The world of Premier League predictions is buzzing with excitement—who will come out on top? But here’s where it gets controversial: it’s not just about gut feelings or expert opinions—artificial intelligence is now a key player in predicting football outcomes. And this season, a fascinating competition is unfolding between seasoned experts, passionate fans, and AI algorithms.
Arsenal currently leads the Premier League standings at Christmas, but it’s BBC soccer analyst Chris Sutton who is dominating in the predictions arena.
"Once again, I find myself at the top of the Christmas predictions chart," Sutton declared. As a player, he was the first to take Norwich to the summit of the league at this point during the 1992 season and later led Blackburn into the top position in 1994, ultimately clinching the title with Blackburn Rovers.
"Being at the top at Christmas is a significant achievement for me, and it’s a milestone for Arsenal too."
In the digital age, AI has become the universal reference point for answers—whether for everyday questions or complex sports predictions. Yet, Sutton takes pride in outperforming this high-tech challenger, noting, "I’ve managed to beat AI for half a season now, which I think says a lot about my intuition and knowledge."
"Instead of constantly relying on AI, maybe more people should come to me to tap into my football expertise," he adds confidently.
Sutton’s prediction mastery extends across all 380 Premier League fixtures this season, where he pits his forecasts against AI, BBC readers, and a wide array of special guests.
For the festive week-18 matches—covering Boxing Day and the weekend of December 27-28—Sutton faces off against Jonny Stewart, the bass singer of The Wellermen, a popular sea shanty folk band that pioneered the TikTok sea shanty phenomenon. Stewart is a die-hard Newcastle United supporter.
The Wellermen gained viral fame with their renditions of classics like “Misty Mountain,” “Nancy Mulligan,” and “Hoist the Colours,” racking up billions of views and bringing traditional shanties into modern pop culture.
Do you agree with Sutton’s and Stewart’s predictions? Feel free to submit your own forecasts below the predictions section. The most common predicted scoreline for each match becomes the official score in the game summaries and league tables below.
Scoring System: A correct match result (win, draw, or loss) scores 10 points. Guessing the exact scoreline earns a more substantial 40 points.
Meet Jonny Stewart:
Jonny’s earliest football memories involve Newcastle’s FA Cup final losses in 1998 and 1999. His first real celebration came when the Magpies finally lifted a trophy—the Carabao Cup in March.
"We were on tour in Colorado at the time—having just performed in Boulder and preparing for Denver the next day," Jonny recounted. "I desperately searched online a few weeks before the final to find ways to watch it and to find fellow fans to celebrate with."
He connected with the Mile High Magpies supporters' club and watched the game at a local bar filled with over 100 Newcastle fans, despite some Liverpool supporters being present.
Jonny even bought a Dan Burn Carabao Cup final shirt beforehand, knowing that if Newcastle won, it would mean the world to have a local lad’s name on his jersey. When Burn scored a stunning header to put Newcastle ahead, Jonny was overwhelmed with emotion, tears streaming down his face.
"Being away from home, away from my close friend Angus—who I usually watch matches with—was tough. He was FaceTiming me from Chelmsford, where only a few were watching the game. But this experience was much better," Jonny explained.
"Seeing us outplay the top team and win our first trophy in years—it's hard to top that moment."
Predictions for Week 18:
Friday, December 26, at Old Trafford, 20:00 GMT
- Manchester United faces a crucial test, especially considering how they performed against Aston Villa despite suffering a defeat. Their success often hinges on how well they manage without Bruno Fernandes. Sutton believes that, without Fernandes, United might struggle and predicts a narrow away win.
- Sutton's pick: 0-1
- Stewart's pick: United can be inconsistent, and with key absences, I lean towards a Newcastle victory, 1-2.
- AI's prediction: 2-2
Saturday, December 27,
At City Ground, 12:30
- Nottingham Forest aims to escape the relegation zone but was recent disappointed by Fulham. Meanwhile, Newcastle’s recent slip-ups suggest they might be vulnerable. Sutton favors Newcastle, but with a low-scoring game predicted.
- Sutton: 0-2
- Stewart: City are in good form, and with creativity from Cherki and Foden, I see a 0-3 victory.
- AI: 1-3
At Emirates Stadium, 15:00
- Arsenal, despite some wobbling, managed a narrow win against Everton, and Sutton believes they will overcome Brighton, who are unpredictable but resilient.
- Sutton: 2-0
- Stewart: Arsenal seem to have too much in their tank for Brighton, 2-1.
- AI: 2-1
Gtech Community Stadium, 15:00
- Brentford, usually strong at home, faces Bournemouth, who tend to score and concede heavily. Stewart predicts a draw.
- Sutton: 2-2
- Stewart: Bournemouth’s away struggles continue; I predict a 0-2 win for Brentford.
- AI: 1-2
Turf Moor, 15:00
- Burnley’s recent late equalizer was promising for Scott Parker, while Everton faces injury and player absences. Sutton favors Everton with a slim win.
- Sutton: 1-1
- Stewart: Everton, even with injuries, have enough to win 0-1.
- AI: 0-1
Anfield, 15:00
- Liverpool, missing Salah but boosted by Ekitike’s form, faces Wolves, struggling with injuries and poor form. Stewart predicts a solid Liverpool win.
- Sutton: 2-0
- Stewart: Liverpool’s attacking options dominate, 3-1.
- AI: 3-1
London Stadium, 15:00
- West Ham needs a victory to lift their spirits amid poor form, while Fulham is unpredictable and still dangerous.
- Sutton: 1-2
- Stewart: Fulham’s form is deceptive; I see a 1-1 draw.
- AI: 2-1
Stamford Bridge, 17:30
- Aston Villa, riding a winning streak, faces Chelsea, who have resilience and a recent draw against Newcastle. The prediction is tightly contested.
- Sutton: 2-1
- Stewart: Villa might defy expectations and win, 1-2.
- AI: 1-2
Sunday, December 28,
At Stadium of Light, 14:00
- Sunderland looks strong with Calvert-Lewin up front and recent good results, but Leeds not to be underestimated.
- Sutton: 1-0
- Stewart: Sunderland exceeds expectations, winning 2-1.
- AI: 1-2
At Selhurst Park, 16:30
- Palace, affected by a busy schedule and key injuries, might be vulnerable. Stewart predicts a stalemate.
- Sutton: 0-0
- Stewart: Tottenham, despite struggles, may sneak a draw, 2-2.
- AI: 1-2
Last Week’s Performance Recap:
- Sutton correctly predicted 3 results with 1 exact score, earning 60 points.
- Guest rapper Sampa the Great correctly forecast 8 results including 1 exact score, totaling 110 points.
- AI outperformed everyone with 5 correct results and 3 exact scores, accumulating 140 points.
Overall, the weekly victory went to the collective predictions from BBC viewers, thanks to a dramatic final match. AI initially led with 130 points, but the viewers’ precise prediction of a 2-1 Villa victory over Manchester United secured their win, as Fulham’s narrow win in the last game sealed it. The fans' collective accuracy resulted in a total of 160 points, highlighting the unpredictable magic of football—does this mean humans still have an edge over algorithms? Or is AI quietly reshaping the prediction game? Share your thoughts in the comments—who’s really winning in this prediction duel?
