Soccer Analyst Chris Sutton Battles Artist Murs in Top Flight Forecasts

The Gunners' ten-match winning streak was ended by the Black Cats before the global hiatus, but can the Premier League leaders recover against local foes Spurs this Sunday?

"{I believe like Arsenal are light years ahead of Tottenham at the moment but Spurs boss Thomas Frank will have a strategy for this match," remarked soccer expert Chris Sutton.

"Frank will try to neutralize Arsenal, who have not always been at their sparkling best this season - but Mikel Arteta's side usually still find a way to win."

The analyst is making predictions for all 380 Premier League fixtures this season, versus AI, readers and a range of guests.

For the twelfth round, he takes on singer Olly Murs, who is a United fan.

Murs' new record, the new release, is out on the weekend.

Soccer and Parenting Experiences

Olly is a talented soccer player as well as a successful singer and has been a star of multiple Soccer Aid games down the years - but he is not intending a professional comeback as a player.

"{I actually played in a charity game the other night for a friend of mine," he said. "The team was trailing 3-1 when I came off in the 60th minute, and they went on to win 4-3, so you can interpret that what you want!

"I still love football, but I injured my joint a few years ago and it even now hasn't fully recovered. I hope I could play more but the uncertainty of the sport means it's too risky for me in my profession to do it properly again.

"Plus I am forty-one now, and we are not all Cristiano Ronaldo, are we!? No, I am very happy not playing football and I am preparing for the time that my daughter or boy chooses to play instead."

Murs and his spouse Amelia Tank have two children, their daughter and Albert, and he is ready to follow in his father's footsteps by taking on the role of their manager.

"I will not push football on our children but I've previously told Amelia that if they do get the bug for it then I will have to go and get my manager qualifications - and I will probably be coaching their Saturday football team," he said.

"I observed my relatives play a lot, and I really got into it, and I clearly owned a football club for a while too.

"My father did it with us when I was a child, which is probably where I inherited it. He managed our team for several years and had a wonderful time with it. That might be the future for me as well, and I am excited to it!"

Premier League Forecasts

Saturday, 22 November

  • Turf Moor, 12:30 GMT

The Blues may have to wait a bit longer for Cole Palmer's return from fitness issues but their attack is already more potent with Pedro and Liam Delap both returned to fitness.

I still think this game will be quite tight, however. Burnley are well organised and their only home defeats so far have been against the Reds and Arsenal.

It smells of a 1-1 tie to me, but I am actually going to choose the London side to win narrowly for what would be their third consecutive league win in a row.

Sutton's forecast: 1-2

The singer's prediction: The Blues will be too strong. 1-3

AI's prediction: 0-2

  • Vitality Stadium, 15:00 GMT

The Cherries have been defeated in their previous couple matches - although both of them were away - but they got absolutely spanked by Aston Villa last time out which shocked me.

On the other hand, West Ham won back-to-back victories before the hiatus and, although both of those fixtures were at home, they do look strong again.

West Ham's only away win this campaign came at Nottingham Forest in the summer, when their boss Nuno Espirito Santo was previously Forest coach.

Therefore, what on earth do I go with here - will it be the Hammers extending their run under Nuno, or the home side responding?

I will choose Bournemouth, because I believe what happened against Villa was a anomaly.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Olly's prediction: Bournemouth are performing strongly but the visitors have picked up under Nuno. 2-2

AI's prediction: 1-1

  • Amex Stadium, 15:00 GMT

The Bees were seen as one of the favourites for relegation before the campaign started, but they have impressed a several people under Keith Andrews and are in fine fettle with three in their past four matches.

A family member told me to get Bees striker Igor Thiago in my fantasy soccer squad a few weeks back and, guess what, I didn't listen.

Thiago will likely score again on Saturday but I am still not going to select him or support the away side at Amex Stadium.

The Bees have not had great fortune on the road this season, and the Seagulls are always strong at home. The visitors will attempt to attack on the break but I feel Fabian Hurzeler's team carry much more of a danger.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Olly's prediction: It could be a match where you think there is going to be a many goals but it in reality proves to be rather tight. 1-1

AI's prediction: 2-1

  • Craven Cottage, 15:00 GMT

It is a huge fixture for Fulham, who have suffered defeat in five of their past six games.

Fulham have got lots of quality in their squad but it nonetheless seems like they could be sucked into a drop zone battle.

Regarding the Black Cats, well they are the unexpected success of the top flight season so far.

Their performance in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal last time out was superb. We have not seen anyone else rough up the North London side like that this term, and they were fully competitive for them.

The logical choice would be to support the Black Cats here, because they are obviously able of roughing Fulham up too and, the last time they were in west London, they beat Chelsea at the end of October.

But I am not choose that. Rather, I really need to carry on going against the away team with my predictions. I am taking a lot of credit for their good outcomes because they clearly love to prove me wrong.

Looking at the home side's at Craven Cottage record, the only side they have been defeated by is Arsenal. Marco Silva's side will be extremely eager for a good result, so I am going to predict they will secure three points.

Sutton's forecast: 1-0

The guest's prediction: I know Sunderland are doing well and also that Fulham are on a poor streak... but Fulham have still been respectable at Craven Cottage this campaign. 2-0

The algorithm's prediction: 2-0

  • Anfield, 15:00 GMT

It is a tough fixture to call. The Reds have suffered seven of their last ten games in all competitions, but might they be one of the teams who benefit from the {international break|

Anne Smith
Anne Smith

Elara Vance is a tech journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and their impact on society.