Football Analyst Sutton Faces Off Against Artist Murs in Top Flight Predictions
Arsenal's 10-game winning streak was ended by the Black Cats before the international hiatus, but will the English top division frontrunners bounce back against local foes Tottenham this Sunday?
"{I believe like Arsenal are light years ahead of Tottenham currently but Spurs boss Thomas Frank will have a strategy for this match," stated soccer expert Chris Sutton.
"Frank will try to nullify Arsenal, who have not always been at their sparkling finest this campaign - but Mikel Arteta's team usually still find a way to win."
Sutton is forecasting results for all 380 Premier League fixtures this term, against AI, fans and a variety of special visitors.
For week 12, he takes on singer Olly Murs, who is a Manchester United fan.
Murs' new album, Knees Up, is out on the weekend.
Football and Family Life
Olly is a skilled footballer as well as a accomplished singer and has been a star of multiple charity football matches down the years - but he is not planning a serious return as a player.
"{I actually played in a charity match the other evening for a mate of mine," he said. "The side was trailing 3-1 when I came off in the second half, and they proceeded to win 4-3, so you can read into that what you want!
"I continue to love football, but I hurt my joint a few years ago and it even now hasn't fully recovered. I wish I could play more but the uncertainty of the sport means it's too dangerous for me in my career to do it seriously again.
"Additionally I am forty-one now, and we are not everyone is Cristiano Ronaldo, are we!? No, I am very happy not playing football and I am preparing for the moment that my child or son chooses to play instead."
The singer and his spouse his partner have a young family, their daughter and their son, and he is ready to follow in his father's footsteps by becoming their manager.
"I will not force football on our kids but I've previously told Amelia that if they do get the bug for it then I will have to go and get my coaching badges - and I will probably be managing their Saturday soccer side," he said.
"I observed my nephews play a lot, and I truly got into it, and I obviously owned a soccer team for a period too.
"My father coached with us when I was a kid, which is likely where I get it from. He coached our team for several seasons and had a wonderful time 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
The Blues might have to wait a bit longer for Cole Palmer's comeback from injury but their offense is now more potent with Joao Pedro and Delap both returned to fitness.
In my opinion this fixture will be fairly close, though. The Clarets are disciplined and their sole at Turf Moor defeats so far have been against Liverpool and Arsenal.
It smells of a 1-1 draw to me, but I am in fact going to go with Chelsea to win narrowly for what would be their third league win in a row.
Sutton's forecast: 1-2
Olly's prediction: Chelsea will be too strong. 1-3
AI's outlook: 0-2
- Vitality Stadium, 15:00 GMT
Bournemouth have lost their previous couple matches - although both of them were away - but they got absolutely spanked by Aston Villa last time out which surprised me.
On the other hand, the Hammers won two in a row before the international break and, although both of those fixtures were at home, they do look competitive again.
West Ham's only away win this campaign came at Nottingham Forest in August, when their manager Nuno was previously that team's manager.
So, what exactly do I predict here - will it be the Hammers continuing their run under their manager, or the home side responding?
I will go with Bournemouth, because I think what occurred against Villa was a anomaly.
The pundit's forecast: 2-0
The guest's outlook: Bournemouth are doing well but the visitors have picked up under Nuno. 2-2
The algorithm's prediction: 1-1
- Amex Stadium, 15:00 GMT
The Bees were considered one of the favourites for relegation before the season began, but they have impressed a several observers under their manager and are in fine fettle with three wins in their last four games.
A family member advised me to select Brentford striker Thiago in my fantasy soccer squad a few weeks ago and, unfortunately, I ignored the advice.
The forward will probably score again on Saturday but I am nonetheless not going to select him or support Brentford at Brighton's ground.
They have not had much success on the road this season, and Brighton are always strong at home. The visitors will attempt to attack on the counter-attack but I feel the home manager's side carry much more of a danger.
The analyst's prediction: 2-1
The singer's view: This could be a match where you expect there is going to be a many goals but it in reality turns out to be quite tight. 1-1
The computer's prediction: 2-1
- Craven Cottage, 15:00 GMT
This is a huge game for the Cottagers, who have lost five of their past six matches.
Fulham have got plenty of quality in their squad but it nonetheless feels like they could be dragged into a drop zone battle.
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 Arsenal last time out was superb. We have not witnessed any other team rough up the Gunners like that this season, and Sunderland were more than a match for them.
The sensible thing would be to back the Black Cats here, because they are clearly capable of roughing Fulham up too and, the previous occasion they were in this part of London, they beat Chelsea at the end of last month.
However I am not going to do that. Rather, I really need to continue opposing the away team with my predictions. I am taking a lot of responsibility for their good results because they evidently love to defy my predictions.
Considering the home side's at Craven Cottage record, the sole side they have lost to is the league leaders. Their manager's side will be extremely eager for a positive result, so I am going to say they will pick up three much-needed points.
The expert's forecast: 1-0
Olly's choice: I'm aware Sunderland are performing strongly and additionally that Fulham are on a poor streak... but Fulham have nonetheless been respectable at home this campaign. 2-0
The algorithm's outlook: 2-0
- Anfield, 15:00 GMT
It is a tough one to predict. Liverpool have suffered seven of their past 10 games in every tournament, but could they be among the teams who benefit from the {international break|