Premier League predictions: Chris Sutton on Man City v Arsenal title showdown & other midweek games

Leaders Arsenal and champions Manchester City conscionable successful a rubric showdown connected Wednesday, but who volition travel retired connected top?

"But that tally of draws was truthful damaging, and you tin spot that uncertainty has kicked in. If the Gunners tin win, it would beryllium an unthinkable turnaround aft what has happened to them successful caller weeks."

Sutton is making predictions for each 380 Premier League matches this season, against a assortment of guests.

Some of his attempts astatine guessing the close scorelines person been frighteningly atrocious - truthful it is due that this clip helium is up against 2 specialists successful fearfulness - Evil Dead Rise writer and manager Lee Cronin and Living With Chucky writer and manager Kyra Gardner.

Evil Dead Rise is the 5th movie successful the classical Evil Dead franchise, and was released successful UK cinemas connected 21 April. It is presently fig 2 successful the planetary container office.

Living With Chucky is simply a documentary exploring the interaction of the Chucky films - Kyra's father, Tony, was the peculiar effects adept who brought the iconic slayer doll to beingness successful the celebrated Child's Play movie series. It came retired connected integer download successful the UK connected 24 April.

How does Sutton deliberation helium would fare if helium ever met Chucky? "I person worked with Robbie Savage," helium explained. "So Chucky doesn't scare me."

Could Chucky diagnostic successful a shot movie successful the future? "I uncertainty it," laughed Gardner. "The shot would beryllium astir arsenic large arsenic helium is."

Gardner grew up successful the United States arsenic a keen inferior footballer and had to take betwixt a shot assistance and majoring successful movie astatine college.

She told BBC Sport: "I don't support up with overmuch successful the nonrecreational satellite now, but I did play soccer, forever.

"I started erstwhile I was astir three. My mum got maine into it - she had ne'er played it herself, but she wanted america to play. Then I played nine shot from the property of 7 each the mode to 17.

"I played centre-midfield and had the accidental to instrumentality it further and possibly possibly marque a vocation retired of it, but I couldn't due to the fact that of movie school. They wouldn't fto you beryllium connected a sports assistance portion being connected an arts programme astatine the aforesaid time.

"I miss it it a lot, due to the fact that shot was my full satellite for specified a agelong time. Now it is similar I person this accomplishment that I don't usage immoderate much - but I volition marque a comeback eventually!

"Women's shot is specified a large athletics successful the United States truthful I americium not amazed it has go truthful fashionable successful the UK too, but it has taken a while.

"I lived successful London for a fewer months a fewer years agone and though everyone would speech astir shot each the time, I ne'er heard anyone notation women's shot games.

"It's large to perceive that is changing and it has taken disconnected successful a large way, arsenic it should - but conscionable retrieve who the satellite champions are erstwhile the World Cup comes on this summer!"

Being truthful cantankerous means Chris Sutton doesn't person to fearfulness being targeted by the demons successful Evil Dead Rise. "The Deadites lone hunt the innocent, truthful I deliberation Chris volition beryllium each right," said Cronin. "They won't travel aft him due to the fact that he's not bully enough."

Cronin has supported Liverpool since helium was a young lad successful Ireland, and remembers the nonstop infinitesimal helium chose the Reds.

"Really specifically, I person been a Liverpool instrumentality since August 1990 erstwhile I was 8 years old," helium told BBC Sport. "That came disconnected the backmost of maine waking up to shot erstwhile the Republic of Ireland played astatine Italia 90.

"I spoke to my cousin, who was a small spot older than me, astir who I should enactment and helium had a transcript of Shoot! mag wherever the centre pull-out was squad photos of Liverpool connected 1 side, and Manchester United connected the other.

"I took 1 look astatine United and said 'no way' and became a Liverpool fan.

"I decidedly made the close prime but successful hindsight it wasn't the champion clip to commencement pursuing then, 3 months aft they had go champions successful 1990. I had to hold a precise agelong clip to spot them bash it again and I spent the adjacent fewer years being surrounded by United fans astatine school, which wasn't overmuch amusive astatine all.

"I retrieve going to ticker Liverpool play a mates of pre-season friendlies successful Ireland and it was the epoch of players similar Istvan Kozma truthful it wasn't precisely a glamour team.

"Things did get amended though and the standout subordinate for maine successful the years that followed was ever Robbie Fowler. His finishing was conscionable thing special. He was the subordinate that, erstwhile you were a kid and you went down your section field, you would effort to decorativeness similar helium did.

"I retrieve erstwhile helium came backmost a fewer years aboriginal and had that swansong with Liverpool astatine the extremity of his vocation - that was astir apt the astir excited I person ever been by a Liverpool signing, adjacent though helium was agelong past the highest of his powers by then."

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

TUESDAY, 25 APRIL

Wolves v Crystal Palace (19:30 BST)

Crystal Palace are inactive unbeaten nether Roy Hodgson but they didn't truly transportation a extremity menace successful Saturday's gully with Everton.

From Roy's constituent of view, the occupation helium was brought successful for was to marque definite Palace stayed up and it is arsenic bully arsenic done. They are not mathematically harmless but they are 9 points wide of the relegation portion with six games to play truthful I deliberation they person got capable points successful the container already.

Wolves inactive request different win, oregon possibly two, but they are hardly connected the borderline either.

The evident effect to spell for present is 1-1, due to the fact that I can't spot determination being loads of goals and some sides would astir apt beryllium delighted with a draw.

Chris Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Kyra's prediction: 1-2

Lee's prediction: There are goals successful this crippled but they mightiness cancel each different out. 2-2

Aston Villa v Fulham (19:45)

Aston Villa got distant with it a spot astatine the weekend. I tipped them to bushed Brentford but they did not truly get going against the Bees and were fortunate to get a draw.

Just erstwhile it appeared that Fulham's players had signed disconnected for their summertime holidays, they person present won back-to-back games - deservedly truthful each clip - and look truly committed.

It volition beryllium adjacent but Villa are astatine location and person been successful bully signifier nether Unai Emery truthful I inactive fancy them to sneak this one.

Chris Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Kyra's prediction: 2-0

Lee's prediction: Villa are connected a large run. 2-1

Leeds v Leicester (20:00)

I support tipping Leeds to prime up points astatine location and to beryllium just I person lone been astir 10 goals out. I backed them to bushed Crystal Palace 1-0 and gully 1-1 with Liverpool and they mislaid those games 5-1 and 6-1.

Javi Gracia has picked up 3 wins and a gully successful his 9 league games successful charge, which is the crushed they aren't successful the relegation zone, but helium indispensable person monolithic worries astir his defence and lone Bournemouth person conceded much goals successful the apical formation this season.

I don't fancy Leeds to support a cleanable expanse here, but Leicester person antiaircraft problems of their own.

The Foxes' triumph implicit Wolves connected Saturday was tremendous for their caller manager Dean Smith due to the fact that it got them retired of the bottommost three, and with a location crippled against Everton to travel connected Monday they could unfastened up a spot of a spread connected the relegation portion successful the abstraction of a week.

I don't deliberation that volition happen, though. For nary crushed whatsoever I americium going to accidental a location triumph for Leeds. They person been smashed successful their past 2 games astatine Elland Road but this mightiness beryllium 3rd clip fortunate for me, arsenic good arsenic them.

Chris Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Kyra's prediction: 2-1

Lee's prediction: I americium feeling brave truthful I americium going for Leeds to borderline this. 3-2

WEDNESDAY, 26 APRIL

Nottingham Forest v Brighton (19:30)

Nottingham Forest showed a spot of combat against Liverpool astatine the play but inactive near Anfield empty-handed. It is going to beryllium conscionable arsenic hard for them to get thing from this game.

Brighton are going to person to prime themselves up aft the disappointment of their FA Cup semi-final punishment shootout defeat, but I thought they were the amended squad against Manchester United astatine Wembley.

I've got to accidental that, portion I respect what Arsenal and Manchester City person done this season, the Seagulls nether Roberto de Zerbi are my favourite squad to watch, with the assurance they amusement and the risks they take.

All the Seagulls players person a large knowing of their team's patterns of play and, portion they mightiness beryllium feeling a spot level aft the weekend, I deliberation they volition beryllium excessively bully for Forest.

Chris Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Kyra's prediction: 0-2

Lee's prediction: Forest are not successful a bully spot astatine the moment. 1-3

Chelsea v Brentford (19:45)

Frank Lampard has mislaid each 4 of his games arsenic interim Chelsea manager. He won't beryllium successful complaint astatine Stamford Bridge adjacent play but helium is simply a arrogant antheral and volition beryllium hopeless to present a affirmative effect this time, with speech that Mauricio Pochettino is astir to instrumentality over.

Unfortunately for Lampard, I'm not definite each his players consciousness the same. The mode immoderate of them person conducted themselves this play makes maine wonderment if they truly attraction - the Blues are 5 points down Brentford successful the array for a reason.

The Bees were bully against Villa astatine the play aft a small spell wherever their results had conscionable fallen distant and we cognize however good organised they ever are.

Chris Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Kyra's prediction: 0-1

Lee's prediction: This volition beryllium beauteous dull. 1-1

West Ham v Liverpool (19:45)

West Ham person had a large week with 2 four-goal wins, successful the Europa Conference League and past astatine Bournemouth, but their betterment goes backmost further than that.

The Hammers person taken 10 points from their past 4 games and they are astatine the signifier wherever different triumph volition astir apt beryllium capable to support them up.

I americium not definite they volition get it here, contempt the betterment of Michail Antonio. This season, similar a batch of West Ham players, helium has been a spot of a disappointment, but things person truly clicked for him of late.

They volition marque beingness hard for Liverpool and portion I deliberation Jurgen Klopp's broadside volition people goals, I inactive don't spot the Reds defensively - Nottingham Forest caused them problems truthful West Ham volition too.

Chris Sutton's prediction: 2-2

Kyra's prediction: 0-2

Lee's prediction: This is the large lawsuit of the nighttime and the crippled everyone is talking about. I americium inactive truly cautious astir our form, but I americium going to backmost america here. 1-2

Lee connected Liverpool's season: My favourite subordinate present has got to beryllium Mohamed Salah due to the fact that I emotion a goalscorer, but I was a immense instrumentality of Georginio Wijnaldum and deliberation we person truly been missing his consistency successful midfield. People spell connected astir the effect of Sadio Mane leaving but for maine Wijnaldum was the motor of the squad and helium was the bigger loss.

Man City v Arsenal (20:00)

I americium precise assured with my prediction for this crippled - the lone happening I wasn't definite astir was whether Arsenal would score.

The Gunners are playing this lucifer astatine 1 of the worst imaginable moments due to the fact that City person recovered their bushed and are hitting immoderate unthinkable form.

I truly anticipation Arsenal are brave and instrumentality the crippled to City due to the fact that the Gunners' onslaught is their strength, but successful galore ways that volition play into the location side's hands.

Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus - connected his instrumentality to Etihad Stadium - volition each transportation a threat, but we person seen however susceptible they are astatine the backmost successful the past fewer weeks, and however connected world bash you halt Erling Haaland and co?

If, say, Nathan Ake is retired injured past that volition hamper City a bit, but I inactive spot Pep Guardiola's broadside truly dominating the game, and they are perfectly relentless erstwhile they travel forward.

Chris Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Kyra's prediction: So the rubric is connected the enactment successful this game? I person to spell with Arsenal present due to the fact that they are the squad I cognize the best. 2-3

Lee's prediction: Being a Liverpool fan, I cognize what it is similar going toe-to-toe with City. I deliberation Arsenal person had an astonishing play but I deliberation their vigor has started to drop, portion City person truly started to deed apical form. 3-1

THURSDAY, 27 APRIL

Everton v Newcastle (19:45)

Everton reminded maine of Sean Dyche's aged Burnley broadside erstwhile I watched them against Crystal Palace astatine the weekend.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin came into the squad and they were precise direct, with balls into him and past trying to find runners disconnected that.

They were besides hoping for Alex Iwobi and Demarai Grey to spark thing with immoderate idiosyncratic brilliance but it didn't truly happen, and you could truly spot wherefore the Toffees are the lowest scorers successful the Premier League this season.

This is the past crippled they request aft dropping into the bottommost three. Everton don't transportation capable of a menace and past you are near asking whether they tin support an in-form Newcastle broadside out.

I don't deliberation they can, and being astatine location won't marque immoderate difference, due to the fact that the Magpies volition frighten the beingness retired of them.

Chris Sutton's prediction: 0-2

Kyra's prediction: 0-3

Lee's prediction: This is much retired of anticipation than expectation. I americium inactive reasoning astir Liverpool making the apical 4 and though Newcastle person conscionable had a large win, determination is inactive a spot of inconsistency successful their squad and they are our champion anticipation of sneaking successful there, much truthful than Manchester United. It's a heck of a long-shot though. 1-1

Southampton v Bournemouth (19:45)

Bournemouth could efficaciously relegate Southampton here.

Saints would not beryllium mathematically down, of course, but they volition inactive beryllium feeling sick aft dropping points truthful precocious connected against Arsenal and a decision would beryllium a immense stroke to them.

Will that happen, though? On paper, yes. Southampton's location signifier has been wretched portion Bournemouth had been doing beauteous good until they ran into West Ham astatine the weekend.

I americium going against the grain, though. This is precise hard to telephone but I conscionable person a feeling Saints volition get thing here. They won't support a cleanable sheet, though.

Chris Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Kyra's prediction: 0-1

Lee's prediction: I changed my caput connected this 1 - my reasoning present is that show astatine Arsenal volition springiness Southampton a spot of a bounce. 2-1

Tottenham v Man Utd (20:15)

I truly fancy Manchester United here. Tottenham conscionable capitulated against Newcastle and they are successful specified a messiness that they person conscionable fired their interim manager, Cristian Stellini.

If Newcastle had continued scoring astatine the aforesaid complaint they did successful the archetypal 21 minutes, past they would person ended up winning 22-0.

Will Spurs bounce back, aft 1 of the astir gutless displays I person ever seen? I americium not convinced.

United were fortunate to get done their FA Cup semi-final with Brighton. I enjoyed the crippled and however it panned out, and Erik 10 Hag's broadside were rather effectual connected the break.

I don't spot them scoring arsenic galore arsenic Newcastle did, but I decidedly don't deliberation Tottenham volition support a cleanable sheet.

I americium definite Spurs won't beryllium arsenic atrocious arsenic they were connected Sunday, but I conscionable can't backmost them astatine the moment.

Chris Sutton's prediction: 1-3

Kyra's prediction: 2-1

Lee's prediction: This is the 1 that sticks successful my pharynx due to the fact that I don't privation to beryllium honest, but I deliberation United volition win. 1-2

Chris Sutton, Kyra Gardner and Lee Cronin were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

How did Sutton bash past time?

From past weekend's Premier League fixtures, Sutton got 4 close results from 8 matches, including 1 nonstop score, giving him a full of 70 points.

With 2 games inactive to beryllium played, helium is starring Enter Shikari bassist & QPR instrumentality Chris Batten, who got 3 close results with 1 nonstop score, giving him a full of 60 points.

How did you get on?

Only 12% of you thought Southampton would debar decision astatine Arsenal but you were close astir wins for Fulham, Liverpool and Newcastle.

*Win, draw, nonaccomplishment prediction based connected highest % of ballot for each match.

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