Chris Sutton's Premier League predictions
Manchester City and Manchester United meet at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, with both clubs desperate for an upturn in form.
"Has there ever been a more miserable Manchester derby? I don't think so," said BBC Sport's football expert Chris Sutton.
"Knowing Manchester, it will probably be raining. There are certainly clouds over both clubs at the moment anyway."
Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.
For week 16 he takes on darts star Stephen Bunting, who is a Liverpool fan.
Bunting, who is ranked eighth in the Professional Darts Championship (PDC) order of merit, takes on Alan Soutar or Kai Gotthardt in the second round of the PDC World Championship, which starts at London's Alexandra Palace on Sunday.
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.
Stephen Bunting celebrates after winning the Cazoo Masters final in FebruaryGetty Images
As well as being one of the best darts players on the planet, Bunting is famous for his love of collecting retro football stickers.
"I collected them when I was a kid and used to get really excited when I got a shiny, like the Liverpool badge," Bunting told BBC Sport.
"It sort of disappeared out of my life for a while but then I stumbled across the 'Paolo Panini' TikTok channel.
"I started collecting all the old cards again and I've got some really good ones. Not long back I picked up an Andres Iniesta autograph card which is worth between £3,000 and £5,000.
"It's not just football - there is a Panini collection of darts cards out now that I have just got my hands on too, so I am going to unpack them on my YouTube channel."
Bunting is renowned for his knack of finding rare and valuable cards, but sadly stickers of Chris Sutton are classed as neither.
"He'd have to pay me to take one of those off him," was Bunting's expert verdict.
Stickers of Chris Sutton when he played for Norwich and BlackburnSoccerStickers_FC & @premierfootballcards
Bunting is a lifelong Liverpool fan, and follows them wherever he is in the world.
"A lot of my family were Blues but my dad was a massive Liverpool fan," he explained. "He started taking me to matches when I was five or six.
"He got me a 'dad and lads' season ticket when I was younger but unfortunately we had to give it up because of my darts, and now trying to get on the waiting list for a season ticket is almost impossible.
"I still get to some games now, and it is always special to go to Anfield but when I am playing in tournaments I have to settle for watching them on my phone.
"We are doing so well at the moment, which is such a pleasant surprise.
"Filling Jurgen Klopp's boots was always going to be difficult, but what Arne Slot has done so far is nothing short of a miracle.
"There is no way I thought we would be fighting at the front and top of the Premier League at this stage. It is still too early in the season to predict whether we are going to win it, but we have looked unbelievable so far."
Chris Sutton and Stephen Bunting were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
Saturday, 14 December
What information do we collect from this quiz?
Emirates Stadium, 15:00 GMT
Arsenal dominated Fulham in their draw last weekend, but did not create much from open play.
Fulham are a well-organised team, but I was still a little disappointed in Mikel Arteta's side.
Martin Odegaard was not as influential as usual, and it showed, but the Gunners were still a threat from set-pieces, which is how they got their goal.
People joke about how Arsenal are like Tony Pulis' old Stoke City side in that respect, but I see their ability to score from corners as being a feather in their cap rather than something to sneer at.
The Gunners are definitely more pragmatic this season but fair play to them for being so effective at set-pieces - a few other teams must wish they carried the same level of threat in those situations - and I don't see them slipping up against Everton.
Sean Dyche's side will sit in and they don't mind a set-piece either, so this could be a battle of who is better at corners, but I'd back Arsenal to come out on top.
Sutton's prediction: 2-0
Stephen's prediction: Arsenal will win this quite easily. They are playing well, and Everton have been struggling. 3-0
What information do we collect from this quiz?
Anfield, 15:00
I am covering this game for BBC Radio 5 Live and it will be interesting to see what Fulham do.
They were very well-organised defensively against Arsenal last time out, and were happy to sit in and try to carry a threat on the counter.
That probably did not work as effectively as they would have liked, other than when Raul Jimenez put them ahead, but I suspect they will go with a similar gameplan at Anfield.
So, Adama Traore will start again, along with Alex Iwobi who had a good game against the Gunners, with Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic together in a more defensively minded midfield.
They didn't keep Arsenal out, though, and I can't see them stopping Liverpool either.
Arne Slot's side were quite flat in their midweek win over Girona. He was quite critical of their performance but I think a lot of teams are going through a period where they are so stretched by the Premier League and Champions League.
The first goal is going to be important here, but I expect Liverpool to get it and then go on to win comfortably.
Sutton's prediction: 3-0
Stephen's prediction: Fulham are a decent side. We will win, but they are going to score. 2-1
Stephen on Liverpool's best player so far: It has got to be Ryan Gravenberch, who has been brilliant in a midfield role he was unfamiliar with. He was a bit-part player under Jurgen Klopp but he has been amazing under Slot. If he carries on like this, he will be our player of the season.
What information do we collect from this quiz?
St James' Park, 15:00
I did not like the way Leicester treated Steve Cooper but they have definitely had a bounce since appointing Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has made the start he desired.
It is fair to say that Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has not had the season he wanted so far, but any team who can beat Arsenal and draw with Liverpool must have something about them.
Howe's side have been consistently inconsistent, but they are not far off becoming the team he wants them to be.
I am expecting them to click here, and I actually think this will be quite straightforward for them.
Sutton's prediction: 3-0
Stephen's prediction: I am going with Newcastle, but it's going to be close. 2-1
What information do we collect from this quiz?
Molineux, 15:00
Do I think Wolves will score? Yes.
Do I think Ipswich will score too? Probably, because everyone scores against Wolves.
I could come out of retirement and score against Wolves, that's how bad their backline is.
In fact, I actually think I would score more than one and I am 51.
Wolves have got some talented players but, as I've said previously, you cannot concede the amount of goals they do and expect to stay in the Premier League.
As for Ipswich, I was speaking to a teacher friend of mine, Mr Fields, about them this week.
As a loyal fan of the Tractor Boys, he was thinking six points was possible from their past two games, at home to Crystal Palace and Bournemouth - and they got zero.
I had said Ipswich would get a point against Palace and lose to Bournemouth, but those results still made me think I have been a bit too generous with my predictions for them this season.
Putting my Norwich loyalties to one side, anyone seeing my scores would think I had a soft spot for Ipswich, when in fact they are showing their soft centre.
So, I am going with Wolves here. I know Ipswich's best results so far have come on the road, but I don't think that will help them here.
It won't make any difference where they play if their goalkeeper, Arijanet Muric, keeps making terrible decisions.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Stephen's prediction: Both teams are desperate for a win but it could end up being a game where both teams are more afraid of losing. 1-1
What information do we collect from this quiz?
City Ground, 15:00
This is fifth versus sixth, and I am expecting it to be close.
Aston Villa have found some form again recently, but this is another test of their squad after a Champions League game in midweek, something they have struggled with previously.
I tend to back Nottingham Forest when they are at home but they seem just as good on their travels these days, maybe because they like to play on the counter-attack.
I don't think they will lose this but I don't want to back against Villa either, so a draw seems like the most likely outcome, doesn't it?
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Stephen's prediction: This game has got draw written all over it as well. 2-2
Sunday, 15 December
What information do we collect from this quiz?
Amex Stadium, 14:00
No top-flight team has drawn more home games (four) than Brighton this season, and Crystal Palace have drawn the most in total (seven) of any Premier League side - including four of their past six games.
As regular readers will know, I am happy to be led by statistics sometimes, and they make this the easiest prediction I have ever made.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Stephen's prediction: There will definitely be goals in this one. 2-2
What information do we collect from this quiz?
Etihad Stadium, 16:30
The wheels have really come off at Manchester City now - who saw that coming?
City just cannot keep a clean sheet - they have managed one in their past 10 games - and now their manager Pep Guardiola is talking about being tired.
I know it was in the context of him not having enough energy to go to another club and starting again there, but it must have sent a message to his current players too.
You never know with Pep, and he may have just been being sarcastic, but if he really is tired then does he have the energy required to turn City around? That would be a worry for City, with the run they are on.
Meanwhile, at Manchester United, new manager Ruben Amorim is barely through the door and the club's owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is telling everyone they are 'mediocre'.
Amorim beat City 4-1 in his final game in charge of Sporting before he came to Old Trafford which got United fans very excited, but they have soon realised whenever they have played anyone half-decent that they are the same team that were struggling under Erik ten Hag.
Basically, both teams have been really bad, so what on earth do I go for here?
In the recent past I have always gone with City in Manchester derbies and, while Amorim beat them with Sporting, you have to remember City could have been a few goals up by half-time in that game.
So, I am going to go with City to win at home and maybe rejuvenate Pep before Christmas.
Speaking of stats, I have got a good one for you - United never lost three league games in a row in more than two years under Ten Hag, but Amorim will manage that in less than a month if he is beaten here.
Sutton's prediction: 3-1
Stephen's prediction: I can see this being cagey because of City's poor form, with just one goal in it. 2-1
What information do we collect from this quiz?
Stamford Bridge, 19:00
I really admire the job Thomas Frank has done with Brentford because under him they have evolved as a team, and grown as a club.
But this is another pretty obvious prediction, because the Bees are awesome at home and useless away.
I really can't see past a Chelsea win here, with Cole Palmer's Panenka penalty against Tottenham illustrating how high their confidence is. The way they are playing, they are definitely title contenders no matter how many times their manager Enzo Maresca denies it.
It will be odd for fans to have a game starting so late on a Sunday night, but the Premier League have caved in to teams who want a bit of extra rest after playing in Europe on Thursday.
I am not sure the Premier League have thought this through, and they might have opened a can of worms here.
All teams like to complain about not getting enough rest, especially over Christmas, so the Premier League probably need to come up with a minimum time period that teams should have between games, and stick to it.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Stephen's prediction: Chelsea are looking really good. Palmer is one of the best players in the Premier League and they always have a strong bench if they need it too. 3-1
What information do we collect from this quiz?
St Mary's Stadium, 19:00
This should be a great game of football.
It's one for the purists, really, because Southampton will play their defined style under Russell Martin and Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham will definitely do the same.
Both managers have been criticised recently and some of the stuff written and said about Postecoglou after Spurs lost to Chelsea was staggering, although it is the same after every defeat.
As I said on the Monday Night Club, on their day Spurs are the best team to watch in the Premier League, but they are just patchy.
They should get over the line here, though, because Southampton have bigger problems.
It looks like Saints are going to get relegated but I hope they see the bigger picture when it comes to Martin.
For starters, he got them promoted, which wasn't an easy job. Keeping them up was always going to be even harder but, because Southampton have had a pretty recent spell of doing OK in the Premier League, their fans think they should be doing much better.
It was a similar story with Leicester under Steve Cooper, where expectations were unrealistic. He got the sack but I hope Saints stick with Martin because with a bit of patience they could come back, stronger.
Sutton's prediction: 1-2
Stephen's prediction: Tottenham have been terrible but Southampton keep losing. I think they are going down, aren't they? 0-2
Monday, 16 December
What information do we collect from this quiz?
Vitality Stadium, 20:00
West Ham's win over Wolves last time was a step in the right direction under Julen Lopetegui, but he needs to maintain that improvement over a longer period otherwise he is always going to be under pressure.
Jarrod Bowen is looking sharp for the Hammers and I think they will make a game of this, but I can only see one winner here and it is Bournemouth.
What a team the Cherries have been this season. They always create a lot of chances and I am expecting them to make it four wins in a row.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Stephen's prediction: West Ham are playing for Michail Antonio after his car crash, so they have got a bit to play for, but I don't see them winning this. 1-1
How did Sutton do last week?
Chris got four correct results from the nine fixtures played in week 15, with one exact score, giving him 70 points.
That left him level with his guest, Travis bassist Dougie Payne, who also got four correct results with one exact score for a tally of 70 points.
There is one game left to play, the postponed Merseyside derby, but for now this goes down as a win for the BBC readers.
They got four correct results but with two exact scores, for a total of 100 points.
Guest leaderboard 2024-25
|Points|
|---|---|
|Liam Fray|150|
|Adam F|130|
|Jordan Stephens|120|
|James Smith|110|
|You *|89|
|Chris Sutton *|87|
|Clara Amfo, Coldplay, Brad Kella|80|
|Kellie Maloney, Dougie Payne||
|& Paul Smith|70|
|Peter Hooton, Nemzzz, James Ryan|60|
|Ife Ogunjobi|50|
|Mylee from JJFC|40|
|Sunny Edwards, Femi Koleoso,||
|& Tate from JJFC|30|
* Average after 15 weeksSource: BBC
Guest leaderboard 2024-25. . * Average after 15 weeks.
Weekly wins, ties & total scores after week 15
|Wins|Ties|Points|
|---|---|---|---|
|You|5|1|1,340|
|Chris|5|1|1,300|
|Guests|3|2|1,150|
Source: BBC
Weekly wins, ties & total scores after week 15. . .
Related topics
Premier League
Football