Sutton's predictions v Squid guitarist Anton Pearson

BBC News

30-01-2025

Bournemouth have already beaten four of the Premier League's top five at home this season, so can they complete the set when they host leaders Liverpool on Saturday?"With their form in the past few weeks, Bournemouth have made everyone sit up and take notice," said BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton."They haven't just beaten sides who are out of form, they have beaten sides who were flying, like Newcastle and Nottingham Forest. Not only that, they have smashed them too."Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.For week 24, he takes on Anton Pearson, guitarist with art-rock band Squid.Squid's latest single, Building 650, is out now and their new album, Cowards, is released on 7 February.Do you agree with their scores? You can make your own below.The most popular scoreline selected for each game is used in the scoreboards and tables at the bottom of this page.
Anton is a Celtic supporter from rural Norfolk so he should really be a huge Chris Sutton fan - but it turns out Chris is still not his favourite Bhoys striker."I had to find my own team to follow when I was growing up, because none of my family were Norwich fans," Anton told BBC Sport."My dad is part Swedish so when I was a kid in the 1990s, Henrik Larrson was just god for me. I was totally obsessed with him, and had all his shirts and everything, and that's why I followed Celtic."My main consumption of football back then was reading the scores in the newspaper my parents got, so I was always checking the match reports and the scores for everything he did."Chris was a great player for us too, though. They had such a good partnership which helped us win so much and took us to the Uefa Cup final in 2003 too - I am a big admirer of him as well."I think since Larsson, my favourite striker has been Kyogo Furuhashi, who was such a great finisher."He is similar to Larrson in that he is quite humble and stayed at the club longer than most players stick around, so I am quite sad he has left this week."
Celtic have not enjoyed too much European success since 2003, but have just secured a place in the Champions League knockout phase play-offs."Europe feels like the real test of how good we are," Pearson added."It is great winning the league, but we have not always had much competition there."At the moment it feels like this is certainly the best team we have had since the first Neil Lennon era and if we can get through the play-offs, it would be the best we've done since the Martin O'Neill era."It feels a bit in the balance at the moment because Kyogo has gone but hopefully we can get the Kieran Tierney transfer over the line in this window."If Jota comes back and is good as he was, we might be in a strong position, but at the moment it is like we have lost our best striker."Chris Sutton and Anton Pearson were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
Saturday, 1 February
City Ground, 12:30 GMTI got talking to a Nottingham Forest fan, a lawyer called Mr Gooch, at Birmingham New Street Station on my way back from covering Aston Villa versus Celtic.He was having a bit of banter with me about how I have suddenly become a Forest fan now they are doing well - so I asked him to give me a prediction for this game.Mr Gooch has gone for a 2-2 draw, and his reasoning for not backing Forest to win is that Callum Hudson-Odoi is out and he has been a really integral part of their success this season.To be honest, I am happy to take any help I can here, because Brighton have been so unpredictable this season.They are a top-half team but their results have been quite up and down, and they have also drawn 10 games, more than any other top-flight side.Like Mr Gooch, I thought this might end up being another draw. I would have gone for 1-1, but I am going to use his score instead.He watches Forest every week so he is a proper fan, not someone who has jumped on the bandwagon like myself, so I will listen to him - although I may take legal action if he is wrong.Sutton's prediction: 2-2Anton's prediction: I saw that Emma-Jean Thackray is quite near the top of the guest leaderboard for these predictions. She played on our first album and we have done some gigs with her - so my challenge is to beat Chris and finish above her. I live in Brighton so a lot of my friends support them and I've been to a few games. This is a tough one to call because while Forest have been amazing they got smashed 5-0 by Bournemouth. Brighton are pretty solid so I've gone for a draw. 1-1
Vitality Stadium, 15:00 GMTLiverpool had the luxury of resting players for their final Champions League group game, Wednesday's defeat at PSV Eindhoven, and still finish top of the table.There are some who will question whether that is in the spirit of the competition, but if you were Reds boss Arne Slot then what would you do? They are trying to win everything at the moment and they had earned the right to make those changes.His players will be well rested for this game but I just have a feeling about Bournemouth at the moment.The Cherries are depleted by injuries, and you cannot discount Mohamed Salah winning it for Liverpool the way he has done so many times before.But Andoni Iraola's side have already beaten Arsenal and Manchester City here this season, as well as Forest and Newcastle, and they have taken as many points as Liverpool - 22 - in their past 10 matches.My first thought was to go for a 2-2 draw but then I was reminded of the pledge I made last week to be braver and back Bournemouth more.That helped me to be right about them beating Forest, so I don't really have much choice but to carry on being brave, do I?Sutton's prediction: 2-1Anton's prediction: It's still probably most likely that Liverpool will win, but Bournemouth will cause them some problems. Justin Kluivert is playing really well for the Cherries. 2-3Anton on who will win the title? Liverpool are going to do it. If anyone is going to challenge them, it will be Arsenal but it is going to take a few unexpected results from Liverpool to let them back in.
Goodison Park, 15:00 GMTBoth of these teams got good wins last week, but it's hard to know what to make of Leicester beating Tottenham because of the spell Spurs are going through.I don't see that result as meaning the Foxes have turned a corner, but it was massive for them after seven straight league defeats.What a player Leicester striker Jamie Vardy is by the way. He seems to be getting quicker, at the age of 38, and is still scoring really important goals for them.It was Everton's victory at Brighton that impressed me the most, though.They are still not going to be free-scoring but the centre-back partnership between James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, with Jordan Pickford behind them, has given new boss David Moyes the foundation he wants.I am backing them to edge this game too, which would give Moyes a hat-trick of wins and a bit of breathing space over the bottom four.Sutton's prediction: 1-0Anton's prediction: Leicester beat Spurs but they haven't been great. Everton look really solid under Moyes. 1-0
Portman Road, 15:00 GMTSouthampton's fight is not about whether they can stay up, it is whether they can avoid being the worst Premier League team of all time and beat Derby County's total of 11 points from 2007-08.Ipswich are still battling to avoid relegation, but I am worried about them in this game.I am not sure whether to go with my heart or my head - well, when I say my heart I am actually thinking of my daughter's teacher, Mr Fields, who is an Ipswich fan.If they lose this, it would be very damaging for their hopes of surviving. I'd go so far as saying I'd be buying a white flag of surrender for Mr Fields to wave whenever he sees me when I drop my daughter off at school.These two sides drew 1-1 earlier in the season, when a 95th-minute Sam Morsy goal denied Saints the win.I don't think Ipswich will keep a clean sheet this time, either, but I am backing Liam Delap to come good, and help them pick up what would be a huge three points.Sutton's prediction: 2-1Anton's prediction: I've gone for Ipswich here. I feel for Southampton - I know a lot of Norwich fans and from them I know how miserable it can be to get promoted to the Premier League and have a horrible season. 2-0
St James' Park, 15:00 GMTFulham are another team I am finding very hard to predict, but Newcastle are a lot more reliable.Yes, they were walloped by Bournemouth last time out at St James' Park, but before then they had won five in a row at home in all competitions.Fulham are capable of causing them problems and showed that when they beat them 3-1 at Craven Cottage in September.But I am going to go for a reverse of that scoreline here. Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon are in excellent form and they will make the difference.Sutton's prediction: 3-1Anton's prediction: Isak is just unstoppable at the moment. 3-1
Molineux, 17:30 GMTI would be so disappointed if Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran moves to Saudi Arabia.Duran is 21, and coming into his prime. He could go there and earn all the money in the world but he would be leaving the best league there is, just as he has started making a splash in it.It is his prerogative but, as a career move, I think it's the wrong one.This situation, with Arsenal making an offer for Ollie Watkins too, must be very annoying for Villa boss Unai Emery.He has worked hard to get the club into the Champions League, and with two good strikers he can rotate them. It has worked really well, but seemingly won't be an option for much longer.Villa have other problems too. They are short of options at centre-half and Emery had to play a midfielder, Boubacar Kamara, there against Celtic on Wednesday night.There are some things to be positive about, however. Morgan Rogers was absolutely superb against Celtic and is an exciting talent.But while Villa have got goals in them, I am just not sure they will keep Wolves out.Villa have not won any of their past six games straight after a Champions League tie, and I don't see this week being any different.Wolves are on a horrible run of four successive league defeats, with 10 goals conceded and just one scored, so even a draw would be a boost for Vitor Pereira's side.Pereira must also be worried about losing his main goalscorer, Matheus Cunha, before the transfer window shuts on Monday. I am not sure whether Cunha will stay, but I think Wolves will get a point here.Sutton's prediction: 2-2Anton's prediction: Celtic will have tired Villa out but they have still got enough about them to win this. 0-2
Sunday, 2 February
Gtech Community Stadium, 14:00 GMTMicky van de Ven's return from injury is great news for Tottenham, but he cannot be expected to transform their fortunes on his own.Last week's defeat by Leicester was hugely damaging to Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou and his side were so flat in that game. They have only picked up five points from their past 11 games and they cannot afford to keep on losing.I don't think Postecoglou has been helped by the club's lack of activity in the transfer market. They have had all these injuries but they have brought in a goalkeeper, Antonin Kinsky, to add to their senior squad, and that's it.I look at Brentford and think they are going to do this Spurs team some damage. With Bryan Mbeumo on the right and Yoane Wissa up front, the Bees have got a lot of goals in the team. They will have a go at Spurs and I think they will find a way through.Sutton's prediction: 2-1Anton's prediction: I feel bad for Ange because he does not seem very happy and he has been a bit prickly with reporters - it feels like all of his good energy that we saw from him at Celtic has been sapped out of him. I still think Spurs should keep him, though, because I don't see how things are going to get better with someone else. I hope things turn around for him soon. 2-0
Old Trafford, 14:00 GMTI was wrong when I said Manchester United would lose at Fulham last week, which a few people happily reminded me about on social media.It was not exactly a convincing win, but maybe things will click for them here - I have my doubts though.I have got a bit of sympathy for United striker Rasmus Hojlund, who is getting some criticism at the moment. He was signed as a development player, albeit an expensive one, but it has not happened for him.There are two sides to his situation though. I feel sorry for him because he needs a run of games to find some rhythm, but he also needs to take his chances when they come, and do better at some of the basics, like holding the ball up.He's not the only player at United in that situation, with something to prove.Maybe they will become a free-scoring side again, but that probably won't happen here and it still feels like we are totally guessing about what they will do each week.Crystal Palace lost at home to Brentford on Sunday, which was a bit of a surprise because they have been so solid recently.The Eagles won at Old Trafford last season, but this game has got a draw written all over it.Sutton's prediction: 1-1Anton's prediction: United are getting better but they are still not there yet. 1-1
Emirates Stadium, 14:00 GMTIt's a little odd how Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been adamant for so long that he does not need another striker. Then, all of a sudden, we get to the end of January and they put in an offer for Ollie Watkins at Villa. It all feels a little bit late to me. Why not do it at the start of January? I know they have had a couple of injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus but I don't understand the delay and it feels a little bit like they are making it up as they go along.This is a huge game for the Gunners - in the past couple of seasons it has been a title decider when they've played Manchester City but this time only Arsenal's title hopes are on the line.City have improved of late but I still look at them and think they are going to concede a goal, as Club Brugge showed on Wednesday.It was a great game when these two met earlier in the season and Leandro Trossard was sent off in a 2-2 draw. The readers will probably go for a 1-1 draw this time, I reckon, but I am going to pick a winner.It is the Gunners who I see taking this, and I wouldn't be surprised if a set-piece proves crucial. Let's hope City striker Erling Haaland can 'stay humble' if his team do end up being beaten.Sutton's prediction: 2-1Anton's prediction: City looked pretty good against Chelsea last week but they are still not the team they were. Arsenal should still have enough about them defensively to deal with them and they will probably just get a goal from a corner, won't they? 1-0Why Kieran Tierney is Anton's favourite Premier League player: My brother is a big Arsenal fan so I guess I kind of root for them sometimes so he is happy. I think Tierney is probably my favourite Premier League player because he's such a nice guy, and also a Celtic legend. It's just a shame he has had so many injuries because I think people forget he was up there as Arsenal's best player for a while and looked like Arsenal captain material. I hope he comes back to Celtic and if he can stay injury free it would be amazing.
Monday, 3 February
Stamford Bridge, 20:00 GMTFormer Chelsea manager Graham Potter is back at the Bridge but I don't see it being a happy return for him.West Ham have actually performed well since Potter replaced Julen Lopetegui, and looked lively, but results have still been mixed.Chelsea need a new goalkeeper and probably another centre-forward too if they are going to push on but even with what they have, I still think they will be too strong for West Ham.Sutton's prediction: 2-1Anton's prediction: I have always liked Potter - when he was at Ostersunds in Sweden he got all the players involved in theatre, so I am looking forward to seeing Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus in a play sometime soon. He is a good manager but it might take him a while to get his methods across. 2-1
How did Sutton do last week?
Chris got five correct results from the 10 games in week 23, with no exact scores, giving him a total of 50 points.His guest, Back in Action star Jamie Demetriou, got four correct results but with one exact score, giving him 70 points.That was enough to give Demetriou victory, because the BBC Sport readers only managed three correct results, with no exact scores, leaving you on 30 points.Chris was spot on with one of his other predictions, however. While he was determined to back Bournemouth to beat Nottingham Forest - and was right - he felt you lot were sure to go for a 1-1 draw... and 29% of you did.