Football Analyst Sutton Takes On Singer Murs in Top Flight Forecasts

The Gunners' ten-match victorious run was ended by the Black Cats prior to the international break, but will the Premier League frontrunners bounce back against local foes Tottenham this Sunday?

"{I feel like Arsenal are light years ahead of Tottenham at the moment but Spurs manager Thomas Frank will have a strategy for this game," remarked soccer expert Chris Sutton.

"The Spurs manager will try to neutralize Arsenal, who have not always been at their scintillating finest this season - but Mikel Arteta's team typically still manage to win."

The analyst is forecasting results for all 380 Premier League games this term, against AI, fans and a variety of special visitors.

In the twelfth round, he takes on singer Olly Murs, who is a Manchester United supporter.

The singer's new album, the new release, is available on the weekend.

Soccer and Parenting Life

Murs is a skilled soccer player as well as a accomplished singer and has been a featured player of multiple Soccer Aid games down the years - but he is not planning a serious comeback as a footballer.

"{I actually played in a benefit game the other evening for a friend of mine," he explained. "My side was losing 3-1 when I was substituted in the second half, and they went on to win 4-3, so you can read into that what you will!

"I continue to love football, but I hurt my knee a few years ago and it still hasn't fully recovered. I hope I could play more but the uncertainty of the sport means it's too risky for me in my profession to do it seriously again.

"Plus I am forty-one now, and we are not all Cristiano Ronaldo, are we!? No, I am very happy not playing football and I am preparing for the moment that my daughter or boy decides to play instead."

The singer and his spouse Amelia Tank have two children, Madison and Albert, and he is prepared to emulate his dad by taking on the role of their coach.

"I will not push football on our children but I've already told Amelia that if they happen to get the passion for it then I will have to go and get my coaching badges - and I will probably be managing their weekend football side," he said.

"I watched my nephews play a lot, and I truly got into it, and I obviously 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 two or three seasons and had a wonderful time with it. That could be the next step for me as well, and I am looking forward to it!"

Premier League Forecasts

Saturday, 22 November

• Turf Moor, 12:30 GMT

The Blues may have to be patient for Cole Palmer's comeback from fitness issues but their attack is now more potent with Joao Pedro and Liam Delap both returned to fitness.

I still think this fixture will be fairly close, however. Burnley are disciplined and their only at Turf Moor losses so far have been against Liverpool and the Gunners.

It smells of a 1-1 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 prediction: Chelsea will be superior. 1-3

AI's outlook: 0-2

• Vitality Stadium, 15:00 GMT

The Cherries have lost their previous couple matches - although both of them were away - but they got absolutely spanked by Aston Villa last time out which surprised me.

On the other hand, West Ham secured back-to-back victories before the international break and, although both of those fixtures were at their stadium, they do look strong again.

West Ham's only away win this season came at Nottingham Forest in August, when West Ham boss Nuno was still that team's manager.

Therefore, what exactly do I go with here - will it be West Ham extending their run under Nuno, or Bournemouth bouncing back?

I am going to choose Bournemouth, because I believe what happened against Aston Villa was a anomaly.

The pundit's forecast: 2-0

Olly's prediction: The home team are doing well but West Ham have picked up under Nuno. 2-2

AI's pick: 1-1

• Amex Stadium, 15:00 GMT

Brentford were seen as one of the frontrunners for the drop before the season began, but they have impressed a several people under Keith Andrews and are in fine fettle with three wins in their past four matches.

A family member told me to select Brentford striker Igor Thiago in my fantasy soccer squad a few weeks back and, guess what, I ignored the advice.

Thiago will probably find the net again on Saturday but I am nonetheless not going to pick him or back Brentford at Brighton's ground.

They have not had much success on the road this season, and Brighton are always strong at home. Brentford will try to attack on the counter-attack but I feel Fabian Hurzeler's team pose much more of a danger.

The analyst's prediction: 2-1

Olly's prediction: This could be a match where you think there is going to be a many goals but it in reality proves to be quite close. 1-1

The computer's prediction: 2-1

• Craven Cottage, 15:00 GMT

This is a huge fixture for the Cottagers, who have lost five of their past six matches.

Fulham have got lots of talent in their squad but it nonetheless feels like they could be dragged into a relegation fight.

Regarding the Black Cats, indeed they are the surprise package of the Premier League campaign so far.

Their performance in the 2-2 draw with the Gunners last time out was superb. We have not seen anyone else disrupt the Gunners like that this term, and they were fully competitive for them.

The sensible thing to do to support the Black Cats here, because they are clearly able of disrupting Fulham up too and, the last time they were in west London, they beat Chelsea at the end of last month.

But I am not going to do that. Instead, I really need to carry on going against the away team with my forecasts. I am claiming a lot of credit for their good outcomes because they clearly enjoy to prove me wrong.

Considering the home side's home form, the sole side they have been defeated by is Arsenal. Their manager's side will be extremely eager for a positive result, so I am going to say they will secure three points.

The expert's prediction: 1-0

The guest's choice: I'm aware the visitors are performing strongly and also that Fulham are on a poor run... but they have still been decent at home this season. 2-0

The algorithm's prediction: 2-0

• Anfield, 15:00 GMT

It is a hard one to call. The Reds have lost seven of their past 10 matches in all competitions, but might they be one of the sides who benefit from the {international break|