Premier League predictions: Chris Sutton v AEW wrestler Claudio Castagnoli

BBC

01 January 0001

Premier League predictions: Chris Sutton v AEW wrestler Claudio Castagnoli

Tottenham have lost their past three matches and are missing some key players, but will their manager Ange Postecoglou change his attacking approach when they go to Etihad Stadium on Sunday?

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton said: "I know enough about Ange to know he will double down.

"Spurs will take the game to Manchester City, but that just means City will have the opportunity to expose them on the counter."

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

This week, he takes on All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Claudio Castagnoli.

Switzerland's Castagnoli is part of AEW's All In London show at Wembley Stadium on 25 August next year. More than 80,000 fans attended the 2023 event, and tickets for 2024 go on sale on Friday.

Castagnoli grew up supporting Swiss side Lucerne and doesn't have an English team despite the best efforts of fellow wrestler Sheamus, who is a big Liverpool fan.

"Sheamus tried to get me to support Liverpool for a long time, but I kind of held off from that," said Castagnoli.

"I really just love following the Swiss players around and I watch out for whichever teams they are playing for.

"Sheamus always gets mad at me because I just get jerseys from all of them, but I just say 'well, of course I am going to do that!'.

"But Manchester City were really nice when I visited them, and then there is Fulham - with the boss being Fulham then that's who you support, right!?"

AEW co-owner Tony Khan is the son of Fulham's owner, Shahid Khan, and is the club's director of football operations - but he has not strong-armed any of his wrestlers into supporting the Cottagers.

"He's just not like that with Fulham," Castagnoli added. "He just enjoys it when people love football. He loves wrestling, he loves Jacksonville Jaguars [Khan's NFL team] and he loves Fulham.

"He has such enthusiasm for football that, even if you support another team, he just loves that you love something that he loves.

"So, I watch Fulham's games because it is fun - because you can talk to him about it and everything and he is just so excited. He is so pumped, and it is obviously great to see when Fulham are doing well."

Claudio Castagnoli was speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk's Rob Butler. Chris Sutton was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.

SUTTON'S PREDICTIONS

All matches kick off at 15:00 GMT unless otherwise stated.

SATURDAY, 2 DECEMBER

Arsenal v Wolves

Wolves have been on the wrong end of a few dodgy VAR decisions recently and that is what has cost them points, rather than poor performances.

Arsenal left it very late to beat Brentford last week at the very end of a very close game and I don't see this as being straightforward for them either.

It will be down to the Gunners to find a way of winning it, again, and I think they will do that.

What really helps Arsenal at the moment is how strong they are at the back - they have the best defensive record in the Premier League, and I can see them keeping another clean sheet here.

I covered their win over Lens in the Champions League for BBC Radio 5 live on Wednesday and, in his programme notes, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard said he felt they hadn't hit their best form yet.

But they are still top of the Premier League and through to the last 16 in Europe after topping their group, and maybe there is more to come.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Claudio's prediction: 2-0

Brentford v Luton

Luton are showing such good resilience at the moment, and I was impressed by the way they won such a tight game with Crystal Palace last week.

So, fair play to Hatters boss Rob Edwards, because his team are proving a lot of people wrong.

Even so, I still fancy Brentford here. We know how streetwise they are and also how strong they are at home - they were unfortunate to lose to Arsenal last time out, and they should bounce back here.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Claudio's prediction: 1-0

Burnley v Sheff Utd

Who on earth do I go with here?

Burnley have the worst home record in the Premier League, with seven defeats out of seven, while Sheffield United boast the worst away record, with one point from six games so far.

I keep saying the Clarets will get a draw when they play at Turf Moor, and I keep being wrong, but I don't really have much choice this time - I don't really want to back Burnley, but Sheffield United were so bad last week that I don't want to back them either.

Bournemouth beat the Blades 3-1 at Bramall Lane last weekend, but they could have absolutely wiped the floor with them - the scoreline flattered Paul Heckingbottom's side.

So I am going for a draw. If I'm wrong and there is a winner, then it could be a problem for whichever manager does lose.

It is one thing being beaten by the top teams but losing to the teams in and around you is damaging, and would really increase the pressure on Heckingbottom, or Burnley boss Vincent Kompany.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Claudio's prediction: 0-2

Nottingham Forest v Everton (17:30)

This feels like a big game for Nottingham Forest, who saw their unbeaten home record ended by Brighton last week.

I am reading that boss Steve Cooper is under pressure now, and his problem is the expectations of Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. I think Marinakis has to be careful, because he doesn't seem to understand the connection Cooper has with the fans.

Everton are obviously badly in need of the points too. I actually thought they were unlucky against Manchester United last weekend - yes, they lost 3-0, but they created plenty of chances.

My first thought here was a draw but I actually just have a feeling that Sean Dyche will find a way, and Everton will edge this one.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Claudio's prediction: This is for a friend of mine, [retired wrestler] Robbie Brookside. He supports Everton, so I hope they lose - this is what a good friend I am! 1-0

Newcastle v Man Utd (20:00)

Manchester United did some good things going forward against Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday, but they also did some bad things at the back.

Newcastle United will feel hard done by after the way they lost to Paris St-Germain on Tuesday and I think we'll see a strong performance from them back at St James' Park.

Eddie Howe's side hammered Chelsea at home last weekend and I think they will overrun Manchester United too. This could be a difficult evening for Erik ten Hag, and the end of his side's run of good results in the league.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Claudio's prediction: 2-1

SUNDAY, 3 DECEMBER

Bournemouth v Aston Villa (14:00)

Aston Villa have been on fire but Bournemouth have hit a good patch too, with three wins in their past four games. That makes this one really difficult to call.

Cherries fans always get ratty if I predict a loss for them so I am going to give them a point here.

Villa's win at Spurs last week was a great result but that was such an open game. Bournemouth will be a lot more stubborn, and it will be harder for Unai Emery's side to break them down.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Claudio's prediction: 1-3

Chelsea v Brighton (14:00)

I just have to laugh when I think about trying to make a prediction here.

I say every week how I have no idea what to expect from Chelsea, and every week I get it wrong. They are so inconsistent, while Brighton are not exactly easy to call at the moment either, because they concede so many goals.

I will be right about Chelsea at some point, though, and this time I am thinking they surely have to respond after they lost so heavily at Newcastle.

Brighton play AEK Athens in Greece on Thursday night and, because of that, I am going to go with Mauricio Pochettino's side to edge a high-scoring game... so stand by for a 0-0 draw that is last on MOTD2.

Sutton's prediction: 3-2

Claudio's prediction: 3-1

Liverpool v Fulham (14:00)

Fulham got a good win against Wolves on Monday, helped by a couple of big decisions going their way. They will need some more good fortune to get anything at Anfield, and I really don't see that happening.

Liverpool picked up an important point at Etihad Stadium last weekend but all three are needed here.

The Reds are without goalkeeper Alisson and Diogo Jota but they should be able to cope without them. I fancy Mohamed Salah to score, and Jurgen Klopp's side to win comfortably.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

Claudio's prediction: 0-1

West Ham v Crystal Palace (14:00)

Crystal Palace's defeat at Luton means they have lost four of their past five games but it is not as if they have been playing particularly badly. Their 4-0 defeat at Newcastle was the only one of those defeats where they lost heavily.

West Ham will be hoping Jarrod Bowen is fit, but they have a trip to Serbia in the Europa League to negotiate before they can think about this one.

That definitely helps the Eagles, and this game smells of a draw to me. It's just a case of whether there will be any goals or not.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Claudio's prediction: 3-0

Man City v Tottenham (16:30)

Not many teams go toe to toe with City at Etihad Stadium so it is going to be very interesting to see what sort of line-up Spurs go with.

Full-backs Ben Davies and Emerson Royal were the centre-back pairing against Villa, with Eric Dier left on the bench.

Whoever gets the nod this time will have to be the best players in the team, because they get left exposed so much.

I am expecting another really open game and Tottenham will create chances, like they did last weekend against Villa. If they had taken them, they would have been out of sight by half-time.

City will get loads of opportunities too, though - and they are just ruthless.

That's why I'm saying there are going to be a few goals, it's just that Pep Guardiola's side will get most of them.

Sutton's prediction: 4-2

Claudio's prediction: 3-1