Sheffield United start 2020 just two points off fifth place in the Premier League table before a first visit to leaders Liverpool for 13 years on Thursday.

"If I had to name a manager of the year midway through the season then it would be Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder," BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson said.

"The great thing about them is they have shown every promoted team that they do not have to spend fortunes if you're well coached, well organised and difficult to beat.

"It's different for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and all the other managers near the top because they have got real quality. Wilder has done a fantastic job."

Lawro is making predictions for all 380 top-flight matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For the first round of Premier League fixtures of 2020, he is up against Britain's Got Talent comedian and Liverpool fan Kojo Anim.

Kojo, who is about to embark on a UK tour, is understandably is pretty happy with the way the Reds are doing right now.

He told BBC Sport: "Nobody is celebrating anything yet but with what I have been through in the past few years with that team, I think I deserve to enjoy myself at the moment.

"It does not look like there will be a dramatic end to the title race like there was last season when Manchester City pipped us at the post, but being totally honest, I don't care!

"It has been 30 years since we last won it, and I would happily have had it totally wrapped up by Christmas if I could have done."

Kojo is friends with Liverpool defender Joe Gomez and former Reds striker Daniel Sturridge and is a regular at Anfield

Kojo got into football and the Reds when he started watching John Barnes play for Liverpool in the 1980s - and told him that in person when he bumped into him a few weeks ago.

"I was at the station, on my way to watching Liverpool play Salzburg and I told him that I was left-footed so his position on the wing was always where I played - well, when I could," he said. "Sometimes I was left-back, and sometimes I was on the bench.

"Could I have made it as a professional myself? Well, I had trials at QPR's school of excellence when I was a kid and used to really enjoy it.

"Then I stopped enjoying it because I used to play with the older guys, who knew I was good but would always stamp their authority on me, and that is how I lost my confidence - then I started telling jokes instead, and I think I am a bit more of a natural at that.

"I was good at football, but looking back, that bit of bullying I got on the football pitch changed my life."

Premier League predictions - week 21 Result Lawro Kojo WEDNESDAY, 1 JAN Brighton v Chelsea 1-1 0-2 2-2 Burnley v Aston Villa 1-2 2-0 1-2 Newcastle v Leicester 0-3 2-0 1-3 Southampton v Tottenham 1-0 0-2 0-3 Watford v Wolves 2-1 2-1 0-2 Man City v Everton 2-1 2-0 1-1 Norwich v Crystal Palace 1-1 2-1 3-1 West Ham v Bournemouth 4-0 2-0 1-0 Arsenal v Man Utd 2-0 2-2 1-3 THURSDAY, 2 JAN Liverpool v Sheff Utd 2-0 3-0 1-1

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

LAWRO'S PREDICTIONS

All kick-offs 15:00 GMT unless stated.

WEDNESDAY, 1 JANUARY

Brighton 1-1 Chelsea

Lawro's prediction: 0-2

Kojo's prediction: 2-2

Match report

Burnley 1-2 Aston Villa

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Kojo's prediction: 1-2

Match report

Newcastle 0-3 Leicester

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Kojo's prediction: 1-3

Match report

Southampton 1-0 Tottenham

Lawro's prediction: 0-2

Kojo's prediction: 0-3

Match report

Watford 2-1 Wolves

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

Kojo's prediction: 0-2

Match report

Man City 2-1 Everton

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Kojo's prediction: 1-1

Match report

Norwich 1-1 Crystal Palace

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

Kojo's prediction: 3-1

Match report

West Ham 4-0 Bournemouth

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Kojo's prediction: 1-0

Match report

Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd

Lawro's prediction: 2-2

Kojo's prediction: Mikel Arteta has got a lot to fix at Arsenal, and it is not going to happen overnight. 1-3

Match report

THURSDAY, 2 JANUARY

Liverpool 2-0 Sheff Utd

Lawro's prediction: 3-0

Kojo's prediction: 1-1

Match report

How did Lawro do last week?

From last weekend's Premier League fixtures, Lawro got four correct results with one exact score from 10 games for a total of 70 points.

He was beaten by rapper Avelino, who got six correct results, but with one exact score, for a total of 90 points.

+/- DENOTE POSITION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAWRO'S TABLE AND ACTUAL POSITION TEAM P W D L PTS +/- 1 Man City 20 19 0 1 57 +2 2 Liverpool 19 17 2 0 53 -1 3 Tottenham 20 15 4 1 49 +3 4 Chelsea 20 13 4 3 43 0 5 Arsenal 20 10 6 4 36 +7 6 Man Utd 20 10 5 5 35 -1 7 Leicester 20 9 5 6 32 -5 8 Watford 20 8 3 9 27 +11 9 Aston Villa 20 7 4 9 25 +9 =10 Burnley 20 7 3 10 24 +3 =10 Everton 20 6 6 8 24 0 =10 West Ham 19 7 3 9 24 +7 =13 Bournemouth 20 7 2 11 23 +3 =13 Wolves 20 7 2 11 23 -6 15 Newcastle 20 6 2 12 20 -4 16 Southampton 20 5 3 12 18 -1 17 Brighton 20 5 2 13 17 -3 =18 Crystal Palace 20 3 5 12 14 -9 =18 Sheff Utd 20 4 2 14 14 -10 20 Norwich 20 0 7 13 7 0

GUEST LEADERBOARD 2019-20

Score Guest leaderboard 160 Gabriel Luna 140 Arnold Schwarzenegger 100 Adam Peaty 90 Avelino, Helen Housby, Jo Harten, Bobby Seagull, Geraint Thomas 80 Andy Murray, Stephen Graham 77 Lawro (average after 20 weeks) 70 David Baddiel, Richard Hawley, Michael Johnson, Craig Mitch, Alex Scott 60 Sonny Bill Williams, Serge from Kasabian, Stefan Ratchford 50 Chelcee Grimes, Reece Parkinson, Sam Warburton 40 Stephen Fry, Neil Jones, Tommy O'Dell 30 Seth Rollins

Total scores after week 20 Lawro 1,540 Guests 1,410