Sutton takes on Football Manager 27 in Premier League predictions

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton is up against a new kind of opponent this weekend: Football Manager 27, the latest edition of the management simulation game, which is released on 10 November. The game engine has simulated this weekend's Premier League fixtures, and Sports Interactive studio director Miles Jacobson has also offered his own predictions. AI, which currently leads the prediction league table, is also competing, along with BBC readers.

Sutton's predictions include a 2-0 win for Everton over Coventry, a 1-1 draw between Leeds and Tottenham, and a 1-3 victory for Aston Villa at Manchester United. FM27 disagrees on several outcomes, predicting a 2-1 win for Leeds over Tottenham and a 0-0 draw between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, while AI forecasts a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.

The article also highlights new features in FM27, including the ability for wheelchair-using managers to be represented in the game for the first time. Jacobson said the feature is 'absolutely massive' for disabled players, adding that he was moved to tears by social media videos from a free trial. FM27 also introduces a new training system called Tactical Effectiveness, which Jacobson says reflects how real-life players take time to adapt to a new manager's tactics.

In the prediction league, Sutton scored 100 points last week, beating guest John Hannah (40 points), while AI's four-week winning run ended after it scored 80. BBC readers claimed the weekly win with 110 points, correctly predicting Chelsea's 2-0 win over Manchester United in the only game where everyone picked the right outcome.

Fans' opinions are not included in the article; predictions are attributed to Sutton, FM27, Jacobson and AI. The piece distinguishes between verified results from last week and forecasts for the upcoming fixtures, without offering betting advice.

Source: BBC Sport