Premier League Predictions: Arsenal, Manchester United, and More

The machines are 1-0 up on the humans. At least on paper.

Last season, Microsoft’s Copilot stormed the BBC predictions league at the first attempt, outscoring Chris Sutton, his guests and thousands of readers. Now the rematch begins, with pride – and a little bit of humanity – on the line.

“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.”

The jokes will keep coming. So will the numbers. Copilot is back, the humans are regrouped, and a new Premier League season opens with some sharp storylines and a few brutal opening fixtures.

Predictions are in from Sutton, musician and Manchester United fan Liam Fray, and the AI. Here’s how they see the first weekend.

Arsenal v Coventry (Emirates Stadium, 20:00 BST)

Arsenal look ominous.

Champions, stacked with depth, and fresh from dismantling Manchester City in the Community Shield, Mikel Arteta’s side are the benchmark again. Sutton doesn’t overreact to curtain-raisers, but the way Arsenal handled City caught his eye.

“Arsenal are the team to beat, and their squad just looks so strong,” he said. That Shield win “was hugely impressive, and shows where they are at.”

Coventry arrive with optimism but little mercy from the fixture list. Back in the top flight and immediately sent to the Emirates. Frank Lampard’s first assignment is about as unforgiving as it gets.

Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis give Arsenal even more bite. Sutton can’t resist a dig at Tzolis’ Norwich days – “the jersey was too big for him” – but reminds everyone Daniel Farke once called him one of Europe’s brightest young prospects. On recent evidence, Farke was right.

That’s bad news for Coventry. Sutton still remembers Norwich being thrashed at Anfield on opening night in 2019. This, he says, feels similar for the Sky Blues.

On the flip side, he admits, a draw here would supercharge Coventry’s season. He just doesn’t see it.

Sutton’s prediction: 3-0

Liam’s prediction: 3-0

AI’s prediction: 3-0

Fray is delighted Coventry are back – he reels off childhood memories of Roy Wegerle and Steve Ogrizovic in his Merlin sticker album – but he thinks they “just need to take the hit here”.

Hull v Manchester United (MKM Stadium, 12:30)

Hull are not planning to be nice.

Assistant head coach Dean Holden laid it out on the Monday Night Club: they’ll be awkward, direct when needed, and horrible to play against. Promoted via a remarkable surge under Sergej Jakirovic – from 21st to the play-offs and then up – they know survival will be a different kind of grind.

Hull lost a third of their Championship games last season. That’s Sutton’s concern. The story is romantic; the Premier League won’t be.

Starting at home to Manchester United, though, gives them a chance to light the place up. Holden is a big United fan, and a result here could shape Hull’s season.

United, meanwhile, have barely twitched in the transfer market. Youri Tielemans is the headline arrival, a player Sutton calls “a really good signing – a safe signing, if there is such a thing”, likening him to Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo as smart, reliable additions.

The catch? United’s squad will be stretched by Champions League football. Sutton thinks Michael Carrick over-achieved to drag them into third last year, and that the extra European load, while Tottenham and Chelsea rest midweek, will bite.

“As things stand, they are going to be stretched,” he says. That’s why he’s left them out of his top four. But he still expects them to open with a win.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-2

Liam’s prediction: 0-3

AI’s prediction: 1-3

Fray, a United fan and long-time admirer of Carrick, is bullish. “Hopefully we can start this season the way we finished the last one,” he says, bumping his own prediction up because 2-0 “sounds conservative”.

On Marcus Rashford, he’s emotional and honest. He loves that Rashford is “one of ours” and believes if anyone can unlock him again, it’s Carrick. “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. Every part of me wants that to happen, but I don’t know if it will.”

Ipswich v Sunderland (Portman Road, 15:00)

There’s a little East Anglian mischief in this one.

Ipswich boss O’Neil is a former Norwich player, and Sutton can’t resist a nudge: “where do his loyalties really lie? And has he gone to Ipswich to sabotage them?” The smile is obvious, but the respect is real.

Sutton wants Ipswich to stay up. He likes what they’ve done in the market, especially the capture of Daizen Maeda from Celtic. He knows Maeda well.

“Maeda plays with such intensity. He will be the best pressing player in the Premier League bar none,” Sutton says. If Ipswich want to counter and run in behind, they’ve got the perfect outlet.

The model is clear: look at Sunderland and Leeds. Both came up, recruited aggressively and survived, Sunderland even charging into Europe. That gives Ipswich hope. The trick is gluing it all together quickly.

Sunderland, though, arrive as a serious side. They bullied Arsenal last season in a way Sutton says he’d never seen before. They tailed off, but they still have Granit Xhaka marshalling midfield and Wilson Isidor and Brian Brobbey leading the line.

Sutton thinks that quality shows early.

Sutton’s prediction: 0-1

Liam’s prediction: 2-2

AI’s prediction: 2-1

Fray expects a raucous Portman Road and “some goals”. He just doesn’t think either side will quite put the other away.

Nottingham Forest v Leeds (City Ground, 15:00)

Nottingham Forest were chaos and survival rolled into one last season.

Four managers. Clashing styles. A Europa League semi-final. Relegation avoided. “Kneejerk Nottingham Forest,” as Sutton calls them, somehow made it work.

Now Oliver Glasner is in charge. Chris Wood is back fit, a huge boost for a side that will lean on his experience and goals. Elliot Anderson has gone, but keeping Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi feels just as important as any signing.

Leeds arrive with a different kind of optimism. Daniel Farke, written off by many, kept them up last year. He’s added Harry Wilson, excellent at Fulham, and goalkeeper James Trafford, another signing Sutton really likes.

Sutton is on Radio 5 Live duty for this one and admits it’s a nightmare to call. Glasner preferred 3-4-3 at Crystal Palace but has said he’ll work with what he’s got, so Forest’s exact shape is a mystery.

“It will be very interesting to see how Forest start, and how Glasner fares,” Sutton says. Then comes the sting: “Will he still be there in September?”

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

Liam’s prediction: 2-1

AI’s prediction: 2-1

Fray found all three 3pm games hard to split. He couldn’t pick three draws, so Forest get the edge here.

Brentford v Tottenham (Gtech Community Stadium, 17:30)

There’s a buzz around Spurs again.

Sandro Tonali has arrived to run their midfield. Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke strengthen the defence, while Micky van de Ven has signed a new deal. On paper, it looks like a squad built to push back into the top six, especially with no European distractions.

Roberto de Zerbi’s appointment only adds intrigue. Sutton is “really looking forward” to seeing Spurs under him, and believes expectation will follow quickly.

Across the technical area, Keith Andrews is coming off a “sensational” first season as Brentford manager. His side were fiercely organised and ruthless on the break. Sutton wonders if we’ll see “counter-attack Keith” again.

The pattern seems obvious: Spurs with the ball, Brentford waiting to spring. Igor Thiago was prolific last season, and with Kevin Schade also in the ranks, Sutton doesn’t fear for Brentford’s goals.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

Liam’s prediction: 1-2

AI’s prediction: 1-2

Fray likes what Spurs have done too. Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Andy Robertson and a fit-again James Maddison – four big pieces that weren’t there last year. “They are going to have a much better season this time,” he says.

Brighton v Aston Villa (Amex Stadium, 14:00)

Aston Villa are stepping into the Champions League and straight into a balancing act.

Sutton doesn’t see them making the top four again. They’ve lost Morgan Rogers and Tielemans, and while Johan Manzambi is highly rated, expecting him to replace Rogers immediately is a big ask.

Then there’s Alejandro Garnacho. His talent is obvious; his consistency less so. “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 says.

The goalkeeping situation is another subplot. Zion Suzuki has arrived from Japan, full of energy. Emiliano Martinez looked set for Juventus before that move collapsed. Only one can start.

“As I had to remind Mark Chapman on the Monday Night Club, you can't play with two goalkeepers – they changed many of the laws of the game over the summer, but not that one,” Sutton quips.

Brighton have lost Danny Welbeck and Van Hecke, the spine of last season’s team, but Sutton is backing Jack Hinshelwood to explode again after a phenomenal campaign.

Villa started slowly last year – no win in their first six league games. Sutton thinks they avoid that trap this time, even in a tight contest.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-2

Liam’s prediction: 1-2

AI’s prediction: 2-2

Fray never quite knows what to expect from Villa. Rogers’ move to Chelsea is “a massive miss”, yet he still leans towards Emery’s side to edge it.

Manchester City v Bournemouth (Etihad Stadium, 14:00)

The knives came out quickly for Manchester City after their Community Shield performance.

Sutton isn’t convinced they’ll win the title this year, but he’s not buying the idea of a collapse. “They are not going to fall away to mid-table either – look at the players they have got – and I still think they will be right up there.”

Bournemouth arrive with a coach who doesn’t usually do timid. Marco Rose’s sides at RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg were front-foot, aggressive, attack-minded. The big question is whether he really goes toe-to-toe with City on day one at the Etihad.

Sutton thinks he will. That means goals. Mostly for City.

Sutton’s prediction: 4-1

Liam’s prediction: 3-0

AI’s prediction: 3-1

This is also the first game with City’s new stand open, a full house greeting a team now moving on without Pep Guardiola. If they can get Phil Foden “firing again”, Fray says, they’ll still be a “force to be reckoned with”.

Newcastle v Liverpool (St James’ Park, 16:30)

Newcastle have been stripped of their core.

Sutton likes what he’s seen from new boss Matthias Jaissle, but the departures hurt: Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes gone from midfield, Anthony Gordon’s influence removed, Kieran Trippier’s experience lost.

“They were two absolute monsters in midfield, who were horrible to play against, but they have gone,” Sutton says of Tonali and Guimaraes. It’s sobering stuff. He doesn’t write Newcastle off, but he thinks the fanbase knows this season will be different.

Liverpool are in transition too. Andoni Iraola is trying to reshape them, but pre-season raised alarms defensively and physically. “Hopefully they can run for more than half an hour now,” Sutton says, only half-joking.

Up front, he has no doubts. Alexander Isak, now in Liverpool red, will walk into a hostile reception at St James’ Park. Sutton expects him to thrive.

“I do think he will shine for Liverpool this year, starting on Sunday,” he says.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-3

Liam’s prediction: 1-2

AI’s prediction: 1-1

Fray feels for Newcastle fans. The takeover promised a surge; instead, big names are being sold and the mood is fragile. “When [St James’ Park] is banging, it is really banging,” he says. “But it is also really obvious when the mood is different.” The first few weeks, he adds, will be revealing.

If Isak hits the ground running and Florian Wirtz “turns up”, Fray believes Liverpool become “a different beast”.

Fulham v Chelsea (Craven Cottage, 20:00)

Fulham step into the unknown.

Marco Silva has gone. So have Harry Wilson’s creativity and Raul Jimenez’s graft up front. Alvaro Arbeloa takes charge and a youthful rebuild begins, with Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios arriving from Real Madrid and teenager Jonah Kusi-Asare from Bayern Munich.

If you’re a Fulham fan, Sutton says, the worry is obvious. Under Silva, they felt stable and rarely threatened by relegation. This new approach might be bold, but it’s untested. He expects a tougher season and a flirtation with the wrong end of the table.

Chelsea are rebooting too, but in a very different mood. Xabi Alonso is in, Cole Palmer remains the jewel, and Morgan Rogers is an exciting addition. Sutton doesn’t see a 10th-to-1st leap like under Antonio Conte a decade ago – that squad was stronger – yet he senses a cleaner direction and a fresher feel.

He backs Alonso to start 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 go, if only to see the famous “infinity pool” and maybe tap The Maccabees’ Felix White for tickets. He throws out a warning to Fulham: they “always seem to be safe” but this might be the year the line above 18th place becomes uncomfortably close.

Last season, the machine called it better than the men. This weekend, Copilot has gone toe-to-toe with Sutton and Fray again – and, on some games, landed on exactly the same scoreline.

If the humans are going to level this particular contest, they’ll need more than gut feeling and nostalgia. The question now is simple: when the final whistles go, will the numbers still favour the code, or can the old-fashioned hunch land one back for the human race?