Sutton’s predictions v Tony McGuinness of Above and Beyond

Although AI appears to be performing better than Chris Sutton, a journalist for BBC Sport, in its Premier League predictions this year, it is unable to keep up with the relentless fixture schedule.

When we asked it for the scores of this week’s midweek games, it claimed there were none scheduled.

“It should be disqualified for that”, said Sutton. It is not intended to know everything, is it?

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.

He squares off against Above and Beyond’s Tony McGuinness for Week 21 in the games on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Above and Beyond’s latest album, Bigger Than All Of Us, is out now.

Do you agree with their scores? Below, you can make your own predictions.

The most popular scoreline selected for each game is used in the scoreboards and tables at the bottom of this page.

“My favourite was probably Dider Drogba scoring the penalty to win us the Champions League in 2012”, he told BBC Sport.

“I was watching on Soho House Hollywood while on tour in Los Angeles like you do. The scream I let out as the ball went in was captured by our manager James on video, so I’ve replayed that one in my mind many times.

” Close behind is Eden Hazard’s extraordinary solo goal against Arsenal in 2017 but my favourite ‘ in-person ‘ moment was in 2016 when we beat Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United by four goals at Stamford Bridge, with Pedro rounding the keeper to score our first.

“I once had a very enjoyable game with another Chelsea-following DJ, Seb Fontaine, who I occasionally play games with.”

Chris Sutton and Tony McGuinness were speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.

West Ham are in even worse shape than Nottingham Forest, who have lost four games in a row.

The manner of their defeat at Wolves on Saturday has cranked up the pressure on Hammers manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

West Ham beat Forest 3-0 earlier this season but, unfortunately for Nuno, that was when he was still Forest boss – it was his last game in charge.

I don’t see how he could get another 3-1 win over West Ham this time.

It is a nightmare for them to be at home, really, because you can imagine what the mood will be like inside the stadium before kick-off.

By working full-time, I don’t believe it will have improved either. I just have a feeling Sean Dyche’s Forest will have a bit more nous, and will sneak a narrow win.

Sutton’s prediction: 0-1

Tony’s prediction: Nuno will face a lot of pressure after Forest fired him last year, and if they don’t win, they will be far away from safety.

Forest look solid under Dyche, but have had a tough run of fixtures so haven’t picked up the results. They might be able to win this, and Nuno might soon leave. 0-1

In a few of those games, Bournemouth have gone 11 league games without winning, which is unfortunate.

I always think the Cherries have got a goal in them and they showed that when I watched them draw 2-2 with Chelsea last week, then again against Arsenal on Saturday – albeit in a 3-2 defeat.

The Antoine Semenyo situation is fascinating, because we all know he is joining Manchester City this month but, after facing the Gunners, will he get another game for Bournemouth here?

It’s difficult to support Tottenham right now, regardless of whether Semenyo plays.

It is also difficult to make a case that Spurs have really improved under Thomas Frank this season.

They are currently 13th, and when they were struggling with Ange Postecoglou this year, they were a place ahead after 20 games and he was being fired.

For whatever reason, it has just not clicked for them in the final third under Frank and I don’t see that changing here.

Bournemouth won this fixture 1-0 last season, and also won 1-0 at Spurs in August. This time, they should have at least one goal.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-0

Tony’s prediction: Currently, you always get goals in Bournemouth games, but if Semenyo stays on the team, that won’t change.

There’s no consistency with Spurs ‘ performances so I’m expecting the fight to go out of them in the second half again. 3-2

They would have been laughed at if someone had suggested that after 20 games, this match would be seventh versus eighth, before a ball was kicked at the start of the season.

Many people were expecting Brentford to struggle when Thomas Frank left for Spurs in the summer, but Keith Andrews keeps proving them wrong.

Fair play to Bees striker Igor Thiago for his first Premier League hat-trick]against Everton on Sunday] because not many of us have managed one of those.

I can recall that Brentford defeated Norwich 5-1 at Goodison Park in 1993-94, which meant Brentford did not quite reach those heights at Hill Dickinson Stadium, but their 4-2 victory was still impressive.

Their home record is strong too, but Sunderland just have this steel about them and only Arsenal and Manchester City have conceded fewer goals in this campaign.

Although Black Cats boss Regis le Bris is a clever and cynical manager, they still maintain a good balance with their team, and even losing a few players to the African Cup of Nations has not had an impact on them.

They have got real resilience, and I am backing them to get another draw here, which would be their fifth in a row.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

Tony’s prediction: At the start of the season, I don’t know how many of us anticipated this game to be a fight for European places.

Sunderland have been really impressive this year and love a draw on the road, so I’m expecting them to be difficult to break down, and Brentford’s attack isn’t the most reliable anyway. There will be chances, but you won’t know until you convert them. 0-0

The wheels have come off a bit at Crystal Palace, who have picked up only one point from their past five games.

I have a lot of sympathy for Palace manager Oliver Glasner, who still appears stretched even with the signing of Brennan Johnson from Spurs.

Whatever the reasons, their results have dropped off. Maybe they will back Glasner more in the transfer market this month, but it certainly feels to me like they need some fresh legs.

Last year, Palace did a lot for Villa, knocking them out of both domestic competitions, beating them 4-1 at Selhurst Park, and also defeating them 3-3 at Villa Park in August.

I don’t see Villa losing this time, however. Unai Emery’s side is playing with great confidence while the Eagles are faltering.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-2

Tony’s prediction: Johnson is a good signing for Palace. He has demonstrated his expertise in the Premier League and that they desperately need a bigger squad. I think he’ll be involved in the goals in this one, too.

Villa will continue to score, and they will be in the Champions League when the season is over. They will share some of the points in this one. 2-2

My little pal Ali Bruce-Ball covered Wolves ‘ win against West Ham on Saturday and said Mateus Mane really impressed him.

They finally have a victory, and their supporters too have reason to cheer.

Can Rob Edwards ‘ side keep this up and pull off what would be a truly great escape from relegation?

Sorry, Wolves fans, but the answer is no.

In the January transfer window, Everton manager David Moyes could use some reinforcements, but I don’t see his side losing two at home.

The Toffees were well beaten by Brentford on Sunday but this seems like a good opportunity for them to get back on track.

In the same game against the Bees, their strikers Thierno Barry and Beto both scored goals. Watching them struggle this season, that is unbelievable, really.

Moyes probably thinks that is typical, for them to score when it doesn’t really matter, but maybe one of them will net when it does count, here.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

Tony’s prediction: Having been dismantled by Brentford, I expect Everton to tighten things up at the back this time. Wolves will be in for this one, but Everton is a strong team with strong leadership. This one might be last on the Match Of The Day running order. 1-0

Before their draw against Liverpool, I benched Fulham striker Harry Wilson in my fantasy team, which was a mistake.

Wilson is in great form but he is only one part of an extremely well-balanced team.

The big rumours are that Liam Rosenior will be the next Chelsea manager and he could be in charge for this game.

This is a difficult gig for Fulham because they will have a real chance in the west London derby, regardless of who is in charge.

But Chelsea beat Fulham earlier in the season and I was impressed by Liam Delap when he came on for the Blues in Sunday’s draw at Manchester City.

So, I’m backing Chelsea in this match, regardless of how much I’m currently rating Fulham.

They have only won one of their past eight games in the Premier League, but I am going to say they will nick this.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-2

Tony on why he supports Chelsea: I was born there and lived in Kensington and Chelsea for the first two years of my life. Spurs was favored by my dad, but I sided with my mother, who chose Chelsea over Fulham because of their better-looking haircuts.

My favourite players when I started following them were Kerry Dixon, Pat Nevin and David Speedie. Because I was a small, dribble-toting footballer, and because he would leave the opposition behind, Nevin was my idol.

Tony on Enzo Maresca’s exit: I liked him, his win rate was very impressive. I guess we should be getting used to it by now, but this was a particularly sad one as it was a car crash in slow motion, and things crumbled for him behind the scenes just after he won the Premier League Manager of the Month award in November.

I remember when I first saw our team of outstanding young players and a new manager as a top four goal, but now that we have a squad full of top players and a new manager, I believe we have a chance to win it.

Tony’s prediction: The west London derby is always cagey, but I think we’ll have the edge on the night. Cole Palmer must take charge and set the pace for the game.

Fulham are well drilled but, as we saw on the weekend against City, if we’re persistent and get the ball in the box, chances will come our way. 1-2

This is another tricky game for Manchester City after they dropped points against Sunderland and Chelsea.

They are another awkward team that I always consider a threat after beating them on the south coast earlier in the season.

City are short of fit centre-halves after Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol were both injured against Chelsea, and that will hardly help.

But Pep Guardiola’s side cannot afford to lose any more ground in the title race and I am going to back them to get back on track.

They were only really lacking in their clinicalness in comparison to Chelsea and Sunderland.

Erling Haaland cannot keep missing chances, and he is going to go on a run, so I’m putting down him to down to get a hat-trick – I deserve an extra point if I’m right about that.

Sutton’s 3-1 prediction

Tony’s prediction: Brighton haven’t been great on the road over the last couple of months and this is a must-win for City to keep the title race alive.

They’re not watertight at the back so I expect Brighton to get a goal but, after a quiet few weeks, I’m expecting Haaland to feast on Wednesday. With his assistance, my fantasy team could succeed. 4-1

It seemed like Ruben Amorim was poking the hierarchy at Manchester United with some of his cryptic comments over the weekend about doing his job without interference, and that always felt like the beginning of the end for me.

So Amorim wanted to be released from his misery, and the club obliged when he was fired a few days later. It was like Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea exit once more.

Compared to last year, they had improved – but only because they were so bad then. United needs to be more than OK despite the success of this season.

Burnley ran them close at Old Trafford earlier this season, when United needed a 97th-minute Bruno Fernandes penalty to win 3-2.

I can see this game being just as close because I just don’t fancy this United team, whoever is in charge.

Many United fans accuse me of having a dislike for them, but I simply believe they are bang average, which is the justification I don’t usually use to predict victories in these predictions.

They are still bang average now Amorim has gone, which is why I think Burnley will get something here.

Because they have been in good health, I do feel sympathy for Clarets boss Scott Parker.

They have just come up a little bit short when it comes to scoring goals, which is why wins have been in such short supply.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

Tony’s prediction: With or without Amorim, United don’t have the players at the moment to create many chances. A point apiece is not what you want to be doing with a skeleton squad either. 1-1

Newcastle not only got three points against Palace at the weekend, they kept their first clean sheet in the league since the start of October.

Leeds will be confident after seven games without defeat, including a commendable draw against Sunderland in the north-east.

These two sides drew 0-0 at Elland Road in August but there will definitely be goals this time.

Why should I switch now that I’ve always supported Newcastle at home? The only thing I’m unsure about here is whether Leeds will score.

I’m going to say they won’t, so stand by for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to find the net again, probably in stoppage time.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-0

class=”ssrcss-1xjjfut-BoldText e5tfeyi3″>Tony’s prediction: Both teams play exciting, attacking football so I’m expecting goals galore. Although Newcastle have a stronger squad, I believe they will take the points, given their home environment. However, this should be a fantastic match. 3-2

Liverpool badly missed Hugo Ekitike in their draw against Fulham, and put in another lacklustre display.

Since Arne Slot’s side have won nine games without losing, they appear to be doing just fine.

It’s their performances that are the problem, though. When you see them with your own eyes, they are miles off where they were when they won the title last season, and are nowhere near where Arsenal are at now either.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was criticized for being too cautious when Liverpool defeated them at Anfield in August despite his frequent use of big games like this.

It has to be different this time. Fans of Liverpool won’t allow Arteta to sit back after the team has been leaking goals all season.

I doubt Arteta will do it this time, because Arsenal are at home and Liverpool are there for the taking.

In fact, there should be zero negativity in the way they are set up. Arsenal are now six points clear of Manchester City with two points dropped in the last few days. It’s just over six years since Arteta took charge, and this is not the time for him to be cautious.

The Gunners should pursue it because they may as well be in a different league than Liverpool.

No-one thinks Slot’s side are going to win the Premier League anymore, even though they are fourth, and they don’t look capable of flexing their muscles and going on a long winning run, either.

That is not going to happen. Arsenal should be able to exploit all of their shortcomings because this Liverpool team is a bang-average this season.

It should be pretty comfortable for the league leaders too.

They are carrying Viktor Gyokeres a little because he hasn’t fired for them right away, but it doesn’t seem like a big deal because they are winning anyway.

Declan Rice is just majestic in the middle of the park, he is just phenomenal, and they have got lots of different ways of scoring goals.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-0

Tony’s prediction: A win here and Arsenal have the title destiny in their own hands. I don’t see Liverpool moving past Gabriel and William Saliba, so I’m hoping for a comfortable night in north London for the champions in waiting. They have their first-choice defense back.

Gabriel to rise above Virgil van Dijk in the box and grab the first goal. 2-0

Over the holiday season, the games have gotten loud and fast, but Chris is still unable to win.

He did at least get the better of AI this time, thanks to six correct results from the 10 matches in week 20, including one exact score.

He received 90 points for that, compared to only managing four correct answers and a precise score for the entire 70 points.

The BBC readers did better, with five correct results and two exact scores, and that saw them end up on 110 points.

But the weekly win went to Chris’s guest, singer-songwriter and Newcastle fan Andrew Cushin.

Cushin, who overall received six correct results, won the Magpies’ game by beating Crystal Palace, who had four exact scores.