Sutton's predictions v Femi & Ife from Ezra Collective
- Published
Arsenal are without the suspended Declan Rice and the injured Martin Odegaard for Sunday's north London derby, but how much will they miss them against Tottenham?
"No Rice, no Odegaard... and no win," says BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton.
"Tottenham have not had the luck their play has deserved so far this season, but I have a feeling that will change this weekend."
Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.
For week four, he takes on Femi Koleoso and Ife Ogunjobi from jazz band Ezra Collective, the 2023 Mercury Music Prize winners.
Do you agree with their forecasts? 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.
Ezra Collective's latest single Streets Is Calling, featuring M.anifest and Moonchild, is out now. Their new album Dance, No One's Watching is out on 27 September
Femi supports Arsenal, while Ife is a Chelsea fan.
The Gunners have had some good news this week with Mikel Arteta extending his contract until 2027, but Femi feels that the length of the deal is a sign that he needs to win some silverware if he is going to stay on.
Arsenal have finished runners-up in the Premier League in each of the past two seasons but the only major trophy Arteta has landed since taking charge in 2019 is the 2020 FA Cup.
"I found the deal quite interesting," Femi said. "Maybe I am reading in between the lines too much but it feels like a little bit of a message to Mikel, saying something like 'we have invested heavily in this project and process, and now we need a return in the next couple of seasons'.
"That's kind of how I see it, because I would have said that if he had won the league last year, then that would have been a five-year deal for him.
"I have just read a book called Black Arsenal, which is a really beautiful read about the black culture at the club and the line of iconic black players we have had - from the likes of Paul Davis to Ian Wright and Thierry Henry.
"When I was reading about our history, it made me kind of realise just how important it is to have a big piece of silverware to attach to your career. There are lots of fantastic players and managers that have not got that, but if you want to leave a real legacy then you kind of need that trophy to go with it.
"For Arteta, it could be the Champions League or the Premier League, but I feel like his legacy needs to be stamped by one of those trophies even if, arguably, there is no harder time to achieve that than now."
Like most Chelsea fans, rather than thinking too much about securing some silverware, Ife is still working out what he thinks their strongest team looks like.
"If I was picking the starting line-up I would like Pedro Neto on the left, Noni Madueke on the right, Cole Palmer as the 10 and Nicolas Jackson up top," Ife said. "But, at the same time, I just don't feel right leaving Christopher Nkunku on the bench.
"We can only pick 11 players though, and it is still too early for Enzo Maresca to know what his best starting XI looks like. We just have to be patient.
"It is hard to know what is going to happen and whether it will work out for him. Historically we don't stick with managers for long, so when people ask 'have Chelsea got a plan?', then it is down to the board and how much time Maresca gets.
"Right now everyone is talking about how many players we have signed and how young they are, and that seems to be the plan - to sign a lot of young players with the hope that some of them become absolutely world class and play for us, and the others can be sold to generate profit for the club."
Chris Sutton, Femi and Ife were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
Saturday, 14 September
With three defeats out of three, Southampton have obviously not made a great start in terms of results.
There has been a lot of scrutiny of the way they play too, and of Saints boss Russell Martin’s principles in playing out from the back, with people comparing them to what Burnley were like last season.
Martin has to have a philosophy of how he wants his team to play, though, so I do have sympathy for him. I don't believe there is a narrative against him either - it is just that, in their last game, Brentford pressed them high and they made mistakes and conceded some poor goals.
It is going to be difficult for them against Manchester United too. Erik ten Hag's side have their own issues, which means people don't predict United's results, they guess them... but they should - should - have too much quality for Saints.
Southampton will try to be bold but that probably means they will give up chances and, because I've seen Marcus Rashford has been having extra training sessions, I am going to back him and United to take them.
Sutton's prediction: 0-2
Femi's prediction: I still think United are suffering from a Sir Alex Ferguson hangover. They have not sorted the club out upstairs, even though it is more than 10 years since he left. I think they will drop more points here. 1-1
Ife's prediction: I am going with United to edge it. 1-2
Your prediction: 1-2 (this was the most popular scoreline, with 22% of the vote)
People think I am anti-Ipswich, but I am not. I like Kieran McKenna and the way his team plays, I just think Norwich is a far nicer place to live.
They got their first point on the board against Fulham before the international break and I like the way they are going about things. I still expect them to get relegated but they have been smart with the players they have brought in, and they are giving it a go to try to stay up.
I don't see them getting anything at Brighton, however, because the Seagulls have got off to an absolute flyer under Fabian Hurzeler, and it is going to be tough for Ipswich to keep Kaoru Mitoma quiet.
Sutton's prediction: 3-1
Femi's prediction: We saw how good Brighton are when they came to the Emirates. 3-0
Ife's prediction: The same outcome, but slightly smaller scoreline! 2-0
Your prediction: 2-0 (31%)
Crystal Palace have made a slow start to the season and in fact I'd even call it disappointing, but their wait for a first win of the new campaign won't go on much longer.
They should be a little bit too streetwise for Leicester, and I am finding it difficult to back the Foxes at the moment - it looks to me like they have got a long battle ahead of them to stay up.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Femi's prediction: Palace to win and Eberechi Eze to score. 3-1
Ife's prediction: I feel like Leicester will get something here. 1-1
Your prediction: 2-1 (31%)
This is tricky. These kind of games are the reason I have been losing every week, because I really can't call them.
Fulham are bright and try to play good football, and West Ham are the same. The Hammers actually ran Manchester City pretty close before the international break, but still ended up losing.
There will be chances at both ends but I can't pick a winner, so I am going to go with a draw - in fact the more I think about it, the more this game has got draw written all over it.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Femi's prediction: I am going to go with my heart - I want Fulham to win because of Emile Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi and Reiss Nelson. They have become like an Arsenal B team really. 2-1
Ife's prediction: Fulham have got a good team and have made some decent additions, but I think West Ham will take this one. 1-2
Your prediction: 1-1 (32%)
Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest
I am at Anfield for Radio 5 Live and I am looking forward to seeing Arne Slot's Liverpool.
They have not conceded a goal yet, and don't give away many chances, but they still look good going forward and absolutely tore Manchester United apart at Old Trafford.
Chris Wood is in good form for Nottingham Forest but I just don't see them scoring. Their plan will probably just be to sit in and try to keep Liverpool out, but I don't think that will work either - Mohamed Salah will score, and Slot will win again.
Sutton's prediction: 2-0
Femi's prediction: Liverpool are looking like the second-best team in the league at the moment. 3-0
Ife's prediction: They are at home so I am expecting some goals. 4-0
Your prediction: 3-0 (38%)
Brentford have been a bogey team for Manchester City in the past and Bees boss Thomas Frank knows how to beat them, that's for sure - he did the double over them in 2022-23.
That's not going to happen this time, though. I refuse to put Erling Haaland in my Fantasy team on principle, because the whole nation has picked him, but he is just unstoppable at the moment and City should win this one comfortably.
City don't usually hit their stride so early in a season. If this is them just warming up, then god help the rest of the Premier League.
Sutton's prediction: 3-1
Femi's prediction: I know Brentford won here a couple of years ago but that was when they had Ivan Toney up front. I really hope I am wrong, obviously, but City will win. 3-1
Ife's prediction: No Toney, and Haaland is an absolute monster for City. 3-0
Your prediction: 3-1 (23%)
Everton boss Sean Dyche is under the pump after their capitulation against Bournemouth last time out. It feels like some of their fans have turned against Dyche now, which I think is ridiculous, but he does need a result and unfortunately for him Villa Park is not a place I see Everton getting anything.
The Toffees got hammered 4-0 there last season and, although they will put up a fight, they are not going to get a result on this occasion either.
How many goals Villa get might depend on whether Ollie Watkins is fit. He's in my Fantasy team, which is bad news for him anyway, but he is an injury doubt after pulling out of the England squad.
Sutton's prediction: 2-0
Femi's prediction: Leon Bailey to score, and Villa to win. 2-0
Ife's prediction: I am going 2-0 as well.
Your prediction: 2-0 (35%)
Bournemouth are still unbeaten this season, even if their win at Everton was fortunate - they had a good five minutes, but that was it... which is a bit like the way my career went.
I really don't know what to expect from Chelsea though, or if Cole Palmer is going to be fit enough to play. Because of that, I am going to sit on the fence and go for a draw.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Femi's prediction: I am going with Bournemouth here - this is a tough fixture. 2-1
Ife's prediction: We are are leaky defensively but I still think we will win. 1-2
Why Chelsea? Because my dad supports them, although my mum is an Arsenal fan... my sister is too, although she's not really that interested in football. Whenever either team played when I was growing up, my mum or dad would be screaming at the TV.
Your prediction: 1-2 (26%)
Sunday, 15 September
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has just signed a new contract, so maybe his mind has been on that new deal and how he can spend it on furnishing his house rather than the north London derby.
Being serious, though, Rice and Odegaard are such big losses that I can't help but feel it will have an impact. Arsenal have got quality players like Jorginho and Thomas Partey to come into their midfield, but they are missing two of their best players.
The Gunners will get chances in this game and I expect them to score - they won this fixture 3-2 last season and drew 2-2 at the Emirates, and I am expecting more of the same.
This time, however, I am going to back Spurs. I know everyone who is reading this will probably go for a draw but I am not going to do that. Instead, I am going to stick my long neck out and say 'Angeball' will come out on top.
Spurs have dominated games and created chances this season, but they just need someone to stick the ball in the back of the net and I have a feeling that will happen for them here. If I am right, then we may as well hand the title to Manchester City.
Sutton's prediction: 3-2
Femi's prediction: The last time I did these predictions, in 2021, my brother TJ said Spurs would lose 11-0 to Liverpool, and that was the only game he got wrong. I am going for an Arsenal win - if Ange plays with a high line again then I am pretty confident we will win. Spurs also don't defend set-pieces very well, and we are good at them. 0-3
Ife's prediction: As a neutral, I am going for a draw. I am interested to see how Arsenal get on in midfield without Rice and Odegaard. 1-1
Your prediction: 1-2 (18%)
Newcastle are unbeaten in the Premier League so far but their performances have not been there and they have got away with it a little bit up until now.
Wolves, in contrast, are yet to win. They made lots of mistakes when they got hammered 6-2 by Chelsea, but created plenty of chances themselves too.
Is it going to click for Newcastle this time, or will Wolves get it together? You could make a case for both teams and, whoever wins, it would not surprise me.
The safe bet would be a draw here, and you can guarantee that is the result the public will vote for above, but only spineless people would go for that...
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Femi's prediction: These are both tricky teams to predict. Newcastle don't look good at all, and Wolves kind of gave up against Chelsea. 1-1
Ife's prediction: Wolves looked good against Chelsea in the first half, then fell apart. I reckon they will take this one. 2-1
Your prediction: 1-2 (27%)
How did Sutton do last time?
There were high scores all round in the last set of Premier League games before the international break.
Sutton got six correct results from the 10 games in week three, including two exact scores, giving him a total of 120 points.
His guest, drum and bass legend Adam F, got four correct results but with three exact scores, giving him a total of 130 points.
You lot did even better, with five correct results and three exact scores, to take the win with 140 points.
That leaves Sutton without a win so far, and he is bottom of the head-to-head table where he takes on you and his guests.
"Even Ipswich have got more points than me," he said. "But it is good to have a challenge, because last season I got used to winning every week."
Guest leaderboard 2024-25
| Points | |
|---|---|
| Liam Fray | 150 |
| Adam F | 130 |
| Jordan Stephens | 120 |
| You * | 97 |
| Chris Sutton * | 93 |
| Clara Amfo | 80 |
Wins & total scores after week three
| Wins | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| You | 2 | 390 |
| Guests | 1 | 380 |
| Chris | 0 | 280 |
