Premier League festive predictions: Chris Sutton faces singer and West Ham fan Chesney Hawkes

After a six-week break for the winter World Cup, the Premier League is again for Christmas, so what can we count on from the primary set of festive fixtures?

“Till we see everybody play, it is actually onerous to know what may occur.”

Sutton is making predictions for each top-flight recreation this season, in opposition to quite a lot of visitors.

For the primary set of festive fixtures, from 26 to twenty-eight December, he’s up in opposition to singer and West Ham fan Chesney Hawkes.

Hawkes was labelled as a World Cup fortunate attraction by the England workforce after he flew in to carry out his primary hit, The One And Solely, on the pitch at half-time throughout their recreation in opposition to Wales, turning him into one the shock stars of the match.

Hawkes was on a 32-date tour of the UK, scheduled to complete in Edinburgh on 27 November, when his co-manager James requested him if he can be up for going direct from Scotland to carry out on the recreation in Doha a few days later.

“As an enormous soccer fan, I jumped on the likelihood, so with little sleep and plenty of tour-lag, I discovered myself standing on the pitch at half-time singing The One and Solely to 60,000 followers,” Hawkes advised BBC Sport.

“It was a little bit of a lacklustre first half with no signal of a objective. After my half-time present, the boys got here out fired up and went on to win 3-0. I in no way ever claimed there was any connection, however the press picked up the story and ran with it!

“I had a little bit little bit of trepidation about performing in entrance of 60,000 soccer followers, however I needn’t have anxious; it actually was a goose-bump second for me. It was the primary time I might performed in a stadium for the reason that early Nineteen Nineties, however it was wonderful to listen to that crowd sing together with me. The craziness of the next two weeks was very surreal.

“As far the soccer was involved, this World Cup was the very best ever: so entertaining, so many great video games, last-minute targets and virtually ridiculous moments. I liked each minute of it.

“Then we had the best World Cup ultimate ever to complete it off. I used to be on a ship within the Caribbean with my household and we watched it in a theatre with 1,000 followers. The second Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup was a chic second in soccer historical past.”

Hawkes is a lifelong West Ham fan so, in addition to that Messi second, one other spotlight for him was assembly midfielder Declan Rice after the Wales recreation.

“I used to be within the tunnel simply after the sport, so the gamers had been clearly buzzing from a 3-0 win,” he defined. “All of them got here as much as me to say hello, and most of them advised me that I ought to sing at each recreation as a fortunate attraction. Declan was notably beautiful. I did have his shirt on, so possibly that helped.

“The England equipment males had been variety sufficient to present me Declan’s shirt. After I bought to satisfy him, I requested him to signal it for my West Ham-mad son Indi. He fortunately obliged.

“As Declan and I had been speaking, the remainder of the England gamers had been round us. I seen the unity and workforce spirit between them. There was clearly plenty of love within the camp.

“I might like to play a gig for them – simply identify the time and place, and I will be there!

“Within the meantime, I’m very excited in regards to the upcoming launch of my new album, which was written and produced with super-producer Jake Gosling – oh, and I’m trying ahead to watching West Ham carry the FA Cup on 3 June – come on you Irons!”

An accurate consequence (choosing a win, draw or defeat) is value 10 factors. The precise rating earns 40 factors.

SUTTON’S PREDICTIONS

Video games kick off at 15:00 GMT until in any other case acknowledged

MONDAY, 26 DECEMBER

Brentford v Tottenham (12:30 GMT)

It is onerous to recollect what most groups did of their final video games earlier than the World Cup, however I’ve not forgotten Brentford’s gorgeous win at Manchester Metropolis, with Ivan Toney scoring twice.

Toney, who did not make it into the England squad, will probably be trying to choose up the place he left off whereas Tottenham will probably be hoping Harry Kane hits the bottom working after his return from Qatar.

Spurs have gotten Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski match once more, which is able to assist, however Richarlison is out injured for a number of weeks and they will miss him.

I might like to say this will probably be a thriller to carry again Premier League soccer with a bang, however my intestine feeling is it’d truly be a barely underwhelming draw.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

Chesney’s prediction: 1-3

Crystal Palace v Fulham

This can be a difficult one as a result of Fulham had an actual go at just about everybody they performed within the first a part of the season, house or away.

They’ve in all probability over-achieved thus far, whereas it appears like Crystal Palace have under-performed in lots of respects, actually after I look via their squad.

I’m going to again the Eagles this time, although. They’re all the time respectable at house and I feel they may edge this.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

Chesney’s prediction: 1-1

Everton v Wolves

This can be a huge recreation for each groups, however it truly feels larger for Everton.

It is an opportunity for brand spanking new Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui to get to work correctly, in what will probably be his first recreation in command of the Premier League’s backside facet since he was appointed greater than a month in the past.

Lopetegui has tons to do, together with getting Wolves to attain some targets, however he’s making a recent begin, whereas Everton had been sinking quick earlier than the season paused for the World Cup.

Frank Lampard’s facet have misplaced six of their previous eight video games in all competitions and couldn’t have signed off on way more of low than being spanked twice in a row by Bournemouth, within the Carabao Cup after which the league.

Wolves are in a relegation battle, however so are Everton and a win right here is completely essential for them with Manchester Metropolis up subsequent, at Etihad Stadium on New Yr’s Eve.

Everton need to win, and I feel they may win. I used to be at Goodison Park final season when their followers made an enormous distinction for them in video games like this, and they’ll assist them once more right here.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-0

Chesney’s prediction: 2-0

Leicester v Newcastle

Each of those sides had been in nice type earlier than the World Cup – Leicester had climbed the desk due to 4 wins in 5 league video games, whereas Newcastle flew as much as third with 5 league wins in a row.

The Foxes gained this fixture 4-0 in December final 12 months, however Newcastle are a very completely different workforce now. It will likely be shut, however I am backing them to discover a approach of profitable this one too.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-2

Chesney’s prediction: 2-2

Southampton v Brighton

Southampton are one other workforce with a brand new supervisor after appointing Luton boss Nathan Jones, however I’m not satisfied they may keep up, whatever the determination to switch Ralph Hasenhuttl.

I may be proved fallacious come Might however I truly suppose they’d have a greater likelihood of avoiding relegation if they’d caught with Hasenhuttl.

Saints have gotten a fairly variety run of video games developing, with Fulham and Nottingham Forest subsequent after Brighton, and so they really want a ‘new supervisor bounce’ to select up some wins from these fixtures.

I’m not positive they may get one in every of them right here, although. Brighton play with a little bit of freedom underneath Roberto De Zerbi, and so they all the time seem like scoring targets.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-2

Chesney’s prediction: 2-3

Aston Villa v Liverpool (17:30)

Liverpool appeared fairly energetic in opposition to Manchester Metropolis within the Carabao Cup on Thursday however they missed some huge possibilities and in addition appeared fairly leaky on the again.

I can see there being at the very least one shock consequence on this first spherical of video games again after the World Cup and I feel Villa boss Unai Emery will fancy his possibilities of sneaking this one.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-0

Chesney’s prediction: 0-1

Arsenal v West Ham (20:00)

Arsenal are 5 factors clear on the the highest of the desk however we’re going to discover out within the subsequent few weeks whether or not they are surely title contenders, aren’t we?

The break in all probability got here on the worst potential time for them, due to the shape they had been in, and there is not a extra vital participant they might have misplaced to harm than Gabriel Jesus.

Individuals may level at his lack of targets earlier than the World Cup however Jesus is integral to them in the way in which they press, and along with his link-up play.

He’s irreplaceable, actually from inside their squad, so the seriousness of his harm will in all probability resolve whether or not they attempt to make some signings in January.

I really feel like I’ve backed West Ham to be higher than they’ve been on loads of events already this season, however the one factor they need to be right here is hard to beat.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

Chesney’s prediction: Arsenal are on fireplace in the mean time, however West Ham have all the time carried out in opposition to in-form groups. I do know we’ve not had the best first half to the season, however I’m hoping we are able to begin enjoying the way in which I do know we are able to play now, beginning right here! It’s going to be a fast-paced recreation with each groups attacking from the beginning. I feel Jarrod Bowen and Gianluca Scamacca will rating for us. 2-2

Why West Ham? My father is a Queens Park Rangers fan, however he by no means took my brother and I to any video games. An in depth household buddy, Roger, took Jodie and I to West Ham versus Spurs within the early Eighties. West Ham misplaced, however the Hammers had been doing the Hokey Cokey up and down the aisles. I will always remember that feeling of belonging to a tribe, and we had been hooked from the beginning. I really like West Ham and I’ve handed my love right down to my children. I advised them from the start that in the event that they selected one other workforce, they’d have to seek out elsewhere to stay! Fortunately, they selected correctly…

TUESDAY, 27 DECEMBER

Chelsea v Bournemouth (17:30 GMT)

Chelsea are determined for a win after going six home video games and not using a victory, and dropping the previous 4 of them, so the stress is actually on Blues boss Graham Potter right here.

I’m a robust believer that Potter simply wants time to get issues proper at Stamford Bridge, however they’ve had points with scoring targets since he took cost and so they might want to end their possibilities in opposition to Bournemouth, in addition to create them.

I do count on Chelsea to win this recreation however it’s going to be fascinating to seek out out what occurs with the Cherries subsequent too.

Gary O’Neil’s success as their caretaker boss meant he positively deserved to be appointed on a everlasting foundation however, to maintain the job, he must match these outcomes now.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-0

Chesney’s prediction: 5-0

Man Utd v Nottingham Forest (20:00 GMT)

In the beginning of the season, I did not suppose Nottingham Forest would go down however proper now they’re bang in hassle.

A minimum of Forest have gotten a while to avoid wasting themselves however their away report is appalling – simply two factors and one objective from seven video games – and I do not see them including to both tally at Outdated Trafford.

Now outdated sulky pants – aka Cristiano Ronaldo – has gone, the expectation is that Manchester United will probably be in a greater place and be significantly better as a workforce.

That could be the case, however I would not be shocked in the event that they make onerous work of profitable this recreation and wish a little bit of magic from Marcus Rashford to recover from the road.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-0

Chesney’s prediction: 3-1

WEDNESDAY, 28 DECEMBER

Leeds v Man Metropolis (20:00 GMT)

Manchester Metropolis put out a robust workforce in opposition to Liverpool within the Carabao Cup on Thursday and so they appeared like they meant enterprise of their first recreation again.

I like the way in which Leeds play, and so they all the time appear to have a spell in each recreation the place they’re on prime, however they not often do it for 90 minutes and that worries me when they’re up in opposition to a facet pretty much as good as Metropolis.

There will probably be a fantastic environment at Elland Street – I all the time liked going there as a participant, and it’s the identical now I’m going to work on video games there for five Stay – however that will not assist Leeds a lot right here.

Sutton’s prediction: 0-4

Chesney’s prediction: 0-4

Chris Sutton was talking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.

How did Sutton do final time?

Within the final set of fixtures earlier than the World Cup, Sutton bought 4 appropriate outcomes from 10 matches, together with two actual scores, giving him a complete of 100 factors.

He beat Jamie Johnson stars Jessica McHale and Olivia Chomczuk, who each bought three appropriate outcomes, with no actual scores, for a complete of 30 factors.

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