Premier League Predictions: AI vs. Humans Showdown
The machines drew first blood last season.
Microsoft’s CoPilot topped the BBC predictions table at the first attempt, edging out Chris Sutton on the final day. The former striker has not forgotten.
“It was a final-day defeat for me, that is how close I came to the title,” Sutton said. “But I keep reading how AI models are going rogue and attacking each other. So, was I hacked too? It sounds like cheating to me – if so, then last season should really go down as a victory for me.”
He is not the only one keen on revenge. Sutton’s weekly forecasts are back, joined by musician and Manchester United fan Liam Fray, plus the BBC readers – all trying to knock the chatbot off its perch.
The AI, once again, is Microsoft Copilot Chat. The brief was simple: “predict this weekend’s Premier League results”. The battle lines are drawn.
Arsenal v Coventry City (Emirates Stadium, 20:00 BST)
Arsenal look ominous. Champions, stacked with depth, and fresh from dismantling Manchester City in the Community Shield in a way that underlined their authority rather than offered a pre-season quirk.
“They are the team to beat, and their squad just looks so strong,” Sutton said. He refuses to overhype the Community Shield, but the manner of that win over City impressed him.
Coventry, back in the top flight and walking straight into a storm, could not have asked for a tougher reintroduction. Frank Lampard’s first assignment is a trip to the Emirates; Sutton remembers Norwich being blown away at Liverpool on opening night in 2019 and fears something similar.
Bruno Guimaraes is hailed as a strong addition for Arsenal, while Christos Tzolis – once overwhelmed at Norwich – now looks a far better fit. Daniel Farke called Tzolis one of Europe’s brightest young prospects when he brought him to Carrow Road in 2021; that judgement is starting to look justified.
None of this helps Coventry.
On the flip side, a draw here would feel seismic for the Sky Blues and could turbo-charge their season. Sutton just cannot see it.
“It just depends how much Mikel Arteta’s side put their foot down,” he said.
- Sutton’s prediction: 3-0
- Liam’s prediction: 3-0
- AI’s prediction: 3-0
Liam, though, is delighted to see Coventry back: “I remember completing my Merlin sticker album when I was a kid, when they had Roy Wegerle and Steve Ogrizovic. I think they will have a good season… but they just need to take the hit here.”
Hull City v Manchester United (MKM Stadium, 12:30)
Hull are not planning to be easy guests in the Premier League.
Assistant head coach Dean Holden spelled it out on the Monday Night Club: they will be awkward, direct when needed, and “horrible to play against”. With a home opener against Manchester United, that edge might be crucial.
As a story, Hull’s rise under Sergej Jakirovic is already remarkable – from 21st in the Championship to promotion via the play-offs. Survival is the next mountain, and Sutton is wary: they lost a third of their league games last season.
United, meanwhile, arrive with expectation but not a huge amount of transfer noise. Youri Tielemans is the standout arrival, a “safe signing” in Sutton’s words – in the mould of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo last year.
The twist? United’s success last season has created a new problem. Champions League football will stretch a squad that still feels light.
Sutton believes Michael Carrick over-achieved by finishing third. He does not see United at Arsenal’s level and, with Tottenham and Chelsea free of European commitments, he has left United out of his top four.
They should still start with three points, he says, but this is the beginning of a gruelling campaign that will demand reinforcements.
- Sutton’s prediction: 1-2
- Liam’s prediction: 0-3
- AI’s prediction: 1-3
Liam, a United fan and a Carrick believer, is bullish. “Hopefully we can start this season the way we finished the last one… I had us down to win this 2-0 but I hate that because it sounds conservative, so I am going bigger.”
On Marcus Rashford, he is emotional rather than analytical: “If I was Marcus, I’d be thinking ‘I am going to make this work’ because of how special it could be if it does. Every part of me wants that to happen, but I don’t know if it will.”
Ipswich Town v Sunderland (Portman Road, 15:00)
The old East Anglian fault line gets a gentle nudge here.
Ipswich boss O’Neil is a former Norwich player, prompting Sutton to jokingly question his loyalties and wonder if he has crossed the divide to sabotage Town. The humour stops quickly, though.
Sutton genuinely wants Ipswich to make a proper fist of staying up. The recruitment gives them a chance. Daizen Maeda, signed from Celtic, is a player Sutton knows well and rates highly.
Maeda is a pressing machine. “He will be the best pressing player in the Premier League bar none,” Sutton said. For a side likely to counter-attack and chase in behind, his speed and intensity could be priceless.
Ipswich will take heart from Sunderland and Leeds, both of whom recruited aggressively after promotion and flourished. The trick is knitting a new group together quickly. That is O’Neil’s early challenge.
Sunderland arrive with European football in their pockets after last season’s surge. How they cope with the extra games is unclear, but their ceiling is not. Sutton still sees the power that bullied Arsenal last year, even if that shock factor has gone.
They retain Granit Xhaka’s leadership in midfield, with Wilson Isidor and Brian Brobbey up front to stretch teams.
- Sutton’s prediction: 0-1
- Liam’s prediction: 2-2
- AI’s prediction: 2-1
Nottingham Forest v Leeds United (City Ground, 15:00)
Nottingham Forest were chaos and resilience rolled into one last season.
Four managers, wildly different styles, and yet they stayed up and reached a Europa League semi-final. Sutton dubbed them “kneejerk Nottingham Forest”, but they survived the turbulence.
Now Oliver Glasner is in charge. He has Chris Wood back from injury – a significant boost, with his experience and goals set to be vital. Forest have lost Elliot Anderson in midfield, but keeping Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi is a major win.
Leeds, under Daniel Farke, also defied the doubters to stay up. Sutton was “delighted” Farke proved people wrong. This year, hopes are higher again, buoyed by the arrivals of Harry Wilson – outstanding for Fulham – and goalkeeper James Trafford.
Sutton will be at the City Ground for Radio 5 Live and admits he is almost guessing. Glasner leaned on a 3-4-3 at Crystal Palace but insists he adapts to his squad, leaving Forest’s shape a mystery.
“It will be very interesting to see how Forest start, and how Glasner fares,” Sutton said. “Will he still be there in September?”
- Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
- Liam’s prediction: 2-1
- AI’s prediction: 2-1
Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur (Gtech Community Stadium, 17:30)
There is a hum around Spurs again.
Sandro Tonali has arrived to anchor midfield, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke bolster the defence, and Micky van de Ven has signed a new deal. The pieces are there for Roberto de Zerbi to build something slick and aggressive.
Without European football, the expectation is simple: push into the top six.
Across the touchline, Keith Andrews is coming off a “sensational” first season at Brentford. His side were compact, organised and devastating on the counter. Sutton expects a similar blueprint here: Spurs on the ball, Brentford waiting to spring.
Goals should not be an issue for the Bees. Igor Thiago lit up last season and Kevin Schade is another threat.
- Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
- Liam’s prediction: 1-2
- AI’s prediction: 1-2
Liam is convinced Spurs will kick on: Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Andy Robertson and a fit-again James Maddison give them four major pieces they did not have a year ago.
Brighton v Aston Villa (Amex Stadium, 14:00)
Aston Villa step into the Champions League with questions hanging over them.
Sutton does not see them returning to the top four. They have lost Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans, leaving a hole that Johan Manzambi – talented but raw – is being asked to fill quickly.
Alejandro Garnacho is another puzzle. Sutton wonders if anyone can truly unlock him, then points to Unai Emery as perhaps the one coach who might.
The goalkeeping situation adds more intrigue. Japan’s Zion Suzuki has arrived “revved up”, while Emiliano Martinez appeared on the verge of a move to Juventus before that collapsed. Only one can start.
“As I had to remind Mark Chapman… you can’t play with two goalkeepers,” Sutton quipped. The laws have changed in some areas this summer, but not that one.
Brighton have their own absences. Danny Welbeck and Van Hecke, the spine of last season’s team, have gone. Sutton is looking to Jack Hinshelwood to step up after a phenomenal previous campaign.
Villa started horribly last year, needing six league games for a win. Sutton expects a sharper opening this time.
- Sutton’s prediction: 1-2
- Liam’s prediction: 1-2
- AI’s prediction: 2-2
Liam still cannot quite pin Villa down, but even with Rogers gone to Chelsea, he backs them to edge it.
Manchester City v Bournemouth (Etihad Stadium, 14:00)
Manchester City have been poked and prodded all week after their Community Shield display. Sutton is not buying the full-blown crisis narrative.
He does not tip them for the title, but he is adamant they are not about to drift into mid-table. The squad is still stacked; they will be in the fight.
Bournemouth, under Marco Rose, should be fun. Rose’s RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg sides were all about front-foot football, and Sutton expects that same aggression.
The question is whether Rose really goes toe-to-toe with City at the Etihad in his first game. Sutton thinks he will. That is why he is predicting goals – just not evenly shared.
- Sutton’s prediction: 4-1
- Liam’s prediction: 3-0
- AI’s prediction: 3-1
It will be the first match with City’s new stand fully open, a full house greeting the post-Pep era. If they can ignite Phil Foden again, Liam believes they will still be a “force to be reckoned with”.
Newcastle United v Liverpool (St James’ Park, 16:30)
Newcastle enter the season stripped of their midfield core and some of their spark.
Matthias Jaissle has impressed Sutton, but losing Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes – “two absolute monsters in midfield” – has ripped out the heart of his side. Anthony Gordon’s influence has gone, Kieran Trippier’s experience too. The mood is tinged with sadness.
“That’s not to say Newcastle can’t do well now,” Sutton added, “but I think their fans are realistic about this season and how it will go.”
Liverpool, under Andoni Iraola, are still trying to find their rhythm. Pre-season exposed defensive frailties and a lack of fitness; Sutton hopes they can now run for more than half an hour.
He has no doubts about their attack. Alexander Isak, returning to St James’ Park in Liverpool colours, will not get a warm welcome, but Sutton expects him to shine from the start.
- Sutton’s prediction: 1-3
- Liam’s prediction: 1-2
- AI’s prediction: 1-1
Liam feels for Newcastle fans: the takeover promised lift-off, yet it never quite exploded as imagined. Big players have gone, and he is curious how St James’ Park reacts.
“When it is banging, it is really banging,” he said. “But it is also really obvious when the mood is different.”
For Liverpool, he sees a very different beast if Isak hits the ground running and Florian Wirtz delivers.
Fulham v Chelsea (Craven Cottage, 20:00)
Craven Cottage has been a place of calm in recent seasons. That might be about to change.
Sutton worries about Fulham without Marco Silva. Harry Wilson’s creativity has gone, Raul Jimenez – who led the line so diligently – has departed too. In their place, a gamble on youth.
Alvaro Arbeloa steps in for Silva and has been backed with a trio of young attackers: Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid, plus Swedish teenager Jonah Kusi-Asare from Bayern Munich.
If you are a Fulham fan, Sutton says, the concern is obvious. Under Silva, they felt stable and safe, never dragged into a relegation fight. This year, he expects more of a struggle.
Across west London, Chelsea are starting over again. Xabi Alonso is the new man in the dugout, and Sutton is optimistic.
He does not see a repeat of the Antonio Conte leap from 10th to champions a decade ago – that squad was far stronger – but there is enough here for a significant step forward. Cole Palmer remains, Morgan Rogers arrives as an exciting signing, and Alonso himself is “a breath of fresh air”.
- Sutton’s prediction: 0-2
- Liam’s prediction: 0-2
- AI’s prediction: 1-2
Liam is intrigued by Fulham’s new infinity pool at Craven Cottage and jokes about tapping up Felix White for tickets. The humour masks a warning.
“Fulham always seem to be safe… but this might be the year they struggle a bit,” he said. “Keep an eye on that line, above 18th place.”
The numbers are in: humans on one side, a chatbot on the other, all staring at the same fixture list and seeing slightly different futures.
Last season, the machine called it better. This time, with managers shifting, squads reshaped and pressure building from day one, who blinks first – the code, or the crowd?
