The 132-year record Sutton is desperate to keep

Newcastle have won five Premier League games in a row to surge into third place, but can they continue that run when they visit in-form Aston Villa on Saturday?

According to BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton, “the race for a Champions League spot is well and truly on.”

“Aston Villa are right in the mix for the top five too, but the thing that stands out for me about Newcastle is that they look like they have got loads of energy”.

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

He joins DJ &amp, producer Sherelle, a fan of Arsenal, for week 33.

Her debut album, With A Vengeance, is out now.

Do you concur with their evaluations? You can make your own predictions below.

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

Sherelle

With an impressive late victory over Real Madrid and a comfortable Champions League quarter-final victory, Mikel Arteta’s side have won another memorable week for Arsenal fans.

“I was always really confident we would not just pull through but do really well against them”, Sherelle told BBC Sport.

“We’d scored the goals in the first leg so all we really had to do was keep them out. That didn’t matter because it meant the game was slower and less exciting.

” It’s exciting to be in the semi-finals but there is still work to do.

“When we fell at the last hurdle to claim these bigger cups, which was always what struck me hardest growing up as an Arsenal fan.

” I had to have a bit of time out and stop watching Arsenal for a while after the 2006 final against Barcelona because of the shock of how that loss happened, with everything unravelling for us in the final few minutes.

“We had a few years after that when we struggled a bit and I couldn’t deal with what I was seeing because I was born in the 1990s and my era was the time of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires.

You could not really dispute how amazing Arsenal were when I was in primary school for the “Invincibles” season.

Sherelle

Whatever happens in the semi-final against Paris St-Germain, or the final in Munich should the Gunners get there, Sherelle feels Mikel Arteta’s team have a bright future.

It was difficult for me to see our level decline while I was growing up because I witnessed such incredible things, but I’m glad to see it rebound,” she continued.

“Look, it would be really nice to win the Premier League again at some point, but people have to remember that we are still finishing high up the table – we’ve been second for the past couple of years – which was not the case for a few seasons.

“I’m very happy with where we are right now, and I can see some exciting things coming up.” If we do win the Champions League, it could be the start of something very special, but if we don’t then this team is not going away.

Premier League predictions

Saturday, 19 April

What data are gathered from this quiz?

Brighton have had a bit of a dip in form and started conceding a few goals, so their hopes of breaking into the top five are probably gone now.

Even so, the 10th-placed Seagulls are one of those teams that can wallop someone just when you think you’re going to write them off.

I don’t expect that to happen on Saturday, however. The Bees are always difficult to beat, despite having a bad run and only one place below them in the table.

The more I think about it, the more it smells of a draw. I am pretty sure the BBC readers are going to go for a draw too, so we all agree on this one.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1.

What data are gathered from this quiz?

On Wednesday, Newcastle won 5-0 over Crystal Palace, especially on the break, and I was there.

The Eagles should really have levelled after going 1-0 down, but Eberechi Eze made a mess of his penalty and the game was over by half-time.

How can I support Palace after they have scored ten goals in two games against Manchester City? It has been a bad week for them.

I am not exactly convinced by Bournemouth either, though. They ended a poor run by beating Fulham on Monday but they have looked a little tired of late, and don’t have as much firepower as Newcastle or Manchester City.

The way they handled the Magpies is what worries me about Palace. They need a response to that poor performance, and I think we might get one from them at Selhurst Park. Eze won’t likely be able to play as well once more.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1.

What data are gathered from this quiz?

I’m looking forward to playing this game on Radio 5 Live. It is so hard to call, because of where both teams are at.

Everton will work hard, of course, but they are also very capable of winning this if they are as ‘ in your face ‘ as they can be, and upset City’s rhythm.

If Pep Guardiola’s side plays like they did against Nottingham Forest a few weeks ago but don’t really get going, they will get turned over.

On the other hand, City really caught fire after almost going 3-0 down against Palace last week. You can never be sure what you will receive from them in each half, let alone game to game, if they play that way.

So, it is hard to know how the game will pan out. Everton will not be overly expansive or bothered about possession and will pick their moments when they throw Abdoulaye Doucoure forward.

I can see them scoring, but they will be direct and Beto will fall behind, so I’m guessing City will win in some ways. They have to, really, because they are under pressure to make the top five.

Prior to the record-breaking 132-year run of Goodison’s earliest scoring, Doucoure scored in the 132-year span of 10.18 seconds in a game against Leicester in February, beating my attempt for Blackburn in 1995, who scored in 12.94 seconds.

That’s still the fastest goal scored there by an away player, though, so hopefully no-one manages a quicker one before the end of the season – especially when I am there to talk about it as co-commentator.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-2

What data are gathered from this quiz?

Speaking of records, already-relegated Southampton are still trying to avoid taking one away from Robbie Savage’s Derby for the lowest Premier League points tally.

For them to reach 11 points and bring the Rams’ total from 2007-2008 to 11, they will need a point from their final six games, but they won’t get it here.

West Ham are not in any danger of going down but they will still certainly not want to finish 17th, which is where they are right now.

They played well against Liverpool last time out and still lost, but they won’t need to play as well as they did this time around to earn three points.

Hammers boss Graham Potter could really do with a win, because their fans will want to finish a forgettable season with a bit of optimism, and they should have something to smile about on Saturday.

As for the loyal and long-suffering Southampton fans, well I’ve said before how miserable this season has been for them. By now, I believe I would have switched to supporting Portsmouth, Brighton, or even Bournemouth.

Being serious, I’ve got a lot of admiration for the travelling fans that have stuck with them through this, and I guess the consolation here is that they won’t have a long journey back from London to the south coast.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-0

What data are gathered from this quiz?

Newcastle are the Premier League’s momentum monsters, especially since winning the Carabao Cup, but their excellent form goes back further than that.

Aston Villa, who are seventh-placed in the English Premier League, are also in excellent shape, winning four straight games in the process. Despite overall losing the tie, they excelled in the Champions League quarter-final against Paris St-Germain.

Villa’s comeback on the night, to win 3-2 after falling 2-0 down, took me by surprise but they really showed what they are made of. I think PSG will win this season’s Champions League, but Villa pushed them all the way.

With what is in the top-five race in store, this is going to be a fun game as well as a fiendish one. Who or what decides it might come down to fine margins, and who makes the most of their chances, because both teams are going to get opportunities.

Whoever wins will score for Villa, regardless of their position, but they might want to beat Marco Asensio in penalties. He missed two spot-kicks last weekend against Southampton after I told everyone to watch out for him on the Fantasy 606 pod, which sums up my FPL season and predicting ability in one fell swoop.

You could make an argument for both teams here, but I am going with Newcastle, because of how good they were when I watched them at St James ‘ Park on Wednesday to beat Palace 5-0.

Whoever shoots from the left was absolutely amazing, and Harvey Barnes was electric, just unbelievably good down the left?

With those two playing the way they are, Newcastle are going to keep on winning.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-2

Sunday, April 20.

What data are gathered from this quiz?

Something is wrong with Chelsea, exactly.

They drew at home to Ipswich last week, for example. I laughed when I saw my guest, Yizzy, had put the Tractor Boys down to get a point but that ended up being the result that killed me.

Everyone seems to be feeling the pressure, based on what Enzo Maresca has said since then, saying that he has since urged the fans to trust him and that the fans have reacted negatively to the crowd’s actions.

He was questioning the fans, but also his players ‘ temperament. Heaven will help those squad in the long run if you consider how many millions have been spent on them and how weak of a character they lack to play the way their manager wants them to be.

This is probably going to be another score draw but I seem to get Fulham wrong whatever I say.

They deserved to get something from their defeat at Bournemouth on Monday, and I am going with them to get a repeat of their win at Stamford Bridge in December.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

What data are gathered from this quiz?

After winning the Champions League against Real Madrid, Arsenal will be at such heights.

I am covering this game and while Arteta will probably rest a few players and freshen things up, the Gunners will still have too much nous for Ipswich.

Ipswich’s season probably summed up because they lost to Chelsea last time out and were unable to recover from the defeat, but they deserve praise for doing so.

Ipswich were pretty stubborn when they lost 1-0 at Emirates Stadium in December and I am expecting them to show some resilience this time too, even if they end up with the same result.

Sutton’s prediction: 0-2

Sherelle’s prediction: We are likely to rest players, but I have a feeling that we might actually draw this. I won’t say that, though! 0 – 1

Sherelle’s comment on Arsenal’s Premier League campaign: It’s been quite fitting for us to have drawn with Everton and Brentford in the last few weeks, but I don’t understand why we rested players in those games.

What data are gathered from this quiz?

Wolves have already beaten Manchester United once this season and, on current form, they are favourites this time too.

Vitor Pereira’s side are flying with four straight wins, and we know how inconsistent United are.

Bruno Fernandes has been one of the few United players who can command a high with their performances this year, but Wolves currently look more balanced and make the better team.

United’s whole campaign is still hanging on what happens in the Europa League and we will have to wait and see whether their incredible late comeback to beat Lyon on Thursday to reach the semi-finals changes anything about their awful Premier League form.

I regret having to say this, but I’m hoping for their fans to have another miserable afternoon at Old Trafford, where they have already lost more league games (seven) than they have won (six) this season.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-3

What data are gathered from this quiz?

Leicester ended their long losing run with a draw at Brighton last weekend, but I’m afraid another defeat is on its way for the Foxes here.

Even though Liverpool last time out was as untouchable as anything, they still managed to get past West Ham. They could be even limper against Leicester, and they will still win to move even closer to the title.

Sutton’s prediction: 0-3.

Monday, April 21.

What data are gathered from this quiz?

Tottenham’s Europa League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt will have their stadium buzzing with joy and relief.

But Nottingham Forest are the counter-attack kings and they have the tools to get another win like the one they got over Spurs at the City Ground in December, where they had 30% of possession and still won 1-0.

Forest have hit a bit of a blip of late, though, and they don’t appear to be quite the same force they were a few weeks ago.

A win would be more likely for them to get their top-five bid back on track, and Nuno Espirito Santo would love it when he made a comeback to Tottenham, where he did not spend much time as manager, but a draw seems more likely to me.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1.

How did Sutton do last week?

Chris got five correct results, with no exact scores, from the 10 games in week 32, giving him 50 points.

The BBC readers managed to get four correct outcomes with no exact scores, resulting in a total of 40 points using the most popular scoreline from their overall predictions for each game.

But the weekly win went to Chris’s guest, rapper Yizzy. When he backed Ipswich to earn a surprise point at Chelsea, he was right, and that was crucial to his victory.

His six correct results and no exact scores left him with 60 points and, with six rounds of fixtures left to play, the guests are now above Chris in the predictions league table with the most outright wins.

“This season is all about points, not wins”, Sutton said. I’ve won the previous two, but I wanted to do it differently and with more consistency this time.

There was also a rearranged game this week, Newcastle’s 5-0 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday, which was meant to take place in week 29.

After leading with a 2-1 win over Newcastle, Sutton added 10 points, putting him up with 80 total that week.

weekly victories, ties, and overall results for the 32nd week.

WinsTiesPoints
Guests1042,460
Chris942,780
You752,500

Source: BBC

weekly victories, ties, and overall results for the 32nd week.. . .

weekly victories, ties, and overall results for the 32nd week.

Points
Liam Fray150
Dave Fishwick, Adam F
&amp, Emma-Jean Thackray130
Jordan Stephens120
Dan Haggis, James Smith110
Mychelle, Paige Cavell90
&amp, Tigerblind
Chris Sutton *87
Coldplay, Clara Amfo,
Felix from Divorce, Brad Kella
& Dave McCabe80
You *78
Jamie Demetriou, Rory Kinnear,
Jon McClure and Kellie Maloney,
Dougie Payne, Anton Pearson
Paul Smith &70
Peter Hooton, Nemzzz,
Finn Russell, James Ryan
& Yizzy60
Ife Ogunjobi50
Ed Patrick, Eats Everything
Mylee from JJFC
&amp, Bradley Simpson40
Femi Koleoso, Sunny Edwards,
Stephen Bunting &amp, Tate from JJFC30

* After 32 weeks, on average.

Source: BBC

weekly victories, ties, and overall results for the 32nd week.. . * After 32 weeks, on average..

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Verstappen ‘very relaxed’ about Red Bull future

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Max Verstappen says he is “very relaxed” about his future despite Red Bull’s difficult start to the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Following his sixth place at the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend, Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko told Sky Germany he has “great concern” about Verstappen potentially leaving the team.

The Dutchman, who is aiming to win a record-equalling fifth consecutive drivers’ title this year, is third in the championship, eight points behind leader Lando Norris of McLaren.

Round five takes place in Saudi Arabia this weekend, with Sunday’s race starting at 18:00 BST.

“A lot of people are talking about it except me,” said Verstappen on Thursday.

“Like I said before, I just want to focus on my car, work with the people in the team – that’s the only thing I’m thinking about in Formula 1 at the moment.

Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until 2028. But Marko told BBC Sport this month that it contains a performance clause that could allow him to depart the team.

The 27-year-old has been linked with moves to Mercedes and Aston Martin for 2026 when new regulations are being introduced. He held talks with Mercedes last year but their team boss Toto Wolff said at the season-opener in Australia last month that a pitch to sign Verstappen for next season is “not on any radar”.

Asked in the drivers’ news conference whether he would like Verstappen as a team-mate at Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso said: “Yes, but that’s unlikely to happen, very unlikely.”

Verstappen moved to within one point of Norris in the standings with a brilliant win at the Japanese Grand Prix from pole position two weeks ago.

His weekend in Sakhir was a stark contrast to the highs of Suzuka as he qualified in seventh and finished the race three places lower than Briton Norris, who ended his day on the podium in third.

Verstappen continued: “I just go race by race. I think [Saudi Arabia] will be better than Bahrain. The rest is out of my hands.

“At the moment, we are not the quickest so it is tough to fight for a championship, but it is a long road. Last year here it all looked great and we know how the season ended up.”

Red Bull were untouchable in Jeddah last year with Verstappen first and then team-mate Sergio Perez second. But while the Dutchman went on to seal his fourth title in a row, Red Bull lost out to McLaren in the constructors’ championship, eventually dropping behind Ferrari and finishing third.

“I enjoyed last year and the year before when we were dominant,” said Verstappen.

“Now it is enjoyable in a way of the challenges that are out there and trying to improve the situation I would say.

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Teenager Andreeva out of Stuttgart Open in last 16

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In-form teenager Mirra Andreeva went out of the Stuttgart Open as she lost in straight sets to fellow Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova in the last 16.

Sixth seed Andreeva, who has already won two titles this season, lost 6-3 6-2 against unseeded Alexandrova in just over an hour.

Andreeva, 17, became the youngest champion at a WTA 1000 event in February by winning the Dubai Tennis Championships, before triumphing at Indian Wells in March.

But she was unable to wrestle control of the match from Alexandrova, 30, who claimed her fourth win over a top-10 player this season.

Alexandrova will play American third seed Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals after she thrashed Poland’s Magdalena Frech 6-1 6-1.

Italian fifth seed Jasmine Paolini beat unseeded German Jule Niemeier 6-1 7-5 to reach the last eight for the second successive year.

She will play the winner of Thursday’s match between American fourth seed Coco Gauff and Germany’s Ella Seidel.

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka will play Belgian Elise Mertens in the quarter-finals after Anastasia Potapova withdrew before their last-16 match with an injury.

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Cook in line for Test call-up as England ask Essex to rest him

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England have asked Essex to rest seamer Sam Cook this weekend, putting him in line for an England Test call-up.

Cook, 27, has been one of the standout performers in county cricket in recent seasons and will sit out the County Championship match against Worcestershire, which starts on Friday, to manage his workload.

England play Zimbabwe in the first Test of the summer from 22 May and have injury concerns around a number of fast bowlers.

Mark Wood and Olly Stone are long-term absentees with knee injuries while Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes are yet to play this season because of toe and ankle issues respectively.

There have long been calls for Cook, an accurate right-arm bowler, to be given a Test debut after his prolific county form.

He has taken 318 wickets at an average of 19.77 in first-class cricket.

England managing director of men’s cricket Rob Key and selector Luke Wright have both publicly praised Cook in recent weeks.

Last year, Key said Cook would have been the replacement had Woakes been injured at the end the summer, filling the role as another skilful fast-medium bowler with England keen to have variety in their pace attack.

Gus Atkinson, England’s leading wicket-taker in 2024, will play his first match of the season for Surrey this week.

Josh Tongue, who can bowl at a higher pace and played his last Test during the 2023 Ashes, will also feature for Nottinghamshire, having taken seven wickets in their season opener against Durham as he continues his return after a series of injuries.

There is hope Jofra Archer will return to red-ball cricket this summer but he is currently at the Indian Premier League. England do not plan to recall players from that competition early and the group stage ends four days before the Zimbabwe Test.

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Sherratt hopes Cardiff players stay after WRU deal

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Due to the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) taking control of the organization and placing it under administration, Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt hopes his side won’t lose players.

Following the takeover, the WRU resisted being given all contracts at Cardiff.

Players may choose to move on, however, in some circumstances where their agreements are voided to be void as a result of the region’s collapse into administration.

On Monday, Cardiff players were required to sign contracts to ensure that their contracts were changed in accordance with current employment laws.

The first reason is that I believe the players here are content. I’ve made Cardiff a friendly place to play rugby in.

“I want players who have a history and a connection to the club and the city.”

“Hopefully everyone has a bond, so that keeps them anyway.

Adams’ signing shows Cardiff are staying, not elsewhere.

Cardiff wing Josh AdamsPicture agency for Huw Evans

Josh Adams, the Wales wing, signed a new two-year deal this week, indicating his intentions.

Sherratt said, “To keep someone with 60 caps and the distinction of being a British and Irish Lion was a club statement.”

It reaffirms our commitment to this country after the past ten days.

Adams claims that despite his disapproval, Cardiff’s plight continued to persuade him to stay.

According to Adams, “my contract was signed before everything (administration and the WRU takeover)” was done.

There was nothing to worry about on my end when I signed and transferred the contract.

Adams claims the squad was surprised by the severity of the news about Cardiff’s financial situation.

The group handled it well, Adams said, “but it was shock news when I first heard.”

“The players were very quickly from beginning to end, from receiving the news to being taken over.”

I have to express how well the WRU and Cardiff boards handled that and dissipated any doubts or doubts in players’ minds.

“They have to have a backlash for their diligence and putting players and staff first,” he said.

Along with club captain Liam Belcher and representatives from the Welsh Rugby Players Association (WRPA), Corey Domachowski and Callum Sheedy, Adams was one of four senior players who assisted in relaying messages to other players.

“We have cracked on with things, and it hasn’t changed anything in our day-to-day things,” Adams said.

Teams could see it as something that can energize the group, the team said.

Not something I want to repeat, I thought.

After Warren Gatland resigned during the Six Nations, Sherratt has endured an eventful couple of months.

Sherratt remarked, “It’s just nice to be coaching.”

You simply interpret it as experience. I enjoy the Wales experience and the coaching here.

“You get through it, I didn’t love the last ten days, and you can work hard on the pitch, not in the meeting room.

I’d like to not repeat the ten days, but I’m hoping we can now focus on rugby.

Both teams are vying for top eight play-off spots in the United Rugby Championship (URC) when Cardiff face Ospreys on Saturday at Judgement Day at the Principality Stadium.

Sherratt remarked that it was trying to pass the players last week.

We made an effort to provide clarity to the participants during the meeting about the WRU takeover. We discussed what kind of ending we had five minutes later.

“We have one of our closest rivals in the best rugby stadium in the world.”

You’ve seen over the past two seasons when the club needed their supporters, they have come out en masse when Munster is at home on a Friday night.

Ospreys and Cardiff “stand together”

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones is a former Wales wingPicture agency for Huw Evans

Mark Jones, the head coach for Ospreys, claims that his side backs their Cardiff rivals.

We feel for those who have been impacted, according to Jones.

“It’s not the management group’s fault,” the statement read.

They have simply been carrying out their duties. These things are above that level, and sadly, players are the ones who are currently experiencing the effects.

It has a variety of effects on different people. When they come together, rally, and support one another, it might have a positive impact on them.

However, it might also cause people to focus on themselves and be more concerned with the larger picture.

Jones speaks from personal experience, having gone through the same procedure at Worcester’s backroom staff.

Worcester recently announced that they would return next season, despite the English club’s collapse in 2022.

Because I’ve endured it at Worcester, I’m certain that it will have an impact on them (Cardiff) in some way.

“The Worcester players were awesome at putting it to a stand.” Some of us were unpaid, others were uncontracted, and we were still getting paid.

“You had staff doing it exactly, not just players,” the statement read.

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Chelsea-Man Utd Premier League game moved to avoid Women’s FA Cup final

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Chelsea’s final Premier League home game of the season against Manchester United has been moved to ensure there is no clash with the Women’s FA Cup final between the two teams on Sunday, 18 May.

Instead, the Premier League game will be played on Friday, 16 May, with a 20:00 BST kick-off. It will be screened on Sky Sports.

The entire round of matches was scheduled for 18 May as the Premier League had already pledged it would not hold any games on men’s FA Cup final day on 17 May.

However, Chelsea’s meeting with United in the women’s equivalent the following day also created an issue.

Both clubs were keen for fans to be able to watch that Wembley showpiece as well as the men’s game and requested a change of date, which the Premier League agreed to.

The only other game in that match round not being played on the Sunday is Brighton’s home game with champions-elect Liverpool, which will now be played on Monday, 19 May (20:00 BST).

While the Chelsea-United game does go into an existing TV slot, it is a sign of the importance of the Women’s FA Cup final as a showpiece event that the Premier League agreed to the request.

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