The Premier League's 2026 predictions are heating up, and the competition is fierce! Chris Sutton, BBC Sport's football expert, is facing a challenging start to the year, with AI taking the lead in the title race. But will his luck change against singer-songwriter Andrew Cushin and AI?
Sutton, who made a strong start to the season, has been outperformed by AI in recent weeks. He even lost to his daughter at cards over Christmas, suspecting she had some AI-like assistance!
This season, Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games against AI, BBC Sport readers, and various guests. For week 20, he faces off against Newcastle fan and musician Andrew Cushin, whose second album reached the top 40 last year.
But here's where it gets controversial: Sutton predicts a 2-1 win for Aston Villa against Nottingham Forest, while Cushin foresees a 3-1 victory for Villa. AI agrees with Sutton's prediction. Will this be a turning point for Sutton, or will AI continue its reign?
Moving on to the Brighton vs. Burnley match, Sutton predicts a 2-0 win for Brighton, who have been struggling despite his previous backing. Cushin, on the other hand, predicts a 1-0 win for Brighton, praising their player Yankuba Minteh. AI boldly predicts a 3-0 victory for Brighton.
In the Wolves vs. West Ham game, Sutton calls for a 1-1 draw, acknowledging both teams' struggles. Cushin, however, predicts a 0-1 win for Wolves, while AI also predicts a 1-1 draw.
Bournemouth's impressive performance against Chelsea has caught Sutton's attention, but he still predicts a 1-2 win for Arsenal. Cushin agrees with a 1-3 win for Arsenal, and AI concurs with a 1-3 prediction.
Leeds United's recent form has impressed Sutton, and he predicts a 2-1 win against Manchester United. Cushin goes for an upset with a 1-0 win for Leeds, and AI predicts a 1-2 win for Manchester United.
Everton's strong season continues, and Sutton predicts a 1-0 win against Brentford. Cushin sees a 1-1 draw, and AI also predicts a 1-1 draw.
Fulham's Christmas performance, despite key player losses, has Sutton predicting a 1-1 draw with Liverpool. Cushin expects an exciting 2-2 draw, and AI predicts a 0-2 win for Liverpool.
Crystal Palace's recent poor form has Sutton predicting a 3-0 win for Newcastle. Cushin, a Newcastle fan, hopes for a 2-0 win, and AI agrees with a 2-0 prediction.
Sunderland's impressive performance against Manchester City has Sutton predicting a 0-0 draw with Tottenham. Cushin also predicts a 1-1 draw, and AI boldly predicts a 3-1 win for Tottenham.
Chelsea's recent managerial changes have Sutton expecting a 3-1 win for Manchester City. Cushin agrees with a 3-1 prediction, and AI predicts a 2-1 win for City.
Last week, Sutton and his guest Tom A Smith both scored 30 points, while BBC readers managed 50 points. AI dominated with 100 points. Will Sutton regain his footing, or will AI continue its reign? Share your predictions and opinions in the comments below!
