Premier League match week 15 starts on Saturday afternoon as Manchester City welcomes Fulham at the Etihad, Leicester City will play Everton at the Goodison Park, and Leeds United will hope to continue from their win over Liverpool when they host Bournemouth at Elland Road all on Saturday.
The big matches of the week will take place on Sunday when Chelsea hosts Arsenal at Stamford Bridge for the London derby. Tottenham will seek to rob more salt on Liverpool’s injury when they face Jurgen Klopp’s side at the new Tottenham stadium.
Unai Emery will manage his first game as Aston Villa when they face Manchester United at Villa Park.
What are Chris Sutton’s predictions for Match Day 15?
Previewing the Premier League round of games on BBC Sports, the former Chelsea player said:
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Leeds v Bournemouth
“I was only just out when I predicted that Leeds would lose 6-1 at Liverpool last week.
“I took a lot of flak from Leeds fans following their win at Anfield but, once again, it was after the event. They were thinking the same as me before the game.
“Seriously though, I was pleased for Leeds boss Jesse Marsch when he got that result. I have never met him, and he bigs his team up possibly too much at times after they’ve lost games, but I get why he is always trying to be positive about his players.
“That win will buy him a bit of time, not with the club’s owners, but with the Elland Road crowd who were on his back when they lost to Fulham in their last home game.
“That goodwill will only last if Marsch can back it up by beating Bournemouth, who were woeful as they chucked away a 2-0 lead to lose against Tottenham last time out.
“But it is a good enough reason to be positive about Leeds, and I am going for them to win this one. Unfortunately for them, that usually means they lose. Prediction: 2-1.”
Manchester City v Fulham
“Fantasy Football has gone into meltdown since Erling Haaland got injured last week – he sat out last weekend’s win over Leicester and the midweek victory over Seville, but will he or won’t he be back here?
“Either way, I think City will win this one pretty comfortably. The only thing I wasn’t sure about was whether Fulham would manage a consolation goal – I have got Ederson in goal in my Fantasy team so I am going to say no, they won’t. Prediction: 3-0.”
Nottingham Forest v Brentford
“Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper questioned his side’s competitive edge
after they were thumped by Arsenal last weekend.
“That is a bit of a worry – surely part of his job is to make sure his players are properly motivated.
“Off the back of Forest beating Liverpool in their last game at the City Ground, I would have gone for another home win here, but after what happened against the Gunners I am not so sure.
“Brentford have not won away in the Premier League all season, so that hardly makes me think they are going to take home three points either – it is a massive cop-out, but I am going for a draw. Prediction: 1-1.”
Wolves v Brighton
“Wolves fought hard for their point at Brentford last week, and I keep saying they are not as bad a team as their league position might suggest – but then they are exactly that bad in their next game.
“It is a blow for them to be missing Diego Costa, aka Mr Angry, up front after his red card against the Bees and their lack of goals means they are always under massive pressure in games.
“That’s why I am going for Brighton to win at Molineux, like they did at the end of last season.
“They produced a brilliant performance to beat Chelsea and give Roberto de Zerbi his first win as Seagulls boss. If they can repeat that display, they will get the same result this time. Prediction: 0-1.”
Everton v Leicester
“Leicester are still in the bottom three but it feels like they have turned a corner. They lost to Manchester City last week, but they gave the defending champions a good game and their confidence is up at the moment.
“Even so, I think Everton are going to win this one. As we saw when they beat Crystal Palace a couple of weeks ago, if it is going to happen for Frank Lampard’s side, it is going to happen at Goodison Park. Prediction: 2-1.”
Chelsea v Arsenal
“Arsenal have won at Stamford Bridge in each of the past two seasons but I am not convinced they will make it three in a row.
“A lot depends on whether Bukayo Saka is fit for the Gunners and how Chelsea boss Graham Potter approaches the game – like one of his predecessors, Claudio Ranieri, he has been a bit of a ‘Tinkerman’ with his team and tactics recently.
“Overall, Potter has done well though, and I don’t think his side will be as bad again at the back as they were against Brighton last time out. Prediction: 1-1.”
Aston Villa V Manchester United
“So I will refer to Manchester United in full here – as far as I am concerned, Newcastle United are above them in the table, so they are the ones who should just be known as United right now.
“I am not a petty man, though, so I am not going to tip Manchester United to lose here just to upset their fans any further.
“Manchester United continue to impress me under Erik ten Hag – I like what he is doing with Manchester United, and they keep finding a way to win games, like they did against West Ham on Sunday.
“Aston Villa got walloped by United at St James’ Park last weekend, and although I think they will be better in Unai Emery’s first game in charge, I can see him coming unstuck against Manchester United. Prediction: 0-1.”
Southampton v Newcastle United
“I love what Eddie Howe is doing at United. They have got a really nice balance to the team, and are stingy defensively.
“Howe has not just bought that improvement with the players he has signed – he is getting much more out of the United players who were already at St James’ Park when he arrived 12 months ago.
“United striker Callum Wilson is one of them, and I think he must go to the World Cup with England. The worry with Wilson is always his injury problems, but he is fit and absolutely flying at the moment.
“Southampton are very up and down – I say that all the time, but the best example is how good they were in the second half against Arsenal recently, compared with how bad they had been before the break.
“That makes it very difficult to predict what we will see from Saints week-to-week, whereas United are on such a high at the moment and they have found some consistency that is helping them get these good results.
“Every time Miguel Almiron scores for United, Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish has to eat more humble pie after he joked about the Paraguayan at the end of last season – and I wouldn’t be surprised if Grealish is tucking into another slice on Sunday night. Prediction: 0-2.”
West Ham v Crystal Palace
“Crystal Palace are another team who haven’t won away in the league this season, and it’s hard to see that changing here.
“West Ham were unlucky against Manchester United and they have won six in a row at London Stadium in all competitions.
“My guests this week Aaron and Justin make films so they will appreciate this next line – I am going with the Hammers to win again and make that run a magnificent seven on the trot. Prediction: 2-1.”
Tottenham v Liverpool
“Son Heung-min’s injury is especially bad timing for Tottenham at the moment with two other attacking players, Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski, already out.
“The only bit of good news for Spurs fans is that I am backing Liverpool to win, and I have been wrong about pretty much every Liverpool result this season.
“I honestly don’t know what to expect from either team here because as good as Liverpool have been in Europe over the past couple of weeks, they have been as poor in the Premier League to lose to Nottingham Forest and then Leeds.
“As for Spurs, well they seem to specialise in starting games badly then battling back to win. Whether they can do that without Son is another matter though.
“Both managers, Antonio Conte and Jurgen Klopp, have been moaning a lot about how exhausted their players are so, based on that, this will be a dull game between two tired teams.
“I don’t see it turning out that way myself, though. Both teams are so erratic that they could end the game completely differently to the way they start it, so it will be exciting to watch.
“I am going for Liverpool to edge it, although I have to admit that is a massive guess. Prediction: 2-1.”
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