Sutton's predictions v The Slow Readers Club bassist James Ryan

Liverpool are nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, with champions Manchester City even further back, so can anyone catch Arne Slot's team now?

"Arsenal and Chelsea are the ones you think are still in it," said BBC Sport's football expert Chris Sutton. "Martin Odegaard coming back has made a huge difference to Arsenal.

"With Chelsea, you wonder if they have enough experience of what it takes, but they are scoring goals and winning games at the moment."

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

For week 14 he takes on James Ryan, bassist with rock band The Slow Readers Club and a Manchester United fan.

"Chris Sutton ruined my childhood, well for 12 months anyway, when Blackburn beat United to the title in 1995," Ryan said.

"I hope he feels good about that. That's why I am determined to beat him here, and I am wearing a United shirt while I make my predictions so I am fully into it."

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

The Slow Readers Club released their latest track, Technofear, last month. Their seventh studio album, Out Of A Dream, is out in March

The Slow Readers Club are currently touring the United Kingdom and Ireland.

They play a sold-out hometown gig at the O2 Ritz in Manchester on Thursday and have shows in Glasgow (Friday) and Leeds (Saturday)

Ryan was born in Manchester and grew up in Ancoats, close to the city centre, so he had a decision to make whether to be a Red or a Blue.

He told BBC Sport: "My dad is a City fan and my mum tells me a story that, when I was born, he took me to the hospital window to show me where Maine Road was.

"But he never shoved City down my throat, and he left me to make my own mind up who to follow.

"My uncle is a big United fan who used to have a season ticket at Old Trafford. He literally just knocked on our house one Saturday afternoon and said to my mum that he had a spare ticket, so does your Jim want to come?

"I was about six at the time, so I have gone with him... and that was it, I was hooked for life.

"My favourite players as a little kid were Bryan Robson and Mark Hughes, although my love of Hughes was tainted a bit by him becoming City manager - especially that game when we beat them 4-3 with a last-gasp Michael Owen goal, and Hughes was fuming next to Fergie [Sir Alex Ferguson] at the final whistle.

"It is Paul Scholes who is my ultimate United hero, though. Scholes and Diego Maradona are right up there above everyone else as footballers as far as I am concerned.

"In the current squad, there is no-one who compares with Scholes. Maybe it is because I am a bit older - it is not because we are not winning as much anymore - but there is no-one as likable.

"Bruno Fernandes is a very good player, but then he has those times where he moans a lot. I look around the rest of the squad and think they are over-paid prima donnas, the lot of them.

"It is so difficult to like them as individuals the same way I did with our players in the past, whereas I look at City and as much as I dislike them, I love Bernardo Silva.

"He is what we need. Someone who is just a pure footballer, who is not in it for the fame or his own ego. He is like Scholes in that he just turns up every week, and gives everything he can for the team without complaining or making it all about him."

Chris Sutton and James Ryan were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

James (right) along with lead singer Aaron Starkie, guitarist Kurtis Starkie and drummer David Whitworth. The Slow Readers Club formed in 2009 and have had four top-40 albums in the UK. Their biggest hit so far, The Joy of the Return, made it to number nine in 2020

Tuesday, 3 December

Ipswich Town 0-1 Crystal Palace

I watched Ipswich on Saturday and thought they played well. They were hard done by for the award of the penalty which Nottingham Forest scored their winner from.

Crystal Palace did get something out from their game with Newcastle - Daniel Munoz missed an unbelievable chance but made amends with his header right at the end.

I look through the Palace team and think they are too good to go down, but they have to start showing it.

These two sides have identical records, with only one win apiece from their first 13 league games.

They are both desperate for another win, so the obvious thing for me to do is call it a draw.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

James' prediction: They are level on points but it feels like Ipswich are playing all right, while Palace are struggling. 2-1

Leicester City 3-1 West Ham United

Both teams were beaten heavily at the weekend and this feels like a massive game for West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui, who is back under scrutiny again after such a big defeat at home to Arsenal.

What might help him here is how bad Leicester are defensively. This is Ruud van Nistelrooy's first game in charge of the Foxes so you would expect the King Power Stadium to be rocking, but that won't help them keep the Hammers out.

I am not convinced by West Ham in any way, shape or form at the moment but they have attacking players who can hurt Leicester, and that will get them the win Lopetegui needs.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

James' prediction: This has got 'new manager bounce' written all over it. Like I said, Scholes is my ultimate hero but me and my missus both love Ruud. If he had stayed on as our manager I would have been more than happy, but I hope he does really well at Leicester - hopefully he keeps them up, and gets them playing good football. 1-0

Wednesday, 4 December

Everton 4-0 Wolves

Everton did well for half an hour or so against Manchester United but they just can't score - they have not found the net in any of their past four games.

In contrast, Wolves have definitely got a goal in them but their problem is that they are just so open defensively.

Bournemouth were impressive at Molineux on Saturday but Wolves did not half make things easy for them, and their goalkeeper Jose Sa had a real stinker.

Gary O'Neil's side have conceded 32 goals in 13 league games, which makes me think even Everton will score against them.

This is a huge game at the bottom of the table and my first thought was to go for another draw, but I am actually going to go with the Toffees to nick the three points.

They certainly need them, with a tough run of games coming up, starting with the Merseyside derby on Saturday.

Everton manager Sean Dyche is under pressure at the moment and a section of fans appear to have really turned against him but I don't think you can blame the club's situation on him.

Of course he carries the can for their results but he has been totally hamstrung over what he can spend on his squad, which is why they are struggling.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

James' prediction: Ruben Amorim was spot on when he said after United beat Everton on Sunday that they could have scored a couple of goals against us, so I am going with them to win here. I don't think they are as bad as their results suggest. 2-1

Manchester City 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Manchester City's form has to turn around at some point, but there is little sign of that happening at the moment.

Nottingham Forest are going to be awkward opponents for them and, as the only team to have beaten Liverpool so far, they will fancy their chances at Etihad Stadium too.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side love defending and they will make it very hard for City to break them down.

I did not mind seeing Pep Guardiola's defiance at the end of City's defeat at Anfield, when he raised six fingers at the Liverpool fans who were chanting 'you're getting sacked in the morning' at him.

Pep's players will like it too, and they are still fighting, but how can I back them to get a positive result based on what we have seen in the past few weeks?

City still have the talent but it has not been clicking and, physically, Forest will probably have the edge. The defending champions' confidence is shot to pieces and teams must feel they can get at them.

So, I think there will be goals and this could turn out to be a battle between two big number nines - 'The Wood Chopper’' Chris Wood for Forest and City's Erling Haaland. I fancy both of them to score.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

James' prediction: City have basically wiped the floor with everyone for the past five years but I am going with my experience of when I used to play football myself and, when you're in a team where you have lost a few in a row, then no matter who you are it is so difficult to get out of that rut, which is where City are at the moment. They are going to bounce back at some point though. I do think big Chris Wood will get a goal, though.

If City do win, I am happy I got a prediction right. If they lose, I am still happy. 3-1

Newcastle 3-3 Liverpool

Newcastle have looked a little flat recently, and have been lacking a cutting edge.

This is still a tough game for Liverpool, though, off the back of such a big week for them with wins over Real Madrid and Manchester City.

The Magpies have already beaten Arsenal at St James' Park this season and they are certainly capable of getting something against Liverpool too, but you just cannot back against the leaders at the moment.

Arne Slot has such great strength in depth right through his squad and they can win games in different ways. Even if they do drop points here, their bubble is not going to burst anytime soon.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

James' prediction: I am purely basing this on my dislike of Liverpool. I am hoping for a result like that famous Liverpool 4-3 win back in the day, only this time I need Newcastle to get something, just to slow Liverpool down a bit. 1-1

Southampton 1-5 Chelsea

Southampton boss Russell Martin was tearing his hair out about their disallowed goal against Brighton on Friday. His side still picked up a really good, battling, point but they really needed all three.

This is going to be a purists' game of football, because both teams play an attractive style, but I can't see past a Chelsea win here.

It won't be a stroll for Enzo Maresca's side but they have so much quality in their team and they look so dangerous at the moment - up front, Nicolas Jackson is on fire.

Jackson's improvement this campaign compared to last is making me think maybe I should have had a second season at Stamford Bridge. There are a lot of Chelsea fans who tell me that... but most of them are unhappy I even had one season there.

Sutton's prediction: 0-2

James' prediction: I've got a couple of mates who are Southampton fans. I like the way they try to play, I'm just not sure their players are good enough to do it. 1-2

Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United

I can understand the excitement about Ruben Amorim from Manchester United fans because he is a hugely charismatic guy who comes across so well in interviews.

I am pleased for him that he has got off to a decent start, because he is unbeaten after his first three games, but this is the real acid test that will demonstrate where United are at.

We have seen some classic games between these teams down the years, but Arsenal are a long way ahead of United, especially now Odegaard is back - he has taken them to the levels we were expecting from them all season.

It would be a real eye-opener if United go to Emirates Stadium and get something, but I can't see it.

Arsenal have scored a lot of goals in the past week and that should continue here. They will win, and win well.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

James' prediction: As a United fan, I can't have Liverpool winning the league. City didn't beat them on Sunday so Arsenal are their closest challengers now... and who do we play here?

Still, I can't go against my own team and it is physically impossible for me to watch us hoping we get beat, so I am all in for a United win and hoping we can get something at Arsenal the way we used to, even though if we get any sort of result out of them, then we are basically giving Liverpool another leg-up towards the title. 1-2

Aston Villa 3-1 Brentford

Brentford's away form is awful but they are still fearless wherever they go and they have got plenty of goals in them - Kevin Schade was such a smooth operator to put his chances away against Leicester on Saturday.

The Bees are the last team you want to play when you are leaking goals the way Aston Villa are.

Villa's form is desperate and they are a bit like Manchester City in that they need a result to go for them to turn the tide.

There is no pressure on Villa boss Unai Emery whatsoever but he does need a win to get his side heading in the right direction.

Maybe this is when it happens - I am going to say Ollie Watkins will come up trumps against his old team and get Villa going again.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

James' prediction: I struggled with this one. Villa are not doing great but they do potentially have a great performance in them, whereas Brentford are very up and down. There are going to be a few goals here whatever happens though. 2-2

Thursday, 5 December

Craven Cottage, 19:30 GMT

Fulham were excellent against Tottenham on Sunday and their boss Marco Silva is probably still scratching his head about how they lost so heavily to Wolves the last time they were at Craven Cottage.

Regular readers will know I usually go with Fulham to win at home but I am not sure this time, because of how good Brighton have been so far.

There are reasons to back either side here, so I am going to split the difference and go with a draw.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

James' prediction: I toyed with another 2-2 here but I went with one of them with the previous game so I am going for an away win instead. 1-2

Vitality Stadium, 20:15 GMT

Good luck to anyone trying to predict this one. The only thing I am sure about is that there will be a lot of goals.

Wolves went toe to toe with Bournemouth on Saturday and the Cherries created chance after chance.

Tottenham will go toe to toe with the Cherries too, and there are going to be a lot of opportunities at both ends.

I don't want to go for another draw this week, and I think Bournemouth are more likely to edge it... but rather than trying to pick a winner I am going to say they will share the points.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

James' prediction: Spurs remind me of what City used to be like, back in the day. They can smash someone 4-0, then get hammered themselves the next game. I am going with Bournemouth to beat them here. 2-1

How did Sutton do last week?

Chris got six correct results from the 10 games in week 13, with one exact score, giving him a total of 90 points.

That was enough to beat his guest, boxer Sunny Edwards, who got three correct results with no exact scores, leaving him on 30 points.

But the BBC readers got seven correct results with one exact score, giving them a tally of 100 points and ending Sutton's five-week winning run.