West Ham host Wolves on Monday with both teams knowing defeat could push their manager towards the exit door.
“I wish I could predict that they will both lose,” said BBC Sport’s football expert Chris Sutton. “That’s how bad they have been.
“Wolves are conceding an average of more than 2.5 goals a game under Gary O’Neil – whoever you are, you are getting relegated on that form.
“But Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham side are fragile too, so it is hard to make a case for either side to win, even though they are both desperate for a result.”
Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.
For week 15 he takes on Dougie Payne, bassist with rock band Travis and a Rangers fan.
“I would obviously love to beat Chris at predictions,” said Dougie. “But I would 100% take a defeat here and a win for us over Celtic in the Scottish League Cup final next week.”
Any success for Dougie or Rangers is “highly unlikely”, according to former Celtic striker Sutton.
Do you agree with their scores? 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.
Travis are touring the UK this month, following the release of their 10th album, L.A. Times.
They finish their tour with a hometown show at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on 21 December.
Dougie grew up in Glasgow and has former Scotland winger Davie Cooper to thank for his love of Rangers.
“It was like a clean slate for me when I came to pick my team,” he told BBC Sport. “My dad is English and into cricket and rugby, and I had three older sisters who weren’t into football.
“Initially it was international football I got into, with Scotland, because I loved Kenny Dalglish, then the first poster I had on my wall was of Nottingham Forest because they had just won the European Cup.
“But then I watched a game on TV in the early 1980s – it was either a semi-final or a final – between Rangers and Celtic. I didn’t know who to support but then I saw Davie Cooper and watched him for the whole game thinking, ‘who is this guy?’
“It was all about playing like Brazil for me then, because that is what I did in the park with my friends, and I was just mesmerised by Cooper’s skill.
“There was a kind of weird gracefulness about the way he floated around the pitch and I just thought I am going to support who he plays for. It was him who started for me, then I got my first Rangers kit, and that was it.”
Rangers are 11 points behind leaders Celtic in the Scottish Premiership and Dougie is not optimistic about them closing the gap.
“Some performances have baffled me and there have been times in domestic games where I have thought this is the worst Rangers team I have ever seen,” he explained.
“Then we go and beat Nice 4-1 away in the Europa League and then thump Kilmarnock 6-0. I am very confused by it but there are some signs that something might be happening.
“Hamza Igamane is not the finished article but he is looking like the real thing up top, Connor Barron and Nicolas Raskin are starting this nice partnership in the middle of the park and John Souttar is looking like a future Rangers captain.
“So, there is something to build from, but I am an eternal optimist anyway – you have to be, because you are not going to change your team.”
Chris Sutton and Dougie Payne were speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.
Saturday, 7 December
Goodison Park, 12:30 GMT
Liverpool let victory slip away right at the end of their game with Newcastle on Wednesday, with Caoimhin Kelleher’s mistake proving costly.
But he has been excellent for them while Alisson has been out injured and I don’t think a draw at St James’ Park is a bad result.
Everton come into this game in better form following their win over Wolves, which was a huge result for Toffees boss Sean Dyche after the run they were on.
They can definitely make things difficult for Liverpool, and I suspect they will be fairly direct when they attack, but Arne Slot’s side should have too much quality for them.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-2
Dougie’s prediction: At the start of the week I thought Liverpool would absolutely pump Everton, but then Everton put four goals past Wolves. I still think Liverpool will win, but it won’t be as simple for them. 1-3
Dougie on the Premier League title race: I am so impressed by what Arne Slot has done at Liverpool. He has been so smart since replacing Jurgen Klopp – he is so cool and calm and he has not tried to impose his ego on the team. He has just tightened up certain things and they have this balance now. The position they are in, it feels like the title is theirs to lose now.
Villa Park, 15:00 GMT
Aston Villa bounced back well against Brentford in midweek, while Southampton paid the price for some calamitous goalkeeping against Chelsea, although the size of their defeat wasn’t just down to that.
Whenever promoted sides don’t start the season well, it is easy for them to lose confidence that they can compete at this level and that seems to be a bit of an issue for Southampton when I watch them.
Goalkeeper Joe Lumley wasn’t their only player to make mistakes against Chelsea and I just think Villa will be too strong for them.
Credit to Villa keeper Emi Martinez for facing the Bees despite a broken finger. If he plays again here, I reckon he will keep a clean sheet.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-0
Dougie’s prediction: I watched Villa lose at Chelsea last week and they looked knackered. It feels reminiscent of what happened to Newcastle when they were in the Champions League last season. I still don’t see Southampton getting anything out of this, though. 2-1
Gtech Community Stadium, 15:00 GMT
Brentford’s home record is incredible, and still the best in the Premier League this season.
Newcastle were impressive against Liverpool in midweek but their challenge is to follow up that performance here, because they have been very up and down so far.
This is a difficult one to call, but I always expect goals from the Bees when they are at home.
In contrast, Newcastle have not been scoring consistently this season but they got three against the leaders and I think they will get a couple more here.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-2
Dougie’s prediction: It is no surprise Newcastle play well when Alexander Isak is on form, because he is such a good player. But I have really enjoyed watching Brentford this season, and they are so good at home. 2-1
Selhurst Park, 15:00 GMT
Crystal Palace’s win at Ipswich on Tuesday was huge for them, and it was comfortable enough in the end.
Manchester City finally returned to winning ways against Nottingham Forest – and it was a result they fully deserved – but are they really back?
What happens at Selhurst Park should give us an idea, and this is not an easy game for them. Forest had chances at the Etihad Stadium when the score was 1-0 and I am still not convinced by City’s defending.
They were much better going forward with Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku in the team against Forest, though.
Doku gave them the energy and ideas out wide that they have been missing and while he is not the finished article he is always a handful with his dynamism and the way he drives at teams.
On his day, he can be devastating and it might be a moment of magic from him that makes the difference here, and breaks down a stubborn Palace side.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-2
Dougie’s prediction: With De Bruyne back, City look like themselves again. I can see Erling Haaland scoring buckets of goals again soon, because he just looks so annoyed. 0-3
Old Trafford, 17:30 GMT
I saw Manchester United’s defeat by Arsenal as the easiest prediction of the week, and I was right.
That is not me taking aim at United boss Ruben Amorim, but with what he has to work with, getting anything against the very top teams is going to be really difficult. The magnitude of the job means that he will need months and months to really turn things around.
I don’t see this game as being straightforward for United, either. Forest have already won at Anfield this season and they created chances against City on Wednesday, so I am expecting more of the same from them here.
I am going to be a bit of a coward with my prediction, though. I backed Forest to get something at the Etihad Stadium, and I was wrong, so I am not brave enough to back them again on their return to Manchester.
I’m disappointed in myself with this prediction to be honest, although I do think Forest will score this time.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
Dougie’s prediction: Forest were the first poster on my wall and I have always had a soft spot for them. They are so entertaining to watch at the moment and of course ‘The Wood Chopper’ [Chris Wood] has been in unbelievable form, although he did miss a sitter against City. I just think Ruben Amorim is affecting United already, though. Marcus Rashford looks happier and Bruno Fernandes is going to come into his own. 2-1
Sunday, 8 December
Craven Cottage, 14:00 GMT
I am at this game for BBC Radio 5 live and I’m really looking forward to it. Fulham won this fixture last season and they had a brilliant win over Brighton last time out.
I can’t believe I went for the Seagulls to win that game, because I know how strong Fulham are at Craven Cottage. It is only the fact they are playing Arsenal that is stopping me going for a home win here.
Arsenal needed corners to find a way past Manchester United on Wednesday, but they deserved to win the game anyway.
Martin Odegaard is a special talent and he is the difference maker for them. He knits everything together and he is the reason they are going on a bit of a run. Their confidence is growing and they look strong all over the pitch.
They did not miss Gabriel at the back against United, but this might be a tougher test for them, especially because some of Fulham’s key players are Gunners old boys.
One of them could easily come back to haunt Arsenal and put a dent in their title bid, but Arteta’s side have got the ability to grind out results when they need to.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-2
Dougie’s prediction: Odegaard and Bukayo Saka are like a dream double act, who are beautiful to watch. Their inter-play is like poetry and I could watch it all day. Fulham have been doing OK and it’s good to see Raul Jimenez back among the goals, but I feel like Arsenal will have too much.1-3
Portman Road, 14:00 GMT
Tuesday night’s game at home to fellow strugglers Crystal Palace was big for Ipswich, and they came up short.
Kieran McKenna’s side are killing me in my predictions. So far they have been the kind of team that are always in games, but they have a little bit of softness about them that means they are not winning when I expect them to.
I have a feeling it could be a similar story here. It’s great to see sell-out crowds again at Portman Road after the club spent years in the wilderness but there is a reason they are still yet to win at home.
In contrast, Bournemouth have had a great week, absolutely battering Wolves and then backing it up by beating Spurs.
I have been backing Ipswich blindly but maybe I have to stop doing that now. They really need to recover after their result against Palace and maybe they can scramble something here, but I can’t see it.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-2
Dougie’s prediction: The Tractor Boys are another team I like watching, but I do worry for them. Bournemouth have had some excellent results recently and this one will be quite tight. 1-1
King Power Stadium, 14:00 GMT
I am not fooled by what Leicester did against West Ham, as big a win as it was for them.
The Hammers wasted so many chances, and the Foxes’ defensive issues have clearly not gone away.
Well done to new Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, but he has got a hell of a job on his hands to keep them up.
I did not see Brighton’s defeat at Fulham coming, because the Seagulls have been so impressive. They will be angry after that performance, and looking to prove a point. Away win, no doubt about it.
Sutton’s prediction: 0-3
Dougie’s prediction: Leicester look like a different team under Ruud van Nistelrooy – it’s kind of like what’s happened with Amorim at United, where the players all look like they have just got out of jail. Brighton have really impressed me this season, and I feel like there could be some goals here. 2-2
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 16:30 GMT
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou got a fair bit of flak after going over to speak to some Spurs fans following Thursday’s defeat by Bournemouth.
Football is a fickle business sometimes. It wasn’t a good result, but you only have to go back a week or two and they were cheering Ange off after winning at Etihad Stadium.
Usually I would expect a reaction from Spurs but they are so unpredictable that I don’t know what will happen. They could win this game 4-0 like they did against Manchester City, or lose it by the same scoreline.
So, I am going with Chelsea here. While I do wonder about their experience, I think Enzo Maresca’s side are title contenders even if he insists they aren’t.
Maresca may genuinely believe that, or he might be saying it to take the pressure off his players.
When I won the title with Blackburn in 1995, the club’s owner Jack Walker, always planned to win it the year after, but when you are in the title race and you keep winning then there is no reason why you shouldn’t embrace being ahead of schedule.
Everyone slammed Chelsea’s owners for spending so much on so many players and building such a big squad, but maybe there was a method in what people saw as madness.
They are playing with real confidence at the moment and look completely different to the team they were last season. Nicolas Jackson is an example of how much they have improved and, after being rested against Southampton in midweek, he will be refreshed and ready to go.
This was the game last year where Spurs went down to nine men and lost 4-1. If there is any element of doubt from their players in their style of play, then Chelsea could take them apart again this time too.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-3
Dougie’s prediction: Tottenham are almost as baffling as Rangers. I kind of love Ange and how it is a case of, ‘I just play like this and you can kind of like it or lump it’. They are great to watch because you just don’t know what to happen, it is just chaos theory.
As for Chelsea, well Maresca seems to have got a tune out of this gigantic squad. Jackson is looking fantastic, while Cole Palmer is next level. This could be anything, but Chelsea do look more dangerous at the moment. 2-3
Monday, 9 December
London Stadium, 20:00 GMT
This might end badly for O’Neil and Wolves and, while we are not seeing the West Ham we expected from Lopetegui, he may live to fight another day.
The last time Wolves went to London, at the end of November, they beat Fulham 4-1 and enjoyed themselves.
I can’t see the same happening here though, because of the number of goals they are conceding. The way they play under O’Neil, they are so open.
West Ham are going to get some chances and although they missed a few against Leicester, I am backing them to take them this time.
Sutton’s prediction: 3-1
Dougie’s prediction: This is like the ‘Sacked in the morning’ derby, isn’t it!?. West Ham have not been good, or good to watch either. Even the highlights on Match of the Day have left me thinking, ‘oh this is a bit turgid’.
With Wolves, I feel like they should be doing a lot better. They play some good stuff and Matheus Cunha has been great up front, but can’t stop conceding. I still have a feeling they will get something out of this, though. 1-2
How did Sutton do last time?
Chris got four correct results from the 10 midweek fixtures in week 14, with no exact scores, giving him a total of 40 points.
The BBC readers did a bit better, with five correct results and no exact scores, for a tally of 50 points.
But the winner was his guest, The Slow Readers Club bassist James Ryan, who got six correct results with no exact scores, leaving him on 60 points.
