Sutton's predictions v Football Manager, the game

AI is leading the way in BBC Sport's prediction league table, but this week Chris Sutton has more than one machine to worry about.His guest opponent for this weekend's fixtures is a computer game: Football Manager 27, the latest edition of the long-running management simulation series, which is released on 10 November.The FM27 game engine has played out this weekend's matches and you can see its results, including goalscorers, below.Miles Jacobson, the studio director of Sports Interactive, the company behind Football Manager, also joined in.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.Image source, FM27Image caption, One of the features in Football Manager 27 allows you to customise your manager's visual appearance, with wheelchair-using managers included for the first timeAmong the new features in Football Manager 27 [FM27] is the expanded ability to tweak your manager's visual appearance, including an option that means wheelchair-using managers are represented in the game for the first time."It's something we are really proud of," Jacobson told BBC Sport. "Some might think it is only a small thing, but for wheelchair users it is an absolutely massive thing to be able to be represented in the game that they love."I am not a teary person, but I have to admit I had some tears in my eyes last weekend when I was watching some Instagram videos from our free trial of the game, of disabled people who just wanted to be seen, and represented."It seems really obvious to those of us who have been represented in games for years, but just giving people an opportunity to be represented, when they haven't been before, really does mean a lot to them. That has just been brilliant to see."A more immersive world has been created for FM27, which includes a new training system called Tactical Effectiveness."It reflects what happens in real life when a new manager comes into a club and does something different - it takes players a while to get used to the new tactics," Jacobson said."So, when you are the manager coming into a club, you have to decide whether to spend more time training the players in a really complicated tactic - which is going to take them a long time to learn and which means less time training them on other things - or do you start off with the basics, and build from there?"It's a little bit like what Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner talked about after their performance in their defeat against Brentford last week, when he said he had been nice to his players, but now they have to listen and do what he is saying."I expect he is spending a lot of this week doing tactical effectiveness training in the background, or focusing on one part of it, because there are multiple elements."Chris Sutton and Miles Jacobson 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'.FM27's Premier League predictions, including goalscorers and red cardsPremier League predictionsFriday, 6 NovemberHill Dickinson Stadium, 20:00 GMTLike all the promoted teams, Coventry are having a go in games.It has worked too, because they have picked up a few wins so far - they have three in the Premier League, as many as sixth-place Brentford.It has been a strange season for the Sky Blues so far, because their performances have been a bit up and down. They can look very open, but those wins are the reward for their brave approach.I don't see them getting anything here, however, on Frank Lampard's return to his former club.Everton are not a free-scoring side, but I think they will have a bit too much nous for Coventry.Sutton's prediction: 2-0FM27's prediction: 2-0Miles' prediction: Both of these teams are in good form and this is probably the game I wrestled the most with before deciding what to go for. Thierno Barry has been a revelation for Everton this season and they showed against Newcastle that they can win without Jack Grealish, while Jack Rudoni has started to shine for Coventry at just the right time.It's going to be a cracker of a game but I've gone with Everton to win, firstly because their defence is so strong at the moment, and Coventry might find them harder to break down than they did Sunderland, but also because David Moyes' side are playing with a lot of confidence now. 2-1AI's prediction: 2-0Saturday, 7 NovemberElland Road, 12:30Tottenham always seem to do well against Leeds - they have only lost one of their past 15 meetings in the Premier League, going back almost 25 years.I am a little bit of a believer that some teams always do well, or badly, against certain opposition or on certain grounds.I had the same as a player when I had bogey teams or stadiums, as well as lucky ones. For example, while I always used to score against Everton at Goodison Park, I always had a stinker at Highfield Road, Coventry's old home, despite getting plenty of goals against them in home games for Blackburn.So, I am definitely not going for Leeds to win this - but do I back Tottenham to win again and continue their good run?Roberto de Zerbi's side have rocketed up the table on the back of three wins in a row, although they were helped out a lot by Jean-Philippe Mateta's red card in their victory over Crystal Palace last time out.Tottenham are flying at the moment, and their confidence is up - we are seeing a bit of a Spurs swagger for the first time in a long while. So, while I don't think they will make it four wins in a row, I don't see them being beaten, either.It's likely to be a very tight game. Leeds were a bit unlucky to lose to Bournemouth last week, but their lack of goals is becoming an issue.Sutton's prediction: 1-1FM27's prediction: 2-1Miles' prediction: Leeds had such a brilliant start to the season, while Spurs have turned the corner and they have got lots of players coming back to full fitness. I can't separate them. 1-1AI's prediction: 1-2Emirates Stadium, 15:00Hull are scrapping for points and hanging on in there in a lot of games.I get a lot of my predictions wrong for their games because I always go for them to lose, but I am not going to do anything different for them this week because of who they are playing.Arsenal are just monsters, aren't they? They always seem to find a way and do enough to win games, even when they don't play well, and they will grind another result out here if they have to.Sutton's prediction: 2-0FM27's prediction: 1-0Miles' prediction: Hull have been so entertaining, and I just absolutely love watching them because they play with no fear whatsoever. At the start of the season you would have looked at this and thought Arsenal would hit them for four or five, but I think it will be much closer than that because you can never write off Ollie McBurnie.I enjoy watching Arsenal too, by the way, in the same way that I enjoy watching chess. They are a beautiful team to watch tactically and it is just difficult for them when they attack at the moment because they have lost a lot of their width with Bukayo Saka out injured. They seem to be grinding out a lot of their results but I still enjoy watching them - I enjoy watching any team, for different reasons. One of the beautiful things about football is there is no one set way to play it.Arsenal often go 1-0 up and shut up shop, but they will have to do a bit more than that here, because Hull will keep going at them. 2-1AI's prediction: 3-0Craven Cottage, 15:00What are Newcastle? What type of team are they? I am not sure and that's why their manager, Matthias Jaissle, is getting a bit of stick from Magpies fans.That's what is different with today's Premier League compared to my playing days, because we see it all the time now - even a new manager comes under pressure if they have a couple of bad results.Newcastle have lost three of their past four league games and, in this day and age, that's enough for people to say the wheels are coming off.That's why this game feels big for Jaissle. Win, and the Magpies head into the international break on a positive note. Lose it, however, and stand by for a lot of moaning and grumbling from their fans over the next couple of weeks.That's what I think will happen, too. Fulham's results have picked up and so have their performances. They are at home here, and I am expecting them to be too slick and too well organised for Newcastle.Sutton's prediction: 2-1FM27's prediction: 1-1Miles' prediction: Fulham are playing a completely different formation under Alvaro Arbeloa this season and they have taken a long time to build it up.Newcastle are definitely a project under Matthias Jaissle, too. I've just taken Yoane Wissa out of my Fantasy team so I am not expecting him to start scoring this week - I think they need the international break to sort out some of their manager's ideas. 0-0AI's prediction: 1-1City Ground, 17:30Nottingham Forest just cannot score - they have managed only six league goals in their first nine games, the lowest total in the Premier League.Their manager, Oliver Glasner, got a bit stroppy after their defeat by Brentford last time out, saying he will make changes or he will end up being sacked. He tried the carrot approach at the start of the season but his team didn't bite - so now he is trying the stick.We might see a reaction here, and I do think Forest will score - Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma might even chuck one in for them, going off his recent poor form.It certainly won't be easy for City and they have their own issues at the moment after back-to-back league defeats, but I am still expecting them to create enough chances to win.Sutton's prediction: 1-2FM27's prediction: 0-0Miles' prediction: Forest are another team who could do with the international break. Last season, Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo were two of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, but they look completely out of sorts at the moment. I can't see anything but a City win here. 0-3AI's prediction: 1-2Sunday, 8 NovemberAmex Stadium, 14:00I just can't see past Brighton here - they are superbly organised, carry a threat going forward and defend well. Their bench is strong as well.Brentford are also going well and are capable of causing them a problem or two - but, after watching Brighton beat Manchester City at Etihad Stadium last week, I am backing Fabian Hurzeler's side here.I always think the Bees have got a goal in them, so I am going to say they will score, but the Seagulls are smart enough to come out on top.People seem to be unsure whether Brighton are really in the title race or not, but they are certainly in the mix for second place if Arsenal are the team we all think are going to win it.Sutton's prediction: 2-1FM27's prediction: 0-1Miles' prediction: What a revelation Brighton have been. They are just beautiful to watch and, again, they play with no fear. What they are doing on and off the pitch is just fantastic, but then you could say the same about Brentford. This will be a brilliant game and I wish I could watch it live. 2-2AI's prediction: 2-1Selhurst Park, 14:00Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage was not helped by Mateta's sending-off in their defeat by Tottenham and the Eagles striker will miss this game after they failed with their appeal to overturn the decision.Whether you thought that was a red card or not, you feel for Sage because he is coming under a lot of pressure and a lot of Palace's problems are not his fault - he took charge at a difficult time.Liverpool have issues too, and they come into this game off the back of a lousy performance and result against Fenerbahce on Wednesday.Aston Villa hit the Turkish side for six a couple of weeks ago, but Liverpool struggled to keep them quiet and Palace might feel they can pick the Reds off in the same way.Liverpool won't change the way they play under Andoni Iraola, so they will try to be aggressive with their press but are likely to be left open again if Palace get past it.I don't see that happening this time, though, mostly because Palace have been so poor.Liverpool were leaky against Fenerbahce, but I am going for them to keep a clean sheet here and get a sneaky away win, with Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola getting their goals.Sutton's prediction: 0-2FM27's prediction: 0-1Miles' prediction: I have mates who work at Palace and I know they probably won't talk to me for a week after this prediction, but I am going with Liverpool here. Mateta's suspension is huge for the Eagles, and Ismaila Sarr is still out injured. 0-2AI's prediction: 1-3Portman Road, 14:00Bournemouth have turned into one of the Premier League's form teams.I thought they would run out of steam against Leeds last week but I was wrong, and they have shown they have got a bit of depth in their squad.I've been surprised by Ipswich too, and they were unlucky not to beat Hull last time out. The Tractor Boys have got a bit of spirit about them, which makes me think they will get something from this game.Bournemouth are a front-foot team under Marco Rose, who is a very attack-minded manager, but Ipswich will have a go too. I can see them getting a point.Sutton's prediction: 1-1FM27's prediction: 1-2Miles' prediction: I have been really impressed by Ipswich in the past few weeks and Julio Enciso has been doing really well for them - but Bournemouth are absolutely flying. What a season they are having. 0-2AI's prediction: 1-1Stadium of Light, 14:00I keep hearing how Sunderland boss Regis le Bris is under pressure. Really? After finishing seventh and getting a promoted side into Europe last season, it seems crazy that his job is at risk now.Still, Le Bris has plenty of problems to solve while his squad is being stretched by the Europa League - before this game they play Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday.The Black Cats won this fixture on the final day of the last campaign, but their home record is nothing like as strong this time around.They are also conceding an average of almost two goals a game in the Premier League, compared to 2025-26 when only three teams had a better defensive record.Add that to their problems scoring - Forest are the only team with fewer goals so far - and you can see why they are bottom of the table.I am still not sure how to judge Chelsea yet - yes, they beat Manchester United last week, but everyone beats Manchester United - but I just don't see the Black Cats keeping them out.Sutton's prediction: 1-2FM27's prediction: 1-1Miles' prediction: Sunderland are struggling with having European football and while I think they will turn things around, it won't be this week. Chelsea's start to the new season has not been ideal and Joao Pedro being out injured is a huge loss to them - but I am still backing them here. 1-2AI's prediction: 1-2Old Trafford, 16:30There were great scenes at Old Trafford on Tuesday with Manchester United coming back from 2-0 down to beat Roma, who had to field their third-choice goalkeeper because of injuries.That ended up being a really good result, but there are so many things about United that are just not convincing at the moment - as a club they are trying to convey this picture of togetherness and it is just not there for me.Beating Roma was a great comeback, of course, but you still feel United are not far from another collapse, especially against an Aston Villa team who are so well structured, and capable of punishing any weakness.Villa boss Unai Emery has been talked about as a potential successor to Michael Carrick at Old Trafford, but he is too good for United as far as I can see.United will score, but Villa are going to win this. Nicolas Jackson will bag a couple and we might see more tears from Bruno Fernandes at the final whistle.Sutton's prediction: 1-3FM27's prediction: 2-1Miles' prediction: I am probably going to get pelters from United fans from this, including some of my team members at Sports Interactive. One of them, who is a season-ticket holder, told me he wasn't going to this game, and therefore United will probably win... but I just can't see that happening.I really feel for Michael Carrick because he did such a brilliant job last season and I hope he manages to turn things around, but Villa are looking really good at the moment. 1-2AI's prediction: 2-2How did Sutton do last time?Chris got four correct results, including two exact scores, from the 10 games in week nine, giving him a total of 100 points.He beat his guest, Bad Day At The Office star John Hannah, who got four correct results with no exact scores, for a tally of 40 points.And AI's four-week winning run is over, after it got five correct results and one exact score to end up on 80 points.But the weekly win was claimed by the collective efforts of the BBC readers. They managed five correct results, including two exact scores, giving them 110 points.There was only one game where everyone picked the right outcome - Chelsea's 2-0 win over Manchester United.Chris, John and AI all backed the Blues to win, just by the wrong score, but a lot of you got that part spot on too.From more than 40,000 predictions by the BBC readers, that was the most popular scoreline selected, with almost 10,000 of you getting it exactly right.More on this story