur	7
Dave Brailsford	7
Example	7
Goran Ivanisevic	7
Joe Calzaghe	6
Guy Mowbray	6
Andy Murray	6
Peter Reid	6
Steve Wilson	6
Lethal Bizzle	5
Natalie Lowe	5
Joanna Rowsell	5
Greg Rutherford	5
Darren Farley	4
Marco Gabbiadini	4
Michael Vaughan	4
Justin Young	4
Jonny Brownlee	3
Stephanie Houghton	3
Dani King	2
Paul Reid	2
Carl Froch	1

Lawro's best score: 14 points (week eight).

Lawro's worst score: four points (weeks three and 19).

ARROWS DENOTE DIFFERENCE TO REAL TABLE
POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS	DIFF	+/-
1.	Man Utd	22	18	4	0	44	5	+39	58		0
2.	Man City	22	14	6	2	38	12	+26	48		0
3.	Chelsea	21	14	5	2	33	12	+21	47		0
4.	Arsenal	21	14	4	3	34	12	+22	46		+2
5.	Everton	22	13	7	2	34	19	+15	46		0
6.	Tottenham	22	12	5	5	30	15	+15	41		-2
7.	QPR	22	10	4	8	26	26	0	34		+13
8.	Liverpool	22	8	9	5	25	19	+6	33		0
9.	Newcastle	22	9	5	8	27	23	+4	32		+7
10.	Sunderland	22	7	8	7	23	27	-4	29		+5
11.	Stoke	22	6	9	7	22	25	-3	27		-1
12.	Southampton	22	7	1	14	17	34	-17	22		+3
13.	West Brom	22	6	3	13	24	33	-9	21		-6
14.	Fulham	22	6	3	13	19	30	-11	21		-1
15	West Ham	21	5	5	11	19	27	-8	20		-4
16.	Swansea	22	4	8	10	17	31	-14	20		-7
17.	Wigan	22	4	4	14	14	36	-22	16		0
18.	Aston Villa	22	3	6	13	16	36	-20	15		0
19.	Reading	21	3	5	13	17	34	-17	14		0
20.	Norwich	22	2	5	15	14	37	-23	11		-8

Lawro did not make a prediction before the rearranged Chelsea-Reading game on 22 August.

Make your own predictions to see how the Premier League will look after this weekend.