Football Expert Sutton Battles Singer Olly Murs in Top Flight Forecasts
Arsenal's ten-match winning run was ended by Sunderland prior to the global hiatus, but will the English top division frontrunners bounce back against local foes Spurs this weekend?
"{I believe like Arsenal are miles ahead of Tottenham at the moment but Spurs boss Thomas Frank will have a plan for this match," remarked football expert Chris Sutton.
"Frank will try to nullify Arsenal, who have not always been at their scintillating finest this season - but Mikel Arteta's side typically still find a way to win."
Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this term, versus AI, readers and a range of special visitors.
In the twelfth round, he takes on performer Olly Murs, who is a United supporter.
Murs' new album, Knees Up, is available on Friday.
Football and Family Life
Olly is a talented footballer as well as a successful artist and has been a star of several charity football matches down the years - but he is not intending a serious comeback as a footballer.
"{I recently played in a benefit match the other evening for a mate of mine," he said. "The side was losing 3-1 when I came off 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 joint a few years ago and it even now hasn't fully recovered. I hope I could play more but the uncertainty of the game means it's too risky for me in my career to do it seriously again.
"Plus I am forty-one now, and we are not everyone is Cristiano Ronaldo, are we!? No, I am very content not playing football and I am gearing up for the time that my daughter or boy chooses to play instead."
Murs and his wife Amelia Tank have two children, Madison and their son, and he is ready to emulate his dad by becoming their coach.
"I will not force football on our children but I've previously told Amelia 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 coaching their weekend football team," he said.
"I observed my relatives play a lot, and I truly got into it, and I clearly was involved with a football club for a while too.
"My dad did it with us when I was a child, which is likely where I inherited it. He coached our side for several seasons and had a wonderful time with it. That could be the future for me as well, and I am looking forward to it!"
Premier League Forecasts
Weekend, 22 November
- Turf Moor, 12:30 GMT
Chelsea may have to wait a bit longer for their star's comeback from fitness issues but their offense is already stronger with Joao Pedro and Liam Delap both returned to fitness.
In my opinion this game will be quite tight, though. The Clarets are well organised and their sole home losses so far have been against the Reds and Arsenal.
This suggests a one-all draw to me, but I am in fact going to go with the London side to win narrowly for what would be their third consecutive league win in a row.
Sutton's forecast: 1-2
Olly's pick: Chelsea will be superior. 1-3
Artificial intelligence's outlook: 0-2
- Vitality Stadium, 15:00 GMT
The Cherries have been defeated in their previous couple games - although both of them were away - but they got absolutely spanked by Villa last time out which shocked me.
On the other hand, West Ham secured back-to-back victories before the international break and, although both of those fixtures were at home, they do look competitive again.
West Ham's sole on the road victory this season came at Nottingham Forest in the summer, when their manager Nuno was still Forest manager.
So, what on earth do I go with here - will it be West Ham extending their run under their manager, or the home side bouncing back?
I am going to go with Bournemouth, because I think what occurred against Aston Villa was a blip.
The pundit's prediction: 2-0
The guest's prediction: Bournemouth are performing strongly but the visitors have improved under their boss. 2-2
The algorithm's prediction: 1-1
- Amex Stadium, 15:00 GMT
The Bees were seen as one of the favourites for the drop before the season began, but they have surprised a few people under their manager and are in fine fettle with three wins in their past four matches.
My son advised me to get Bees striker Igor Thiago in my fantasy soccer team a few weeks ago and, unfortunately, I didn't listen.
Thiago will probably score again on the weekend but I am nonetheless not going to pick him or support Brentford at Amex Stadium.
They have not had great fortune on the road this term, and Brighton are consistently strong at home. Brentford will try to attack on the break but I feel the home manager's team carry much more of a danger.
The analyst's prediction: 2-1
Olly's prediction: This could be one of those games where you think there is going to be a lot of goals but it in reality proves to be rather tight. 1-1
AI's outcome: 2-1
- Craven Cottage, 15:00 GMT
It is a huge fixture for the Cottagers, who have suffered defeat in five of their past six matches.
Fulham have got plenty of quality in their squad but it still seems like they could be sucked into a drop zone fight.
As for Sunderland, well they are the surprise package of the Premier League season so far.
The away side's display in the two-all draw with the Gunners last time out was superb. We've not seen any other team disrupt the North London side like that this term, and they were fully competitive for them.
The sensible thing would be to support the Black Cats here, because they are clearly capable of disrupting Fulham up too and, the last time they were in this part of London, they beat the Blues at the end of last month.
But I am not choose that. Rather, I really need to carry on going against the away team with my forecasts. I am claiming a lot of responsibility for their positive outcomes because they evidently love to prove me wrong.
Considering the home side's at Craven Cottage record, the only team they have lost to is Arsenal. Their manager's side will be absolutely eager for a good result, so I am going to say they will secure three points.
The expert's forecast: 1-0
The guest's choice: I know the visitors are doing well and also that Fulham are on a poor run... but they have still been decent at Craven Cottage this season. 2-0
AI's prediction: 2-0
- Anfield, 15:00 GMT
It is a hard fixture to predict. The Reds have lost seven of their last ten matches in all competitions, but might they be one of the teams who benefit from the {international break|