Soccer Analyst Sutton Battles Singer Olly Murs in Top Flight Predictions

The Gunners' ten-match winning run was ended by the Black Cats prior to the international break, however will the Premier League frontrunners recover against local foes Tottenham this weekend?

"{I believe like Arsenal are light years ahead of Tottenham currently but Spurs manager Thomas Frank will have a strategy for this match," remarked football specialist Chris Sutton.

"The Spurs manager will attempt to neutralize Arsenal, who have not always been at their scintillating best this campaign - but Mikel Arteta's side usually still manage to win."

The analyst is making predictions for all 380 Premier League fixtures this season, against artificial intelligence, readers and a variety of guests.

For week 12, he takes on singer Olly Murs, who is a Manchester United supporter.

Murs' new album, the new release, is available on the weekend.

Football and Parenting Life

Murs is a skilled soccer player as well as a accomplished singer and has been a featured player of several Soccer Aid matches over time - but he is not intending a professional return as a footballer.

"{I actually played in a benefit match the other evening for a friend of mine," he explained. "The team was trailing 3-1 when I came off in the 60th minute, and they went on to win 4-3, so you can read into that what you will!

"I still love football, but I hurt my knee a few years ago and it even now isn't where I want it to be. I wish 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 everyone is Cristiano Ronaldo, are we!? No, I am very happy not playing football and I am gearing up for the moment that my daughter or son decides to play instead."

Murs and his spouse Amelia Tank have a young family, Madison and their son, and he is ready to emulate his dad by becoming their manager.

"I won't force football on our children but I've already told Amelia that if they do get the bug for it then I will have to go and get my coaching badges - and I will likely be coaching their weekend soccer side," he said.

"I observed my nephews play a lot, and I truly got into it, and I clearly owned a soccer team for a period too.

"My father did it with us when I was a child, which is likely where I get it from. He managed our team for two or three years and had great fun with it. That could be the next step for me as well, and I am looking forward to it!"

Top Division Predictions

Saturday, 22 November

• Turf Moor, 12:30 GMT

Chelsea may have to wait a bit longer for their star's return from fitness issues but their attack is already stronger with Pedro and Liam Delap both returned to fitness.

In my opinion this game will be quite close, however. The Clarets are disciplined and their sole home defeats so far have been against Liverpool and the Gunners.

It smells of a one-all draw to me, but I am actually going to choose Chelsea to edge it for what would be their third consecutive league win in a row.

The expert's forecast: 1-2

The singer's pick: Chelsea will be too strong. 1-3

Artificial intelligence's outlook: 0-2

• Vitality Stadium, 15:00 GMT

Bournemouth have lost their past two matches - albeit both of them were away - but they got thoroughly beaten by Aston Villa last time out which shocked me.

On the other hand, West Ham secured back-to-back victories before the hiatus and, although both of those fixtures were at home, they do look competitive again.

The Hammers' sole on the road win this campaign came at Nottingham Forest in the summer, when West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo was still that team's coach.

So, what exactly do I predict here - can the Hammers continuing their run under Nuno, or the home side responding?

I will choose the Cherries, because I believe what occurred against Villa was a anomaly.

The pundit's forecast: 2-0

The guest's prediction: Bournemouth are doing well but West Ham have improved under their boss. 2-2

AI's pick: 1-1

• Amex Stadium, 15:00 GMT

Brentford were seen as one of the favourites for relegation before the season started, but they have impressed a several people under their manager and are in fine fettle with three in their past four matches.

A family member told me to select Brentford forward Thiago in my fantasy soccer team a few weeks back and, unfortunately, I ignored the advice.

The forward will probably score again on the weekend but I am still not going to pick him or back the away side at Brighton's ground.

The Bees have not had great success on the road this term, and the Seagulls are always decent at their stadium. The visitors will attempt to attack on the counter-attack but I think the home manager's team pose much more of a danger.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Olly's prediction: This could be a match where you expect there is going to be a lot of goals but it in reality proves to be quite tight. 1-1

The computer's outcome: 2-1

• Craven Cottage, 15:00 GMT

This is a huge fixture for Fulham, who have suffered defeat in five of their last six games.

Fulham have have plenty of talent in their squad but it still seems like they could be dragged into a relegation battle.

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

The away side's display in the two-all draw with the Gunners last time out was superb. We have not seen any other team rough up the Gunners like that this season, and Sunderland were fully competitive for them.

The sensible thing would be to support the visitors here, because they are clearly capable of roughing the hosts up too and, the last time they were in west London, they beat Chelsea at the end of October.

However I am not going to choose that. Rather, I really need to continue opposing the away team with my forecasts. I am taking a lot of credit for their positive results because they evidently love to prove me wrong.

Considering the home side's at Craven Cottage form, the sole side they have lost to is the league leaders. Marco Silva's team will be extremely desperate for a positive result, so I am going to say they will pick up three points.

The expert's forecast: 1-0

Olly's prediction: I know the visitors are performing strongly and also that the hosts are on a poor run... but Fulham have still been decent at Craven Cottage this campaign. 2-0

AI's prediction: 2-0

• Anfield, 15:00 GMT

It is a tough fixture to predict. The Reds have suffered seven of their last ten games in every tournament, but could they be among the sides who profit from the {international break|