There will be two Dutch managers in the dugouts at Old Trafford on Sunday, but how will new Liverpool boss Arne Slot fare when he faces compatriot Erik ten Hag?
“I think this has got a draw written all over it,” said BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton.
“But I can’t go for a draw in a big game, I can’t sit on the fence in a game this big.”
Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.
For week three, he takes on MOBO Award-winning drum & bass legend and producer Adam F, who supports Liverpool.
Do you agree with their forecasts? You can make your own predictions, below.
Adam F – real name Adam Fenton – is a lifelong Liverpool fan.
“Although I’ve got a southern accent, I was born and raised in Liverpool,” he told BBC Sport.
“The Beatles basically grew up in my mum’s house – she went out with Paul McCartney and George Harrison, although not at the same time, and Rory Storm (from The Hurricanes) was my uncle.
“Then she married Alvin Stardust and we moved down south, but I’ve still always been a Red.”
It’s the start of a new era for the club now Slot has replaced Jurgen Klopp as manager and Adam is hoping he can adjust quickly to English football.
“Klopp had so much charisma and success and anyone who has been at the club for nine years is going to be hard to replace,” he explained.
“My feelings on Slot is that, technically, he is very good. He’s maybe a bit more ruthless than Klopp too, in terms of his no-nonsense approach to man-management.
“There’s kind of a tradition of Dutch managers coming into the Premier League and finding it quite a challenging transition – look at Ten Hag at United as an example of that – but I’d like to think Slot can be different.
“It is still so early, though and we are really waiting to find out more about how he wants his team to play, before we can really predict how this season will go.
“But I do think it is asking a lot for us to push for the title this time. We know how good Manchester City are, and Arsenal are getting better and better too.”
Saturday, 31 August
Arsenal 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Arsenal, their win at Villa last week was a bit of a statement because last season Villa did the double over them.
Two teams with a 100% record. Brighton have got off to a flyer under Fabian Hurzeler and they are very expansive in the way they play, they are brave, they back themselves.
But it’s Arsenal, at home, at the Emirates, I think they will win this one.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-0
Adam F’s prediction: Arsenal should take this one. 2-1
Brentford 3-1 Southampton
Southampton aren’t creating enough chances.
Brentford have won one and lost one. The Toney situation will have to get resolved soon.
But Brentford at home, you can’t really back against them. They’re playing a promoted side who are struggling to create.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-0
Adam F’s prediction: It’s so early on in the season to know what to expect from some of these teams. I am going for a draw. 1-1
Everton 2-3 Bournemouth
This is massive for Sean Dyche. They’ve not scored, conceded seven and the Everton fans are pretty underwhelmed.
I think Everton will stay in the Premier League this season. They could do with a goal against Andoni Iraola‘s Bournemouth who came on leaps and bounds last season.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
Adam F’s prediction: Everton lost at home to Brighton on the first day of the season. I know this is their last season at Goodison but it hasn’t been much of a fortress for them recently…another draw here. 1-1
Ipswich Town 1-1 Fulham
It’s a big one for Kieran McKenna.
Ipswich have had a nightmare with their fixtures – Liverpool and then Manchester City. They will see this as a chance to get points on the board.
I think Fulham are really well balanced under Marco Silva but it’s vital that Ipswich get points on the board. I think this will be a draw.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
Adam F’s prediction: Ipswich gave us a good game in the first-half on the opening weekend, but they could not quite sustain it. I fancy Fulham to edge this. 1-2
Leicester City 1-2 Aston Villa
I think Leicester have got their work cut out against Villa, they were lucky to get a point against Tottenham.
To be fair, they were resilient against Fulham but deservedly lost the game. I think it is going to be a long season for them.
I think Villa will bounce back and Ollie Watkins will get his shooting boots on. Morgan Rodgers looks super sharp for them.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-3
Adam F’s prediction: I am expecting Villa to have another good season. 1-2
This is the Nuno derby. Wolves fell to pieces against Chelsea, I’m slightly concerned about Wolves.
They were actually pretty comfortable against Southampton, I think they deserved to win that one.
Wolves fell to pieces, they’re clearly missing Max Kilman who they sold to West Ham. I just wonder what damage that second half will do, the way Chelsea really rolled them over.
But I think this will be a close one.
Sutton’s prediction: 0-0
Adam F’s prediction: This is a tricky one to call. 1-0
West Ham 1-3 Manchester City
I can’t see anyone stopping Man City at this time, they just dominate teams, dominate games. I think that City will win this one.
West Ham, it looks like Michael Antonio will lead the line. I love Niklas Fullkrug and would love to see him get a start, I don’t know whether he will because Antonio was on the bench in the League Cup. I think West Ham will score but I think Man City will score more.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-3
Adam F’s prediction: City are just so hard to stop. 1-3
Sunday, 1 September
Stamford Bridge, 13:30
Palace, a lot was made about Oliver Glasner coming in last season and the exciting brand of football.
Chelsea are never far away from a crisis and they had everybody scrutinising the way they do the business in the market and their top-heavy squad. But Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer linked up superbly last week.
Palace will be quite expansive but I think that will suit Chelsea.
Chelsea’s tails are up, I think they’ll down the eagles.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
Adam F’s prediction: I really don’t know what to expect from Chelsea. 1-1
St James’ Park, 15:00
Eddie Howe’s team haven’t quite clicked. I don’t think it’s a really settled Eddie Howe because he hasn’t got the players in so far which I think he would’ve wanted.
I thought Spurs were excellent against Everton. I think there will be goals in this game, there can’t not be.
But this will be toe-to-toe, this will be like a basketball match. I’m going to back Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-3
Adam F’s prediction: This should be a good game. 1-2
Old Trafford, 16:00
Manchester United got the better of Liverpool on a couple of occasions last year. They won in the FA Cup and you’re sort of scratching your head about how they won that particualar one.
Liverpool under Arne Slot are not so sort of heavy metal.
Whatever I predict about Manchester United I get them wrong, I’m just resigned to the fact I cannot predict a Manchester United result.
I’m going to say Liverpool to beat them.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-2
Adam F’s prediction: We drew 2-2 here in April last season, on a day when everything went wrong for us but I think we will get the job done this time. Whatever happens, though, I just hope we do better than the last time I did these predictions, on the last day of the season in 2015. It was Steven Gerrard‘s final game for us so I said I hoped he would score the winner. He did score – but we lost 6-1 to Stoke. 1-2
How did Sutton do last time?
Sutton’s wait for his first win of the season goes on.
He got six correct results from 10 games in week two, including one exact score, for a total of 90 points.
Sutton had two guests, Make Me A Mixtape hosts Clara Amfo and Jordan Stephens.
Clara also got six correct results with one exact score, giving her 90 points, while Jordan also ended up with six correct results but got two exact scores, for a tally of 120 points.
You finished on top last week but you could not make it two wins out of two.
Using the most popular scorelines from the predictions you made, you also got six correct results, with one exact score, for a total of 90 points.
