New Tottenham boss Igor Tudor’s first recreation in cost is Sunday’s north London derby – however will he make a dream begin at residence in opposition to Arsenal or have a nightmare?
“Tottenham’s stadium has been an sad place all season,” stated BBC Sport soccer knowledgeable Chris Sutton. “Tudor’s downside, if he would not get off to a quick begin, is that there’s going to be negativity round him too.
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“Spurs are in a relegation battle and their followers will probably be asking why have we employed somebody to maintain us up who would not have a whole lot of data of the Premier League?”
Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League video games this season, in opposition to AI, BBC Sport readers and quite a lot of friends.
His visitor for week 27 is Embrace bassist Steve Firth, who’s a fan of Leeds United, who’re fifteenth within the Premier League desk after gaining promotion final season.
Embrace are celebrating their thirtieth anniversary in 2026 and their new observe, Highway To Nowhere, is out now and their new album, Avalanche, out in June.
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Do you agree with their scores? You’ll be able to choose your individual beneath.
The preferred scoreline chosen for every recreation is used within the scoreboards and tables on the backside of this web page.
An accurate end result (selecting a win, draw or defeat) is price 10 factors. The precise rating earns 40 factors.
Firth’s favorite Leeds gamers are principally from the Nineties, when he was an Elland Highway common, however extra not too long ago he was an enormous fan of midfielder Kalvin Phillips too.
“I at all times liked Gordon Strachan, Gary McAllister and David Batty – we had an excellent midfield then,” he advised BBC Sport.
“Then we had Tony Yeboah up entrance for a few seasons, and he was wonderful too.
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“There have been so many good gamers for Leeds again then, however I did not get to see Eric Cantona play for us – that is the one factor I remorse.
“Previously few years, Phillips actually stood out earlier than he went to Manchester Metropolis. He was a real famous person of the longer term when he was taking part in for us, so it’s disgrace what has occurred with him since.
“Now? The entire crew has turned issues round prior to now few months as a result of we have been in deep trouble in November, however we’ve solely misplaced a few video games since then.
“I do suppose we’re undoubtedly protected now – we’re going to do all proper any longer and we are going to end in mid-table.
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“That’s all we are able to actually aspire to in the intervening time as a promoted crew. You simply want to hold in there so long as you possibly can actually and construct up your squad slowly, with out over-spending.
“We have began doing that already. We have been very fortunate to get Dominic Calvert-Lewin in for nothing, as a result of he has been sensible.”
Chris Sutton and Steve Firth have been talking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.
The AI predictions have been generated utilizing Microsoft Copilot Chat – we merely requested the software to ‘predict this week’s Premier League scores’.
Premier League predictionsSaturday, 21 February
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I used to be at Elland Highway when Aston Villa gained there in November – Leeds have been actually good within the first half however pale, and two Morgan Rogers targets gave Villa the factors.
Leeds’ type has picked up lots since then, nonetheless, and they’re on 30 factors now.
That might have been sufficient to maintain them up final season, when third-bottom Leicester went down with 25 factors, however they’ve nonetheless obtained some work to do.
Villa have slipped up a few instances at residence prior to now few weeks, shedding unexpectedly to Everton and Brentford, and they’re most likely trying on the desk pondering they need to be respiration down leaders Arsenal’s neck.
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I can see Leeds giving them one other good recreation, however I do not see Unai Emery’s facet dropping factors this time. Villa will discover a method.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
Steve’s prediction: It is a powerful recreation however we’re on a superb run of type and I feel we’ll get a draw. 1-1
Steve on why he helps Leeds: I am from Halifax and everybody there both helps Leeds, Huddersfield or Manchester United. I have been a Leeds fan for the reason that Seventies however the time I watched them most was within the Nineties – that is after I’d go most weeks.
Since then, of the fellows I went with, one died and the opposite one moved away so I obtained out of the behavior and I solely get to the occasional recreation now. However my spouse is a Mansfield fan, so I’ve to go and watch them typically. I hoped they might get Leeds within the FA Cup fifth spherical – we might undoubtedly have gone to that one – however they obtained Arsenal as an alternative.
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AI’s prediction: 2-1
Gtech Neighborhood Stadium, 15:00
I lined Brentford within the FA Cup tie at Macclesfield on Monday they usually have been utterly underwhelming.
I do know they have been on a plastic pitch however they could not actually discover their circulation and wanted an personal purpose to progress.
Nonetheless, the Bees have been in a lot better type within the Premier League – in stark distinction to Brighton.
Fabian Hurzeler’s facet have gained solely one in every of their previous 13 league video games in a poor run going again to the beginning of December, and it isn’t unattainable they might get dragged into the relegation scrap.
I can see this one being shut however Brentford could have Kevin Schade again from suspension, whereas Igor Thiago can even return after being rested in opposition to Macclesfield – and people two ought to make the distinction.
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Sutton’s prediction: 1-0
Steve’s prediction: Brentford are too good for Brighton. My predictions are going to be very conservative by the best way, there aren’t any 5-0s! 2-1
AI’s prediction: 2-1
A lot for me pondering that Burnley may give their followers one thing to cheer about by occurring a superb FA Cup run.
After their sensible fightback to beat Crystal Palace of their final league recreation, the Clarets made modifications in opposition to Mansfield and went out on their very own patch to a League One facet.
I simply can’t see something apart from a house win for Chelsea right here, even with their wobble final time at Stamford Bridge the place Leeds fought again from 2-0 down to attract 2-2 – Liam Rosenior’s facet will not let that occur once more.
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Sutton’s prediction: 2-0
Steve’s prediction: Undoubtedly a Chelsea win right here. My spouse was very pleased when Mansfield beat Burnley final week. 2-0
AI’s prediction: 3-0
West Ham are nonetheless within the backside three however they’ve proven they’re up for the battle prior to now few weeks.
Sure, they conceded a late equaliser in opposition to Manchester United of their final league recreation, however they carry on selecting up factors and that will need to have given them perception they’ll keep up.
Bournemouth are on a superb run now too, with three wins of their previous 4 league video games however, together with Brighton, they’re the Premier League’s draw specialists this season – each have had 10 to date.
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It completed 2-2 when these two sides met on the south coast in November and I can see the factors being shared this time too.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
Steve’s prediction: I’m going with Bournemouth to edge this. 1-2
AI’s prediction: 2-2
That is the fourth assembly between these two golf equipment already this season, with one other to return quickly within the FA Cup fifth spherical – I guess they’re sick of one another already.
Newcastle have an extended journey again from Azerbaijan to cope with earlier than this recreation however no less than they’ve put their Champions League tie with Qarabag to mattress already and might focus totally on Metropolis relatively than subsequent week’s second leg.
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The Magpies nonetheless have an terrible document at Etihad, nonetheless – they misplaced right here within the Carabao Cup in January and have by no means managed a win in 20 visits within the Premier League.
I do not suppose this will probably be simple for Metropolis, however I do suppose they are going to beat them, once more, to maneuver inside two factors of Arsenal.
The one factor I’m not positive about is whether or not to captain Erling Haaland in my Fantasy crew, as a result of he has been out injured.
Sutton’s prediction: 3-1
Steve’s prediction: I’ve at all times favored Newcastle however I feel Metropolis are going to win the league so I’m going to again them right here. 2-0
AI’s prediction: 3-1
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Sunday, 22 February
Truthful play to Wolves, as a result of they’ve turned a little bit of a nook beneath Rob Edwards.
Their outcomes have nonetheless by no means appeared like being sufficient to maintain them up however they confirmed once more in opposition to Arsenal that they’re no less than being aggressive now.
Even so, I can see this recreation being all about Jorgen Strand Larsen, following his £48m transfer from Wolves to Palace on the finish of the January switch window.
Palace nonetheless want the factors and I might not be stunned if he has a say within the final result – let’s go for him to attain the winner.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
Steve’s prediction: Wolves are down so I’m giving Palace this one. 2-0
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AI’s prediction: 2-1
When Vítor Pereira went in as Wolves supervisor in December 2024, he did brilliantly to maintain them up – however he has primarily taken them down this season, selecting up solely two factors from 10 video games earlier than he was sacked.
Now he has arrived at Forest as their fourth supervisor of the season.
I do not suppose his predecessor, Sean Dyche, deserved the sack. Primarily based on the leads to his 18 video games in cost, Forest could be twelfth within the desk, however we’re used to seeing managerial modifications on the Metropolis Floor now.
We all know Pereira will attempt to preserve issues tight, however Forest’s greatest situation all through this marketing campaign has been scoring targets and I’m not positive they are going to be capable to get at Liverpool.
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Arne Slot’s facet turned the primary crew to win on the Stadium of Gentle once they edged out Sunderland of their final league recreation, and I can see an analogous final result right here.
Sutton’s prediction: 0-1
Steve’s prediction: Forest may get a brand new supervisor bounce however I nonetheless suppose Liverpool will win. As a Mansfield fan, my spouse hates Forest so I’m not allowed to love them both! It is the identical with Chesterfield too. 0-2
AI’s prediction: 0-2
Sunderland’s type has dropped off a bit bit in latest weeks however they’ve nonetheless had an outstanding season and are most likely protected already on 36 factors – now they only need to see it by.
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It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how Regis le Bris’s facet reply to their first residence defeat of the season, however Fulham are hardly on an ideal run both with three straight league losses.
Marco Silva’s facet beat the Black Cats at Craven Cottage in November, and can leapfrog them within the desk in the event that they win this time too – however I do not suppose that may occur.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
Steve’s prediction: I wasn’t positive about this one as a result of they’re each first rate sides so I’m going for a draw. 1-1
AI’s prediction: 2-1
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 16:30
From what I’ve examine new Tottenham supervisor Igor Tudor, he’s a man who goes in at golf equipment and, within the brief time period, will get a prove of his crew.
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Spurs really want that to occur now, as a result of they desperately want a win or two to get out of attain of relegation.
So, this recreation is huge for them for that purpose, and likewise as a result of they’ll put one other dent in Arsenal’s title hopes too.
Spurs and their followers haven’t had lots to shout about this season, but when they’ll get one thing right here then this might be a defining second of their marketing campaign, and have an effect on Arsenal as effectively. They’d love that.
It was an unimaginable wobble by Mikel Arteta’s crew in opposition to Wolves, drawing 2-2 after being 2-0 up, and I actually did not see it coming.
Perhaps it’s attending to be ‘squeaky bum time’ for them, but it surely did not have an effect on them once they went away to Leeds a few weeks in the past and gained convincingly.
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You’ll be able to think about how Spurs will probably be champing on the bit, and I’m anticipating them to make a quick begin and have an actual go at them – however Arsenal need to cope with that, and discover a method of bouncing again.
I feel the Gunners can do this, and their high quality will make the distinction in the long run. I fear about Spurs in ahead areas and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see how Tudor strains them up in defence too.
Finally, if Arsenal flip up and play how we all know they’ll, then they are going to win – and I’m anticipating them to make an actual assertion.
Sutton’s prediction: 0-3
Steve’s prediction: Two bottlers right here! I might like Arsenal to win the league, however I do not suppose they are going to. Man Metropolis are simply used to doing it from right here – they only get their heads down within the run-in, they usually know what to do. 2-3
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AI’s prediction: 1-2
Monday, 23 February
Hill Dickinson Stadium, 20:00
Manchester United misplaced at residence to Everton in November regardless of the Toffees happening to 10 males within the thirteenth minute, when Idrissa Gueye was despatched off for putting his team-mate Michael Keane.
Ruben Amorim’s United simply couldn’t discover a method of breaking Everton down that evening, however there’s a very totally different really feel about them now Michael Carrick is in cost.
They wanted a stoppage-time equaliser to get some extent at West Ham final trip however they appear rather more assured and have been taking part in effectively.
This will probably be a troublesome recreation for them however, as I’ve talked about beforehand, Everton have picked up extra factors on the street this season than they’ve performed at residence.
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That is one more reason why I fancy United to get one thing right here, and cease David Moyes doing the double over his former membership.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
Steve’s prediction: We have been all having fun with United’s mid-table mediocrity however they’ve began to win now. 1-2
AI’s prediction: 1-3
How did Sutton get on within the FA Cup?
Chris accurately picked the winner in 10 of the 15 fourth-round ties to have been performed to date – Port Vale versus Swindon was postponed and takes place on 3 March.
He obtained the higher of his friends, Looney Tunes stars Daffy Duck and Porky Pig – Daffy has 9 appropriate predictions, whereas Porky has eight.
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AI did higher with a rating of 11, once more by avoiding any shock outcomes, however it’s the BBC readers who proceed to prepared the ground, with a tally of 13.
General, Chris has now accurately picked the winner in 31 of the 47 ties from spherical three onwards.
His friends are on 26, AI is on 34, however the BBC readers are in pole place with 36.
The shock of the spherical was Mansfield’s win at Burnley which caught out Chris, AI, and most of you lot.
Daffy and Porky did see it coming, nonetheless, and out of round 25,000 predictions, greater than 3,000 of you additionally backed the Stags.
How did Sutton do final time within the Premier League?
Chris obtained three appropriate outcomes from the ten midweek Premier League matches in week 26 [which took place from 10-12 February] with one precise rating, for a complete of 60 factors.
That was sufficient to beat the BBC readers, who obtained three appropriate outcomes with no precise scores, giving them 30 factors.
He additionally obtained the higher of his visitor, golf star Ian Poulter, who obtained two appropriate outcomes with no precise scores, for a tally of 20 factors.
However the weekly win went to AI, which obtained 4 appropriate outcomes with two precise scores, for a tally of 100 factors.
There was one different Premier League recreation performed this week – Arsenal’s draw with Wolves on Wednesday, which was rearranged as a result of the Gunners are within the Carabao Cup ultimate on 22 March.
Everybody went for an Arsenal victory, so no further factors have been scored.