Suttons predictions v Divorce singer Felix

- BBC News

Suttons predictions v Divorce singer Felix

Arsenals three-game winless run has all but ended their Premier League title hopes but can they bounce back against London rivals Chelsea on Sunday?

"Im not convinced by Chelseas attack," said BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton. "Cole Palmer has lost form and with Nicolas Jackson injured they are playing Pedro Neto through the middle.

"We know Arsenal have got attacking issues but can Chelsea hurt them? I dont think so."

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

For week 29, he takes on Divorce singer and guitarist Felix Mackenzie-Barrow, who is an Arsenal fan.

Divorces debut album, Drive to Goldenhammer, is out now. The alt-country quartet are touring the UK until 9 April.

Do you agree with their scores? You can make your own predictions 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.

Sutton and Felix are also predicting the outcome of Sundays Carabao Cup final, but that game will not count towards their scores.

Divorce toured with tours with Bombay Bicycle Club, The Vaccines and Everything Everything last year and played their biggest headline show to date at a sold-out Islington Assembly Hall

Divorce were formed in Nottingham and Felix grew up in Derby, but his roots are in London, which is why he is a Gunners fan.

"I was born in north London and spent the first year of my life there," Felix told BBC Sport. "Because I knew that and, being honest, I didnt have a lovely time growing up in Derby, I always had that link to where I was from.

"It was the time of Thierry Henry, when we were doing so well, so of course I was going to choose Arsenal.

"I was never really encouraged to play football, though. My dad wanted me play rugby when I was a kid, so I did that instead.

"But I was always an Arsenal fan and during lockdown [during the Coronavirus pandemic] I was watching loads of old football documentaries and old games, which kind of reignited my love for it.

"Now it is a really good way of switching off from touring, so I keep up with it as much as I can.

"The nature of gigs means I am usually playing at weekends, so a lot of the time I am catching up rather than watching it when it is happening, but I have seen most of Arsenals games this season and have caught any other games when I can."

Chris Sutton and Felix Mackenzie-Barrow were speaking to BBC Sports Chris Bevan.

Ive got to admit Ive had some help from my 5 live colleague Ali Bruce-Ball for some of these predictions.

Ali is my co-host on the Fantasy 606 podcast and he is still upset from when I called him a phony Ipswich fan on here a couple of weeks ago.

I do value his football knowledge, which is why Ive got him involved here, but if I get any of these predictions wrong then it is all his fault.

Bruce wants to go with a 1-0 Everton win but I think West Ham will score - Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus are both lively, so I reckon a 2-1 Everton victory is more likely.

Everton are on an eight-game unbeaten run in the league under David Moyes, and I certainly dont see that ending this weekend.

Moyes left West Ham amicably last summer but there will still be a part of him that will want to show them they were wrong for not renewing his contract.

Suttons prediction: 2-1

Felixs prediction: Ive given this one to Everton because they are at home and it does feel like Moyes coming in has really bolstered them, and they look a bit more lively. Their results have still not been amazing, because they have drawn their past three games, but they are very consistent compared to West Ham and I think Moyes will enjoy getting the better of his former club. 2-1

I feel like some people dont believe that I am a lifelong Nottingham Forest fan, because I do support about eight other teams too, but there are photos of me as a kid in a new bright red Forest kit at Christmas one year, playing on a little snooker table that my parents had bought me.

So, this is a big game for Bruce and myself. He says the first game he went to at Portman Road in the mid-80s was against Brian Cloughs Forest.

Ipswich won 1-0 and his abiding memory is of walking out of Portman Road afterwards and seeing the Forest team bus with Clough, in his green jumper, sitting in the front seat with a face like thunder.

The Tractor Boys desperately need a repeat of that result but I just cant see it happening.

Ipswich pushed Forest all the way in the FA Cup a couple of weeks ago, only losing on penalties, but both teams made changes for that game and I am not sure it will have too much bearing on what happens here.

It feels like it is now or never for Kieran McKennas side in their fight to stay up, but I have been saying that for a while now and they still havent won a league game this year.

Forest were impressive when they beat Manchester City last week and, when I think about their attacking players, I am convinced they are going to score enough to win this.

Suttons prediction: 1-2

Felixs prediction: Ive got a soft spot for Ipswich, like I always do for the underdog teams. They have had flashes where they have been really impressive and I love to see that, but Forest have got the Champions League places in their sights now and they just need to focus on that. 1-3

Felix on Forest: As an Arsenal fan who spends all his time in Nottingham, it has been a bit of salvation for the disappointment of our season to see Forest flying the way they are. Knowing so many Forest fans, it makes such a difference to the whole city when they are doing so well and I love the way they play. They are so well organised, and they are really disciplined and determined, its amazing.

This is not an easy one to call, because Brighton are on a great run - they have won four in a row and are right in the mix for the Champions League places.

The Seagulls will move above City in the table if they win, but everyone down to Bournemouth in ninth place could be in the top five by the end of the weekend, it is that tight.

I have been a bit gutless with City recently and have backed them to win games like this against the teams around them in the table - like last week against Forest for example.

I dont really want to make that mistake again but, at the same time, I do think City look a lot more dangerous with Omar Marmoush in the team.

Also, Im told by Bruce that lot of FPL managers have piled in on Erling Haaland this week because they think he is going to score a hatful in Citys next two league games, here and against Leicester at the start of April. I can see where they are coming from.

Suttons prediction: 3-1

Felixs prediction: I am not sure if it is age for some of Citys players, or just that difficult period coming off such sustained success, but they are struggling. Brighton look lively, and I love the way they play. They beat City earlier in the season, so they can beat them again. 1-2

Southampton surprised me last week against Liverpool - they lost but they played well and they showed they have got a goal in them, and a bit of fight.

So, this is not a gimme for Wolves, but even with Matheus Cunha suspended, they will see this game as an opportunity to put more space between them and the bottom three.

Vitor Pereiras side are already six points clear of Ipswich and Leicester and, if they can win at St Marys and those two teams both lose this weekend, you would start to think that the bottom three is done and dusted.

Suttons prediction: 0-1

Felixs prediction: I watched the highlights of Southamptons defeat at Liverpool and they just seemed too messy to get a result. Wolves have been pretty poor as well and I kind of think this will be a draw because they will both make mistakes, not because either side are particularly great up front. 1-1

It was a great game when these two sides met earlier in the season, with Brentford twice going behind before winning 3-2.

Bournemouth were unlucky that day, and they were also unlucky not to beat Tottenham last weekend.

Maybe the Cherries will get a bit of good fortune this time - they deserve it, for the way they have been playing this season.

Suttons prediction: 2-1

Felixs prediction: This was a game I looked at and just thought how do I pick a result here? Im going with Bournemouth, though. They are so good to watch and they have already had some massive scorelines and big results this season - they have taken points off all the top teams. There will be goals in this one, and it should be fun to watch. 4-2

There wont be many goals in this game - one goal might be enough to win it, and I am going with Arsenal to get it.

Declan Rice was very lively in his new attacking role against Manchester United and I can see him scoring again here.

Chelsea have flattered to deceive in recent weeks. They have won their past two league games, but they were against Southampton and Leicester. This is a much bigger test.

Suttons prediction: 1-0

Felixs prediction: This is a big one and I have got us down to win it. I havent seen Chelsea much recently and they still seem super inconsistent but I still think this will be close, and we might need a late goal.

It could be one of those you win on spirit alone and I dont know who will score our goal - maybe Mikel Merino or Rice - but as long as we do win, I dont mind how. I would be gutted if it was another draw because we seem to be at that tipping point now, where if things dont go our way in the next couple of games, our season could really tail off. 1-0

Felix on Arsenals season: It just feels like banging your head against a brick wall. At the start of the season, I really felt like it could be our year. I didnt see Liverpool being so good, but they are not 15 points better than us. Injuries have completely ruined it for us, and the fact that we now dont have a striker.

A lot of people are talking as though if we go sign a striker in the summer then everything will be OK, but it doesnt seem as if there are a lot of strikers about, not the way there used to be anyway. So I dont know if it will be that simple to fix, which makes me sad because I really like Mikel Arteta and I really like the team, and the spirit we have.

Tottenham have got a few players back from injury but how much will Thursdays Europa League tie against AZ Alkmaar take out of them?

Fulham have been very up and down at home, but I really fancy them here.

Suttons prediction: 3-1

Felixs prediction: I am hoping for a Fulham win and there is a decent chance that will happen. Yes, I am biased against Spurs but also Fulham have been pretty good - I like a lot of their players and it is nice to see them playing with some fight at the moment - it reminds me of how it was when I was a kid. 3-1

We all know how much it would mean for Newcastle to end their long wait for a major trophy, but they have not beaten Liverpool since December 2015, a run of 17 games.

When you consider the Magpies are without Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon - their entire first-choice on the left flank - I really dont see that run ending at Wembley.

I am expecting Tino Livramento to replace Hall and try to stop Mohamed Salah. Livramento is mobile and quick, but I dont think he will keep Salah quiet all game.

It wont be easy for Liverpool, though. They are without Trent Alexander-Arnold and, with Conor Bradley likely to be sidelined too, they will need to find someone to fill in at right-back.

The midfield battle will be key, because Newcastle are very good in that area, especially now Joelinton is back alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, but it is one of Liverpools strengths too.

Arne Slots biggest issue is how the Reds will react to the disappointment of going out of the Champions League against Paris St-Germain, but I dont see them having a hangover from that shootout defeat.

My gut feeling is that we will see a few goals, and Liverpool will win in 90 minutes.

Suttons prediction: 3-2

Felixs prediction: There is a lot of history between these sides in the Premier League, but not always with a trophy at stake. Newcastle are going to be very hard to beat because it feels like this is really important for them.

I still think Liverpool will win, but it is going to be very tight and it could go to penalties.

2-2 after extra-time. Liverpool to win on penalties.

Leicester have struggled defensively all season but their current lack of goals is an even bigger problem - they have not found the net in any of their past five league matches, and have lost all of them.

You could look at the Foxes 1-0 defeat against Chelsea last week and think that result was not too bad, but they never looked like scoring - the closest they got to a goal was when a cross came off Blues defender Tosin Adarabioyos shoulder, and hit the bar.

Mind you, Manchester United are far from prolific either. They did improve in the second half of their draw with Arsenal, but they still dont have much of a cutting edge.

That makes me think this is going to be close. Leicester gave United a good game in the FA Cup at Old Trafford a few weeks ago and were beaten by Harry Maguires controversial stoppage-time winner.

This time it is going to be just as tight, and I think the points will be shared.

Suttons prediction: 1-1

Felixs prediction: I would hate to be a United fan because it has just been so depressing for years now, but Leicester have also been really, really poor. 0-1

It was a very good week for Chris, who is now clear at the top of the predictions league table with the most weekly wins as well as the most points overall.

He got six correct results, with four exact scores, from the 10 games in week 28, giving him an impressive winning score of 180 points - the highest by anyone this season.

His guest, Bath and Scotland rugby superstar Finn Russell, also got six correct results but with no exact scores, meaning he ended up with 60 points.

Using the most popular scoreline from their predictions for each game, the BBC readers got five correct results, with two exact scores, giving them a total of 110 points.



Read it all at BBC News