Mark Thomas Lawrenson ( born Preston , Lancashire , June 2 , 1957 ) is a former professional football player , a defender in the Liverpool and Irish football teams of the 1980s ; he has since become a radio , television and internet pundit for the BBC . Mark Thomas Lawrenson ( born 2 June 1957 ) is an English born former professional football player , a defender in the Liverpool and Irish football teams of the 1980s ; he has since become a radio , television and internet pundit for the BBC and Today FM .