Mark Lawrenson backs Sheffield United to give Manchester City 'a real test' and reveals scoreline prediction ahead of clash

Casting his weekly score prediction for BBC Sport, Lawrenson has once again tipped the Blades for defeat – that’s 15 and counting – this time backing the Premier League champions to run out 2-0 winners against Chris Wilder's side.

Explaining his decision, Lawro wrote: "Nothing really seems to change for Manchester City - the reason they dropped two more points against Crystal Palace on Saturday was down to the same old defensive problems that have haunted them all season.

"It says a lot that City have conceded 27 league goals after 23 league games, compared to 23 in 38 in the whole of the previous campaign. So it is good news for Pep Guardiola that Aymeric Laporte is on his way back from his long-term injury, even if he is unlikely to feature in this game."

He continued: "Sheffield United will give them a real test - just as they did at Etihad Stadium last month, when City won but the Blades made it very difficult for them.

"But I still think City will have lots of the ball on Tuesday night, and they should create enough chances to win pretty comfortably."

Meanwhile, Lawrenson's opponent for the week, Ride bass player and Spurs fan Steve Queralt, went for a 2-1 victory for City. He said: "I saw Sheffield United play Tottenham earlier this season and although we got a draw, they destroyed us.

"The Blades were really strong, compact, closed us down really quickly. This could be tricky for City."

United will certainly be up against it this evening, but Wilder's side will be eager to seize the challenge and look to go toe-to-toe with their opposition from the first whistle. A win for the Blades could see them move as high as fifth in the table, as we edge closer to the final third of the 2019/20 campaign.