Sutton's Premier League Predictions: Boxing Champion Wardley Challenges, Manchester United Face Leeds Test
Chris Sutton takes on boxer Fabio Wardley in Premier League predictions, with Wardley backing Ipswich to surprise Manchester City and Sutton predicting a heavy Leeds win over Manchester United.
BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton has pitted his Premier League prediction skills against heavyweight boxer and Ipswich Town supporter Fabio Wardley ahead of a busy weekend of fixtures. Sutton, who is forecasting all 380 Premier League games this season against AI, BBC Sport readers, and various guests, also shared his thoughts on the mounting pressure on Manchester United manager Michael Carrick. Leeds United host Manchester United on Saturday, and Sutton believes Leeds are the favourites, stating he doesn't fancy United's chances at all and expects a convincing Leeds victory.
Wardley, a former heavyweight world champion, is preparing for his WBO title rematch against Daniel Dubois at London's O2 Arena on Saturday, a fight that will be broadcast live on DAZN. Despite his focus on the bout, Wardley remains passionate about Ipswich's Premier League campaign. He praised the team's start to the season, noting their three wins from six games have already matched their entire win tally from the 2024-25 promotion season. Wardley attributed the success to a productive player turnover and the impact of new manager Gary O'Neil, highlighting the team's resilience in securing last-gasp victories.
Ipswich face a daunting trip to Manchester City on Saturday, with Sutton predicting a comfortable 4-0 win for City. However, Wardley remains optimistic, suggesting that an underdog mentality could benefit his team. He also singled out several Ipswich players for their performances, including midfielder Julio Enciso, long-serving defender Leif Davis, and goalkeeper Christian Walton, who has battled to retain his spot. Wardley's predictions often diverge from Sutton's, setting up a friendly rivalry between the two.
In other fixtures, Sutton previewed Everton's unbeaten start as they host Chelsea, expecting a 1-1 draw, while Wardley and AI both predicted a 1-2 Chelsea win. Liverpool's trip to Brentford is seen as tricky, with Sutton forecasting a 2-2 draw. Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa is under pressure to secure his first league win against Hull, and Sutton backed Fulham to win 3-1. The weekend's action also includes Newcastle versus Aston Villa, Bournemouth against Sunderland, Brighton hosting Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest facing Arsenal, and Tottenham taking on Coventry.
In last week's predictions, Sutton scored 40 points from four correct results, while BBC readers earned 50 points. AI claimed the weekly win with 80 points, thanks to four correct results and an exact score. The most popular prediction among readers was a 2-1 Chelsea win over Bournemouth, with nearly 9,000 selections, though only four correctly guessed the scoreline.
