🔗 Share this article

Arsenal's 10-game winning streak came to an end by the Black Cats prior to the international break, however can the Premier League leaders recover against local foes Tottenham this weekend?

"{I feel like Arsenal are miles ahead of Tottenham at the moment but Spurs manager Thomas Frank will have a plan for this match," remarked soccer expert Chris Sutton.

"Frank will attempt to nullify Arsenal, who have not always been at their scintillating best this season - but Mikel Arteta's team typically still manage to win."

The analyst is making predictions for all 380 Premier League fixtures this term, versus AI, readers and a range of guests.

For the twelfth round, he faces singer Olly Murs, who is a Manchester United fan.

The singer's latest record, the new release, is out on the weekend.

Soccer and Parenting Life

Murs is a skilled soccer player as well as a accomplished artist and has been a star of several Soccer Aid games down the years - but he is not planning a serious comeback as a player.

"{I actually played in a benefit game the other night for a friend of mine," he said. "The side was trailing 3-1 when I came off in the second half, and they went on to win 4-3, so you can interpret that what you will!

"I still love football, but I injured my knee a few years ago and it still isn't where I want it to be. I wish I could play more but the uncertainty of the sport means it's too risky for me in my career to do it properly again.

"Additionally I am 41 now, and we are not all Cristiano Ronaldo, are we!? No, I am very content not playing football and I am preparing for the time that my daughter or boy chooses to play instead."

Murs and his wife his partner have two children, their daughter and Albert, and he is prepared to follow in his father's footsteps by taking on the role of their manager.

"I won't push football on our children but I've already told Amelia that if they do get the bug for it then I will have to go and get my manager qualifications - and I will probably be managing their weekend football side," he said.

"I watched my nephews play a lot, and I really got into it, and I obviously was involved with a soccer team for a period too.

"My dad did it with us when I was a child, which is probably where I inherited it. He coached our team for two or three years and had great fun with it. That might be the next step for me as well, and I am looking forward to it!"

Top Division Forecasts

Saturday, 22 November

• Turf Moor, 12:30 GMT

The Blues might have to wait a bit longer for Cole Palmer's comeback from injury but their attack is now stronger with Joao Pedro and Liam Delap both back fit.

I still think this game will be quite tight, however. Burnley are well organised and their only at Turf Moor defeats so far have been against the Reds and Arsenal.

It smells of a one-all tie to me, but I am in fact going to go with the London side to edge it for what would be their third consecutive Premier League win in a row.

The expert's forecast: 1-2

Olly's prediction: The Blues will be superior. 1-3

Artificial intelligence's prediction: 0-2

• Vitality Stadium, 15:00 GMT

Bournemouth have been defeated in their past two matches - albeit both of them were on the road - but they got thoroughly beaten by Villa last time out which surprised me.

On the other hand, the Hammers won two in a row before the hiatus and, although both of those games were at their stadium, they do look competitive again.

West Ham's sole away win this season came at Forest in the summer, when West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo was previously Forest manager.

So, what on earth do I predict here - will it be the Hammers extending their streak under their manager, or Bournemouth responding?

I will choose Bournemouth, because I think what occurred against Aston Villa was a blip.

The pundit's forecast: 2-0

Olly's prediction: The home team are doing well but the visitors have improved under their boss. 2-2

AI's prediction: 1-1

• Amex Stadium, 15:00 GMT

The Bees were seen as one of the frontrunners for relegation before the campaign began, but they have impressed a several observers under their manager and are in fine fettle with three in their past four games.

My son advised me to get Brentford forward Igor Thiago in my Fantasy Football squad a few weeks back and, unfortunately, I didn't listen.

Thiago will likely score again on the weekend but I am nonetheless not going to select him or support Brentford at Amex Stadium.

The Bees have not had much fortune on the travel this season, and Brighton are always decent at their stadium. The visitors will try to hit them on the counter-attack but I think Fabian Hurzeler's side carry much more of a threat.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

The singer's view: It could be one of those games where you think there is going to be a lot of scores but it in reality turns out to be quite tight. 1-1

The computer's outcome: 2-1

• Craven Cottage, 15:00 GMT

It is a massive game for the Cottagers, who have lost five of their last six matches.

Fulham have have plenty of quality in their squad but it still seems like they could be dragged into a drop zone battle.

Regarding the Black Cats, indeed they are the surprise package of the top flight campaign so far.

Their performance in the 2-2 tie with Arsenal last time out was superb. We have not seen anyone else disrupt the North London side like that this term, and Sunderland were fully competitive for them.

The sensible thing would be to back the visitors here, because they are clearly capable of roughing the hosts up too and, the last time they were in this part of London, they defeated the Blues at the close of October.

However I am not choose that. Instead, I really need to carry on opposing the away team with my forecasts. I am taking a lot of credit for their good outcomes because they clearly love to defy my predictions.

Looking at Fulham's at Craven Cottage record, the sole team they have been defeated by is Arsenal. Their manager's team will be extremely desperate for a good outcome, so I am going to predict they will secure three points.

Sutton's forecast: 1-0

The guest's choice: I'm aware the visitors are performing strongly and additionally that Fulham are on a bad run... but they have still been respectable at home this campaign. 2-0

The algorithm's prediction: 2-0

• Anfield, 15:00 GMT

It is a tough fixture to predict. The Reds have lost seven of their last ten games in every tournament, but could they be among the sides who benefit from the {international break|