Soccer Analyst Chris Sutton Takes On Artist Olly Murs in Premier League Forecasts

The Gunners' ten-match winning run came to an end by the Black Cats prior to the international hiatus, but can the Premier League frontrunners recover against local foes Spurs this weekend?

"{I feel like Arsenal are miles ahead of Tottenham at the moment but Spurs manager Thomas Frank will have a strategy for this match," remarked soccer specialist Chris Sutton.

"Frank will try to neutralize Arsenal, who have not always been at their scintillating best this campaign - but Mikel Arteta's side usually still manage to win."

The analyst is making predictions for all 380 Premier League fixtures this season, against AI, readers and a variety of special visitors.

For the twelfth round, he takes on singer Olly Murs, who is a Manchester United supporter.

Murs' latest album, Knees Up, is out on Friday.

Football and Parenting Experiences

Murs is a skilled soccer player as well as a successful artist and has been a star of several charity football games over time - but he is not intending a serious comeback as a player.

"{I recently played in a benefit game the other night for a mate of mine," he said. "The side was losing 3-1 when I was substituted in the second half, and they proceeded to win 4-3, so you can interpret that what you want!

"I still love football, but I hurt my knee a few years ago and it still isn't where I want it to be. I hope I could play more but the unpredictability of the sport means it's too dangerous for me in my profession to do it seriously again.

"Plus I am 41 now, and we are not everyone is Cristiano Ronaldo, are we!? No, I am very content not playing football and I am preparing for the moment that my daughter or son decides to play instead."

Murs and his wife Amelia Tank have two children, their daughter and their son, and he is prepared to emulate his dad by becoming their manager.

"I won't force football on our kids but I've previously told my wife that if they do get the passion for it then I will have to go and get my manager qualifications - and I will probably be managing their Saturday soccer side," he said.

"I watched my nephews play a lot, and I really got into it, and I clearly was involved with a football club for a while too.

"My dad coached with us when I was a kid, which is probably where I get it from. He managed our team for two or three years and had a wonderful time with it. That could be the future for me as well, and I am excited to it!"

Premier League Predictions

Weekend, 22 November

  • Turf Moor, 12:30 GMT

The Blues may have to wait a bit longer for Cole Palmer's comeback from injury but their offense is now stronger with Joao Pedro and Liam Delap both returned to fitness.

I still think this game will be quite tight, however. Burnley are disciplined and their sole at Turf Moor defeats so far have been against Liverpool and the Gunners.

It smells of a one-all tie to me, but I am actually going to go with the London side to win narrowly for what would be their third consecutive league win in a row.

The expert's forecast: 1-2

The singer's prediction: The Blues will be too strong. 1-3

Artificial intelligence's prediction: 0-2

  • Vitality Stadium, 15:00 GMT

The Cherries have been defeated in 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 back-to-back victories before the hiatus and, although both of those games were at home, they appear strong again.

West Ham's only away victory this campaign came at Forest in the summer, when West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo was still that team's manager.

Therefore, what exactly do I predict here - can the Hammers extending their run under their manager, or the home side responding?

I will choose the Cherries, because I think what happened against Aston Villa was a anomaly.

Sutton's forecast: 2-0

Olly's prediction: Bournemouth are doing well but the visitors have improved under Nuno. 2-2

The algorithm's prediction: 1-1

  • Amex Stadium, 15:00 GMT

The Bees were seen as one of the frontrunners for relegation before the campaign began, but they have surprised a several observers under their manager and are in fine fettle with three in their last four games.

A family member advised me to select Brentford forward Thiago in my Fantasy Football team a few weeks ago and, unfortunately, I didn't listen.

The forward will probably find the net again on the weekend but I am nonetheless not going to pick him or back Brentford at Amex Stadium.

They have not had great success on the travel this season, and Brighton are consistently decent at home. Brentford will attempt to hit them on the counter-attack but I feel the home manager's team carry much more of a threat.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Olly's prediction: It could be a match where you expect there is going to be a lot of goals but it actually turns out to be rather close. 1-1

AI's outcome: 2-1

  • Craven Cottage, 15:00 GMT

This is a massive fixture for the Cottagers, who have suffered defeat in five of their last six games.

Fulham have have lots of quality in their team but it nonetheless feels like they could be sucked into a relegation fight.

As for Sunderland, well they are the unexpected success of the top flight season so far.

The away side's display in the 2-2 tie with Arsenal last time out was superb. We have not seen any other team rough up the North London side like that this season, and they were fully competitive for them.

The logical choice would be to support the Black Cats here, because they are clearly able of disrupting the hosts up too and, the last time they were in this part of London, they beat Chelsea at the close of last month.

However I am not do that. Rather, I truly need to carry on going against Sunderland with my predictions. I am claiming a lot of credit for their good outcomes because they clearly love to defy my predictions.

Looking at the home side's at Craven Cottage form, the sole side they have been defeated by is the league leaders. Marco Silva's team will be absolutely desperate for a positive result, so I am going to say they will pick up three much-needed points.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Olly's prediction: I'm aware Sunderland are doing well and additionally that Fulham are on a bad run... but Fulham have still been decent at Craven Cottage this season. 2-0

AI's prediction: 2-0

  • Anfield, 15:00 GMT

This is a hard fixture to predict. Liverpool have lost seven of their last ten matches in all competitions, but could they be one of the teams who benefit from the {international break|

Juan Love
Juan Love

A seasoned travel writer and Las Vegas enthusiast with over a decade of experience covering entertainment and hospitality in the city.