Chris Sutton's Premier League predictions v rapper & Man Utd fan ...

First plays third when Premier League leaders Liverpool travel to Arsenal on Sunday, but how many key players will the Gunners be missing?

"It is Arsenal’s absentees that concern me - in defence and attack," said BBC Sport's football expert Chris Sutton.

"It's not just at centre-half where they have problems. Who is going to handle Mohamed Salah if Jurrien Timber isn’t fit?"

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

For week nine he takes on rapper Nemzzz, who supports Manchester United.

Do you agree with their predictions? You can make your own below.

The most popular scoreline selected for each game is used in the scoreboards and tables at the bottom of this page.

Image source, Nemzzz

Nemzzz is touring Europe after completing a sold-out tour of Australia and New Zealand. His mixtape Do Not Disturb was spun across BBC Radio 1 and multiple singles topped the A List at 1Xtra. It has racked up more than 255m streams

Nemzzz's new single, Evicted, is out now and features the lyric 'heart gone cold like Palmer'.

The video for the track splices footage of Cole Palmer's goals for Chelsea with shots of Nemzzz in London.

"Palmer is in his moment now," Nemzzz told BBC Sport. "He just doesn't seem to feel any pressure, whatever he is doing.

"I can't believe Pep Guardiola let him leave Manchester City for £40m, which is nothing these days. He has proved Pep wrong for selling him, and not many players do that."

Nemzzz might rap about a Chelsea star but it is United whom he loves to watch.

He grew up in Manchester and is currently the face of the club's home kit, which he launched, external with his friend, United striker Marcus Rashford.

"Rash is cool, very cool," Nemzzz said. "He dresses like a rapper. In fact he looks like more of a rapper than me."

Nemzzz grew up in a 'blue' part of Manchester but says he was only ever going to be a Red and idolised Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie when he was a boy.

"It has always been United for me - my whole family supported them," he said.

"The area I am from - Gorton - everyone else supported City - but I had to stay loyal to the soil."

Chris Sutton and Nemzzz were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

King Power Stadium, 20:00 BST

Leicester City came back from the dead to beat Southampton last time out, so they will be full of confidence.

But I have a feeling Nottingham Forest will edge this. They don't score a lot of goals, but they are very impressive at the back - they have conceded six goals in their first eight league games, and only leaders Liverpool have a better defensive record.

So I am going to go for another 1-0 Forest win, the same result as against Palace on Monday, which was the scoreline I predicted.

Forest may have an injury issue with Callum Hudson-Odoi and if he does miss this game it will be a blow, but the old ‘Wood-chopper’ - Chris Wood - is unstoppable for them at the moment, with three goals in his past four games.

Get him in your Fantasy team, that’s my advice.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Nemzzz's prediction: Leicester are at home but Forest are doing much better at the moment. 0-2

Villa Park, 15:00 BST

Again, the question is how will Villa cope with playing in the Champions League this week?

They played well when they beat Bologna on Tuesday, but the last time they had a big European win, against Bayern Munich at the start of October, they were pretty flat the following weekend when they drew at home to Manchester United.

That's what worries me, especially against a Bournemouth side who will be flying off the back of beating Arsenal.

The Cherries scored their opener with a lovely set-piece routine and played really well throughout, including when it was XI versus XI.

Villa could probably do without this game - but I still think they will extend their 10-game unbeaten run, and maybe this is when they show us they do have the required strength in depth.

They actually had quite a strong bench against Bologna and Ollie Watkins will be fresh after only coming on for the final half hour or so. I am going to say he will make the difference.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Nemzzz's prediction: Villa for sure. 2-1

Gtech Community Stadium, 15:00 BST

A home win, no doubt about it. The Tractor Boys' tyres are well and truly punctured after last week’s home defeat by Everton.

I predicted Ipswich would win that game, but I am not doing that again this season.

I do have some sympathy for manager Kieran McKenna, though. I had an argument with Andros Townsend on 5 Live's Monday Night Club, because the longer it goes for Ipswich and Southampton, the two promoted clubs without a win so far, the more confidence drains out of their players.

Some have not played in the Premier League before and it is only natural that some will wonder whether they can play at this level.

Losing to Everton was really damaging because it was a game they probably thought they could win.

Going to Brentford would be tough anyway, but I watched the Bees at Old Trafford last week and they must be pretty peeved to have lost after such a good first half.

Brentford are the better team, and they are more streetwise. They won't slip up here.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Nemzzz's prediction: Ipswich still haven't won yet? That won't change here. Brentford gave us a few problems last week and they will take this. 1-0

Amex Stadium, 15:00

I disagreed with Wolves boss Gary O'Neil because I thought it was correct not to disallow Manchester City's last-gasp winner last weekend.

O'Neil was clutching at straws to compare it to the goal Max Kilman had ruled out against West Ham last season because, unlike Bernardo Silva for City, in that incident Tawanda Chirewa was offside and directly in the goalkeeper’s way.

I felt for O'Neil because Wolves played really well, although in the end I was only four goals out with my prediction of a 6-1 City win.

This is another tough game for them, against a Brighton side who got a really good win at Newcastle last week.

So can Wolves drag themselves up again after giving so much and coming close to getting a point against the champions?

I am really tempted to go for them to get a draw but, although they deserved to get more than one point from their first eight games, they have been inconsistent.

Wolves have definitely got a goal in them, but I am going with Brighton to take the points.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Nemzzz's prediction: Brighton are flying but I don't think Wolves are as bad as the league table suggests. 1-1

Etihad Stadium, 15:00

I just don't know how Southampton pick themselves up from last week's defeat by Leicester, and there is only one outcome here.

It will be a rearguard action from the off by Saints - but they will end up losing. It is a question of how long they can hold out for, and then how many goals Manchester City will score.

In the Fantasy Premier League community, everyone is talking about triple captaining Erling Haaland, because he has not scored in his past three league games.

I'm saying Haaland will not score again, but City will score four and keep a clean sheet for the first time in the Premier League since their opening game of the season. They have to stop conceding eventually, surely.

Sutton's prediction: 4-0

Nemzzz's prediction: As much as I am with United, City are just so hard to stop. 3-1

Goodison Park, 17:30 BST

I don't like to mention that I said Everton would be fine, but I did.

After losing their first four games of the season, Sean Dyche's side are now unbeaten in their past four and climbing the table.

They are playing like a Dyche team too - hardworking and streetwise, but with a bit of quality too. Dwight McNeil is having an exceptional season.

This is a test for them because Fulham are one of those teams who can beat anyone on their day. They have lost their past two games, against Manchester City and Aston Villa, but they had good spells in both matches.

I wouldn't be surprised if either side won it, which is why I am going in the middle with my prediction.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Nemzzz's prediction: Everton have picked up a bit. 2-2

Stamford Bridge, 14:00 GMT

Newcastle have scored only eight goals in their first eight league games, but I don't think they have changed their style since last season.

It's more that they don't have the strength in depth in the strikers' department. They badly missed Alexander Isak when he was injured, because their other main frontman, Callum Wilson, has not been fit enough to feature this season.

I am backing Newcastle to get a goal this time after two games without scoring, but everything points towards a Chelsea win at Stamford Bridge. With Cole Palmer in the team, they carry far more of a threat than the Magpies.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Nemzzz's prediction: Chelsea lost last week and, for once, Palmer did not play his best. Liverpool managed to keep him quiet, but I not sure Newcastle will. 3-1

Selhurst Park, 14:00 GMT

Crystal Palace are desperate to get their first league win of the season, but any sort of positive result would do after losing their past three games.

I was at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday with Radio 5 Live for Arsenal v Shaktar Donetsk in the Champions League, and Roy Hodgson was there as a Uefa technical observer. Is his next step a return to the Palace hotseat?

I am saying that tongue in cheek because there is no way they will bring him back - or that he would go back - but Eagles manager Oliver Glasner is already under pressure and the heat will really be on if they lose this game.

I am backing Tottenham, although I am a bit concerned about the fitness of Son Heung-min, who is back from injury but is being rested for their Europa League game with AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.

Tiredness could affect other players. Spurs play high-pressing and high-energy football and I wonder what playing twice a week will do to them.

The way Tottenham play might suit Palace more, because Eberechi Eze will have a lot more space than against Nottingham Forest on Monday.

Palace should pose more of a threat, but Spurs blew West Ham away and, while this will be a lot closer, I still expect them to win.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Nemzzz's prediction: Palace are really missing Michael Olise, so I am backing Spurs. 0-1

London Stadium, 14:00 GMT

Things did not get any better for Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui with their defeat against Tottenham, and it seems he still doesn’t know what the 'West Ham way' is.

The Hammers need a big improvement, but this game is more about what Manchester United do and whether they turn up.

They were excellent in the second half of their win over Brentford last time out, but they need to back it up for 90 minutes.

Can they do it? You just never know with Manchester United, and I've given up on backing them to beat anyone.

They are inconsistent and what doesn’t help is that they are playing in Turkey in the Europa League on Thursday night, so team selection and tiredness has to come into the equation.

My daughter is doing some maths revision with me at the moment, working out the area of triangles - you multiply the height by the width, then halve it.

I can get all of those sums right, but I am always wrong about United, so I am going to let her make this prediction.

Chris Sutton's maths revision: Can you find the area of a triangle where height = 5 cm and width = 8 cm?

Answer = 5 × 8 = 40 ÷ 2 = 20

Sophia Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Nemzzz's prediction: United to win. Am I confident? Definitely! Well, I hope so anyway. 0-2

Nemzzz on manager Erik ten Hag and United's season: He's under a lot of pressure so I am pleased our results have picked up. It was a big win against Brentford last week - he really needed that.

I feel a bit sorry for him because we have had so many injuries to deal with. When everyone is fit and on top form, I feel like we have got a really strong team, but that just hasn't happened enough.

Emirates Stadium, 16:30 GMT

Liverpool are not helped by having to travel back from RB Leipzig on Wednesday, but Arsenal have bigger problems.

Riccardo Calafiori was excellent against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday but he came off after falling awkwardly. I was at the Emirates, and my hunch from seeing what happened is that he will not be fit for Sunday.

Arsenal already have William Saliba suspended, which is a massive loss, so they will have to reshuffle at the back.

There are rumours that Jurrien Timber could be fit to play at left-back, but if not and they go with Oleksandr Zinchenko against Mohamed Salah, you would fancy Salah to get the better of him.

Liverpool can exploit all of this and then you think about how Arsenal are missing players in an attacking sense.

There’s a lot of talk about whether Bukayo Saka might be fit after missing the past two matches, but Martin Odegaard is still out.

Without them, Arsenal were unconvincing in front of goal against Shakhtar. Gabriel Jesus does so many good things for the team, but you would never back him to finish.

So I am basing this prediction on a combination of what I saw against Shakhtar -because Arsenal were really flat all round - all their injury doubts and Saliba’s absence.

If Saliba was playing, I wouldn’t be predicting a Liverpool win, but if Calafiori and Timber are not fit I don’t feel Arsenal have adequate cover.

This would be a huge win for Liverpool, and everyone is saying that, with the run of tough games they have coming up, we will find out more about them soon.

But they have beaten Chelsea and have enough nous and knowledge in their team to keep their good run going.

I know everyone reading this will go for a 1-1 draw, but I don't like to sit on the fence for big games like this, and neither should you.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Nemzzz's prediction: I don't like either of these teams. I want to say Arsenal will win but Liverpool are top and playing really well. 2-3

Sutton's reaction to Nemzzz's prediction: He has had a shocker there. I can sleep well in the knowledge that if I need the points from this game, there will not be five goals at the Emirates.

If Nottingham Forest fans found the closing stages of Monday's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace tense, then spare a thought for Sutton.

Everything came down to the outcome of the final game of week eight, and he had gone for that scoreline.

Another goal by either side would have seen him beaten - again - but instead he was able to celebrate his first outright win this season.

Sutton got five correct results from 10 games, with three exact scores, giving him a total of 140 points.

BBC Sport readers ended up with six correct results, with two exact scores, for a tally of 120 points.

His guest, legendary boxing manager Kellie Maloney, got four correct results with one exact score, leaving her with 70 points.

* Average after eight weeks

Source: BBC

Source: BBC

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