Premier League Predictions: Exciting Matchups Ahead
The Premier League is set for another thrilling weekend of football, with the highlight being the Newcastle vs. Liverpool match on Monday night.
BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, competing against AI, BBC Sport readers, and various guests.
After securing a victory in predictions last weekend, Sutton expressed his relief, stating, "It's a huge relief to get that first win. I even managed to outscore the AI too. I've always maintained that you'll need more than just artificial intelligence to beat me."
For the upcoming week, Sutton will face off against Theo Ellis , the bassist of Wolf Alice, who is a devoted Arsenal supporter.
Wolf Alice's new album, The Clearing , is set to release on Friday, followed by a UK tour in November and December.
Do you agree with their predictions? You can share your own forecasts below. The most popular predicted scoreline for each game will be reflected in the scoreboards and tables at the bottom of the page.
A correct prediction (choosing a win, draw, or loss) earns 10 points, while an exact score prediction yields 40 points.
Ellis, who grew up in north London, has been a lifelong Arsenal fan, starting his journey at the club's former home, Highbury, as a child. "That time was somewhat wasted on me," he shared with BBC Sport. "Not entirely wasted, as those are some of my best memories, but I was too young to fully appreciate watching 'The Invincibles' play some of the greatest football ever. As I grew older, I unfortunately witnessed the Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi era instead. However, things are different now. I admire many aspects of this team, from Hale End graduates like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly to the style of play we exhibit. Even though we haven't won anything in a while, it's been a joy to watch. The football is the best part, and it's the heartbreak that keeps you coming back for more."
Theo Ellis was interviewed by BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
Chris Sutton and AI predictions were discussed with BBC Sport's Joe Rindl.
The AI predictions were generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat, which was prompted to "predict this weekend's Premier League results."
Premier League Predictions
Friday, 22 August
London Stadium, 20:00 BST
West Ham displayed a lackluster performance against Sunderland, with my colleague Ian Dennis on BBC Radio 5 Live describing them as "anaemic." I am somewhat concerned for their season.
Having attended Chelsea's last match against Crystal Palace, I felt they also lacked the necessary spark. Much has been said about Chelsea's new attacking lineup; Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer did not make a significant impact, and there is a concerning statistic that Palmer hasn't scored from open play since January.
West Ham could surprise me, especially since it's a London derby, but I still believe Chelsea will manage to edge out a win.
Sutton's prediction: 0-2
Theo's prediction: I don't have high hopes for West Ham this season. 0-3
AI's prediction: 1-2
Saturday, 23 August
Etihad Stadium, 12:30 BST
Manchester City impressed me last week, and there’s a lot of buzz around Tijjani Reijnders. Statman Dave advised me to include him in my Fantasy Team, and I regret not taking that advice; he was outstanding against Wolves.
I believe Tottenham will perform better under Thomas Frank. It will be interesting to see their setup after playing with a back three in the Super Cup final against Paris St-Germain.
Cristian Romero's new contract is significant for Tottenham, but it's puzzling how they failed to secure Eberechi Eze, especially with Arsenal swooping in and embarrassing them!
Tottenham still need a few more players to compete effectively against the top teams, and in this match, I think City will prove too strong at home.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Theo's prediction: City will score five, and Erling Haaland will net four of them. 5-0
AI's prediction: 3-1
Vitality Stadium, 15:00 BST
Bournemouth showed attacking intent against Liverpool, despite the loss. They are effective in transition and push forward well.
It's challenging to evaluate Wolves after their heavy defeat to Manchester City, though they did create some opportunities.
There are concerns about whether Bournemouth has adequately replaced their top three defenders sold this summer. I predict a tight match; while AI may predict a draw, I’m willing to take a risk and say Bournemouth will win.
Sutton's prediction: 1-0
Theo's prediction: Bournemouth may have lost some key players, but with Antoine Semenyo in the squad, I think he will score at least once. 2-1
AI's prediction: 2-0
Gtech Community Stadium, 15:00 BST
Brentford, under Keith Andrews, had a disappointing opener, conceding early against Nottingham Forest. Their struggles concern me, especially after losing key player Bryan Mbeumo and with Yoane Wissa seemingly not wanting to play.
While they have experienced players, they need to secure their first win to build confidence under their new head coach. Aston Villa did not impress against Newcastle and were fortunate to earn a point.
However, I’m predicting a bounce-back for Villa, with Ollie Watkins likely to score against his former club.
Sutton's prediction: 1-2
Theo's prediction: Brentford has lost too many good players, and I fear they could face relegation. Villa is a top-six team and should have the upper hand. 1-3
AI's prediction: 1-2
Turf Moor, 15:00 BST
I underestimated Sunderland at the end of last season, but they surprised me last week with an impressive win against West Ham. The two headers from Eliezer Mayenda and Dan Ballard were exceptional.
Burnley had their chances against Tottenham but failed to capitalize. They need to establish a foothold in the season soon.
This match feels like it could end in a draw. It will be competitive, and while Burnley will strive for more, Sunderland will be satisfied with their start.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Theo's prediction: This is a crucial match! The winner will gain significant momentum. If Sunderland wears their stylish black away kit and Granit Xhaka steps up, they could secure a win, but Burnley has the home advantage.