Premier League festive predictions: Chris Sutton faces singer and West Ham fan Chesney Hawkes

After a six-week interruption for the wintertime World Cup, the Premier League is backmost for Christmas, truthful what tin we expect from the archetypal acceptable of festive fixtures?

"Until we spot everyone play, it's truly hard to cognize what mightiness happen."

Sutton is making predictions for each top-flight crippled this season, against a assortment of guests.

For the archetypal acceptable of festive fixtures, from 26 to 28 December, helium is up against singer and West Ham instrumentality Chesney Hawkes.

Hawkes was labelled arsenic a World Cup fortunate charm by the England squad aft helium flew successful to execute his fig 1 hit, The One And Only, connected the transportation astatine half-time during their crippled against Wales, turning him into 1 the astonishment stars of the tournament.

Chesney Hawkes successful the England dugout aft their World Cup triumph implicit Wales

Hawkes was connected a 32-date circuit of the UK, scheduled to decorativeness successful Edinburgh connected 27 November, erstwhile his co-manager James asked him if helium would beryllium up for going nonstop from Scotland to execute astatine the crippled successful Doha a mates of days later.

"As a immense shot fan, I jumped astatine the chance, truthful with small slumber and a batch of tour-lag, I recovered myself lasting connected the transportation astatine half-time singing The One and Only to 60,000 fans," Hawkes told BBC Sport.

"It was a spot of a lacklustre archetypal fractional with nary motion of a goal. After my half-time show, the boys came retired fired up and went connected to triumph 3-0. I by nary means ever claimed determination was immoderate connection, but the property picked up the communicative and ran with it!

"I had a small spot of trepidation astir performing successful beforehand of 60,000 shot fans, but I needn't person worried; it truly was a goose-bump infinitesimal for me. It was the archetypal clip I'd played successful a stadium since the aboriginal 1990s, but it was astonishing to perceive that assemblage sing on with me. The craziness of the pursuing 2 weeks was precise surreal.

"As acold the shot was concerned, this World Cup was the champion ever: truthful entertaining, truthful galore fantastic games, last-minute goals and astir ridiculous moments. I loved each infinitesimal of it.

"Then we had the top World Cup last ever to decorativeness it off. I was connected a vessel successful the Caribbean with my household and we watched it successful a theatre with 1,000 fans. The infinitesimal Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup was a sublime infinitesimal successful shot history."

Declan Rice is Hawkes' favourite existent West Ham subordinate but helium is besides a large Jarrod Bowen fan. His archetypal heroes were from his aboriginal days arsenic a Hammers fan, however. Hawkes explained: "Tony Cottee, Frank McAvennie, Alvin Martin, Mark Ward, Tony Gale, Billy Bonds, Alan Devonshire and George Parris. I loved them all!"

Hawkes is simply a lifelong West Ham instrumentality so, arsenic good arsenic that Messi moment, different item for him was gathering midfielder Declan Rice aft the Wales game.

"I was successful the passageway conscionable aft the game, truthful the players were evidently buzzing from a 3-0 win," helium explained. "They each came up to maine to accidental hi, and astir of them told maine that I should sing astatine each crippled arsenic a fortunate charm. Declan was peculiarly lovely. I did person his garment on, truthful possibly that helped.

"The England kit men had been benignant capable to springiness maine Declan's shirt. When I got to conscionable him, I asked him to motion it for my West Ham-mad lad Indi. He happily obliged.

"As Declan and I were talking, the remainder of the England players were astir us. I noticed the unity and squad tone betwixt them. There was evidently a batch of emotion successful the camp.

"I'd emotion to play a gig for them - conscionable sanction the clip and place, and I'll beryllium there!

"In the meantime, I americium precise excited astir the upcoming merchandise of my caller album, which was written and produced with super-producer Jake Gosling - oh, and I americium looking guardant to watching West Ham assistance the FA Cup connected 3 June - travel connected you Irons!"

A close effect (picking a win, gully oregon defeat) is worthy 10 points. The nonstop people earns 40 points.

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SUTTON'S PREDICTIONS

Games footwear disconnected astatine 15:00 GMT unless different stated

MONDAY, 26 DECEMBER

Brentford v Tottenham (12:30 GMT)

It's hard to retrieve what astir teams did successful their past games earlier the World Cup, but I person not forgotten Brentford's stunning triumph astatine Manchester City, with Ivan Toney scoring twice.

Toney, who didn't marque it into the England squad, volition beryllium looking to prime up wherever helium near disconnected portion Tottenham volition beryllium hoping Harry Kane hits the crushed moving aft his instrumentality from Qatar.

Spurs person got Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski acceptable again, which volition help, but Richarlison is retired injured for a fewer weeks and they are going to miss him.

I'd emotion to accidental this volition beryllium a thriller to bring backmost Premier League shot with a bang, but my gut feeling is it mightiness really beryllium a somewhat underwhelming draw.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Chesney's prediction: 1-3

Crystal Palace v Fulham

This is simply a tricky 1 due to the fact that Fulham had a existent spell astatine beauteous overmuch everyone they played successful the archetypal portion of the season, location oregon away.

They person astir apt over-achieved truthful far, portion it feels similar Crystal Palace person under-performed successful galore respects, surely erstwhile I look done their squad.

I americium going to backmost the Eagles this time, though. They are ever decent astatine location and I deliberation they volition borderline this.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Chesney's prediction: 1-1

Everton v Wolves

This is simply a monolithic crippled for some teams, but it really feels bigger for Everton.

It's a accidental for caller Wolves brag Julen Lopetegui to get to enactment properly, successful what volition beryllium his archetypal crippled successful complaint of the Premier League's bottommost broadside since helium was appointed much than a period ago.

Lopetegui has tons to do, including getting Wolves to people immoderate goals, but helium is making a caller start, portion Everton were sinking accelerated earlier the play paused for the World Cup.

Frank Lampard's broadside person mislaid six of their past 8 games successful each competitions and could not person signed disconnected connected overmuch much of debased than being spanked doubly successful a enactment by Bournemouth, successful the Carabao Cup and past the league.

Wolves are successful a relegation battle, but truthful are Everton and a triumph present is perfectly important for them with Manchester City up next, astatine Etihad Stadium connected New Year's Eve.

Everton person to win, and I deliberation they volition win. I was astatine Goodison Park past play erstwhile their fans made a immense quality for them successful games similar this, and they volition assistance them again here.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Chesney's prediction: 2-0

Leicester v Newcastle

Both of these sides were successful large signifier earlier the World Cup - Leicester had climbed the array acknowledgment to 4 wins successful 5 league games, portion Newcastle flew up to 3rd with 5 league wins successful a row.

The Foxes won this fixture 4-0 successful December past year, but Newcastle are a wholly antithetic squad now. It volition beryllium close, but I'm backing them to find a mode of winning this 1 too.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Chesney's prediction: 2-2

Southampton v Brighton

Southampton are different squad with a caller manager aft appointing Luton brag Nathan Jones, but I americium not convinced they volition enactment up, careless of the determination to regenerate Ralph Hasenhuttl.

I mightiness beryllium proved incorrect travel May but I really deliberation they would person a amended accidental of avoiding relegation if they had stuck with Hasenhuttl.

Saints person got a beauteous benignant tally of games coming up, with Fulham and Nottingham Forest adjacent aft Brighton, and they truly request a 'new manager bounce' to prime up immoderate wins from those fixtures.

I americium not definite they volition get 1 of them here, though. Brighton play with a spot of state nether Roberto De Zerbi, and they ever look similar scoring goals.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

Chesney's prediction: 2-3

Aston Villa v Liverpool (17:30)

Liverpool looked beauteous lively against Manchester City successful the Carabao Cup connected Thursday but they missed immoderate large chances and besides looked rather leaky astatine the back.

I tin spot determination being astatine slightest 1 astonishment effect successful this archetypal circular of games backmost aft the World Cup and I deliberation Villa brag Unai Emery volition fancy his chances of sneaking this one.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Chesney's prediction: 0-1

Arsenal v West Ham (20:00)

Arsenal are 5 points wide astatine the the apical of the array but we are going to find retired successful the adjacent fewer weeks whether they truly are rubric contenders, aren't we?

The interruption astir apt came astatine the worst imaginable clip for them, due to the fact that of the signifier they were in, and determination isn't a much important subordinate they could person mislaid to wounded than Gabriel Jesus.

People mightiness constituent astatine his deficiency of goals earlier the World Cup but Jesus is integral to them successful the mode they press, and with his link-up play.

He is irreplaceable, surely from wrong their squad, truthful the seriousness of his wounded volition astir apt determine whether they effort to marque immoderate signings successful January.

I consciousness similar I person backed West Ham to beryllium amended than they person been connected plentifulness of occasions already this season, but the 1 happening they should beryllium present is pugnacious to beat.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Chesney's prediction: Arsenal are connected occurrence astatine the moment, but West Ham person ever performed against in-form teams. I cognize we haven't had the top archetypal fractional to the season, but I americium hoping we tin commencement playing the mode I cognize we tin play now, starting here! It'll beryllium a fast-paced crippled with some teams attacking from the start. I deliberation Jarrod Bowen and Gianluca Scamacca volition people for us. 2-2

Why West Ham? My begetter is simply a Queens Park Rangers fan, but helium ne'er took my member and I to immoderate games. A adjacent household friend, Roger, took Jodie and I to West Ham versus Spurs successful the aboriginal 1980s. West Ham lost, but the Hammers were doing the Hokey Cokey up and down the aisles. I'll ne'er hide that feeling of belonging to a tribe, and we were hooked from the start. I emotion West Ham and I've passed my emotion down to my kids. I told them from the opening that if they chose different team, they'd person to find determination other to live! Luckily, they chose wisely...

TUESDAY, 27 DECEMBER

Chelsea v Bournemouth (17:30 GMT)

Chelsea are hopeless for a triumph aft going six home games without a victory, and losing the past 4 of them, truthful the unit is truly connected Blues brag Graham Potter here.

I americium a beardown believer that Potter conscionable needs clip to get things close astatine Stamford Bridge, but they person had issues with scoring goals since helium took complaint and they volition request to decorativeness their chances against Bournemouth, arsenic good arsenic make them.

I bash expect Chelsea to triumph this crippled but it is going to beryllium absorbing to find retired what happens with the Cherries adjacent too.

Gary O'Neil's occurrence arsenic their caretaker brag meant helium decidedly deserved to beryllium appointed connected a imperishable ground but, to support the job, helium needs to lucifer those results now.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Chesney's prediction: 5-0

Man Utd v Nottingham Forest (20:00 GMT)

At the commencement of the season, I didn't deliberation Nottingham Forest would spell down but close present they are bang successful trouble.

At slightest Forest person got immoderate clip to prevention themselves but their distant grounds is appalling - conscionable 2 points and 1 extremity from 7 games - and I don't spot them adding to either tally astatine Old Trafford.

Now aged sulky pants - aka Cristiano Ronaldo - has gone, the anticipation is that Manchester United volition beryllium successful a amended spot and beryllium overmuch amended arsenic a team.

That whitethorn good beryllium the case, but I wouldn't beryllium amazed if they marque hard enactment of winning this crippled and request a spot of magic from Marcus Rashford to get implicit the line.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Chesney's prediction: 3-1

WEDNESDAY, 28 DECEMBER

Leeds v Man City (20:00 GMT)

Manchester City enactment retired a beardown squad against Liverpool successful the Carabao Cup connected Thursday and they looked similar they meant concern successful their archetypal crippled back.

I similar the mode Leeds play, and they ever look to person a spell successful each crippled wherever they are connected top, but they seldom bash it for 90 minutes and that worries maine erstwhile they are up against a broadside arsenic bully arsenic City.

There volition beryllium a large ambiance astatine Elland Road - I ever loved going determination arsenic a player, and it is the aforesaid present I spell to enactment connected games determination for 5 Live - but that won't assistance Leeds overmuch here.

Sutton's prediction: 0-4

Chesney's prediction: 0-4

Chris Sutton was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

How did Sutton bash past time?

In the past acceptable of fixtures earlier the World Cup, Sutton got 4 close results from 10 matches, including 2 nonstop scores, giving him a full of 100 points.

He bushed Jamie Johnson stars Jessica McHale and Olivia Chomczuk, who some got 3 close results, with nary nonstop scores, for a full of 30 points.

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