Mark Lawrenson has finally predicted a defeat for Liverpool – ending a 159-game sequence of him backing his former club not to lose.
Jurgen Klopp’s men head to Manchester City this Sunday to face the side they deposed as Premier League champions but Lawrenson has tipped them to get beat 2-0 by Pep Guardiola’s side.
Before this week, the 63-year-old last predicted a Liverpool loss at West Bromwich Albion on the last day of the 2015-16 season (when they drew 1-1 ahead of the Europa League final) and, if correct, his results would have seen them stay undefeated for four complete campaigns.
Lawrenson told BBC Sport : “I know I never usually tip Liverpool to lose but I just feel like it is a massive game for both defences and this time it is the Reds who have the uncertainty at the back.”
Liverpool have only lost 16 of those 159 games in real life - and the retired Republic of Ireland international defender insists there is no bias involved in his score selections for his old club.
He said: “I only became aware of it a couple of seasons ago when people started giving me a bit of stick about it.
“Since then, though, Liverpool have been absolutely outstanding and have hardly ever lost a real game either. So how good am I?
“Seriously, though, I don't go through my previous predictions for each team when I look at the fixtures each week.
“I don't pay any attention to the table based on my scores either, but the top teams often stay unbeaten because I don't tip them to lose many games - they don't, so why would I?”
