Chris Sutton‘s Premier League score predictions have been revealed and as always he’s joined by some guests for the latest batch.
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 rapper Yizzy, who supports Arsenal.
MAN CITY v CRYSTAL PALACE
Crystal Palace are a really well-balanced team who can cause Manchester City all sorts of problems with their 3-4-3 formation, even though Marc Guehi and Eddie Nketiah are suspended after being sent off against Brighton last week.
The Eagles are in better form than Pep Guardiola’s side too, with four wins and a draw from their past five league games – City have only won twice in the same period.
I still cannot move away from a City win, however. I still expect them to win these kind of games at home, even if they are miles away from being the team they were 12 months ago.
We saw more evidence of that last week, because Sunday’s Manchester derby was probably the dullest derby game I have ever watched.
You think about when Guardiola came over, and how he transformed the game. For years, City were so watchable.
Now, if they were playing in my back garden I would close the curtains – although that would be a bit harsh on Palace.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
Yizzy’s prediction: If I wasn’t an Arsenal fan, Palace would be my team. They are my local side and I always want them to win, except when they are playing Arsenal. I don’t think they will get anything here, though. City have been so up and down but I can’t look past them winning at home. 3-1
BRIGHTON v LEICESTER
If you ever want a game to get back on track, just play Leicester.
They have lost eight successive league games without scoring, and that run is not going to end here.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was a dreadful appointment as manager but I don’t blame him or his predecessor, Steve Cooper for the Foxes’ awful season because there is a deeper underlying problem at the club.
It didn’t help, then, that the players seemed to think – and probably still do – that they are better than they are.
The fans were expecting too much from this season too, but I doubt that is the case anymore, because their team has been so feeble.
Brighton have taken only one point from their past three matches so they need a win to boost their hopes of finishing in the European places.
I have absolutely no doubt they will get it – the only question is how many will they score.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-0
Yizzy’s prediction: I have to go with Brighton here but I do think Leicester have the ability to get a result, so this might be closer than a lot of people think. They have to score again at some point, too. 2-1
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST v EVERTON
This is a tough one to call. Nottingham Forest are looking to get back to winning ways after losing to Aston Villa last week, but Everton are so awkward under David Moyes.
The Toffees have drawn six of their past eight games so that is the obvious call here, but I want to back Forest – if you cut me in half, and I am red and white.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-0
Yizzy’s prediction: It has been an amazing turnaround by Everton under Moyes but Forest are absolutely flying. They have had an amazing season, I don’t think anyone saw it coming. 2-0
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SOUTHAMPTON v ASTON VILLA
With the best will in the world, Aston Villa are going to go out of the Champions League. They do have players capable of scoring the goals they need against Paris St-Germain in the second leg of their quarter-final, but it will be very hard for them to turn that tie around.
If Villa open up, you just feel that might suit PSG, who are my tip to win the competition by the way.
With that game coming up on Tuesday it is just as well for Villa that things will be a heck of a lot easier against Southampton.
Simon Rusk is in charge of Saints now Ivan Juric has been sacked, and they are not going to just lie down at home, but Villa could make a few changes and still get over the line.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-2
Yizzy’s prediction: The PSG tie is definitely going to be Villa’s focus but Southampton are really struggling. 0-2
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ARSENAL v BRENTFORD
I wanted Arsenal to try to push Liverpool in the title race but boss Mikel Arteta clearly knew something I didn’t, resting his players against Everton last weekend and then demolishing Real Madrid the way they did.
Arteta will make changes again here, before Wednesday’s second leg at the Bernabeu, and the fact it won’t be the Gunners’ strongest side makes this quite hard to predict.
Brentford are very capable but I have a feeling the Gunners will still have enough to win, even though they are prioritising Europe now.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
Yizzy’s prediction: Brentford are not a team to underestimate, so because our focus will be on Real, this is an interesting one. They will give it a good go and although I still think we will win, you could see the same scoreline going the other way if we take our foot off the gas too much. 2-1
Yizzy on Arsenal’s prospects: When you look at how much Arteta has changed at the club as well as with the team since he was appointed at the end of 2019, it is incredible.
I feel like now is the time we are really seeing that work paying off. We have arguably got one of the strongest 1st XIs in the world, and have balanced out all the things that we have needed over the past 10-15 years.
We have nailed a consistent top-four finish, and I don’t think that is ever in doubt under Arteta any more. We are ready to go and start winning some stuff, hopefully starting with the Champions League this season.
The only thing we still need is a striker. I don’t know who might be available but the three names I’ve been thinking about are Alexander Isak at Newcastle, Viktor Gyokeres at Sporting and Lautaro Martinez at Inter Milan.
I’ve been a fan of Martinez for a while. I’ve not followed Gyokeres as much but he is so consistent, and it feels like he is destined to play for a massive club.
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CHELSEA v IPSWICH
Ipswich beat Chelsea at Portman Road earlier in the season so you cannot rule out them doing the double over Chelsea by winning at Stamford Bridge too.
Actually, I think you can. I’d love to back Ipswich to cheer up my daughter’s teacher, Mr Fields, but I am done with predicting they will win. I am going to have to drop her off outside the school gates and let her walk in, because I can’t risk going into the car park and seeing his sad face after another Tractor Boys defeat.
As we saw last week against Brentford, Chelsea are far from convincing in attack and can be flimsy defensively.
Cole Palmer is out of form too, but Chelsea should still have a host of chances here. If they take them, they will win comfortably.
Sutton’s prediction: 3-0
Yizzy’s prediction: I’ve really liked watching Ipswich this season. It looks like they were down, but they always put up a decent fight. 1-1
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LIVERPOOL v WEST HAM
West Ham have been poor recently, and Bournemouth should have beaten them last week.
The Hammers have not really improved since Graham Potter was appointed in January, but that is not on him.
His predecessor Julen Lopetegui was not a good fit, and they have not recruited well either. Their season has been as dull as a Manchester derby and it is not going to get any better now.
So, this is a good game for Liverpool to find some form again and the same can be said for their following match, a trip to Leicester, too.
Even though Liverpool are not playing well, they will still have the desire and intensity at Anfield that they need to see off the Hammers without too much trouble. Mohamed Salah’s new contract will obviously lift the fans too.
Sutton’s prediction: 3-1
Yizzy’s prediction: Big up to Mo, he has been one of the best players in the world for a while now. Liverpool have been very annoying because I thought this was the season we won the Premier League but in typical Arsenal fashion a few injuries and referee decisions have cost us, and there is this 11-point gap when we should be a lot closer than that.
Liverpool are going to win the league now, and I feel like this is going to be a very comfortable afternoon for them. Salah to celebrate his new contract with a goal and an assist. 3-0
WOLVES v TOTTENHAM
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has got his big players back from injury but he will have his eye on the Europa League and getting past Eintracht Frankfurt, so will he rest people here?
I have been really impressed with Wolves under Vitor Pereira, especially defensively.
When Gary O’Neil was sacked in December, they had shipped 40 goals in their first 16 league games but, under Pereira, they have only conceded another 19 in 15 matches.
Wolves have won their past three games to move 12 points clear of the relegation zone and I am expecting them to make it four wins in a row here, with another clean sheet.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-0
Yizzy’s prediction: I am not just saying this because it is Tottenham but I think Wolves will win. They don’t score a lot of goals but once they get ahead I’ve seen them shut out a lot of teams.
Also, Matheus Cunha is back from his ban and he is an absolute baller. I’ve watched him for Brazil and if he was in a team that didn’t rely on so much individual talent from him as Wolves do, he would shine even more. I wouldn’t take him at Arsenal though, because I don’t think he’s the right player we need. 2-0
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NEWCASTLE v MAN UTD
It does feel like Ruben Amorim is steadying the ship at Manchester United but there is nothing much for them to get excited about in the Premier League and it could be a pretty dull end to their domestic campaign, especially because they are finding it difficult to score goals.
Like Tottenham, United’s season is hanging on the Europa League now, but their Premier League results still matter for Amorim because he needs to put some credit into the bank going into next season.
I just can’t see past a Newcastle win here, though. They are one of the teams in this race for the Champions League places and are in great form. Now we know the top five are guaranteed to get in, I am confident they will make it.
It just shows the value of winning the Carabao Cup because it seems like it has given them a big leg up.
They will have enjoyed themselves celebrating for a few days but now they are focused on making it into the Champions League, which is so important because of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
If they make it, it gives them the opportunity to build.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-0
Yizzy’s prediction: Manchester United will have their minds on the second leg of their tie with Lyon. It always feels like they have an issue defensively and Newcastle will be able to get at them. I am going with Isak to drop a masterclass, helped by Andre Onana’s goalkeeping. 2-1
BOURNEMOUTH v FULHAM
I watched Bournemouth against West Ham last week and they deserved to beat them, so I don’t think their form is as bad as their run of two points from their past six games suggests.
Fulham, meanwhile, took the scalp of mighty Liverpool to underline how capable they are – but they seem to lack the consistency they will need to really push for the Champions League places from here.
Let’s face it, though, I find both of these teams very hard to predict.
Whichever way I go with this one, the opposite will happen – so I am going to hedge my bets and go for a draw.
I was going to go for it to finish 2-2 because both teams have got a lot about them going forward, but my daughter, Sophia, says it will be 1-1. If I lose this week because of this game, then it is her fault.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
Yizzy’s prediction: Fulham have done really well all season and although we beat them last week, they gave us some problems when we drew with them in December. They are on a bit of a charge up the table and it looks like there is great energy in their dressing room from the pictures I’ve seen. After beating Liverpool last week I can see them winning this one too. 0-1
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