Machines 1-0 Humans: Sutton's Premier League Predictions Rematch
The machines landed the first punch.
Last season, Microsoft’s Copilot chatbot walked into the BBC predictions league and walked out with the title at the first attempt. Top of the table. Beating Chris Sutton, his guests and thousands of BBC readers.
This year, they all want it back.
“It was a final-day defeat for me, that is how close I came to the title,” Sutton said. “But I keep reading how AI models are going rogue and attacking each other. So, was I hacked too? It sounds like cheating to me - if so, then last season should really go down as a victory for me.”
Human pride is on the line again. Sutton, musician and Manchester United fan Liam Fray, and Copilot have all called the opening Premier League weekend. Same fixtures, same brief for the bot – “predict this weekend’s Premier League results” – and the rematch begins.
Arsenal v Coventry (Emirates Stadium, 20:00 BST)
Arsenal look ominous. Champions, stacked squad, and fresh from brushing aside Manchester City in the Community Shield in a way that said more about them than it did about Pep Guardiola’s old side.
“They are the team to beat, and their squad just looks so strong,” Sutton said. He is not alone in that view.
Coventry, back in the top flight, could hardly have asked for a harsher reintroduction. Frank Lampard’s first league game as Sky Blues boss is at the Emirates against a side that can blow teams away when they decide to accelerate.
Sutton even dipped into Norwich memories to illustrate the danger, recalling the Canaries being “stuffed” at Liverpool on the opening night in 2019. This, he suggested, is in that category of nightmare starts.
On top of that, Arsenal’s business has impressed him. Bruno Guimaraes is “a good signing” and Christos Tzolis, once deemed too big a shirt at Norwich, “looks the part too”. Daniel Farke called Tzolis one of Europe’s brightest young prospects when he took him to Carrow Road in 2021; Sutton now thinks that faith has been justified. All of which spells trouble for Lampard.
“I suppose, on the flip-side, if Coventry can somehow go to the Emirates and get a draw against the champions, that would provide such a huge boost to their players,” Sutton said. But he does not believe it will happen. “I can’t see past an Arsenal win and the scoreline just depends how much Mikel Arteta’s side put their foot down.”
- Sutton’s prediction: 3-0
- Liam’s prediction: 3-0
- AI’s prediction: 3-0
Fray welcomed Coventry back with a nod to his childhood Merlin sticker album – Roy Wegerle, Steve Ogrizovic, the lot – but still thinks they “just need to take the hit here” in about as tough a start as you can get.
Hull v Manchester United (MKM Stadium, 12:30)
Hull are not planning to be polite guests in the Premier League. Assistant head coach Dean Holden spelled that out on the Monday Night Club, outlining a side that will be “horrible to play against” and happy to go direct.
With a home crowd behind them and United in town, this could be the day that lights up their season. That is the romantic version. Sutton’s concern is colder: Hull lost a third of their Championship games last year.
As a story, Sergej Jakirovic dragging them from 21st into the play-offs and up is extraordinary. Staying there is another level entirely. “Now they just need to hang on in there in the Premier League, but that will be very difficult,” Sutton said.
United, meanwhile, have done little in the market, but what they have done looks smart. Youri Tielemans, Sutton says, is “a really good signing – a safe signing, if there is such a thing – like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were last year.”
The bigger issue is depth. Champions League football returns to Old Trafford, expectations are rising after third place, and Sutton thinks Michael Carrick over-achieved to get them that far. “They are going to be stretched,” he warned, and he does not see them at Arsenal’s level. The lack of European distractions for Tottenham and Chelsea is one reason he has left United out of his top four.
Even so, he expects them to start with three points. “They should begin with a win, but this is the start of a full-on campaign for them, which makes it far more difficult, and they will need to add to their squad.”
- Sutton’s prediction: 1-2
- Liam’s prediction: 0-3
- AI’s prediction: 1-3
Fray is bullish about his club and about Carrick. “I am pretty excited,” he said. United are not at Arsenal or City’s level, he accepts, but he believes they will “be up there”. He pushed for Carrick’s appointment the moment Ruben Amorim was sacked, and the personal connection – rounds of golf, a few beers – only strengthens his conviction that Carrick “seems to care” and has a genuine bond with the club and fans.
On Marcus Rashford, Fray was emotional rather than analytical. “I love Marcus, and the fact he is one of ours,” he said. He likened it to walking on stage for a hometown gig: “If I was Marcus, I'd be thinking 'I am going to make this work' because of how special it could be if it does.” Whether it happens, he admitted, is another matter.
Ipswich v Sunderland (Portman Road, 15:00)
Gary O’Neil’s Norwich past gave Sutton an easy gag. “I must point out that Ipswich boss O'Neil is a former Norwich player, so where do his loyalties really lie? And has he gone to Ipswich to sabotage them?”
The joke stopped there. Sutton genuinely wants Ipswich to stay up and likes what they have done. Daizen Maeda, in particular, stands out. Sutton knows him well from Celtic and calls the forward “a really good piece of business”.
Maeda’s intensity is the selling point. Sutton went as far as to say he will be “the best pressing player in the Premier League bar none” and perfect for a counter-attacking side that wants someone to run in behind. Few are quicker.
The blueprint is clear: look at Sunderland and Leeds. Both came up, recruited aggressively and stayed competitive. The challenge for Ipswich is to “knit the new players together and connect early on”. That is O’Neil’s first big task.
Sunderland themselves arrive with the extra weight of European football after last season’s surge. Sutton is not sure how their squad will cope with the extra games but expects them, at least early on, to remind everyone how strong they were. “I never saw another team beat Arsenal up the way they did,” he said.
They faded late last season and will no longer catch anyone by surprise, yet they still have Granit Xhaka’s leadership in midfield and Wilson Isidor and Brian Brobbey up front to damage teams.
- Sutton’s prediction: 0-1
- Liam’s prediction: 2-2
- AI’s prediction: 2-1
Nottingham Forest v Leeds (City Ground, 15:00)
Nottingham Forest were chaos and survival rolled into one last year. Four managers, four different styles, and still they stayed up and reached a Europa League semi-final. Sutton dubbed them “kneejerk Nottingham Forest”.
Now they belong to Oliver Glasner. The Austrian has Chris Wood back fit, which Sutton thinks is “great news” because of the striker’s experience and goals. Losing Elliot Anderson hurts, but keeping Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi was a significant win in the market.
On the other side, Daniel Farke’s stock rose after keeping Leeds up. Sutton was “delighted” for his former Norwich boss. The signings of Harry Wilson, outstanding for Fulham, and goalkeeper James Trafford have raised expectations that Leeds can steer clear of trouble this time.
Tactically, this is a puzzle. Glasner usually used a 3-4-3 at Crystal Palace but has said he will work with what he has, so even Sutton, who is covering the game for Radio 5 Live, is unsure what Forest will look like. “It is almost impossible to predict,” he admitted. “It will be very interesting to see how Forest start, and how Glasner fares. Will he still be there in September?”
- Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
- Liam’s prediction: 2-1
- AI’s prediction: 2-1
Fray thought all three 3pm games were tight and could easily be draws, but he backed Forest to “edge this” rather than call a full house of stalemates.
Brentford v Tottenham (Gtech Community Stadium, 17:30)
Spurs arrive with noise around them again, only this time there is substance to go with it.
Sandro Tonali is the headline addition in midfield. At the back, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke strengthen a defence that already has Micky van de Ven tied down to a new deal. Put that under Roberto de Zerbi and it is no surprise expectations are climbing. With no European football, a top-six finish feels like a minimum target.
Brentford, under Keith Andrews, are a different kind of problem. His first season was “sensational”, as Sutton put it, and the question now is whether it will be “counter-attack Keith” again.
Sutton sees the pattern clearly: Spurs to dominate the ball, Brentford to sit, spring and punish. With Igor Thiago coming off a prolific campaign and Kevin Schade in support, goals should not be an issue for the Bees.
- Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
- Liam’s prediction: 1-2
- AI’s prediction: 1-2
Fray is convinced Spurs are better equipped this time. Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Andy Robertson, plus a fit-again James Maddison, give them “four big players who were not there last year”. For him, that spells a much improved season.
Brighton v Aston Villa (Amex Stadium, 14:00)
Aston Villa’s reward for reaching the Champions League is a season that may stretch them to breaking point. Sutton does not see them making the top four again.
They have lost Morgan Rogers and Tielemans, and while Johan Manzambi has talent, relying on a young player to replace Rogers’ impact immediately is a big ask. Alejandro Garnacho is another riddle. “I am not sure if anyone can get a tune out of Alejandro Garnacho, but I suppose if anyone can it is Unai Emery,” Sutton said.
Then there is the goalkeeping subplot. Zion Suzuki has arrived from Japan “revved up”, while Emiliano Martinez looked set for Juventus before that move collapsed. “You can't play with two goalkeepers,” Sutton reminded Mark Chapman on the Monday Night Club. “They changed many of the laws of the game over the summer, but not that one.” Emery has a decision to make.
Brighton have their own losses to absorb. Danny Welbeck and van Hecke, key parts of their spine, have gone. Yet Sutton is backing a big season for Jack Hinshelwood after a “phenomenal” campaign last time out.
Villa started slowly a year ago – no win in their first six league matches. Sutton thinks they will flip that script. “This will be close, but I think they will get off to a flier this time.”
- Sutton’s prediction: 1-2
- Liam’s prediction: 1-2
- AI’s prediction: 2-2
Fray admits he is “never quite sure what to expect from Villa”, and sees Rogers’ move to Chelsea as “a massive miss”, but still sides with Emery’s men.
Manchester City v Bournemouth (Etihad Stadium, 14:00)
The knives came out for Manchester City after the Community Shield. Sutton is not joining in.
“I don't think they will win the Premier League,” he said, but he is adamant they will not tumble into mid-table. The squad remains stacked with quality and experience. They will be “right up there.”
Bournemouth, under Marco Rose, should be a thrill ride. Sutton expects them to be “very attack-minded” after watching Rose’s RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg sides. The big question is whether Rose will really go toe-to-toe with City at the Etihad in his first game.
Sutton thinks he will try. That should mean goals – “but most of them will be scored by City.”
- Sutton’s prediction: 4-1
- Liam’s prediction: 3-0
- AI’s prediction: 3-1
This is also the first outing for City’s new stand, with a full house to greet the post-Guardiola era. For Liam, the key remains simple: get Phil Foden “firing again” and City will still be a “force to be reckoned with”.
Newcastle v Liverpool (St James’ Park, 16:30)
Newcastle have been stripped of their midfield heartbeat. Sutton admires new boss Matthias Jaissle but cannot ignore the exits.
Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, “two absolute monsters in midfield”, have gone. So have Anthony Gordon’s influence and Kieran Trippier’s experience. “It is sad to see,” Sutton said. He does not write Newcastle off, but he senses their fans understand this season will be different.
Liverpool are also in transition under Andoni Iraola. Pre-season brought defensive struggles and questions over fitness – Sutton joked about them needing to “run for more than half an hour now”. Up front, though, he has no concerns.
Alexander Isak, returning to St James’ Park in Liverpool colours, will not be welcomed kindly, but Sutton believes he will shine “starting on Sunday”.
- Sutton’s prediction: 1-3
- Liam’s prediction: 1-2
- AI’s prediction: 1-1
Fray feels for Newcastle supporters. The takeover promised lift-off, yet it “never really seems like it got going”. Big players have been sold, and he is fascinated to see how St James’ Park reacts. When it is “banging, it is really banging,” he said, but any shift in mood is obvious. Liverpool, he argues, could be “a different beast” if Isak settles quickly and Florian Wirtz delivers.
Fulham v Chelsea (Craven Cottage, 20:00)
Fulham step into a new era with unease swirling. Marco Silva has gone. So have Harry Wilson’s attacking thrust and Raul Jimenez, who led the line so well last season.
In their place comes Alvaro Arbeloa and a bold youth-focused rebuild. Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios arrive from Real Madrid, Swedish teenager Jonah Kusi-Asare from Bayern Munich. Potential everywhere, guarantees nowhere.
“If I am a Fulham fan, my concern would be that they always felt stable under Silva and I am not sure what this new approach will bring,” Sutton said. They “were never in trouble last season”, but he is braced for “more of a struggle this time.”
Across west London, Chelsea have also turned the page, but with more optimism. Xabi Alonso takes charge, and while Sutton does not see a repeat of the leap from 10th to first that Antonio Conte delivered a decade ago – “they had a much stronger team then” – he likes the direction.
Cole Palmer remains central, Morgan Rogers is an “exciting signing”, and Alonso himself is “a breath of fresh air”. Sutton expects that to show immediately. “I think he will begin with a win.”
- Sutton’s prediction: 0-2
- Liam’s prediction: 0-2
- AI’s prediction: 1-2
Fray has never been to Craven Cottage but wants to see the famous riverside infinity pool and joked about tapping The Maccabees’ Felix White for tickets. His warning to Fulham fans was less playful: “Fulham always seem to be safe and never get dragged into a relegation fight but this might be the year they struggle a bit… keep an eye on that line, above 18th place.”
The fixtures are set, the humans have spoken, and the machine has answered. Last season, Copilot took the crown. Now Sutton, his guests and the readers want it back.
By May, will the scoreboard still read Machines 1-0 Humans – or is this the year the humans finally turn it around?
