Premier League Predictions: Humans vs AI Showdown

The machines lead the humans 1-0. At least on paper.

Microsoft’s CoPilot stunned everyone by winning the BBC predictions league at the first attempt last season, out-guessing Chris Sutton, his guests and thousands of readers. Now the rematch begins, with Sutton determined to claw one back for the human race.

“It was a final-day defeat for me, that is how close I came to the title,” he said. “But I keep reading how AI models are going rogue and attacking each other. So, was I hacked too? It sounds like cheating to me – if so, then last season should really go down as a victory for me.”

Opposite him this year is musician and Manchester United fan Liam Fray, bullish about his club’s prospects under Michael Carrick.

“I am pretty excited,” he told BBC Sport. “Listen, we are not going to be challenging for the title because we are not at Arsenal or Manchester City’s level, but I think we will be up there – and I love Carrick. I was like ‘give him the job straight away’ when Ruben Amorim was sacked in January.

“I am biased because we play a bit of golf and we have had a few beers, but it means a lot when you see someone stood on the touchline who seems to care.

“I don’t mean that just because he used to play for us, I mean it because he seems to have that connection with the club, and especially with the fans.

“We have had plenty of managers recently who I am sure are passionate in their own way but, for me, it is a bit like being on stage – it is not that difficult to let people watching see that you are fully into what you are doing.

“I think that, when you do that, you get a lot back. Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag and Amorim were all good coaches I am sure, but it is good to see someone who cares and seems to want to do it for us as well as himself and the team... so, yeah, with him in charge I am really up for it.”

The AI’s predictions this season again come from Microsoft Copilot Chat, simply asked to “predict this weekend’s Premier League results”. Humans, meanwhile, get their say via BBC Sport’s Match of the Day predictor game.

Here is how the opening weekend looks through three sets of eyes – Sutton’s, Liam’s and the machine’s.

Arsenal v Coventry (Emirates Stadium, 20:00 BST)

Arsenal look ominous. Champions, deep squad, and fresh from dismantling Manchester City in the Community Shield in a way that felt more statement than friendly.

Coventry arrive back in the top flight straight into a storm.

Bruno Guimaraes has arrived to strengthen Arsenal’s midfield and Christos Tzolis, who never settled at Norwich, suddenly looks the part too. Daniel Farke once called Tzolis one of Europe’s brightest young prospects when he took him to Carrow Road in 2021; on current evidence, he was right.

For Coventry and Frank Lampard, this is brutal. Sutton still remembers Norwich being thrashed by Liverpool on opening night in 2019. This has the same feel.

Yes, a draw at the Emirates would transform Coventry’s belief. Sutton just cannot see it.

“It depends how much Mikel Arteta’s side put their foot down,” he says.

• Sutton’s prediction: 3-0
• Liam’s prediction: 3-0
• Liam: “It is good to have Coventry back in the Premier League… I think they will have a good season… but they just need to take the hit here.”
• AI’s prediction: 3-0

Three voices. One scoreline.

Hull v Manchester United (MKM Stadium, 12:30)

Hull are back and they are not planning on being polite about it.

Assistant head coach Dean Holden told the Monday Night Club they will be direct, awkward, and horrible to play against. At home, on opening day, that edge could define their season.

The story behind their rise is already remarkable: Sergej Jakirovic took them from 21st in the Championship into the play-offs and then up. Now comes the hard part – staying there, after losing a third of their league games last term.

Manchester United arrive with expectation but not a huge amount of new blood. Youri Tielemans is the headline signing – a “safe” addition in Sutton’s eyes, like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were last year. The Champions League will stretch Carrick’s squad and Sutton believes United over-achieved in finishing third.

He does not see them at Arsenal’s level yet. He does see them starting with a win.

• Sutton’s prediction: 1-2
• Liam’s prediction: 0-3
• “There will be a party atmosphere at Hull but that might play into our hands,” Liam says. “I had us down to win this 2-0 but I hate that because it sounds conservative, so I am going bigger.”
• AI’s prediction: 1-3

Liam also cannot ignore the Marcus Rashford question.

“I love Marcus, and the fact he is one of ours, and I would love him to come back and be as good as he was for us,” he says. “If anyone can get it out of him at United, it is Michael Carrick – he might know exactly what Marcus needs.

“If I was Marcus, I’d be thinking ‘I am going to make this work’ because of how special it could be if it does. Every part of me wants that to happen, but I don’t know if it will.”

Ipswich v Sunderland (Portman Road, 15:00)

Portman Road returns to the Premier League with a twist: Ipswich boss O’Neil is a former Norwich player. Sutton cannot resist a dig about his “true loyalties” and whether he has arrived to sabotage them, but the joke quickly gives way to genuine goodwill.

He wants Ipswich to stay up. Their recruitment gives them a chance.

Daizen Maeda, signed from Celtic, is the standout. Sutton knows him well: relentless presser, lightning runner, perfect for counter-attacking football. “He will be the best pressing player in the Premier League bar none,” Sutton says.

Ipswich will take heart from how Sunderland and Leeds handled promotion by recruiting aggressively. The challenge is stitching it all together quickly.

On the other side, Sunderland are coming off a season that took them into Europe. Sutton doubts how they will handle the extra load, but he has not forgotten how they bullied Arsenal last year. With Granit Xhaka still driving their midfield and Wilson Isidor and Brian Brobbey leading the line, they remain dangerous.

• Sutton’s prediction: 0-1
• Liam’s prediction: 2-2
• “Like Hull, this is Ipswich’s first game back in the Premier League and the crowd will be well up for it,” Liam says. “There are going to be some goals.”
• AI’s prediction: 2-1

Nottingham Forest v Leeds (City Ground, 15:00)

Nottingham Forest lived on chaos last season. Four managers, four styles, and yet they stayed up and somehow reached a Europa League semi-final.

Now Oliver Glasner has the keys.

He gets Chris Wood back from injury – a major boost for experience and goals – and, crucially, Forest have kept Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi. They will miss Elliot Anderson in midfield, but the core remains strong.

Leeds, under Daniel Farke, also arrive with renewed belief after staying up last year. Harry Wilson, outstanding at Fulham, and goalkeeper James Trafford headline their summer business.

Sutton will be at the City Ground for Radio 5 Live and admits this is a nightmare to call. Glasner used a 3-4-3 at Crystal Palace but has said he will adapt to the squad, so even Forest’s shape is a mystery.

“It will be very interesting to see how Forest start, and how Glasner fares,” Sutton says. “Will he still be there in September?”

• Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
• Liam’s prediction: 2-1
• “I thought all three of these 3pm games were hard to split but I could not see them all ending in draws,” Liam explains. “So I have gone for Forest to edge this.”
• AI’s prediction: 2-1

Brentford v Tottenham (Gtech Community Stadium, 17:30)

Spurs turn up with a new edge and a new manager. The buzz is real.

Sandro Tonali brings class to midfield, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke strengthen the back line, and Micky van de Ven has signed a new deal. Roberto de Zerbi’s arrival only heightens expectations. Without European football, Tottenham are openly eyeing the top six.

Brentford, though, are no soft touch. Keith Andrews had a superb first season in charge and his side are drilled, compact and ruthless on the break. If Spurs dominate the ball, Brentford will happily spring out.

Igor Thiago’s goal return last season was outstanding and Kevin Schade adds more threat. Goals should not be a problem.

• Sutton’s prediction: 1-1
• Liam’s prediction: 1-2
• “Spurs have bought some good players in Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Andy Robertson, and with James Maddison fit again that is four big players who were not there last year,” Liam says. “They are going to have a much better season this time.”
• AI’s prediction: 1-2

Brighton v Aston Villa (Amex Stadium, 14:00)

Aston Villa step into the Champions League and straight into a balancing act.

Sutton does not see them returning to the top four. They have lost Morgan Rogers and Tielemans, and while Johan Manzambi brings promise, expecting him to instantly replace Rogers is a lot.

Then there is Alejandro Garnacho. A puzzle. If anyone can solve it, Sutton suggests, it might be Unai Emery.

The goalkeeping situation adds another layer. Zion Suzuki has arrived from Japan full of energy, while Emiliano Martinez looked set for Juventus until that move collapsed. Only one can start. “They changed many of the laws of the game over the summer, but not that one,” Sutton quips.

Brighton have their own losses to absorb. Danny Welbeck and Van Hecke, the spine of last season’s team, have gone. The upside is Jack Hinshelwood, who Sutton expects to kick on after a phenomenal campaign.

Villa started dreadfully last year, taking six games to win. Sutton senses a different opening this time.

• Sutton’s prediction: 1-2
• Liam’s prediction: 1-2
• “I am never quite sure what to expect from Villa,” Liam admits. “Morgan Rogers is a massive miss for them now he has gone to Chelsea but I’ve still gone for them to win.”
• AI’s prediction: 2-2

Manchester City v Bournemouth (Etihad Stadium, 14:00)

The Community Shield wobble has triggered plenty of criticism for Manchester City. Sutton is not buying talk of a collapse.

He does not think they will retain the title, but he is adamant they will stay near the top. Just look at the squad.

Bournemouth arrive under Marco Rose, a coach who loves front-foot football. His RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg sides attacked relentlessly, and Sutton expects the same intent here.

The question is whether Rose will really go toe-to-toe at the Etihad in his first game. Sutton thinks he will. That is why he expects goals – just not evenly shared.

• Sutton’s prediction: 4-1
• Liam’s prediction: 3-0
• “This is the first game that City’s new stand will be open and it will be a full house,” Liam says. “Pep Guardiola has gone but if they can get Phil Foden firing again they will be a force to be reckoned with.”
• AI’s prediction: 3-1

Newcastle v Liverpool (St James’ Park, 16:30)

Newcastle’s revolution has stalled and the spine has been ripped out.

Matthias Jaissle has impressed Sutton, but he has lost Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes – “two absolute monsters in midfield” – as well as Anthony Gordon’s spark and Kieran Trippier’s experience. The mood on Tyneside has shifted from wild optimism to wary realism.

Across the pitch, Liverpool are still adapting to Andoni Iraola. Pre-season exposed defensive frailties and fitness issues. Sutton jokes they will hope to “run for more than half an hour now”.

Up front, though, he sees no issues. Alexander Isak, now in Liverpool red, will walk into a hostile reception at his former home, but Sutton expects him to shine from day one.

• Sutton’s prediction: 1-3
• Liam’s prediction: 1-2
• “I feel for Newcastle fans a bit because they had the takeover but it never really seems like it got going,” Liam says. “They have sold some big players and it will be interesting to see how St James’ Park reacts – when it is banging, it is really banging, but it is also really obvious when the mood is different.
• “Liverpool were really off it last year but if Isak hits the ground running and Florian Wirtz turns up, then they are going to be a different beast this year.”

Fulham v Chelsea (Craven Cottage, 20:00)

Across west London, two clubs step into new eras with very different levels of certainty.

Fulham must cope without Marco Silva, Harry Wilson’s creativity and Raul Jimenez’s presence up front. Alvaro Arbeloa replaces Silva and the club have gambled on youth in attack: Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid, and Swedish teenager Jonah Kusi-Asare from Bayern Munich.

Under Silva, Fulham felt steady, rarely flirting with danger. Sutton is not sure what this reset will bring and suspects a more anxious season.

Chelsea, by contrast, enter the Xabi Alonso era with a sense of clarity. No one expects a repeat of the leap from 10th to champions that Antonio Conte produced a decade ago – that squad was far stronger – but there is genuine optimism.

Cole Palmer remains central, Morgan Rogers is an exciting addition, and Alonso’s presence has lifted the mood. Sutton expects that to show straight away.

• Sutton’s prediction: 0-2
• Liam’s prediction: 0-2
• “Fulham always seem to be safe and never get dragged into a relegation fight but this might be the year they struggle a bit,” Liam says. “I am just putting it out there, Fulham fans – keep an eye on that line, above 18th place.”
• AI’s prediction: 1-2

So the stage is set: humans on one side, the algorithm on the other, all staring down the same fixture list. CoPilot drew first blood last season. Now the Premier League kicks off again – and we find out whether instinct, experience and a gut feeling can still beat the code.