Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton has revealed his score predictions for a pivotal round of midweek Premier League fixtures, headlined by a heavyweight clash between Arsenal and Liverpool. Writing for BBC Sport, the pundit analyzed the upcoming matches as the league table begins to take shape in early 2026.
Highlighting the schedule, West Ham United welcomes Nottingham Forest to the London Stadium tonight, while the action continues on Wednesday with Crystal Palace hosting Aston Villa and Chelsea traveling to face Fulham in a high-stakes West London derby.
Sutton expects a challenging night for the Hammers, predicting a narrow 1-0 victory for Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest. He also anticipates further frustration for Tottenham Hotspur, forecasting a 1-0 defeat for the North London side away at Bournemouth. Meanwhile, Sutton backs Chelsea to find their rhythm under interim guidance, tipping the Blues to secure a 2-1 win at Craven Cottage against Fulham. Manchester City, currently locked in a fierce title race with Arsenal, is expected to handle Brighton with a comfortable 3-1 result at the Etihad Stadium.
The midweek round concludes with a massive showdown on Thursday night at the Emirates Stadium, where league leaders Arsenal host reigning champions Liverpool. Despite Liverpool’s pedigree, Sutton believes Mikel Arteta’s side will maintain their momentum with a clinical 2-0 victory. This result would be a major statement for the Gunners, who are looking to extend their lead at the top of the table after a successful run in early January.
Across other fixtures, Sutton predicts a 1-1 stalemate between Manchester United and Burnley at Turf Moor, marking the first game since the dismissal of Ruben Amorim. He also expects Newcastle United to comfortably overcome Leeds United with a 2-0 win at St. James’ Park. As the January transfer window continues to influence squad dynamics, these midweek results could prove decisive for both the title race and the battle for European qualification.
Full Predictions by Chris Sutton: West Ham 0-1 Nottingham Forest Bournemouth 1-0 Tottenham Brentford 1-1 Sunderland Crystal Palace 1-2 Aston Villa Everton 2-1 Wolves Fulham 1-2 Chelsea Man City 3-1 Brighton Burnley 1-1 Man United Newcastle 2-0 Leeds Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool
