Sutton's Premier League Predictions Week 4: Chelsea Held, Spurs Lose Again

Chris Sutton predicts Brentford 2-2 Chelsea and Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa in week four

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton has delivered his predictions for week four of the Premier League, including a 2-2 draw between Brentford and Chelsea and a 1-2 win for Aston Villa at Tottenham. He is up against legendary guitarist and Manchester City fan Johnny Marr, whose new album is out on 2 October.

Fixture: Brentford vs Chelsea, Gtech Community Stadium, Friday 18 September, 20:00 BST
Fixture: Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Saturday 19 September, 12:30 BST
Fixture: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Arsenal, Amex Stadium, Saturday 19 September, 15:00 BST
Fixture: Everton vs Ipswich Town, Hill Dickinson Stadium, Saturday 19 September, 15:00 BST
Fixture: Newcastle United vs Hull City, St James' Park, Saturday 19 September, 15:00 BST
Headline prediction: Sutton tips Brentford 2-2 Chelsea and Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa

What was said

"For teams who have had a bad start to the season, United being one of them, it could be a horrible few weeks. Any negativity is going to just fester, really. There will be speculation about his future, along with all the talk about whether this is a good time to replace your manager. United are not the only team to have made a bad start, but there is a lot to ponder on for them at the moment. It makes this weekend even more important."
— Chris Sutton on Manchester United manager Michael Carrick

"I think that derby will be remembered by City fans for a long time. We all feared the worst when Phil Foden was sent off so early, because you don't know what could happen. It should have been a yellow card for him and Bruno Fernandes anyway. It's all a bit of a learning curve for the fans and the club with a new manager and so many new players, so to see how the team dug in and won was so great for City fans. No-one expected Maresca to win his first four games... but then again, why not? He's shown that he's his own man with his own philosophy. I like him."
— Johnny Marr on Manchester City's win at Old Trafford

Sutton's comments underline the pressure on Manchester United boss Michael Carrick ahead of the international break. With United among the teams to have made a bad start, Sutton warns that negativity could fester during the three-week hiatus. Marr, meanwhile, celebrates Manchester City's 100% start under new manager Enzo Maresca, highlighting the win at Old Trafford despite Phil Foden's early red card.

The numbers

Chris Sutton is predicting all 380 Premier League games this season.
A correct result (win, draw or defeat) earns 10 points.
The exact score earns 40 points.
Brentford vs Chelsea finished 2-2 in September last year.
Enzo Maresca has won his first four games as Manchester City boss.

Analysis: Why Sutton backs Brentford to hold Chelsea, and Villa to win at Spurs

Brentford vs Chelsea pits Chelsea's dynamic but leaky attack against Brentford's balanced, counter-attacking threat. Sutton notes Chelsea are "free-scoring" but "leaking goals left, right and centre" and "a bit of a rabble at the back." He believes Xabi Alonso's big problem is finding the right balance between defence and attack, as it is "far too easy to create chances" against his side. Brentford boss Keith Andrews has got that balance, making them "very dangerous on the counter-attack." Sutton sees a repeat of last September's 2-2 draw.

Tottenham vs Aston Villa sees Sutton question Roberto De Zerbi's impact at Spurs. Despite big spending, Spurs have not improved, and Sutton thinks De Zerbi will come under pressure if poor results continue. He contrasts this with Unai Emery at Aston Villa, who are also without a league win but "look more likely to score goals," as shown against Coventry in the Carabao Cup. Sutton expects Villa to edge it, predicting Spurs will score their first league goal of the season but lose 1-2.

Elsewhere, Sutton backs Arsenal to win 1-2 at Brighton, citing their "real deal" status and defensive street-wise-ness. He also tips Everton to beat Ipswich 1-0 and Newcastle to avoid defeat against Hull, who he has predicted to lose all games so far.

Talking points

Will Michael Carrick survive the international break if Manchester United lose to Fulham on Sunday?
Can Chelsea's Xabi Alonso fix his leaky defence before it derails their season?
Is Roberto De Zerbi already under pressure at Tottenham after a poor start?
Will Ipswich and Hull's brave attacking approach earn them a first win of the season?

What happens next

Brentford host Chelsea on Friday 18 September (20:00 BST) at the Gtech Community Stadium. Tottenham welcome Aston Villa on Saturday 19 September (12:30 BST) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Brighton face Arsenal at the Amex, Everton take on Ipswich at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and Newcastle meet Hull at St James' Park, all at 15:00 BST on Saturday. Manchester United's game against Fulham on Sunday will be Carrick's final match before the three-week international break.