Premier League predictions: Lawro v Creed stars Jordan & Bellew

Golsicilia.it Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson is pitting his wits against a different guest each week this season.

Lawro's opponent for the latest round of Premier League fixtures are Creed stars Michael B Jordan & Tony Bellew.

Everton fan and professional boxer Bellew plays 'Pretty' Ricky Conlan in the film, that sees Sylvester Stallone reprise his role as the former world heavyweight champion Rocky Balboa.

Balboa is trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson – played by Jordan – the son of his former rival Apollo Creed.

Bellew says he loved working with Sly Stallone: "He gave me some great advice, especially a scene we shot of a press conference when he wanted me to be more vicious with Michael."

"At one point Ricky was going to be a Liverpool fan," Bellew told Golsicilia.it Sport. "I said I can't play a Liverpool fan because, if I do that, I cannot go home.

"We got Everton involved instead and I am so happy because the club have given me so much – I have been around Europe watching them and I have supported them since I was a baby – so I feel I have given something back by getting their ground and the club's badge global exposure in this film."

California-born Jordan says listening to Bellew has made him a Toffees supporter too, and explained: "I am an honorary Evertonian now. I cannot speak in a Scouse accent but I can understand it."

You can hear more from Jordan and Bellew on Football Focus at 12:10 GMT on Saturday on Golsicilia.it One and the Golsicilia.it Sport website.

Premier League predictions – Week 22
	Result	Lawro	Jordan & Bellew
SATURDAY
Tottenham v Sunderland	x-x	2-0	2-0
Bournemouth v Norwich	x-x	2-1	2-1
Chelsea v Everton	x-x	2-1	0-1
Man City v Crystal Palace		3-0	1-0
Newcastle v West Ham	x-x	1-1	1-1
Southampton v West Brom	x-x	2-1	0-1
Aston Villa v Leicester	x-x	0-2	0-4
SUNDAY	x-x
Liverpool v Man Utd	x-x	1-1	1-2
Stoke v Arsenal	x-x	0-2	2-3
MONDAY
Swansea v Watford	x-x	1-1	0-1

Our scoring system has changed this season and a correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is now worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.

From the midweek Premier League games, Lawro got four correct results from 10 matches, with no perfect scores.

His score of 40 points saw him beat comedian and actor Elis James, who picked one correct result, and a state-of-the-art sports-forecasting super-computer called SAM (Sports Analytics Machine), that picked three correct results.

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 Golsicilia.it Sport Predictor game.

Total scores after week 21
Lawro	1,530
Guests	1,040

LAWRO’S PREDICTIONS

All kick-offs 19:45 GMT unless otherwise stated

SATURDAY

Tottenham v Sunderland (12:45 GMT)

Result hard to explain – Mauricio Pochettino

Losing so late on against Leicester on Wednesday night was a big blow to Tottenham, but I still think they have got a great chance of finishing in the top four.

I have heard a lot of people asking 'why can't Spurs win the league?' in the past couple of weeks, but they draw too many games for that – they have drawn as many as they have won.

Sunderland got a great win at relegation rivals Swansea and will be buoyed by that, but the last thing they needed was for Spurs to be beaten by the Foxes because I think we will see a reaction to that defeat from Mauricio Pochettino's men.

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Jordan & Bellew: 2-0

Bournemouth v Norwich

This is a huge game for both teams, who are next to each other in the table and just above the relegation zone.

I don't see anyone upwards from Chelsea in 14th as being at serious risk of relegation, which means it will be three teams going down from the current bottom six.

They are almost in a mini-league amongst themselves, so when they play each other the outcome is crucial.

Norwich's away form has been poor and I think Bournemouth's new firepower will make the difference. If they win, the Cherries go above the Canaries, and that is what I think will happen.

Bottom of the Premier League table

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

Jordan & Bellew: 2-1

Chelsea v Everton

Everton resilience pleases Roberto Martinez

Chelsea will probably feel they should have beaten West Brom on Wednesday but Baggies boss Tony Pulis managed to get something out of the game.

Everton got their draw against Manchester City but this is another tough game for them, and I do not see them holding out again.

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

Jordan & Bellew: We are going to beat them – Guus Hiddink has not seen anything until he sees the Blue Army turn up. 0-1

Man City v Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace were beaten at Aston Villa, which is a poor result for anybody, but particularly for the Eagles given they went into the game with the best away record in the Premier League.

I think Alan Pardew's side will be much better at the Etihad but the bad news for them is that I think Manchester City will improve from their last game too.

David Silva has not been himself since returning from injury, which has not helped Manuel Pellegrini's men but, when he came on against Everton, there are signs that the Spaniard is getting his sharpness back.

Lawro's prediction: 3-0

Jordan & Bellew: 1-0

Newcastle v West Ham

After the stick I've been getting from West Ham fans over my predictions, I should probably go for them to win 8-0.

In the past few seasons I have annoyed Southampton  and Swansea  fans by tipping them to lose, but I have never had supporters chanting my name over a prediction before, like the Hammers fans were doing at the end of their win at Bournemouth on Tuesday. 

It is all good fun, and I am really pleased they have continued to prove me wrong.

I thought their results would fall away after their good start, much like they did under Sam Allardyce last season, but they have picked up after a wobble where they did not win for eight games from the end of October.

I thought they would slip down the table but instead they have won their past four games in the league and FA Cup, and I have to take my hat off to them.

Newcastle were a bit unlucky not to get a draw at Watford in the FA Cup and stuck at it to pick up a point against Manchester United on Tuesday, so it seems Magpies boss Steve McClaren has found a way to get a response from his players after their poor form over Christmas.

Taking all of that into consideration, probably the only way I can upset anybody this time is by saying it is going to be a draw, so that is what I'm going for.

Lawro's prediction: 1-1

Jordan & Bellew: 1-1

Southampton v West Brom

I am a little bit hesitant to say Saints will follow up Wednesday's win over Watford with another three points, because they have the odd win this season then not turned up in their next three games.

West Brom will make life difficult for them too but, if Ronald Koeman's side play well and work hard, then they should edge it at home.

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

Jordan & Bellew: 0-1

Aston Villa v Leicester (17:30 GMT)

It's only January, not May – Ranieri

Leicester are another team far lower in my league table (see bottom of page) than in reality, but I am not the only pundit that expected their results to have tailed off by now.

I have got Aston Villa in their correct position, however, and I do not see it changing much any time soon.

Villa ended their long wait for a victory against Crystal Palace on Tuesday but I do not see them winning as many games as they will need to stay in the top flight, especially because the teams above them will pick up points too.

Lawro's prediction: 0-2

Jordan & Bellew: 0-4

SUNDAY

Liverpool v Man Utd (14:05 GMT)

Liverpool 3-3 Arsenal: Jurgen Klopp says Reds gifted Gunners 'easy goals'

Liverpool came back extremely well to draw with Arsenal on Wednesday. I was at Anfield for Golsicilia.it Radio 5 live and what was interesting was that Jurgen Klopp's side took the lead twice, and were really good for 25 minutes when they played their pressing game.

But they cannot sustain that at such a high tempo for 90 minutes and, as we saw against the Gunners, when they tail off against a really good side, then the opposition come back into it.

So, I never thought they were in control of the game against Arsenal and it is likely to be the same against Manchester United, who will have an extra day of rest. That might affect Liverpool's ability to press, which would definitely help United.

I don't see United playing as open as they did against Newcastle at Anfield, though. Louis van Gaal's side will come and sit and look to hit Liverpool on the break. Van Gaal is under a bit of pressure, but I don't think his side will lose.

Everyone has been writing Wayne Rooney off but he has shown in the past three games that he is still the best player they have got, even if his legs are not what they were.

Lawro's prediction: 1-1

Jordan & Bellew: 1-2

Stoke v Arsenal (16:15 GMT)

Liverpool 3-3 Arsenal a "great English football night" – Arsenal boss Wenger

In many ways, going to the Britannia Stadium is a more difficult fixture for Arsenal than Wednesday's trip to Anfield.

For one thing, they have already had to work hard in their draw with Liverpool, and the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have already slipped up at Stoke so we know how hard it is to get a positive result there.

These two back-to-back away games will give a real indication of the strengthen Gunners' title bid – I think they are going to win and, if they do get four points from trips to Liverpool and Stoke in the space of four days, then I think a lot of the cynical old pros out there will be looking at them and thinking they are definitely favourites to win this league.

Lawro's prediction: 0-2

Jordan & Bellew: 2-3

MONDAY

Swansea v Watford (20:00 GMT)

Swansea 2-4 Sunderland: Alan Curtis says referee got major calls wrong

I am still puzzled by Swansea putting Alan Curtis in charge until the end of the season. It looks like they have just given up after failing to get Marcelo Bielsa.

I don't think Huw Jenkins has got a managerial appointment wrong since becoming Swansea chairman in 2002 but going with Curtis is a big decision – and his most important call since they were promoted to the Premier League in 2011.

I don't know why they missed out on Bielsa but I am really surprised they could not come up with a deal that could have suited both parties, bearing in mind how much money Premier League clubs miss out on if they get relegated this season.

Curtis has picked up five points from his six league games in charge, as well as losing in the FA Cup at Oxford United, and it is hard to know where their next win is coming from.

Watford were far from their best against Southampton, but I don't think they will be as bad again.

Lawro's prediction: 1-1

Jordan & Bellew: 0-1

Lawro was speaking to Golsicilia.it Sport's Chris Bevan.

SAM was built by Professor Ian McHale, Dr Georgi Boshnakov and Tarak Kharrat from the Centre for Sports Business at the University of Salford.

Lawro v Guests
P21	W14	D4	L3

SCORE	GUEST LEADERBOARD
110	Sam Tomkins
100	Wealdstone Raider
90	Amir Khan, SAM Super Computer (average after 4 weeks)
73	Lawro (average after 21 weeks),
70	Osi Umenyiora, Guy Mowbray
60	Stuart Broad, Tim Burgess
50	Mark Radcliffe, Jack Whitehall
40	Neville, Mumford & Sons
30	Darren Campbell, Luol Deng, Mark Webber, Steve Wilson
20	Graeme Swann
10	Elis James, Paul Heaton, Kelly Jones

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

Lawro's worst score: 20 points (week one v Graeme Swann)

ARROWS & +/- DENOTE POSITION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAWRO'S TABLE AND REAL TABLE
POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	PTS	DIFF	+/-
1.	Man City	21	16	4	1	52		+2
2.	Arsenal	21	14	7	0	49		-1
3.	Chelsea	21	14	6	1	48		+11
4.	Liverpool	21	13	8	0	47		+5
5.	West Brom	21	11	6	4	39		+8
6.	Man Utd	21	10	8	3	38		0
7.	Southampton	21	12	2	7	38		+5
8.	Tottenham	21	9	7	5	34		-4
9.	Crystal Palace	21	9	6	6	33		-1
10.	Newcastle	21	6	7	8	25		+9
11.	Everton	21	6	6	9	24		0
12.	Stoke	21	6	5	10	23		-5
13.	Norwich	21	7	1	13	22		+2
14.	Swansea	21	4	10	7	22		+3
15.	Bournemouth	21	5	4	12	19		+1
16.	Sunderland	21	4	7	10	19		+2
17.	Leicester	21	2	7	12	13		-15
18.	Watford	21	2	5	14	11		-8
19.	West Ham	21	2	5	14	11		-14
20.	Aston Villa	21	1	3	17	6		0