Soccer Expert Sutton Battles Artist Olly Murs in Premier League Predictions
The Gunners' 10-game victorious streak was ended by the Black Cats before the international break, but will the Premier League leaders bounce back against north London rivals Tottenham this weekend?
"{I believe like Arsenal are light years ahead of Tottenham at the moment but Spurs boss Thomas Frank will have a strategy for this game," stated football expert Chris Sutton.
"The Spurs manager will try to nullify Arsenal, who have not always been at their scintillating finest this season - but Mikel Arteta's side usually still manage to win."
Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League fixtures this term, versus AI, readers and a range of special visitors.
In week 12, he faces singer Olly Murs, who is a United fan.
Murs' new album, the new release, is available on the weekend.
Football and Parenting Life
Olly is a talented footballer as well as a accomplished singer and has been a star of multiple charity football games over time - but he is not intending a professional comeback as a footballer.
"{I recently played in a charity game the other night for a friend of mine," he explained. "The side was losing 3-1 when I came off in the 60th minute, and they went on to win 4-3, so you can interpret that what you will!
"I continue to love football, but I hurt 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 risky for me in my profession to do it seriously again.
"Plus I am forty-one now, and we are not all Cristiano Ronaldo, are we!? No, I am very content not playing football and I am preparing for the time that my child or son chooses to play instead."
Murs and his wife Amelia Tank have a young family, their daughter and their son, and he is prepared to emulate his dad by taking on the role of their coach.
"I will not force football on our children but I've previously told my wife that if they do get the bug for it then I will have to go and get my manager qualifications - and I will probably be managing their Saturday soccer team," he said.
"I observed my relatives play a lot, and I really got into it, and I clearly owned a soccer team for a period too.
"My dad did it with us when I was a child, which is probably where I inherited it. He managed our side for two or three seasons and had great fun with it. That could be the future for me as well, and I am looking forward to it!"
Top Division Predictions
Weekend, 22 November
- Turf Moor, 12:30 GMT
Chelsea might have to wait a bit longer for Cole Palmer's comeback from injury but their offense is now more potent with Pedro and Delap both back fit.
I still think this fixture will be quite tight, however. The Clarets are well organised and their sole home defeats so far have been against Liverpool and the Gunners.
It smells of a one-all draw to me, but I am in fact going to go with the London side to edge it for what would be their third Premier League win in a row.
Sutton's forecast: 1-2
Olly's pick: Chelsea will be superior. 1-3
AI's outlook: 0-2
- Vitality Stadium, 15:00 GMT
The Cherries have lost their previous couple matches - albeit both of them were away - but they got absolutely spanked by Aston Villa last time out which surprised me.
In contrast, the Hammers won back-to-back victories before the hiatus and, although both of those games were at their stadium, they appear competitive again.
The Hammers' sole on the road victory this campaign came at Forest in the summer, when their manager Nuno Espirito Santo was previously Forest manager.
So, what on earth do I predict here - will it be West Ham extending their run under their manager, or the home side bouncing back?
I will choose Bournemouth, because I think what occurred against Villa was a blip.
The pundit's prediction: 2-0
The guest's prediction: The home team are doing well but West Ham have improved under their boss. 2-2
The algorithm's prediction: 1-1
- Amex Stadium, 15:00 GMT
Brentford were seen as one of the frontrunners for the drop before the season began, but they have surprised a few observers under Keith Andrews and are in fine fettle with three wins in their last four games.
A family member told me to select Bees forward Igor Thiago in my Fantasy Football team a few weeks back and, unfortunately, I didn't listen.
Thiago will likely find the net again on the weekend but I am nonetheless not going to select him or support Brentford at Amex Stadium.
The Bees have not had great fortune on the road this season, and Brighton are consistently decent at home. The visitors will try to attack on the counter-attack but I think Fabian Hurzeler's team pose much more of a threat.
Sutton's forecast: 2-1
Olly's view: This could be one of those games where you expect there is going to be a lot of goals but it actually proves to be rather close. 1-1
AI's prediction: 2-1
- Craven Cottage, 15:00 GMT
This is a huge fixture for Fulham, who have lost five of their last six games.
They have got plenty of talent in their team but it still feels like they could be dragged into a relegation fight.
Regarding the Black Cats, indeed they are the unexpected success of the Premier League campaign so far.
The away side's performance in the 2-2 draw with the Gunners last time out was excellent. We've not seen any other team rough up the North London side like that this season, and they were fully competitive for them.
The sensible thing would be to support the visitors here, because they are clearly able of roughing Fulham up too and, the previous occasion they were in west London, they defeated the Blues at the close of last month.
However I am not going to choose that. Rather, I really need to carry on opposing the away team with my predictions. I am claiming a lot of credit for their good outcomes because they evidently love to prove me wrong.
Looking at Fulham's at Craven Cottage form, the only team they have been defeated by is Arsenal. Marco Silva's side will be extremely desperate for a positive result, so I am going to say they will secure three points.
The expert's forecast: 1-0
The guest's prediction: I know Sunderland are doing well and additionally that the hosts are on a poor run... but they have nonetheless been decent at Craven Cottage this campaign. 2-0
The algorithm's outlook: 2-0
- Anfield, 15:00 GMT
It is a tough fixture to predict. Liverpool have suffered seven of their past 10 matches in all competitions, but might they be one of the teams who profit from the {international break|