Former Chelsea striker and BBC Sport analyst Chris Sutton has finalized his score forecasts for the twentieth round of the Premier League as the 2026 season enters a pivotal winter stretch. The weekend’s top-flight action commences on Saturday afternoon at Villa Park, where Aston Villa hosts Nottingham Forest in a 1:30 PM kickoff.
The schedule continues with significant evening fixtures as Bournemouth attempts to halt the momentum of league leaders Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium, while West Ham United travels to Molineux to challenge Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Sunday’s lineup features a highly anticipated rivalry renewal as Manchester United travels to Elland Road for a high-tension encounter with Leeds United. The weekend reaches its climax at the Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City aims to narrow the gap at the summit in a late-afternoon showdown against a Chelsea side currently navigating a period of managerial transition.
“Here is Sutton’s predictions via BBC Sport:”
Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Brighton 2-0 Burnley
Wolves 1-1 West Ham
Bournemouth 1-2 Arsenal
Leeds 2-1 Man United
Everton 1-0 Brentford
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
Newcastle 3-0 Crystal Palace
Tottenham 0-0 Sunderland
Man City 3-1 Chelsea
Sutton’s forecasts suggest a weekend of mixed fortunes for the traditional “Big Six,” notably predicting a home victory for Leeds United that could further complicate Ruben Amorim’s early tenure at Manchester United. Conversely, the pundit expects both Arsenal and Manchester City to secure vital wins to sustain their two-horse race for the Premier League title. His projection of a stalemate between Tottenham and a resilient Sunderland side highlights the Black Cats’ recent defensive improvements, which recently saw them frustrate the defending champions on New Year’s Day.
The 2026 title race remains exceptionally tight, with Arsenal currently holding a four-point advantage over their Manchester rivals. Fans and analysts will closely monitor whether Sutton’s insights translate into reality, particularly his expectation of a convincing 3-1 victory for Pep Guardiola’s side over Chelsea. As the January transfer window opens, these results could heavily influence the mid-season recruitment strategies for clubs at both ends of the table.
