BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has weighed in on this weekend's Premier League fixtures as part of his ongoing season-long prediction series, with a particular focus on Sunday's high-profile meeting between Manchester United and league leaders Manchester City at Old Trafford.
Enzo Maresca's City side have made an ideal start to the campaign, winning all four matches across competitions since the Premier League kicked off. However, Sutton believes their perfect record could be under threat against Michael Carrick's United. He noted that City have looked more "methodical" in build-up play under Maresca, similar to his approach at Chelsea, and suggested United would be prepared for that style. Sutton also pointed to City's narrow win over Coventry as evidence of some fragility, while praising United's Marcus Rashford as a returning threat in attack. "Marcus Rashford is fit and has looked a threat when I've seen him play," Sutton said, adding that United's tendency to concede against Hull, Ipswich and Everton means City could also find the net. Sutton settled on a 2-2 draw, while his guest for the week, Dorking Wanderers manager Marc White, predicted a comfortable 2-0 City win, praising Maresca's start while suggesting Carrick could come under pressure if results dip.
Elsewhere in the round, Sutton tipped Aston Villa to finally register their first league win and goal of the season against a winless Nottingham Forest side, forecasting a 2-1 scoreline built around new signing Nicolas Jackson. White instead saw a 1-1 draw, citing Unai Emery's ability to stabilise a heavily reshuffled Villa squad.
Bournemouth's habit of surrendering leads was also discussed ahead of their meeting with Brentford, with Sutton predicting a 1-1 draw, while White backed a 1-2 Brentford win, praising manager Keith Andrews' growing reputation. Chelsea were tipped by both Sutton (3-0) and White (4-0) to overcome a stubborn Hull City, who remain the division's surprise package defensively.
Sutton expects Crystal Palace to build on their first win under Pierre Sage with a 2-1 victory over struggling Ipswich Town, while White foresaw a 1-1 stalemate. At Anfield, Sutton backed Liverpool to beat a misfiring Fulham side 2-1, though he acknowledged Alvaro Arbeloa's men could trouble the Reds' high defensive line. White, a self-described lifelong Fulham supporter, predicted a heavier 3-1 loss for his team, reflecting on the club's dramatic tactical overhaul since Marco Silva's departure.
A London derby-of-sorts between Tottenham and Everton was tipped to end goalless 1-1 by Sutton, who questioned Roberto de Zerbi's decision to criticise his strikers following a stalemate with Forest. White predicted a livelier 2-2 draw. Arsenal were tipped to edge out Sunderland 0-1 by Sutton, who highlighted the Gunners' strength in depth, while White foresaw a heavier 1-3 defeat for Sunderland. Brighton were expected to beat Coventry, with Sutton going for 1-2 and White predicting 0-2. In the Monday night finale, both pundits anticipated goals between Leeds and Newcastle, with Sutton going for a 1-1 draw and White predicting a 2-3 away win for the Magpies.
Sutton's overall tracker showed he finished third in last week's predictions, managing six correct results and one exact score for 90 points. He was overtaken by his guest that week, Kasabian's Serge Pizzorno, who secured 100 points thanks to two exact scoreline predictions, while BBC readers and an AI model trailed behind with 70 and 60 points respectively.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.