Premier League predictions: Chris Sutton v The Wombats drummer & Everton fan Dan Haggis
2025-02-14
Category: sports

Newcastle have never won a Premier League game at Etihad Stadium, with their best results being two draws from 20 visits, but will they finally get the better of Manchester City there on Saturday?"I usually use science to help me make my predictions, but this time I have to think about history too," said BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton."There are always certain grounds where, for whatever reason, some clubs cannot get over the line - but you also have to consider that these long runs without a win have to end some time."Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.For week 25, he takes on The Wombats drummer Dan Haggis, who is an Everton fan.The Wombats' new album, Oh! The Ocean, is out on Friday and the band start a six-date UK arena tour in March. They also headline the opening night of the On The Waterfront festival in their home city of Liverpool in June.Do you agree with their scores? You can make your own below.The most popular scoreline selected for each game is used in the scoreboards and tables at the bottom of this page.A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.
Haggis has already made one prediction this week - he thought Everton would beat Liverpool in Wednesday's dramatic Merseyside derby - and feels there are lots of reasons for Toffees fans to be cheerful at the moment."You've got to be optimistic as an Everton fan, really," he told BBC Sport. "Otherwise you can just get too anxious and drown in the worry of relegation battles - well, in the past few years anyway."To be fair, I did like Sean Dyche, and thought that, with what he had, he built a pretty solid unit where everyone knew their job."But obviously we couldn't really score goals, which was frustrating and boring to watch in a way - all fans want to see goals, because they are the moments of elation we all look forward to."It's very rare you are pumping the air after a 0-0 draw unless it's a hard-fought battle against Manchester City, or someone like that.  To do it in those games is fine, but not every week."David Moyes has come in and has obviously been left a good foundation by Dyche. It's like he has thought he has inherited a team who are very well organised, but we can build on it."Things have definitely picked up in the past few weeks, and we have started scoring goals too,  so I feel really positive."
This is Everton's final season at Goodison Park before they move to their new stadium, something Haggis has mixed feelings about."I was a season ticket holder for a few years until I was 18, from about 1992 to 1998," he explained."Then Saturdays kind of got taken over by music, but I grew up going to Goodison so of course I will miss it."It is bitter-sweet, really, because the atmosphere in there when it is good is just unbelievable - I have never experienced anything like it anywhere else."Plus I have so many memories attached to the place, from going with my dad and brother, and my friends, and all the rest of it."But the new stadium looks amazing and as well as being brilliant for the club, it is going to be great for the city too, especially that part of it."Suddenly we are going to have a world-class stadium right on the riverfront, which will be amazing for lots of events, including music - hopefully The Wombats will get to support Paul McCartney there one day soon!"Chris Sutton and Dan Haggis were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
Friday, 14 February
Amex Stadium, 20:00 GMTBrighton came out on top when these two sides met in the FA Cup last weekend, and Chelsea did not offer much in attack after taking an early lead.Enzo Maresca's side just seem to be going through a flat period at the moment. They are still fourth in the table, but their performances have definitely dipped. The Seagulls' results have been very up and down too, and it's hard to pick a winner - so I am going to go with a draw.Sutton's prediction: 1-1Dan's prediction: Chelsea are going to have something to prove after losing in the FA Cup and I actually think they are going to dominate this. 1-3
Saturday, 15 February
King Power Stadium, 12:30 GMTIt seems Kai Havertz has turned into Pele in the eyes of Arsenal fans since he has been sidelined by a hamstring injury.All of a sudden Havertz is a world-beater, that they cannot cope without, when in reality he has been panned by them for his inconsistent finishing since he joined.But, with Gabriel Jesus already out injured for the season, Havertz's absence will give Arsenal fans an excuse if they end up not winning anything this campaign, and there will be a pile-on to ask why they did not sign another striker.The fact Gunners boss Mikel Arteta tried to get Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa in January tells you that he wanted someone in.Now, if they don't win the league, there will be this blame game. Is it Arteta's fault, or is it on the board for not backing him? Still, even with Havertz out, and Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli both injured too, I think Arsenal will have enough to beat Leicester. Leandro Trossard will probably lead their attack, although Raheem Sterling can also play up there.Leicester are out of the FA Cup and were walloped by Everton in their last Premier League game. This is not going to be anything like as close as their last meeting, in September.Sutton's prediction: 0-2Dan's prediction: I have a soft spot for Arsenal because my uncle supported them and he passed away. When I see them play I think of him and hope they win, unless they are playing Everton of course. 0-2
Villa Park, 15:00 GMTIpswich boss Kieran McKenna made 11 changes for their FA Cup tie against Coventry, so what does he do here to try to stop his side's four-game losing run in the league?Last time the Tractor Boys were in the Midlands, they demolished the Sky Blues, but this is obviously a much tougher test.Aston Villa also got through in the FA Cup, beating Tottenham, but they have gone three games without a win in the league - drawing with Arsenal and West Ham, and losing to Wolves.All three of those results came after midweek matches, however, and not being in the Champions League play-off round this week is a big boost for Villa.Unai Emery's side are short of centre-backs, with Ezri Konsa the latest to be injured when he was forced off against Spurs, but they do have new loan signing Axel Disasi to come into their defence.I think Ipswich will score, but Villa are going to score more.Sutton's prediction: 2-1Dan's prediction: With any luck going to Villa will give Marcus Rashford a new lease of life. I see them winning this comfortably. 3-1
Craven Cottage, 15:00 GMTFor the first couple of months of the season I was talking about how good Fulham are at home - I obviously put the mockers on them because they have not won any of their past five league matches at Craven Cottage.Nottingham Forest, who needed penalties to get past Exeter in the FA Cup on Tuesday, have got an excellent away record and Liverpool are the only top-flight team to have picked up more points than them on the road this season.This is hard to call, though, because we know Fulham can turn it on, and they are a hard team to predict. They won at the City Ground earlier in the season but this time I am going with my club, Forest, to get a point and continue their push for the top four.Sutton's prediction: 1-1Dan's prediction: I am amazed by how well Forest are doing, and they are good to watch too. They used to be one of those teams I used to skip on Match of the Day because they were boring, but not anymore! 1-2
Etihad Stadium, 15:00 GMTI am at this game for BBC Radio 5 live and there is no way City are keeping a clean sheet.In fact, until I realised just how bad Newcastle's record is at the Etihad, I was thinking of backing Eddie Howe's side to win.City have won the past 10 league games between the two sides here, and my old Blackburn strike partner Alan Shearer got the winner the last time Newcastle took the points at City - in September 2000 at their old Maine Road ground.That all points to a City win for me, far more than their current form does anyway.Let's face it, form does not really help me much anyway at the moment. Who could have seen Newcastle losing at home to Fulham in their last league game?So I may as well say a hoodoo like this one will continue and City will get over the line, even if Newcastle do definitely have a goal or two in them.I don't think it will make much difference who City start in goal, because Ederson and Stefan Ortega have both made mistakes this season, but it is going to be interesting to see who Pep Guardiola picks with the second leg of their Champions League tie with Real Madrid coming up next week. Sutton's prediction: 2-1Dan's prediction: This is a tough one to call but City are at home so I am going with them to win. I feel like there will be a few goals because I reckon both teams will just go for it but the chances are it won't be as exciting as I think. 4-2
St Mary's Stadium, 15:00 GMTI'd be shocked if Bournemouth don't win this.Even in the FA Cup against Burnley, Southampton could not give their home fans anything to cheer about. Dear me, what a depressing season this has been for them. Saints would be better off finishing the campaign now - just packing up, shutting the ground down and looking forward to next season, or looking ahead to it, anyway - why would you be looking forward to it after such a dismal few months?Bournemouth are well organised, have a good balance to their team and Justin Kluivert is on fire. They have quite a few injuries but you don't hear them complain do you? They just get on with it.Sutton's prediction: 1-3Dan's prediction: Bournemouth looked really good against us. 1-2
London Stadium, 15:00 GMTBrentford are not great away from home, while West Ham need to get something after taking only one point from their past three matches.This has got a draw written all over it, really, but I am not going to take the easy option and go for 1-1 here like my guest has done. That would be boring!Although Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa are always so dangerous for the Bees, I am going to go with West Ham to win it.New Hammers boss Graham Potter has taken over a difficult situation and he is finding it hard to get results - he has only won one of his five games in charge so far.Their struggles are not on him though, and it would definitely boost their chances if he has Jarrod Bowen back from injury soon - he has been training this week.Bowen scored a hat-trick when West Ham beat Brentford 4-2 in February last year. There won't be as many goals this time, but I am going for the same outcome.Sutton's prediction: 2-1Dan's prediction: I really like Brentford as a club. There is just something about them that is very likable, and they have been great since they came up to the Premier League. As a team they never lie down and, the way their fans are, they don't seen to get down on the players if they lose, they just support them through and through. West Ham have not had much of a new manager bounce under Potter but I have not gone for a draw yet so let's go for one here. 1-1
Selhurst Park, 17:30 GMTWhat a job David Moyes has done since returning to Everton last month.His side gave us such great drama at the end of the Merseyside derby, although I must admit I was not watching it properly because I was covering Celtic in the Champions League for Match of the Day.Moyes has really got Everton going again but I think he is in for a tough evening here.You have to wonder how much Wednesday night will have taken out of the Toffees, and I suspect it was quite a lot.Crystal Palace are going well at the moment, and Jean-Philippe Mateta will be hard to stop. The Eagles been steadily climbing the table for a few weeks now and I am expecting that to continue, although it will be close.Sutton's prediction: 1-0Dan's prediction: I am just glad this is a mid-table match, rather than the relegation six-pointer it might have been a couple of months ago. I have got to go for an Everton win obviously, but given the defensive mistakes we made against Bournemouth I don't think we will keep a clean sheet. 1-2
Sunday, 16 February
Anfield, 14:00 GMTWolves got a big win over Villa in their last league match and I watched them beat Blackburn in the FA Cup too.I cannot see Vitor Pereira's side getting anything at Anfield, though.Liverpool have to bounce back after conceding an equaliser so late on against Everton but I do expect them to react positively here.They might not have manager Arne Slot or his assistant Sipke Hulshoff on the bench after their red cards on Wednesday, and this is a tricky spell for them with away games against Aston Villa and Manchester City coming up next week.A lot of people might be thinking this might be their blip, but I don't think what happened in the derby is going to faze Liverpool.There are 14 games left so they are not in the home straight yet, and they still have a seven-point cushion at the top.In many ways, their players might use the dropped points at Goodison Park as a motivation to see off Wolves, and I am pretty confident they will get back on track straight away.I am going for Mohammed Salah to score and Liverpool to win comfortably.Sutton's prediction: 3-0Dan's prediction: Liverpool are going to batter Wolves - they will be seething after what happened against us on Wednesday. 3-0
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 16:30 GMTTrying to call this is a bit like a game I used to play with my kids, poker dice, where you roll five dice and it is completely random what you end up with.This is the first time I have so little idea of what to expect from both sides that I actually think I need to make two predictions, rather than one.I can guarantee you this, though. Whatever result I go for, it will end up being the opposite of what actually happens.Tottenham demolished Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford in September but that does not really have any bearing here.Spurs are getting players back from injury and Timo Werner, James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario are among those training again, but how fit are they going to be for this game?Ange Postecoglou says his players are out on their feet and we could see that in their FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa, so a lot depends on how  much they have left in the tank.As for Manchester United, well I've been reading reports this week that some of their players are unhappy with Ruben Amorim's style of play.There is lots going on off the pitch too, with stories that more redundancies are planned at the club, following controversy over a rise in ticket prices., externalWho would have thought when Ineos completed their deal to take a stake in United 12 months ago that, within a year, they could possibly be as unpopular with fans as  co-owners the Glazers are.In regards to Amorim, I just think he needs time. He arrived in mid-season, he has his way of playing and United will have to give him the players who fit that system, so it might take a window or two before we see him with the team he wants.There needs to be patience there, but we also know football fans are impatient. They want to see some improvement in the short-term, and it is hard to argue they have made any progress since Amorim took charge.I still have a sneaky feeling they might edge this game but I cannot really tell you what I am basing that on.This is a big game for Ange too, now his side are out of both domestic cups, but I am going with United, just.Sutton's prediction: 1-2 or 4-0 [only 1-2 will count as Chris's score]Dan's prediction: These two are both having a shocker - it looks like the league table is upside down when you see them down in 13th and 14th, and hopefully we will be above both of them by the time this game is played. They both need a win pretty badly, so I can see this being a draw. 2-2
How did Sutton do in the FA Cup?
Chris picked the winner in 11 of last week's 16 FA Cup fourth-round ties.His guests, indie-rock band Doves, were right about nine of the ties.The BBC readers also got 11 predictions correct, but again Plymouth caught pretty much everyone out.In round three, out of more than 38,000 predictions, only 4% of you went with Argyle to beat Brentford.This time, from about 40,000 predictions for their tie against Liverpool, just 7% of you picked the Pilgrims to progress. Will more of you back Plymouth against Manchester City in round five?
What about the midweek Merseyside derby?
Wednesday's Premier League game between Everton and Liverpool was originally scheduled for week 15 but was postponed because of Storm Darragh.The BBC readers led that week with just that game to go, on 100 points ahead of Chris and his guest - Travis bassist Dougie Payne - who were both on 70 points.Dougie and the BBC readers both went for a 3-1 Liverpool victory, and were both wrong.Chris went with 1-1, giving him 10 extra points, but he needed an exact score from the 2-2 draw to take the weekly win off the BBC readers.