Arsenal's Carabao Cup exit to League Two side Fleetwood Town has made Sunday's trip to Liverpool a big test for Mikel Arteta's side, according to BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton. Sutton said Arsenal put out a strong team but were humiliated by Fleetwood and that Liverpool seem to be getting it together. He predicted a 1-0 Liverpool win at Anfield. Actor John Hannah, an Arsenal supporter, went the other way with a 2-0 Arsenal win, saying Martin Odegaard will make the difference. The AI prediction was 1-2 to Arsenal.
Hannah, star of new action thriller Bad Day At The Office, which is in UK and Irish cinemas from 30 October, has been an Arsenal fan since moving to London from Scotland more than 40 years ago. He grew up in East Kilbride and hoped to become a footballer; his childhood friends included Rangers legend Ally McCoist. Hannah said he played on the right wing, was small and fast and scored a lot of goals. He later went to drama school and had about 20 years without kicking a ball before the 2013 film Shooting for Socrates, in which he played Northern Ireland manager Billy Bingham at the 1986 World Cup, led to a kickaround in Spain. He said he snapped his ACL after that and now mainly cycles and runs. He named Ian Wright, Tony Adams, Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas and Santi Cazorla among his favourite Arsenal players, and said he does not think Arsenal have clicked yet this season, though he sees only Manchester City mounting a strong title challenge.
Sutton is predicting all 380 Premier League games this season against AI, BBC Sport readers and guests. A correct result is worth 10 points and an exact score earns 40.
Elsewhere in Saturday's fixtures, Sutton and Hannah both predicted a 3-1 Chelsea win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, while AI went for 2-1 Chelsea. Sutton said everyone will be watching because of Michael Carrick's situation at United and wondered how much longer he will be in charge. Carrick kept his job after heavy defeats by Como and Bournemouth, and Sutton felt that keeping him on may just prolong the misery. Chelsea had also had a bad week, losing to Tottenham and being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Liverpool, but Sutton expected Danny Welbeck to lead the attack with Joao Pedro injured and Cole Palmer back from suspension. Hannah compared Carrick's situation to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's at United.
At the Vitality Stadium, Sutton predicted 1-1 between Bournemouth and Leeds, wondering whether Bournemouth's wins over Aston Villa, Manchester United and AC Milan had taken a lot out of them. Hannah went for 2-2 and AI 1-1.
At the Gtech Community Stadium, Sutton predicted 1-1 between Brentford and Nottingham Forest. He said Forest should have beaten Ipswich and that Oliver Glasner's side are in the bottom three and desperate for a win, while Brentford draw a lot. Hannah went 2-1 Brentford and AI 2-1.
Coventry and Sunderland meet in the battle of the bottom two. Sutton backed Sunderland to win 1-0, saying Coventry have effort and pace but lack the quality of most other Premier League teams, while Sunderland beat Brentford in the Carabao Cup and Brian Brobbey's return from injury is a positive. Hannah predicted 0-2 Sunderland and AI 1-1.
Hull and Ipswich, both promoted teams on 10 points, meet at the MKM Stadium. Sutton backed Ipswich to nick a 2-1 away win, noting they have already won once on the road at Crystal Palace. Hannah went 2-0 Hull and AI 1-1.
Manchester City host Brighton after knocking them out of the Carabao Cup on penalties. Sutton said little was learned because both sides made so many changes, but he felt City played well against Aston Villa and Brighton had enough chances against Liverpool. Sutton and Hannah both predicted 3-1 City, with Sutton expecting Erling Haaland to get a couple, and AI also went 3-1.
Tottenham host Crystal Palace, who reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals by beating Fulham. Sutton felt Pierre Sage needed that result because of Palace's poor league form. Spurs are on the up after winning at Chelsea, though they needed luck when Mike Penders punched their first goal into his own net. Sutton predicted 2-0 Spurs, Hannah went 0-1 Palace and AI 2-0. Sutton worried for Sage because some Palace fans are uncertain about him and feel the team are too easy to get at.
Aston Villa host Fulham, with Sutton predicting 3-1 to Villa. He said Fulham are well structured but he does not see them stopping in-form Villa or striker Nicolas Jackson. Hannah went 0-0 and AI 2-1.
On Monday, Newcastle host Everton. Sutton predicted 1-2 Everton, saying Everton rely heavily on Thierno Barry but carried more threat than expected in their defeat by Arsenal and that Newcastle are so open they may leave the door ajar. Hannah went 1-1 and AI 2-0 Newcastle.
Last time, Sutton got five correct results including two exact scores from 10 games for 110 points, beating the BBC readers, who had four correct results and two exact scores for 100 points. He also beat guests Waffle the Wonder Dog and James Merry. Waffle scored 30 points and James 70, for an average of 50. AI won the week for the fourth time in a row with five correct results and three exact scores for 140 points. The only game everyone picked correctly was Arsenal's 2-0 win over Everton, and from around 28,000 predictions more than 11,500 got that exact score.
Sources: BBC Sport Football.