Chris Sutton Premier League score predictions for the opening weekend of the 2026/27 season have been revealed.
The BBC pundit replaced Mark Lawrenson in trying to correctly pick the correct scores for every game against a variety of guests.
Nottingham born Chris Sutton played as a striker for the likes of Norwich, Blackburn, Chelsea, Celtic, Birmingham, Aston Villa, Wroxham and England, before managing Lincoln City.
This week, he takes on takes on Kasabian frontman Serge Pizzorno, click HERE to see what the band member and AI predicted, or keep scrolling through this article to check out the scores Chris Sutton gone for…
IPSWICH v LIVERPOOL
Chris Sutton said: My daughter’s old maths teacher, Mr Fields, is an Ipswich fan and he is very excited about how ambitious the club has been since getting promoted. I think all their supporters must be the same.
Ipswich have spent almost £200m on a stack of new signings to try to stay in the Premier League and, watching them, it is clear they are not just planning to park the bus.
They will be confident for this game after beating Sunderland at home on the opening weekend and I am expecting them to have a real go at Liverpool too.
It will be interesting to see if new signing Bradley Barcola starts for the Reds, who seem to have a lot of attacking players who like to play off the left.
Boss Andoni Iraola has plenty of attacking options, but I still have concerns about them defensively, while his players adjust to his front-foot pressing style.
I am sure he will get it right eventually, but at the moment they are leaking goals and creaking at the back.
My gut feeling is Ipswich will score, but Liverpool will still edge the win after two successive 2-2 draws. If their attack clicks, it will be hard to keep them out.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-2
www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies
NEWCASTLE v BOURNEMOUTH
Chris Sutton said: Newcastle have started the season superbly with four points, and it feels like they have changed the mood at St James’ Park after a difficult summer.
There’s no doom and gloom about the place despite them losing several key players and, after predicting they would lose their first two games, I feel differently about their prospects now.
Things can change very quickly of course and a home defeat by Bournemouth would see a lot of that optimism disappear. But, so far, I’ve been really impressed by Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa looks like he has got his confidence back.
I like the way new manager Matthias Jaissle has set them up to hit teams on the counter-attack, and Nico Gonzalez looks like a sensible signing too.
I called Newcastle ‘a development club’ before their first game, because of the type of players they have bought and sold this summer, but while their midfield is quite youthful, they have now got Nico in there to give them a bit of extra clout.
This is still a tricky game to call, however.
Bournemouth haven’t won yet, but only because they have let leads slip away late on, first against Manchester City and then at home to Everton.
Cherries boss Marco Rose is another manager who likes to play on the front foot and they are certainly capable of getting something here, even though I have gone for a home win.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
BRENTFORD v SUNDERLAND
Chris Sutton said: I was spot on with my predictions for both of these teams last week, but I still don’t feel very confident about calling the outcome of this game.
Brentford are a brilliant counter-attacking side who seem especially strong at home.
I was erring towards backing the Bees to win, like they did in this fixture last season, but then had second thoughts.
I backed the Black Cats to win their first two matches (see the table based on Sutton’s predictions at the bottom of the page) because they are a well-organised team, with plenty of physicality and also a threat up top.
My concern for them is what happens when European football starts, but that hasn’t happened yet. I don’t see them losing this.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
BRIGHTON v LEEDS
Chris Sutton said: I am not really sure what to make of Brighton yet. They smashed Aston Villa on the opening weekend but then lost to Chelsea despite dominating possession in what was a really strange game.
Leeds can be quite cagey on the road under Daniel Farke, but they are very good at what they do, and they will be a threat on the break.
I am still going with Brighton to win because they are playing with freedom at the moment, but I don’t see them keeping a clean sheet and this is going to be close.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies
FULHAM v CRYSTAL PALACE
Chris Sutton said: Neither of these teams have got a point so far, as I predicted.
On top of his side’s poor start to the season, one of the problems for Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage will be dealing with Ismaila Sarr after he did not get a move to Liverpool before the transfer window shut.
My worry for Fulham is they have become a Real Madrid feeder team, and their boss Alvaro Arbeloa has already got issues with his squad.
He stuck the boot into his players after their defeat by Sunderland, questioning their mentality.
A first win would be massive for both new managers, but I don’t think either of them will get it here.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies
MAN CITY v COVENTRY
Chris Sutton said: This is a tale of two Citys – one of whom has made the best of starts to the season, while the other has had the worst.
Manchester City wiped the floor with Crystal Palace last week but it was their comeback to beat Bournemouth at the Etihad which felt bigger, because it was the beginning of a new era under Enzo Maresca.
In contrast, Coventry City have had a terrible time. Not their 3-0 opening defeat at Arsenal, because they can forget about that, but they must feel so deflated after losing 1-0 at home to another promoted side in Hull last time out.
That must have hurt.
This game is more like the Arsenal one, in that no-one is expecting Coventry to get anything, but the upshot is they are likely to be left without a point or even a goal after their first three games.
There were some doubts about Manchester City after the way they lost the Community Shield against Arsenal, but they look a different proposition already.
Maresca has made more signings in the past few days, including Enzo Fernandez from his old club Chelsea for £125m. I’ve heard people question whether Fernandez is worth the big money that City paid, but Maresca knows him well and I see him as a great addition to their midfield.
I said before the Bournemouth game I didn’t think they could win the title without Rodri, but they have rebuilt their midfield now with Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi joining Elliot Anderson as new signings, and they have got real strength in there now.
I like Erling Haaland’s new haircut too. It suits him far more than a ponytail. He looks a bit rougher and tougher and I don’t think Coventry will keep him out.
Sutton’s prediction: 3-0
NOTTINGHAM FOREST v TOTTENHAM
Chris Sutton said: Nottingham Forest are waiting for their first win under Oliver Glasner but I felt they were unlucky to lose against Leeds and also to only draw at Liverpool.
I have been very disappointed with Roberto de Zerbi’s Tottenham so far, however, and not just because of their poor results.
When he came in at Brighton, De Zerbi built an amazing team in a short space of time and they were great to watch even if they made a few mistakes along the way.
In contrast, we still don’t know what his Spurs team are about, even though they have spent an absolute fortune on players.
I think that’s on De Zerbi because, although new players take time to gel, his side have put in two really insipid performances so far.
He has put that down to the team not being fully fit and blamed their pre-season schedule, but they should still be doing much better than they are – with no points and no goals so far.
Other clubs, with new managers as well as lots of new players, look much more organised so it is not an excuse.
Still, Spurs have surely got to improve soon, which is why I have got them down to pick up a first point here.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies
HULL v ASTON VILLA
Chris Sutton said: Hull will be on such a high after winning their first two games, and that makes this game even harder to predict.
The Tigers are really well organised and are not bothered about how much possession they have, they are just bothered about being effective when they do get the ball.
They defend the box brilliantly but there will still be a few weeks this season where teams run all over them because of the way they are set up.
Aston Villa won’t necessarily do that, but I still think they will come out on top despite their poor start to the new campaign.
Ollie Watkins is a big loss but they have got Nicolas Jackson in to lead their line, who I think is a good signing.
It took Villa six games to register their first league win last season, but they won’t have to wait as long this time.
Sutton’s prediction: 0-2
www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies
EVERTON v MAN UTD
Chris Sutton said: Everton ended up keeping hold of young midfielder Harrison Armstrong but they made a mess of their attempts to sign another striker before the transfer window closed.
I know Thierno Barry comes in for criticism and his finishing is erratic, but at least they still have him to lead their line.
He scores some brilliant goals too, as does Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, so I don’t think it will be all doom and gloom for Everton fans this season, despite their frustration at the moment.
As for Manchester United, well I know some of their supporters think I am down on them all the time.
So, I’d like to point out I backed them to win their first two games of the season and they are joint top of the table (below) based on my predictions.
This time, I’m going for a draw, but that would still be a decent result for Michael Carrick’s side.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
ARSENAL v CHELSEA
Chris Sutton said: Arsenal were a bit clunky last time out against Aston Villa, while I love what Xabi Alonso is doing at Chelsea.
He doesn’t care about possession, and that’s not how Chelsea try to get results.
It’s strange because I had a look at how his Bayer Leverkusen side lined up when they won the Bundesliga, and they were pretty dominant possession-wise.
So, it is quite alarming when you look at the two league games Chelsea have played and see how much of the ball they haven’t had. Against Fulham they only had 38% possession and then against Brighton it was down to 25%.
I don’t know whether that is by design or by just not having the players to dominate. They are still free-scoring, but they are conceding loads of goals too.
Whatever the reason, I don’t see it changing here. Arsenal are so powerful and the only question mark around them is if they are a forward or two short.
Even so, you would not exactly say they have a real weakness anywhere. The beauty of Mikel Arteta’s side is they can play in different ways.
They demolished Manchester City in the Community Shield with some pure football, and played some nice stuff against Coventry too, but then they were able to grind out a win at Aston Villa as well.
Ultimately, whether they are free-flowing or not, their organisation should see them through this game too.
Sutton’s prediction: 3-1
www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies
