Sutton’s predictions v grime stars Footsie & Strategy

The Premier League’s top two meet at Anfield on Sunday but there is far more at stake earlier the same day when Newcastle host Chelsea.

“This is huge for both sides in the race for the top five, and there are definitely some goals in this game,” said BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton.

“Chelsea have hit form again and it is important for them that Cole Palmer has ended his goal drought, but Newcastle are going to go for it because they are at home.”

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

For week 36, he takes on grime stars Footsie and Strategy, who are both Manchester United fans.

Footsie and Strategy’s collaborative album, Theatre of Dreams, was released on Thursday along with their video for their new lead single, Standard, which was shot in Manchester and London.

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.

Image source, Max Ros

Footsie is from east Lonadon but followed in his family’s footsteps by supporting United.

“When my grandparents came over from Jamaica, they landed in Manchester,” he told BBC Sport.

“My grandad worked there for a bit, and that’s where the love for United comes from – my dad supported them too, and the whole family were Reds from there.”

For Strategy, who grew up much closer to Old Trafford, there was never any choice either.

“My mum lived in Lower Broughton which was round the corner from The Cliff (United’s old training ground) so when we were kids we used to hang out there and see all the players like Eric Cantona and David Beckham,” he explained.

“My Nana lives in Ordsall, which is like a two-minute walk from Old Trafford, and I used to catch my school bus from outside the ground every day.

“I used to regularly see Fergie (Sir Alex Ferguson) when I was stood waiting at the bus stop, and I’ve got a photo of me with him and Bobby Charlton.

“It’s not quite the same but just the other day Footsie and I got a follow off JJ Gabriel [the 14-year-old old United striker dubbed ‘Kid Messi’]. That will impress a lot of girls in about three years time!”

Footsie and Strategy performed a freestyle on Sir Spyro’s The Grime Show on BBC Radio 1Xtra on Tuesday, which is available now on BBC Sounds.

Before beginning his music career, Footsie was a talented footballer in his youth. He played for famous east London junior side Senrab FC and was on Charlton’s books as a teenager.

“Senrab produced an amazing amount of footballers – Jermain Defoe, John Terry, Paul Konchesky and Ledley King all played for them,” Footsie said. “I was in the same team as Muzzy Izzet and Jon Fortune and we were the top team in England in our age group.

“I had a long stint at Charlton as a schoolboy, but then music was my calling really.”

Strategy played a lot of football as a teenager too, but admits it was not at as high a level.

“I had the ability, but I never had the mentality,” he said. “I was a great finisher, but I just did not take well to training on a Wednesday morning in the rain.

“Like Footsie, I am an FA qualified football coach though. I did that for a while, but then music took over for me too.”

Chris Sutton, Footsie and Strategy were speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.

Image source, Footsie and Strategy

I was at Goodison Park for Everton’s draw with Ipswich last week and although the result was disappointing, they played well enough to win.

If Everton had taken their chances they would have had the points wrapped up before Ipswich got back into the game.

As I’ve said before though, I don’t think it’s a bad thing that they have not sustained their early form under David Moyes because that would paint a false picture of how strong their squad is, and it needs a serious overhaul in the summer.

Moyes definitely lifted things when he took over in January but he has got some big decisions to make about who stays and goes, and it feels like a few players are on trial at the moment, with their futures uncertain.

As for Fulham, well I’ve found them almost impossible to call for most of the season, especially at home, but I am going to back Marco Silva’s side to take the points here.

They will have a go at Everton and, with James Tarkowski injured, I don’t think the Toffees will hold out.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

Strategy: Let’s make this competitive, shall we?

Footsie: Okay then!

Strategy’s prediction: I am going with Everton 1-2

Footsie’s prediction: I am never sure which Fulham will turn up, but my initial thought was that they will win. 2-1

Strategy: Oh it is like that, is it!?

Ipswich did well to fight back for a draw against Everton last week but this is a really tough game for them.

Brentford are such a dynamic team and now they have got Kevin Schade scoring as well as Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, so it is going to be hard to keep them quiet.

The Bees recovered from 2-0 down to win 4-3 when they played Ipswich at home in October, with Mbeumo scoring the winner in the 96th minute.

That was a big blow for the Tractor Boys at the time, but I don’t think this will be anywhere near as close. Brentford have won three games in a row, and this will make it four.

Sutton’s prediction: 0-2

Footsie’s prediction: Brentford are scoring some goals here. 1-3

Strategy’s prediction: Yeah, this one is an away win. 0-2

Manchester City have got the FA Cup final to look forward to next weekend but they also have a top-five place to secure, so there is no danger they will not be fully focused on that on Saturday.

After winning their past four league games, City also have some real momentum for the first time in a long while. You have to go back to August for the last time they managed a run like that.

So, I can only see one outcome at St Mary’s Stadium, and it is going to leave Southampton stuck on 11 points for at least another week. The only question here really is how many goals City score.

Sutton’s prediction: 0-3

Footsie’s prediction: This is definitely a City win, whether we like it or not! 0-3

Strategy’s prediction: I am going to go with Southampton to score a cheeky goal, but City to get four. 1-4

Wolves’ winning run was ended by Manchester City last time out but I was still really impressed by their intensity and they will cause Brighton plenty of problems too.

It has been a strange season for the Seagulls, who have been a top-half team for the entire campaign but have won only one of their past seven league games.

I don’t think their campaign is necessarily fizzling out because they played well in their draw with Newcastle last week, but their poor run might continue because I don’t see them beating Wolves either.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

Footsie’s prediction: This is a tough one to call. 2-2

Strategy’s prediction: I am backing Wolves here. This is a bit of a gamble, but I just have a hunch. 2-0

This should be a cracking game. Aston Villa really need a win to boost their hopes of making the top five, but how can I back against a Bournemouth side that beat Arsenal last time out?

Part of my predictions strategy last week was to back the teams who are going for the Champions League places, but I don’t think you can just ignore how well a team like Bournemouth are playing.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-2

Footsie’s prediction: Bournemouth might nick this. 2-1

Strategy’s prediction: No, Villa are taking it. 1-2

It’s great to see two teams going head-to-head in this race for the top five and Chelsea probably come into it in better form after getting a great result against Liverpool on Sunday.

Yes, they were playing straight after Liverpool had won the title and the Reds had probably been celebrating all week, but they still had to put them away and they did that convincingly.

It means Enzo Maresca’s side have won their past three league games so they will be full of confidence ahead of this one, but it’s going to be tough for them to extend that run.

We know Maresca is a stickler for playing out from the back, but doing that against Newcastle is asking for trouble. The Magpies will put them under serious pressure, because that’s what they do to teams at St James’ Park.

Newcastle have got a very physical midfield which might be where the battle is won and lost, and of course Alexander Isak is such a threat too.

Chelsea have got match-winners too, if Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke are firing, and my first thought was that there will be lots of goals in this game.

With what’s at stake, though, it might be a little cagier than that. I think the BBC readers will go for a draw but I am going to stick my neck out and say Newcastle will edge it.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

Footsie’s prediction: Newcastle are at home, which makes a difference. 3-1

Strategy’s prediction: I rate Newcastle but I’m going with Chelsea. 1-2

I am not sure who would want to watch this game? Manchester United’s second string versus such a poor West Ham side with nothing to play for is not exactly essential viewing, is it?

The Europa League final is going to be Ruben Amorim’s focus for the rest of the season and Brentford made the most of that when they beat a weakened United team last weekend.

I am not sure the Hammers are as dynamic as Brentford in attack, however, so they may not be capable of doing the same thing.

A lot depends on the United team selection, though. It is hard enough making predictions anyway, but its even harder when there could be mass changes, and you don’t know whether it is the United first team who are going to play, or be more like the youth team.

That makes this more of a guess, when I am used to applying science to my predictions, but I wish I had gone for West Ham to draw with Tottenham last week, and I am not going to make the same mistake this time.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

Footsie’s prediction: I’ve got to back United haven’t I? 2-1

Strategy’s prediction: I don’t even know what to expect but I think there will be some goals. 4-3

Footsie’s favourite United player: I used to play right-back so I used to watch Paul Parker and Denis Irwin avidly and just study their games. Now I’ve got love for Harry Maguire. He was 10 seconds away from leaving the club but now he is one of our best players by a long way. I love all the workhorses, because you need them.

Strategy’s favourite United player: I was a full-back too… a left-back. I started out as a striker but just got pushed further back. Everyone starts up front, don’t they!? The players I liked were not just down to their performances, but the attitude they brought to the team. So Eric Cantona for me was a massive hero. As a kid, he was the guy. Now? I really like Lisandro Martinez, aka The Butcher. That’s my kind of player – even if the performance is not up there, he is giving it everything.

I am at this game for BBC Radio 5 Live and it is a must-win for Nottingham Forest in the top-five race.

The pressure is off Leicester because they are already down and they are probably still smiling after getting a rare win over Southampton last time out, when Jamie Vardy scored his 199th goal for the Foxes.

I bet Vardy would dearly love to get goal number 200 against Forest’s rivals before he leaves the club in the summer, and this game does have a whiff of being one where he has a say in keeping Forest out of the Champions League places

Still, if both teams play anything like they have done all season then this is a Forest win, easily.

Chris Wood scored twice in a 3-1 win at the King Power in October and although his goals have dried up a bit, I can see him getting back on the scoresheet here.

The result is really all that matters for Forest, because they need to get to the last game of the season in touch with Chelsea before they meet in what might turn out to be a Champions League play-off.

Forest are playing catch-up at the moment but, with West Ham up next after this, I still think they have a very good chance of making it.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-0

Footsie’s prediction: Forest are taking this. 2-0

Strategy’s prediction: Leicester might get something here. 1-1

Both clubs can almost forget about this game, really. It is a bit of a nuisance for both of them.

Tottenham’s season rests on what happens in the Europa League final on 21 May, while for Crystal Palace it is all about the FA Cup final next weekend.

Eagles boss Oliver Glasner went strong with his team selection against Forest last week and if he does the same here then I can see a Palace victory. They don’t have much to play for, though, because win or lose they look likely to finish in their usual position – 12th.

Spurs are still having a stinker of a time with injuries, with James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall both set to miss the rest of the season, and that situation hardly helps Ange Postecoglou with the side he picks.

It is hard to make a call without knowing who will play but, all things considered, the most likely outcome is probably a draw.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

Strategy’s prediction: Palace will edge it. 0-1

Footsie’s prediction: Yeah, Palace might nick that. 1-2

Arsenal were really good against Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, and I was impressed by how brave they were, but they still went out of the Champions League.

There will be Gunners fans out there who will think they should be winning more trophies than they have managed under Mikel Arteta, who has still not added to the FA Cup he lifted in his first season, 2019-20.

Arsenal are still heading in the right direction but the biggest problem for me has been their recruitment, especially for them to not sign a striker last summer. There are such fine margins between success and failure at the highest level, and you need someone to put away your chances in the biggest games.

They basically admitted that by trying to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa in January and if anyone or anything is to blame for another trophyless season, then that’s where it lies.

Now Arsenal need to refocus and make sure they don’t let second place slip away.

This game obviously is not the title decider that some people may have anticipated earlier in the season, but I still feel both sides will be desperate to win it.

It’s just a shame that, from Liverpool’s point of view, it might be over-shadowed by the reaction to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s announcement he is leaving the club.

There is this debate surrounding Alexander-Arnold now, and whether he should start at Anfield this weekend or play for the club again at all, and also what kind of reception he will get if he does.

No-one can tell Liverpool fans, or fans of any club, what to think – myself included – but we can all have an opinion on this whether we support them or not, and I think some of the reaction to this whole saga has been completely over the top.

Fair-minded people will look at Alexander-Arnold as someone who has given over 20 years service to his boyhood club after rising through the ranks, but just wants a different challenge at Real Madrid, the biggest club in the world, and the most successful one in terms of winning European Cups and Champions Leagues.

If they were in the same position, what would they do? You have always got your die-hards who are not going to change or see things anyone else’s way, but Alexander-Arnold does not deserve the ridiculous abuse he is getting.

In terms of the game itself, I really don’t know what to expect. Liverpool were way below their best against Chelsea last week, but Arne Slot could go strong here and they may feel they have a point to prove against their nearest rivals.

Similarly, Arsenal could be flat after their disappointment in Paris, or they could come out firing. Hopefully that’s the case, and both teams will be up for it.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

Footsie’s prediction: It will be close but Liverpool will win. 2-1

Strategy’s prediction: That’s not a bad shout, I might have to say the same there. 2-1

Last week was huge for Chris and his hopes of defending his BBC predictions title.

After the first nine games of week 34, he had five correct results with no exact score, putting him on 50 points.

His guest, singer Sasha Keable, had only managed one correct results so had 10 points, but the BBC readers led the way thanks to three correct results and one exact score, giving them 70 points.

That meant it all came down to Monday’s game between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest and, while Sasha and the BBC readers backed Palace to win, Sutton went for a 1-1 draw.

That earned him 40 points for an exact score, which gave him his 10th outright weekly win of the season and put him back on top of the table.

“I am a predictions genius,” was his, erm, somewhat predictable response.

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