Sutton’s predictions v Starsailor frontman James Walsh

Published33 minutes agoAll eyes will be on Anfield on Sunday to see how Premier League leaders Manchester City react after being found guilty of breaking the majority of the 115 financial rules they have been accused of breaching.

"It's a mammoth game," said BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton.

"Everyone is looking at this game to see if City's players appear deflated and how much it will affect them.

"We don't know what the implications are for this season, either. They are top of the league at the moment but will they get a massive points deduction that changes that?"

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.

For week six, he takes on Starsailor frontman James Walsh, who supports Liverpool.

Starsailor have released a 25th anniversary edition of their debut album, Love is Here, this week and are playing it in full, with a string ensemble, on their UK and European tour this month.

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

Want to make more predictions? You can play BBC Sport's new Match of the Day predictor game every week, featuring six fixtures from domestic and European competitions.

Image source, Adam DockerImage caption, Starsailor's debut album, Love Is Here, has sold more than 1m copies worldwide since it reached number two in the UK album charts in 2001, and has amassed more than 56m streams on Spotify

When Love is Here was released, Liverpool had just completed an unprecedented treble of FA Cup, League Cup and Uefa Cup.

They are not holders of any trophies at the moment, but James is optimistic about winning some silverware under new manager Andoni Iraola.

"You have to be realistic whenever a new manager comes in, especially with the big signings we made last year, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, not hitting the ground running," he told BBC Sport.

"I think just give him a chance to implement his way of playing football and give Isak and Wirtz a chance to prove themselves this season.

"I don't see us winning the title but I'd be more than happy with the FA Cup or even the Carabao Cup, and having a good run in Europe.

"It's a bit greedy but of course you do like to see your team win something every season. Three more trophies like in 2001 would be pretty good!"

Chris Sutton and James Walsh were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

The AI predictions were generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat – we simply asked the tool to 'predict this weekend's Premier League scores'.

What information do we collect from this quiz?Emirates Stadium, 12:30 BST

Brighton were brilliant when they beat Arsenal before the international break – the Seagulls really harried and hassled the champions and went toe-to-toe with them.

I don't think Leeds will go about things the same way, but they will still provide a stern test.

Daniel Farke's side are really solid but also carry a big threat too, and they are a very different proposition to the side Arsenal thumped 5-0 at Emirates Stadium at the start of last season.

So, this game will tell us a lot about where Arsenal are and how they have recovered from that Brighton defeat.

I'd still back the Gunners to find a way to win, especially because they are at home, but it will be a lot closer than last time. Leeds don't concede goals as freely any more.

James' prediction: Arsenal have just had a bit of a wobble and you wonder if it was just an anomaly, because Brighton have had quite a few scalps, or if it is going to be a slightly more difficult season for them this year.

I guess we will start to find out here but I've been impressed by how resilient Leeds have been, to stay unbeaten, so I have made this my outlier prediction to give them some credit for their start. They will probably get thumped now but someone has to give them a chance. 1-1

What information do we collect from this quiz?Villa Park, 15:00

Brentford were one of the teams who definitely didn't want the international break, while I feel like it might have done Aston Villa the world of good.

They have made very different starts to the new season – Brentford are still unbeaten and, while I kept on predicting Villa would win, the only time I was right was when they beat Tottenham last time out.

Despite the difference in their form, I am going to stick with Villa here, even though the Bees have been seriously impressive so far.

Johan Manzambi is fit again and seems to have found his best form while playing for Switzerland. He could make the difference here too.

James' prediction: Villa have lost some key players but I still expect them to get it together at some stage and maybe this is the game, against a Brentford team in really good form. 2-1

What information do we collect from this quiz?Stamford Bridge, 15:00

Bournemouth have not won yet under Marco Rose, and they are also without key midfielder Alex Scott for a while as a result of his injury on international duty.

I feel like the Cherries have been a bit unlucky with their results under Rose so far, because they have conceded some costly late goals, but Scott's absence is a huge blow for them.

Chelsea are already turning into a team that are a nightmare to predict – defensively they have got huge issues, but they have got such a talented attack.

Some people thought they would be up there challenging for the title but they look far too inconsistent to do that.

Anything could happen in this game and I was tempted to say Bournemouth will get something out of it.

But Cole Palmer will be rested and refreshed after his injury so I am going to base my prediction on how I expect Chelsea's frontline to click.

James' prediction: I don't see Bournemouth getting anything here. 2-0

What information do we collect from this quiz?Portman Road, 15:00

Ipswich lost last time out, against Everton, but they gave it a real go even when they went down to 10 men midway through the second half.

I know I keep predicting the Tractor Boys to lose but it's not a case of me just doing them over every week – I actually hope they stay up.

This is a tough game for them, however, because while Fulham are winless so far, they have deserved more than they have got.

The Cottagers were unlucky not to beat Manchester United before the break, and I was impressed with them when I watched them draw with Liverpool last month too.

Three points would be huge for either team, but I can see this ending up as a draw.

James' prediction: Fulham have been a bit unlucky with their results so far but I can see them getting chances against Ipswich. 1-2

What information do we collect from this quiz?Stadium of Light, 15:00

I'd usually back Sunderland at home but Brighton are playing some brilliant football and they must be full of confidence.

The Seagulls sneaked a win at the Stadium of Light last season and this will be just as close – but this time the points will be shared.

James' prediction: Both teams play some great attacking football and I can't pick a winner. Brighton have made an amazing start to the season but if Sunderland show that never-say-die spirit they had against Manchester City, they will get something. 2-2

What information do we collect from this quiz?Old Trafford, 17:30

A win would be big for Manchester United boss Michael Carrick after their shaky start to the season but the implications for his future would be bigger if his side lose.

Everything tells me that Carrick's side should probably take the three points because Tottenham are so flaky at the moment, but I am just not sure about United either.

Spurs are bottom of the table for a reason – they have been terrible so far – but United got away with one in their draw against Fulham before the break.

I am not sure much will have changed for either team since then, so it is hard to make a case for anyone to win this, but I am going with Bruno Fernandes to settle it with a bit of magic.

James' prediction: This is a high-pressure fixture for both teams but, being at home, United should edge it, and give their fans a bit of respite. That will put the heat on Roberto de Zerbi rather than Carrick.

Unlike some of the other teams I've already mentioned – where you can see what they are trying to do and that it will click eventually – it feels like Spurs are not as close to getting it together. I've got a lot of friends who are Spurs fans and I hope for their sake that they get better soon, but this feels like a game too early for them. 1-0

What information do we collect from this quiz?Selhurst Park, 14:00

Crystal Palace have started slowly under Pierre Sage but he is not the only new manager who has not really settled in yet.

Nottingham Forest lost at home to Coventry last time out, and they have been a bit up and down under Oliver Glasner so far.

But I'm expecting Glasner to get a decent reception on his return to his old club, and I have a feeling he will take home the three points too.

James' prediction: Palace will win this one, and there will be a few goals too. 3-2

What information do we collect from this quiz?MKM Stadium, 14:00

Hull's unbeaten start ended at Newcastle last time out but even then they almost snatched a point after going 2-0 down early on.

The Tigers deserved something from the game for the way they finished it – I had gone for them to get a draw with my prediction and I should have been right.

This game smells of a really obvious 1-1 draw to me too.

A win would be massive for Hull's confidence, as well as their hopes of staying up, but Everton already look like they are just going to grind through the season and I don't see them losing this.

James' prediction: A lot of Everton fans I know seem to be feeling cautiously optimistic after the way they have started the season. As good as Hull have been, I can see Everton's good form continuing. 1-2

What information do we collect from this quiz?Anfield, 16:30

I've heard people suggest that City's players will be frazzled because of what is going on with the club off the pitch, but I don't see it that way.

I suspect that, along with the City fans, there will be this siege mentality now where they think 'everyone hates us, everyone wants us to lose, everyone wants us to be relegated' – even if I don't think that is actually the case, because there are actually a lot of balanced football fans out there.

City are likely to get a hostile reception at Anfield but I think they will be able to handle it.

Liverpool are still a work in progress under Andoni Iraola too. They have not convinced me so far when I've watched them this season.

Based on all of that, I am going for City here. I can just picture Erling Haaland scoring their winner, and celebrating with a big grin on his face.

James on what should happen after City were found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League: I am not sure we should start handing out titles and cups to everyone who lost out to City during the period in question, including Liverpool. You can't really take away those memories and emotional moments from the City players and fans, and just hand them to another team, but maybe on the official record those wins should be chalked off, or at least have an asterisk next to them.

It does also mean there is a very strange feeling around this fixture and the whole season too. City and Liverpool have had lots of huge games against each other in recent years when the title has been on the line but this time we don't know what will happen to City and if this result will even matter in the end.

James' prediction: This is a strange game for Liverpool because if we win then the narrative is going to be that we have beaten the cheats. If we lose, then people are just going to say well City have had this massive and unfair advantage that has played out over all these years, not just that specific period of their charges.

So, it is going to be a hard one for all 22 players to get their heads around the backdrop and compete against each other – but I still think Liverpool will win. 3-1

What information do we collect from this quiz?Coventry Building Society Arena, 20:00

Newcastle are an exciting watch with the way they set about games and have so much pace in their team, but I don't think they have much control of matches.

This feels like a great opportunity for Coventry to follow up their first win of the season with another positive result.

Beating Nottingham Forest last time out was such a massive result for the Sky Blues – but can they back it up with another victory?

I am not sure they will. A draw feels like the obvious result to me.

James' prediction: I have got a lot of friends who are very passionate Coventry fans and it is great to see them back in the Premier League as they were when I was growing up – I always associate Steve Ogrizovic with them because he played for them for so long back then.

I know a lot of Newcastle fans too, and they are just as passionate about their club. I would definitely hear from someone if I write either team off, so I think I'll go for a draw to keep everyone happy. 2-2

It seems like a very long time ago, but before the international break Chris got four correct results with one exact score from the 10 games in week five, giving him a total of 70 points.

That was enough to beat AI – which managed five correct results with no exact scores for a tally of 50 points – and also the collective efforts of the BBC readers, who got three correct results with one exact score, and ended up on 60 points.

But the weekly win went to his guest, legendary guitarist Johnny Marr, thanks to his exact score in the final game of that weekend, Fulham's 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

That meant Marr ended up with five correct results and one exact score, which gave him 80 points and sent the guests to the top of the BBC predictions table.

It was another tough week for predictions, with only two games where everyone picked the right outcome – Everton's victory over Ipswich and Manchester City's win against Sunderland.

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