Football Expert Chris Sutton Takes On Artist Olly Murs in Top Flight Predictions

Arsenal's ten-match winning run was ended by Sunderland before the international hiatus, but will the Premier League frontrunners bounce back against north London rivals Spurs this Sunday?

"{I feel like Arsenal are light years ahead of Tottenham currently but Spurs manager Thomas Frank will have a strategy for this match," stated football expert Chris Sutton.

"Frank will attempt to nullify Arsenal, who have not always been at their sparkling finest this campaign - but Mikel Arteta's team usually still manage to win."

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League fixtures this term, against AI, readers and a range of guests.

In the twelfth round, he takes on singer Olly Murs, who is a Manchester United supporter.

The singer's new album, the new release, is out on Friday.

Soccer and Parenting Experiences

Olly is a skilled soccer player as well as a successful singer and has been a featured player of multiple charity football matches over time - but he is not intending a serious comeback as a player.

"{I recently played in a benefit game the other night for a mate of mine," he said. "The side was trailing 3-1 when I came off in the second half, and they went on to win 4-3, so you can read into that what you will!

"I continue to love football, but I injured my knee a few years ago and it even now hasn't fully recovered. I hope I could play more but the unpredictability of the game means it's too dangerous for me in my profession to do it properly again.

"Additionally 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 gearing up for the moment that my daughter or son decides to play instead."

The singer and his spouse Amelia Tank have a young family, Madison and Albert, and he is ready to follow in his father's footsteps by taking on the role of their manager.

"I won't push football on our children but I've already told Amelia that if they happen to get the bug for it then I will have to go and get my manager qualifications - and I will likely be managing their weekend football side," he said.

"I watched my relatives play a lot, and I really got into it, and I clearly was involved with a football club for a while too.

"My father did it with us when I was a child, which is likely where I get it from. He managed our team for several years and had great fun with it. That might be the next step for me as well, and I am looking forward to it!"

Top Division Predictions

Saturday, 22 November

  • Turf Moor, 12:30 GMT

Chelsea 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 Delap both back fit.

I still think this fixture will be fairly close, however. Burnley are disciplined and their only home defeats so far have been against Liverpool and Arsenal.

It smells of a one-all draw to me, but I am in fact going to choose Chelsea to win narrowly for what would be their third consecutive league win in a row.

Sutton's prediction: 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 lost their previous couple matches - albeit both of them were away - but they got thoroughly beaten by Villa last time out which shocked me.

On the other hand, West Ham won two in a row before the international break and, although both of those games were at home, they do look competitive again.

The Hammers' sole away win this season came at Forest in the summer, when West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo was still Forest coach.

Therefore, what on earth do I predict here - will it be the Hammers continuing their run under Nuno, or Bournemouth responding?

I am going to choose Bournemouth, because I think what occurred against Villa was a blip.

The pundit's prediction: 2-0

Olly's prediction: The home team are doing well but the visitors have improved under Nuno. 2-2

AI's prediction: 1-1

  • Amex Stadium, 15:00 GMT

The Bees were seen as one of the frontrunners for the drop before the season began, but they have impressed a several observers under Keith Andrews and are in fine fettle with three wins in their last four matches.

My son told me to select Brentford forward Igor Thiago in my fantasy soccer squad a few weeks ago and, guess what, I ignored the advice.

Thiago will probably score again on Saturday but I am nonetheless not going to pick him or back Brentford at Brighton's ground.

They have not had great fortune on the travel this season, and the Seagulls are consistently strong at home. The visitors will attempt to attack on the counter-attack but I think Fabian Hurzeler's side pose much more of a threat.

The analyst's prediction: 2-1

The singer's prediction: This could be a match where you think there is going to be a lot of scores but it actually turns out to be rather close. 1-1

AI's prediction: 2-1

  • Craven Cottage, 15:00 GMT

It is a huge game for Fulham, who have suffered defeat in five of their last six matches.

They have got lots of quality in their squad but it nonetheless seems like they could be sucked into a relegation fight.

As for the Black Cats, indeed they are the unexpected success of the top flight campaign so far.

Their performance in the two-all draw with the Gunners last time out was superb. We have not witnessed any other team rough up the Gunners like that this term, and they were fully competitive for them.

The sensible thing would be to support the Black Cats here, because they are obviously capable of roughing the hosts up too and, the last time they were in this part of London, they beat the Blues at the end of last month.

However I am not going to choose that. Rather, I really need to continue going against the away team with my forecasts. I am claiming a lot of credit for their positive outcomes because they evidently love to prove me wrong.

Considering the home side's home form, the sole team they have been defeated by is Arsenal. Their manager's team will be extremely desperate for a good result, so I am going to predict they will secure three much-needed points.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Olly's prediction: I'm aware Sunderland are performing strongly and also that Fulham are on a bad run... but Fulham have still been respectable at Craven Cottage this season. 2-0

AI's outlook: 2-0

  • Anfield, 15:00 GMT

This is a hard fixture to call. The Reds have suffered seven of their last ten matches in every tournament, but might they be one of the sides who benefit from the {international break|

Daryl Randolph
Daryl Randolph

A passionate Minecraft modder and content creator with over 8 years of experience in game design and community building.