Manchester City head for Anfield on Sunday, facing the prospect of their stuttering season suffering a huge setback against the Premier League leaders.
“City will be wounded and angry because of what happened against Feyenoord, on top of their run of defeats,” said BBC Sport’s football expert Chris Sutton.
“But even with a point to prove, will they be able to match Liverpool’s intensity?
“It’s a big ask, from what we’ve seen. Like lots of other football fans, I thought City were a god-like team but they are mere mortals at the moment – in fact, they look very average.”
Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.
For week 13 he takes on boxer Sunny Edwards, who is a Chelsea fan.
Do you agree with their predictions? 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.
Edwards, a former world flyweight champion, takes on Great Britain’s 2020 Olympic gold medallist Galal Yafai in Birmingham on Saturday, fighting for the vacant WBC interim world flyweight title.
Coverage starts at 22:00 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds. You can listen to a preview of the fight on the 5 Live Boxing podcast with Steve Bunce.
Edwards (left) held the IBF flyweight world title between 2021 and 2023. He was a keen footballer as a boy, along with a few other sports. “I did everything,” he explained. “From cross-country to cricket and even netball at times. If there was a sport with a winner and a loser, I was involved but football was my first love. Even when I was winning amateur national championships as a junior boxer, I was still playing five-a-side in between fights.” [Getty Images]Edwards is from Croydon but Chelsea were the only team for him as a boy.
“My dad supported them and I was born and raised to be a Blue,” he told BBC Sport. “When I was growing up, from my duvet to my wallpaper, everything in my bedroom was always Chelsea.
“I had a few different favourite players down the years, starting with Dennis Wise. Then there was the likes of Arjen Robben and Eden Hazard, and Didier Drogba is an absolute legend too.
“When I was a kid, I was really into it and would feel the pressure when we were playing big games and I’d have to go into school the next day. I remember crying when we lost the Champions League final to Manchester United in 2008.
“I still follow them now and try and catch a game here and there, but there are only so many weekends in a year and boxing takes up a lot of them for me now.
“We are not at the level we were at when I was growing up, but it has already been a much better season than last year.
“I genuinely believe Cole Palmer is the best player in the Premier League at the moment. I was there when he made his first start for us – against Brighton in the Carabao Cup last year – and he stood out by a country mile.
“I was screaming at Gareth Southgate to get him on the pitch for England at Euro 2024, and then every time he played I was going ‘see, see – look at the magic!'”
Edwards has been training in the west midlands ahead of facing Yafai at the Resorts World Arena, and has a soft spot for a local team too.
“I want to give a shout out to North Solihull Athletic, who play just round the corner from me,” he added. “The manager, Bradley White, is a good friend of mine and a few of the lads will be at the show.
“They are the comeback kings. Bradley has taken over a team that looked like they were going nowhere and has just won eight games in a row.
“I don’t get to play much football myself anymore but I am on EA Sports FC a lot. I have made 250 appearances, all from this one training camp.
“I play with Bradley and we are in the top 50 Pro clubs teams in the world, which I think is impressive, so a shout out to our team, GoingHamNoPork, too.
Chris Sutton and Sunny Edwards were speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.
As well as sparring, Edwards has been playing a lot of EA Sports FC during his training for Saturday’s fight [Getty Images]Friday, 29 November
Amex Stadium, 20:00 GMT
Southampton actually gave Liverpool a decent game on Sunday, but that defeat means they have lost 10 of their first 12 games.
I don’t mind seeing Saints boss Russell Martin stick with his game plan, and it is hard for the promoted teams anyway.
But we have seen another of the sides who came up last season, Leicester, make a managerial change this week and you have to worry for Martin if his side keep on losing.
I do have a feeling it will be defeat number 11 for Southampton this weekend, too.
Brighton got a good win at Bournemouth last time out, despite playing for half an hour with 10 men. It won’t be a rout, but the Seagulls will find a way to win.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-0
Sunny’s prediction: Brighton play good football and are very well organised. They are a much better team than Southampton. 2-0
Saturday, 30 November
GTech Community Stadium, 15:00 GMT
As I speak, Ruud van Nistelrooy has not been confirmed as Leicester’s new manager, and whether he will be in the dugout or in the stands here.
The smart move would probably be to distance himself from this game because, with five wins and a draw so far, Brentford have got the best home record in the Premier League this season.
If you are Ruud, you jet in after the game – Heathrow Airport is not far away – and jump on the team bus for the trip home after the Foxes get pumped.
I have got some sympathy for Steve Cooper over his dismissal by the way. Leicester were always going to struggle this season.
There are all sorts of stories flying around about how the players never bought into his methods. Maybe there is an element of it where the Leicester players think they are better than they are, but they certainly need to improve their timing.
There are photos of the squad out in Copenhagen this week for their Christmas party, and if they are holding that in November then something is wrong – although I must admit we have had the decorations up at our house for three weeks already.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
Sunny’s prediction: I reckon Leicester will find something here, there will be a reaction to seeing the manager get sacked. 1-2
Selhurst Park, 15:00 GMT
Crystal Palace have still only won one league game all season, against Tottenham at the end of October. The Eagles got a good point at Aston Villa last weekend but their manager Oliver Glasner definitely needs more than that to provide some early Christmas cheer.
I am not sure Glasner will get much joy here, though. Although I did not expect Newcastle lose at home to West Ham on Monday, I would not be surprised to see them bounce back.
This smells of a draw to me, because I do not see Newcastle losing.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
Sunny’s prediction: I am a Croydon boy so even though I am a Chelsea fan, I have always been fond of them. I know they are not doing great but I am going to give them this one. 3-2
City Ground, 15:00 GMT
For some reason people often think that I am quite petty when it comes to these predictions, and that I occasionally use them to make a point.
So, I would like to remind Ipswich fans that I correctly predicted they would draw 1-1 with Manchester United last week and, importantly, the points I earned for that handed me victory in that round of games.
I know that many Ipswich fans were pleased for me and I think it showed that, despite my allegiance to Norwich, I don’t hold any grudges against them.
On to this week, and I hope Ipswich get absolutely pumped by Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
I should explain that Forest were my boyhood team, so that is the only reason why I am rooting for them here. Mind you, if Forest play like they did in their previous home game against Newcastle, then I will be sending my replica shirt back to the club shop, and giving up on them again.
Being serious, though, I like this Ipswich team. They have got some good players and play some good football. They deserved to beat United, and would have done if not for a couple of superb saves by Andre Onana.
Still, I expect Forest to bounce back at the City Ground after two defeats in a row. Chris Wood has to be back in the team after starting last weekend’s defeat against Arsenal on the bench, but if he plays then they will come out on top.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
Sunny’s prediction: Ipswich did well against United and their striker Liam Delap is very sought after – we are one of the teams who are supposed to be after him. 1-1
Molineux, 15:00 GMT
Fair play to Wolves boss Gary O’Neil for his side’s run of form. They are on a gentler run of fixtures now, after such a tough start to the season, and with two wins and two draws from their past four games it looks like they have turned the corner.
Even so, it is fair to say I did not see Wolves’ big win at Fulham coming, but Matheus Cunha is on fire at the moment and will take some stopping here.
I don’t think Bournemouth will keep Wolves out but they always create plenty of opportunities themselves. They were unlucky to lose to Brighton last time out, and it was a similar story against Brentford as well.
I am expecting goals in this game too, but this time the Cherries will get a battling point.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-2
Sunny’s prediction: I always thought Wolves were better than the league table suggested. 3-1
London Stadium, 17:30 GMT
Julen Lopetegui really needed Monday’s win at Newcastle after a difficult start as West Ham boss.
He and his side will be buoyed by that but this is not a good time to be playing Arsenal, who are purring again now Martin Odegaard is back from injury.
The Gunners were not in great form without Odegaard, but he makes them a different proposition and I am going to say he will make the difference in a very tight game.
Sutton’s prediction: 0-1
Sunny’s prediction: Arsenal have got going again. 0-3
Sunday, 1 December
Stamford Bridge, 13:30 GMT
Aston Villa have not been firing on all cylinders recently but they were unlucky not to beat Juventus on Wednesday, after having a late winner ruled out.
I captained Villa keeper Emi Martinez in my Fantasy team last weekend because I had not kept many clean sheets and just had a gut feeling they would keep Crystal Palace out – and of course they conceded after four minutes.
Martinez is an outstanding goalkeeper, the best in the Premier League, but I cannot see him keeping a clean sheet this week either.
I am backing Chelsea to take this one. They were too strong for Leicester last weekend and while Cole Palmer did not deliver, Nicolas Jackson keeps on scoring and looks like a different player compared to last season.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
Sunny’s prediction: I rate Villa but Cole Palmer is going to run riot here. A triple hat-trick, hopefully! 10-0
Old Trafford, 13:30 GMT
There has been so much hype, or even over-hype, about Manchester United, and I feel a bit sorry for their new manager Ruben Amorim because he needs time, and two or three transfer windows, to put things right.
There was a lot of excitement over the way they started his first game in charge, against Ipswich, but blimey you have got a problem if the Tractor Boys are out-playing you, which is what happened in the end.
Things got worse for Amorim when Ed Sheeran interrupted his interview on Sky afterwards. I have to give credit to commentator Conor McNamara here, but maybe it is time for Amorim to listen to one of Sheeran’s biggest hits and think about ‘the shape of Man U’.
I think the reality is hitting home about Amorim using his favoured 3-4-3 formation with their current squad – especially with Christian Eriksen and Casemiro in midfield.
As for Everton, well a fair few of their fans still seem to be on Sean Dyche’s back, and they could not find a way past Brentford’s 10 men last week.
This time, they will be the team looking to hold out and I believe they can do it because this United team is going to take a while to click.
Once the initial buzz of Amorim’s first home game dies down, things could go flat at Old Trafford, the way it has done quite a lot recently.
I hope it happens for them under Amorim because he seems like a decent guy, but he is in the Manchester United madhouse now and he is about to find out what it is like to be under the microscope every single week.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
Sunny’s prediction: United have not been great but I think they are going to play well in this one. 3-0
Totenham Hotspur Stadium, 13:30 GMT
I love watching Tottenham and what they do. They were missing Micky van de ven and Cristian Romero against Manchester City last week but went to Etihad Stadium, played brilliantly and kept a clean sheet too.
The big worry for Spurs is that Guglielmo Vicario got injured in that game. Fraser Forster is an excellent goalkeeper who has had a great career but he is not renowned for being brilliant with his feet.
Forster can appear a bit clunky on the ball, a little bit like I did when I played for Chelsea, and that could be an issue because of the way Ange Postecoglou wants Spurs to play.
Fulham were on the opposite end of a four-goal scoreline at home to Wolves last weekend but, going off what I have seen from them this season, that is likely to be a one-off.
The Cottagers have scored in every game this season apart from their opening-weekend defeat at Old Trafford, and they will be dangerous here too.
So, I don’t think this will be easy for Spurs but if their forwards play like they did against City, they will come out on top again.
Sutton’s prediction: 3-1
Sunny’s prediction: Tottenham are looking dangerous. I don’t want to say they will win but I think they will. 2-1
Anfield, 16:00 GMT
I was at Anfield on Wednesday for BBC Radio 5 live. Liverpool had a brilliant night, beating Real Madrid in the manner which they did, but there was a bit of bad news for their manager Arne Slot before the end.
Conor Bradley was sensational but he came off late on with what looked like a hamstring injury and then, in stoppage time, Ibrahima Konate fell awkwardly too.
Ideally I would wait to see if those two are fit before I decide what will happen here but I am so far ahead of everyone else with my predictions (see table below) that it is probably fairer if I make a call now.
From City’s point of view, Erling Haaland did not have his shooting boots on against Tottenham last weekend but he did have some chances. The worrying thing was what happened when he didn’t take them, because City capitulated.
There was another collapse, from 3-0 to 3-3, in the closing minutes against Feyenoord on Tuesday, too. Ederson’s decision making for the final Feyenoord goal was awful, but those kind of mistakes keep happening.
Pep Guardiola is stressed and the players look edgy and short of confidence, but let’s put it into context because this is one bad month after many years of total dominance, and what Pep has achieved and done for the Premier League has been phenomenal.
You look through their team and it makes me want to stick to my mantra from the past few weeks, which is that City will respond and remind us how good they are.
We all know how good they can be and you could never rule out, say, Phil Foden coming good, or Erling Haaland putting in a big performance.
The problem with that thought process is that there just doesn’t seem much to suggest that will happen at Anfield. Foden has not been himself all season, and I really don’t know why. Haaland is missing a lot of chances and City are conceding a lot of goals.
So I just don’t see them bouncing back against Liverpool, even if Bradley and Konate cannot play.
While Trent Alexander-Arnold could come back in for Bradley, it is the injury to Konate that gives City a glimmer of hope, because he and Virgil van Dijk have formed such a good partnership under Slot. Jarell Quansah or Joe Gomez would have to come in instead.
Still, I think the intensity that Liverpool played with against Madrid will be too much for City, and I am expecting Slot’s side to repeat that. Their midfield looks so strong and Curtis Jones really impressed me against Real.
It’s been a good week for Liverpool and a good season so far but a win to send them 11 points clear of the defending champions would make it a great week and a great campaign, and that’s what I am going for.
They might not just beat City, they could take them apart like Spurs did.
Because City have been so dominant in the Premier League, there will be a lot of people out there who would be happy to see Liverpool win the title this season.
I would be one of them, I think. I said last season that I would have been happy to see Arsenal finish top, because – other than Celtic in Scotland – no-one wants to see the same team win every year. That is nothing against City or their fans, it is only because they have had it their own way for so long.
Sutton’s prediction: 4-1
Sunny’s prediction: For a long time it just seemed unfair how good City were, but not anymore – they need a big performance here. Liverpool seem to be grinding out the results but I actually think this game might be quite even. 2-2
How did Sutton do last week?
While Manchester City keep on losing in the Premier League, it seems Chris cannot stop winning.
He got five correct results from the 10 games in week 12, with one exact score, giving him a total of 80 points.
His guest, The Farm singer Peter Hooton, got three correct results with one exact score, giving him 60 points.
And the BBC readers got four correct results with no exact scores, for a tally of 40 points.
It was Chris’s correct prediction of Ipswich’s draw with Manchester United that ultimately made the difference, and he has now won for five weeks in a row.
“I was never fazed by my slow start to the season because of my predictions record over the past couple of years,” Sutton said. “The cream always rises to the top, doesn’t it?”
Guest leaderboard 2024-25. . * Average after 12 weeks.
