FA Cup and Premier League predictions: Lawro v LIFE frontman and Liverpool fan Mez Green

Nottingham Forest have already knocked 14-time winners Arsenal and holders Leicester out of this season's FA Cup - are quadruple-chasing Liverpool next?

"The place will be rocking," said BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson. "It's going to be tight game and a nervy one for Liverpool to get through.

"I'm not sure what team Klopp will start with, but he might need to use his 'insurance policy' by having a few of the bigger names on the bench to call upon if they're needed."

As well as the FA Cup, Lawro is making predictions for all 380 top-flight matches this season, against a variety of guests.

This week's guest is Mez Green, frontman with punk band LIFE - and a lifelong Liverpool fan.

LIFE's new single Big Moon Lake is out now and the Hull band release their third album, North East Coastal Town, in June.

Mez's heart is in Hull but Liverpool are his team and he told BBC Sport: "I was born in Lincoln but I class myself as being from Hull because that's where I have grown up - it's where the band is from, where I live and where my little boy goes to school.

"But I got into football through school and even though Liverpool weren't amazing when I started supporting them in the 1990s, they were still one of the teams you chose from in the playground.

"Then my dad told me that my Gran was from Liverpool and grew up on Merseyside so they kind of became a natural choice. When Michael Owen broke on to the scene, he was so young he was a bit of an inspiration for kids like me.

"I guess that's how I came to choose Liverpool really, and I've been a die-hard fan since then."

Owen was Mez's first hero but he found a new favourite as he got older - and these days he admits it is hard to pick one out.

"It started out as Owen but I pretty quickly shifted on to Stevie G," he explained. "I know that's an obvious one to say but come on, he was just class!

"I will never forget the 2006 FA Cup final when he pings that goal in at the end, and obviously the 2005 Champions League final when he even scored with his head, but he was massive for me for many years.

"I love so many of our current players now too, though. Trent Alexander-Arnold is probably my favourite, just about, and I am obviously a huge fan of Klopp too.

"There is the way we play, with press, pace and flair, and the way he is so passionate and charismatic too. He can sulk when he loses but which fan doesn't do that? How can I not love him!?"

Klopp's recent results have been so good, there has no sign of any sulking. Liverpool moved to within a point of Premier League leaders Manchester City after beating Arsenal on Wednesday, their ninth league win in a row.

Mez added: "We have got the momentum now but, as Klopp said afterwards, momentum is as fragile as a flower - if someone steps on it, it has gone.

"He is right, because we have got some massive games coming up, including at City on 10 April.

"The quadruple is still on, which is incredible, but getting past Forest is going to be hard enough - I am really worried about that one first."

There are no replays and the ties will be decided by extra time and then penalties.

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

LAWRO'S FA CUP AND PREMIER LEAGUE PREDICTIONS

FRIDAY

Wolves v Leeds (Premier League, 20:00 GMT)

Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Leeds got a huge win over Norwich last weekend. It was a very strange ending to the game, but it will give them a lift anyway - and they really needed it.

Wolves are having a very good season and we saw why in their win over Everton last time out - they are very well organised and generally kept Everton at arms' length.

I still think teams can find a way of getting at Wolves, though, and Leeds are definitely more of a threat now Patrick Bamford is fit.

They also have Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper back after more than three months out and both of them should play a part at Molineux.

Lawro's prediction: 1-1

Mez's prediction: This is a draw. Wolves are having a good season but Leeds are up and running under their new manager now. They are still in trouble though, and I think some of the top teams would be after a few of their players if they do go down - I'd have Phillips at Liverpool, definitely - he is so solid in the centre. 1-1

SATURDAY

Aston Villa v Arsenal (Premier League, 12:30 GMT)

Arsenal played well against Liverpool on Wednesday and the game really swung on Alisson's save from Martin Odegaard after Thiago's poor back-pass. I thought Gabriel Martinelli, Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey all played well for the Gunners, despite their defeat.

This is a completely different test, though. It will be interesting to see how Mikel Arteta's side respond now their five-game winning run is over, and I think this game will tell us more about them than their display against Liverpool did.

Arsenal have got some very talented young players, and they also have got some games in hand on the teams below them in the table as they look to hang on to fourth spot, but this is a new territory for most of them and we don't know how they will react.

Aston Villa had their own good run ended at the weekend, in a defeat by West Ham, but I've been impressed by them in recent weeks. I know Arsenal are higher up the table but I wouldn't say there is much between the two teams at the moment.

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

Mez's prediction: I'm going with Villa here - and for Steven Gerrard to continue Liverpool's victory parade over Arsenal a little bit longer. 2-1

Middlesbrough v Chelsea (FA Cup quarter-final, 17:15 GMT)

Watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Chelsea's results have not been affected by everything that has happened to the club in the past couple of weeks and Blues boss Thomas Tuchel deserves huge credit for that - he has handled everything very well given the situation.

Even so, I'm not sure things are quite as dramatic as some reports in the media are making out - the Chelsea team have been allowed to fly north for this tie but at first their travel expenses were being capped and I was reading how they faced a "gruelling" five-hour bus trip, which is ridiculous. Have you seen the luxury coaches they travel on?

It is hardly the same sort of crisis that Middlesbrough faced in the mid-1980s when the gates of their old Ayresome Park ground were locked because of their mounting debts - that really is desperate stuff - but it has brought a reaction from the Chelsea players, and it is circle the wagons time for them.

That's why I fancy Tuchel's team to get through this tie, although it won't be easy.

Middlesbrough have had a brilliant time in the FA Cup so far, beating Manchester United and then Tottenham - but their run ends here.

Lawro's prediction: 1-2

Mez's prediction: Boro have beaten Spurs, they've beaten United - they can beat Chelsea too. Also, I want to back a giant-killer and I am not going to back Forest! 1-0

SUNDAY

Crystal Palace v Everton (FA Cup quarter-final, 12:30 BST)

Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

You could argue Everton don't need the distraction of the FA Cup while they are struggling at the bottom of the Premier League table, but I actually think another win would do them the world of good before they sign off for the international break.

Everything was going wrong for Everton until their last-gasp winner against Newcastle on Thursday, so this is a chance for them to build some more confidence. There is no way Frank Lampard will field a weakened team after that result, because he has had enough bad news without bringing more on himself.

This is still a very tough tie, though, no matter who Lampard picks.

Crystal Palace have lost only one of their past nine games in all competitions and we saw against Manchester City on Monday just how hard they are to beat.

FA Cup runs are rare for the Eagles - they lost in the final in 2016 but before then 1995 was the last time they made the last four. With Everton so poor on their travels, this is a great chance for Patrick Vieira's side to progress that far.

Lawro's prediction: 1-0

Mez's prediction: You can probably guess that I am going to back Palace here! I do think they have got a bit of momentum though. Vieira's done really well in his first season in charge and the FA Cup meant a lot to him as a player - he won it five times - so I can see him fancying a trip to Wembley. I like Lampard but I see a Palace win. 2-0

Leicester v Brentford (Premier League, 14:00 BST)

Live commentary on BBC Sport website.

I always thought Brentford would start winning games again, and beating two of the sides below them in Norwich and Burnley were two massive steps towards safety. They look a completely different team now Christian Eriksen is on board.

Leicester are still struggling defensively, and I feel like Jonny Evans - who has been out injured since December - is a big miss for them at the back.

The Foxes played in Rennes on Thursday night so Brendan Rodgers will not get much chance to work on their issues, particularly facing set-pieces, and I can see the Bees making it three wins on the trot.

Lawro's prediction: 1-2

Mez's prediction: Brentford have picked up again with Eriksen in the team - his return to football is just a brilliant story in itself - and Ivan Toney is back bagging goals. I think they will nick this one. 0-1

Southampton v Man City (FA Cup quarter-final, 15:00 BST)

Watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Southampton have given Manchester City a good game twice already this season - drawing home and away in the league - but Saints have hit the buffers a little bit recently.

Three successive defeats, to Aston Villa, Newcastle and Watford, mean they won't come into this game with quite the same confidence they had earlier in the year.

City have got plenty to think about too, although I don't think their draw at Crystal Palace on Monday was a terrible result, it's really only made to look bad because Liverpool keep on winning.

Still, I was a bit surprised Pep Guardiola didn't make any attacking substitutions to try and change that game as it went on - instead, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus were left on the bench.

When you look at how Klopp has been using his bench to make an impact on tight matches, and give the opposition something different to think about, it seemed an odd decision by Pep.

Lawro's prediction: 0-2

Mez's prediction: Southampton seem to save their best for City, and they were a problem team for Liverpool last season too - they beat us at their place when Danny Ings got the winner. It's going to be tight and I think Saints will be quite defensive but I am going with City to edge it. 1-2

Tottenham v West Ham (Premier League, 16:30 BST)

Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Tottenham are still very up and down in terms of results but I don't think they played too badly in defeat against Manchester United last weekend, and they were decent in their win over Brighton on Wednesday.

Like Leicester, West Ham are also in European action on Thursday and I think their tie with Sevilla will take a lot out of them, whatever happens. That's why I'm going with a Spurs win.

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

Mez's prediction: Harry Kane is back in the goals again for Spurs - probably because he wants to move and get Champions League football next season. West Ham have been great but Michail Antonio is injured again and they are just not the same threat without him. Jarrod Bowen is still out as well, which is another blow - I've liked the look of him since he played for Hull. 2-0

Nottingham Forest v Liverpool (FA Cup quarter-final, 18:00 BST)

Klopp's squad has got him this far in all four major competitions, and I think he will rotate his team again.

That will give Forest more hope, and they do have a clever manager in Steve Cooper plus some very talented players - Djed Spence scored a stunning goal against QPR on Wednesday and I'd be surprised if he's not playing in the Premier League next season.

It is going to be close, but with Liverpool in this kind of form it is hard to back anyone to beat them at the moment.

Lawro's prediction: 0-1

Mez's prediction: Having no replays in the FA Cup really suits the competition - every game almost feels like the final in that you know it will be settled on the day, and there are no second chances - it really is now or never and you've got to play a strong team to stay in it. It adds to the jeopardy, especially when you are away from home like we are here! I'm not going for an upset here though, obviously. 1-3

Lawro and Mez were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

How did Lawro do last time?

In last weekend's games, Lawro got five correct results from 10 Premier League matches, including two exact scores, for a total of 110 points.

He beat rapper and Chelsea fan ArrDee, who got seven correct results but with only one exact score, giving him a total of 100 points.

There were also three rearranged Premier League games played in midweek, which saw Lawro and his guests make the following predictions:

Lawro picks up 40 points for an exact score at Amex Stadium, while Idles bassist Dev gets 10. This game completes the set of fixtures from week 16 and confirms Lawro's victory - he finishes with 150 points, Dev has 100.

Lawro picks up 10 points here, in the final fixture to be played from week 20. He was already guaranteed the win and he now has 120 points. Singer James Arthur has 40.

This game was rearranged from 27 February because Liverpool were playing in the Carabao Cup final. Again, Lawro picks up 40 points from an exact score and is guaranteed the win as he leads Feeder bassist Taka 150-40 with one game (Chelsea v Leicester) from that set of fixtures still to be played.

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