Sutton's predictions v Waffle the Wonder Dog and his owner, Simon
· BBC-PL
BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton takes on Waffle the Wonder Dog and his owner Simon, plus the BBC readers and AI with his predictions for this weekend's Premier League fixtures.
> "Villa have beaten City in this fixture in each of the past three years under Unai Emery," said BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton.
> "They will fancy it this time too - they are seven unbeaten in all competitions, and flying at the moment."
Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.
For week eight, he takes on Waffle the Wonder Dog and his owner Simon, who is played by actor James Merry.
Waffle's After School Club, featuring James and Waffle, is available on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer right now, with lots of fun after-school adventures for families to enjoy together.
Do you agree with their predictions? You can pick your own below.
The most popular scoreline selected for each game is used in the scoreboards and tables at the bottom of this page.
A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.
Want to make more predictions? You can play BBC Sport's new Match of the Day predictor game every week, featuring six fixtures from domestic and European competition.
Waffle is a talking dog whose adventures on his show often end in chaos for Simon and the rest of his family.
Like most dogs, he loves football - or at least loves chasing one.
> "I am an enthusiastic baller," Waffle told BBC Sport. "But technically my best position is right-back... on the sofa.
> "My favourite player is the England captain, Harry Kane-9, and I'm a Liverpool fan so my all-time hero is Kenny Dog-leash.
> "My fur is red and I am a poodle so of course I support the Reds, or Liverpoodle as I like to call them - they never walkies alone."
In real life, actor James Merry is an Aston Villa fan, who has a long connection with the club.
> "I grew up in Sutton Coldfield, north Birmingham, and just about everyone is Villa there," he told BBC Sport.
> "My mum's side of the family are all fans - my great-aunt was a season-ticket holder for about 40 years and my nan lived most of her life on Witton Road, which is just round the corner from Villa Park.
> "My first job was there too - when I was 16 I worked in the catering department serving burgers on matchdays.
> "Then, during the summer I had to clean every executive box and polish all the cutlery and make sure everywhere was properly stocked.
> "We had the run of Villa Park and I was like a kid in a candy shop."
Chris Sutton, Waffle the Wonder Dog and James Merry were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
The AI predictions were generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat - we simply asked the tool to 'predict this weekend's Premier League scores'.
Premier League predictions
Friday, 23 October
- Portman Road, 20:00 BST
So, I am up against a talking dog this week? I'm not sure that improves my chances of winning - I've been barking up the wrong tree with my predictions all season anyway.
One of us has got to beat AI though - I've been reading about it in the news and it is not just with football scores where it seems to be taking over.
This game is a tough one to call, though. It is going to be very tight.
Nottingham Forest can't score. That's their issue, and they have only managed five goals in their first seven league games.
It did make me laugh when I read that Forest boss Oliver Glasner had got Chris Wood to give advice to the other strikers about finishing - why not just play Wood then?
Ipswich are still bottom of the league table based on my predictions (see bottom of page) but they ran Manchester City close in the end last week and are doing better than everyone expected, myself included.
I like what Tractor Boys boss Gary O'Neil is doing there, and they already have three league wins from seven games - the last time they were in the Premier League, in 2024-25, they only managed four all season.
Forest are second bottom and could really do with getting something here, and Ipswich haven't drawn a game yet - so that's what I am going for.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Waffle the Wonder Dog's prediction: 1-2
James' prediction: The director of Waffle, Tim Hopewell, is a Forest fan and I have gone for them here. I like the way they play. 1-2
AI's prediction: 1-1
Saturday, 24 October
- Villa Park, 12:30
Villa have hit a bit of form and seem to be getting back to the level they were at last season.
They had another good win in the Champions League this week, but then you'd expect them to beat Viking pretty comfortably.
Emery's side played well against Newcastle last week too but I thought Newcastle were a bit too gung-ho, and paid the price. City are a lot more streetwise.
City are going to slip up eventually this season but the fact they have lost on their past three visits to Villa Park actually makes me think it will be different this time.
Erling Haaland is fit too, which will obviously help. With all the heat on the club at the moment it could just turn out to be one of those seasons where they continue on this incredible run.
Sutton's prediction: 1-2
Waffle the Wonder Dog's prediction: Ross BARKley gets two for Villa, but Erling HOWLand to score a hat-trick. Sorry, dad! 2-3
James' favourite Villa players: The early to mid-'90s was the time when I was getting into football so Dean Saunders and Dalian Atkinson were my heroes, and Paul McGrath as well. That was certainly a golden era - I need to mention Shaun Teale too, because he was always a favourite. I think I had his name on the back of a shirt.
Now? I think most people of my generation would pick John McGinn. He is an absolute club legend for what he has done for us down the years and my shirt now has got McGinn on the back.
James on Villa's season: We seem to be picking up some form after another slow start. It looks like Johan Manzambi is going to be pivotal for us this season and Nicolas Jackson has started well, he has stuck a few away.
This might sound a bit bonkers but, with Emery's record in Europe, I am more excited about that than what we might do domestically, because I think we might go deep in the Champions League.
James' prediction: Because we are weak at the back at the moment I think City will score two or three, but we are looking lively up front and could do the same. I've got to be partisan - and I am also going to go for a barnstormer. 3-2
AI's prediction: 1-2
- Emirates Stadium, 15:00
Arsenal were so ugly in the way they beat Nottingham Forest last weekend, but were a lot easier on the eye in the midweek draw with Bayern Munich.
They are going to be without the injured Bukayo Saka for this game, but they are at home and they should still have too much for Everton.
Everton will make it tough for them, of course, but I am not sure how they will hurt the Gunners.
Sutton's prediction: 2-0
Waffle the Wonder Dog's prediction: 3-0
James' prediction: Arsenal are just a machine at home. 3-1
AI's prediction: 2-0
- Coventry Building Society Arena, 15:00
Whoever loses this is likely to end the day in the relegation zone.
Sometimes these kind of games can be quite cagey, with both teams afraid of being beaten, but here I feel like Coventry and Fulham will have a go and there could be a few goals flying in.
Coventry have a bit about them going forward, especially when they use their pace on the counter-attack, but they are also a bit vulnerable defensively.
Because of that, I am going to go with Fulham. They got their first win of the season against Hull last week and they are definitely capable of getting another one here.
Sutton's prediction: 1-2
Waffle the Wonder Dog's prediction: 1-1
James' prediction: My old man is a Coventry fan - he was born and bred in Cov but then married a Brummie and moved to Birmingham so he was always on a hiding to nothing trying to get me to support Coventry. He won't be happy because I've gone for a draw here. 1-1
AI's prediction: 1-1
- Stamford Bridge, 17:30
We were talking on the Monday Night Club about what Chelsea could do this season without any European football.
Tottenham are not in Europe either, of course, but they don't look like they are going to be challenging at the top of the table the way Xabi Alonso's side are.
People keep saying how Chelsea's attack is so good, but their 2-0 win over Everton last time out was their first clean sheet of their campaign in the league, and that side of thing still needs to improve.
Spurs, meanwhile, do seem to be getting better, albeit slowly.
It was a big result for them to beat Coventry on Monday but they have an awful record at Stamford Bridge, with only one win there in the Premier League era.
I don't see them getting anything this time, either.
Sutton's prediction: 3-1
Waffle the Wonder Dog's prediction: Archie GrayHOUND will score a couple for Spurs, but I'm backing Chelsea because I was a fan of Didier DOGba back in the day. 4-2
James' prediction: Chelsea carry so much attacking threat. 3-1
AI's prediction: 3-1
Sunday, 25 October
- Selhurst Park, 14:00
Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage's future appears to be in some doubt but his critics seem to have forgotten that they are 14th in the table, when the Eagles finished 15th last season under Oliver Glasner.
Yes, Palace had a heavy defeat at Brighton last week and it doesn't help it was at the hands of their big rivals, but it is not like Sage has got one point from his first seven games. They are leaking a few goals, but there are reasons for that.
There has been huge change at Selhurst Park in recent months, with some key players leaving, especially at the back. Others have stayed but are still unhappy, and Sage has had a lot to contend with.
Palace play in Turkey on Thursday night which won't help their preparation for this game, but I still feel like they will get something against Newcastle.
There has been a lot of change at the Magpies too, but the thing that worries me most about Matthias Jaissle's side is that they are so open.
'Chaotic' was the word I used to describe them against Aston Villa last week.
Villa are always very well structured in the way they play but they got chances against Newcastle just by persevering with their build-up play.
If Newcastle don't get their press quite right again here, then Palace will cause them problems too - I definitely don't see this game as being one where defences are on top.
Sutton's prediction: 2-2
Waffle the Wonder Dog's prediction: 1-2
James' prediction: Both teams will be happy just to get a point on the board. 1-1
AI's prediction: 1-2
- MKM Stadium, 14:00
Although Hull have made a great start I still think they will get relegated.
We know they will have a go at Brentford, but the Bees will be too smart for them.
Brentford would have beaten Liverpool last week without Yehor Yarmoliuk's stupid red card. If they can keep 11 men on the pitch, they will win this one.
Sutton's prediction: 0-2
Waffle the Wonder Dog's prediction: 1-2
James' prediction: Brentford are such an amazingly well-run club with what they have achieved. They are going to be too strong for Hull. 1-2
AI's prediction: 1-1
- Anfield, 14:00
Liverpool have an extra 48 hours to prepare for this game - they played Villarreal at home on Tuesday, while Brighton are away in the Czech Republic on Thursday.
I don't think it will make any difference, though, because the way that the Seagulls play, I am expecting them to go to Anfield and win.
This has the makings of a great game but, while Liverpool have had a couple of good results, I am still not convinced by them.
Andoni Iraola's side are a work in progress with a tendency to empty their midfield and that means Brighton can hurt them.
Sutton's prediction: 1-3
Waffle the Wonder Dog's prediction: A win for the Liverpoodles! 2-1
James' prediction: This is going to be close. Brighton are playing really well but I am still going to back Liverpool at Anfield. 2-1
AI's prediction: 3-1
- Old Trafford, 14:00
After all the stick I got from Manchester United fans for saying they would get thumped by Leeds last weekend, it turns out I was only a few days out - it happened against Como instead.
United have been poor all season, though. That's why I went for them to be despatched like that - the 5-0 scoreline was a little bit tongue in cheek, but the point I was making has been proven this week.