Chris Sutton‘s Premier League score predictions for this week have been revealed and as always he’s joined by a guest.
The BBC pundit replaced Mark Lawrenson in trying to correctly pick the correct scores for every game against a variety of guests.
Nottingham born Chris Sutton played as a striker for the likes of Norwich, Blackburn, Chelsea, Celtic, Birmingham, Aston Villa, Wroxham and England, before managing Lincoln City.
For this week, he takes on Embrace bassist Steve Firth, who is a fan of Leeds United. AI predictions are also generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat.
ASTON VILLA v LEEDS
I was at Elland Road when Aston Villa won there in November – Leeds were really good in the first half but faded, and two Morgan Rogers goals gave Villa the points.
Leeds’ form has picked up a lot since then, however, and they are on 30 points now.
That would have been enough to keep them up last season, when third-bottom Leicester went down with 25 points, but they have still got some work to do.
Villa have slipped up a couple of times at home in the past few weeks, losing unexpectedly to Everton and Brentford, and they are probably looking at the table thinking they should be breathing down leaders Arsenal’s neck.
I can see Leeds giving them another good game, but I don’t see Unai Emery’s side dropping points this time. Villa will find a way.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
Steve’s prediction: This is a tough game but we’re on a good run of form and I think we’ll get a draw. 1-1
Steve on why he supports Leeds: I’m from Halifax and everyone there either supports Leeds, Huddersfield or Manchester United. I’ve been a Leeds fan since the 1970s but the time I watched them most was in the 1990s – that’s when I’d go most weeks.
Since then, of the guys I went with, one died and the other one moved away so I got out of the habit and I only get to the occasional game now. But my wife is a Mansfield fan, so I have to go and watch them sometimes. I was hoping they would get Leeds in the FA Cup fifth round – we would definitely have gone to that one – but they got Arsenal instead.
AI’s prediction: 2-1
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BRENTFORD v BRIGHTON
I covered Brentford in the FA Cup tie at Macclesfield on Monday and they were completely underwhelming.
I know they were on a plastic pitch but they couldn’t really find their flow and needed an own goal to progress.
Still, the Bees have been in much better form in the Premier League – in stark contrast to Brighton.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side have won only one of their past 13 league games in a poor run going back to the start of December, and it is not impossible they could get dragged into the relegation scrap.
I can see this one being close but Brentford will have Kevin Schade back from suspension, while Igor Thiago will also return after being rested against Macclesfield – and those two should make the difference.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-0
Steve’s prediction: Brentford are too good for Brighton. My predictions are going to be very conservative by the way, there are no 5-0s! 2-1
AI’s prediction: 2-1
CHELSEA v BURNLEY
So much for me thinking that Burnley might give their fans something to cheer about by going on a good FA Cup run.
After their brilliant fightback to beat Crystal Palace in their last league game, the Clarets made changes against Mansfield and went out on their own patch to a League One side.
I just can’t see anything other than a home win for Chelsea here, even with their wobble last time at Stamford Bridge where Leeds fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 – Liam Rosenior’s side won’t let that happen again.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-0
Steve’s prediction: Definitely a Chelsea win here. My wife was very happy when Mansfield beat Burnley last week. 2-0
AI’s prediction: 3-0
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WEST HAM v BOURNEMOUTH
West Ham are still in the bottom three but they have shown they are up for the fight in the past few weeks.
Yes, they conceded a late equaliser against Manchester United in their last league game, but they keep on picking up points and that must have given them belief they can stay up.
Bournemouth are on a good run now too, with three wins in their past four league games but, along with Brighton, they are the Premier League’s draw specialists this season – both have had 10 so far.
It finished 2-2 when these two sides met on the south coast in November and I can see the points being shared this time too.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
Steve’s prediction: I am going with Bournemouth to edge this. 1-2
AI’s prediction: 2-2
MAN CITY v NEWCASTLE
This is the fourth meeting between these two clubs already this season, with another to come soon in the FA Cup fifth round – I bet they are sick of each other already.
Newcastle have a long trip back from Azerbaijan to contend with before this game but at least they have put their Champions League tie with Qarabag to bed already and can focus fully on City rather than next week’s second leg.
The Magpies still have an awful record at Etihad, however – they lost here in the Carabao Cup in January and have never managed a win in 20 visits in the Premier League.
I don’t think this will be easy for City, but I do think they will beat them, again, to move within two points of Arsenal.
The only thing I am not sure about is whether to captain Erling Haaland in my Fantasy team, because he has been out injured.
Sutton’s prediction: 3-1
Steve’s prediction: I’ve always liked Newcastle but I think City are going to win the league so I am going to back them here. 2-0
AI’s prediction: 3-1
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CRYSTAL PALACE v WOLVES
Fair play to Wolves, because they have turned a bit of a corner under Rob Edwards.
Their results have still never looked like being enough to keep them up but they showed again against Arsenal that they are at least being competitive now.
Even so, I can see this game being all about Jorgen Strand Larsen, following his £48m move from Wolves to Palace at the end of the January transfer window.
Palace still need the points and I would not be surprised if he has a say in the outcome – let’s go for him to score the winner.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
Steve’s prediction: Wolves are down so I am giving Palace this one. 2-0
AI’s prediction: 2-1
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST v LIVERPOOL
When Vítor Pereira went in as Wolves manager in December 2024, he did brilliantly to keep them up – but he has essentially taken them down this season, picking up only two points from 10 games before he was sacked.
Now he has arrived at Forest as their fourth manager of the season.
I don’t think his predecessor, Sean Dyche, deserved the sack. Based on the results in his 18 games in charge, Forest would be 12th in the table, but we are used to seeing managerial changes at the City Ground now.
We know Pereira will try to keep things tight, but Forest’s biggest issue throughout this campaign has been scoring goals and I am not sure they will be able to get at Liverpool.
Arne Slot’s side became the first team to win at the Stadium of Light when they edged out Sunderland in their last league game, and I can see a similar outcome here.
Sutton’s prediction: 0-1
Steve’s prediction: Forest might get a new manager bounce but I still think Liverpool will win. As a Mansfield fan, my wife hates Forest so I am not allowed to like them either! It’s the same with Chesterfield too. 0-2
AI’s prediction: 0-2
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SUNDERLAND v FULHAM
Sunderland’s form has dropped off a little bit in recent weeks but they have still had a phenomenal season and are probably safe already on 36 points – now they just have to see it through.
It will be interesting to see how Regis le Bris’s side respond to their first home defeat of the season, but Fulham are hardly on a great run either with three straight league losses.
Marco Silva’s side beat the Black Cats at Craven Cottage in November, and will leapfrog them in the table if they win this time too – but I don’t think that will happen.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
Steve’s prediction: I wasn’t sure about this one because they are both decent sides so I am going for a draw. 1-1
AI’s prediction: 2-1
TOTTENHAM v ARSENAL
From what I’ve read about new Tottenham manager Igor Tudor, he is a guy who goes in at clubs and, in the short term, gets a turn out of his team.
Spurs really need that to happen now, because they desperately need a win or two to get out of reach of relegation.
So, this game is big for them for that reason, and also because they can put another dent in Arsenal’s title hopes too.
Spurs and their fans have not had a lot to shout about this season, but if they can get something here then this could be a defining moment in their campaign, and affect Arsenal as well. They would love that.
It was an incredible wobble by Mikel Arteta’s team against Wolves, drawing 2-2 after being 2-0 up, and I certainly didn’t see it coming.
Maybe it is getting to be ‘squeaky bum time’ for them, but it didn’t affect them when they went away to Leeds a couple of weeks ago and won convincingly.
You can imagine how Spurs will be champing at the bit, and I am expecting them to make a fast start and have a real go at them – but Arsenal have to deal with that, and find a way of bouncing back.
I think the Gunners can do that, and their quality will make the difference in the end. I worry about Spurs in forward areas and it will be interesting to see how Tudor lines them up in defence too.
Ultimately, if Arsenal turn up and play how we know they can, then they will win – and I am expecting them to make a real statement.
Sutton’s prediction: 0-3
Steve’s prediction: Two bottlers here! I’d like Arsenal to win the league, but I don’t think they will. Man City are just used to doing it from here – they just get their heads down in the run-in, and they know what to do. 2-3
AI’s prediction: 1-2
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EVERTON v MAN UTD
Manchester United lost at home to Everton in November despite the Toffees going down to 10 men in the 13th minute, when Idrissa Gueye was sent off for striking his team-mate Michael Keane.
Ruben Amorim’s United just could not find a way of breaking Everton down that night, but there is a very different feel about them now Michael Carrick is in charge.
They needed a stoppage-time equaliser to get a point at West Ham last time out but they seem much more confident and have been playing well.
This will be a tough game for them but, as I’ve mentioned previously, Everton have picked up more points on the road this season than they have done at home.
That’s another reason why I fancy United to get something here, and stop David Moyes doing the double over his former club.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
Steve’s prediction: We were all enjoying United’s mid-table mediocrity but they have started to win now. 1-2
AI’s prediction: 1-3
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