The on-site coverage of the campaign 2025 Summer Transfer Window.
Welcome to Week 2 sportsPremier League prediction challenges, I have seen subscribers fly out of the block to get an early lead and start regretting it.
To do this, you can thank Manchester United fan Vaageesh from Chennai, India, who sets impressive standards and the rest (data algorithms, six-year-old Wilfred and me) lag behind the subscriber’s wake up.
We gave three points to the right scoring line and got the right result. There is also a bonus point for any correct “unique” prediction. Vaageesh scored a right score and five other results were right, and he inspired him to win the prize money with a 0-0 draw between Aston Villa and Newcastle United, bringing a total of nine points.
The six I got were correct but not the right score, which left me alone, including predicting the reward point for Leeds to beat Everton – though there was no right score. Wilfred scored five results, but unfortunately missed a bonus despite correctly predicting four goals from City and three goals from Nottingham Forest.
In my opinion, the data algorithm should be docked to make people underestimate Sunderland (or overestimate West Ham?). But it's annoying that this is due to the stop-time equalizer for Fulham with Rodrigo Muniz in Brighton and Hove Albion. Please note that if it weren't for that Fulham Equalizer, Vaageesh would have taken subscribers further ahead, so maybe I should thank Little Mercy.
Anyway, we played the second day of the race – let's meet this week's subscriber, Derek, now 36, who sounds unlikely to be a Sunderland supporter in Cranston, Rhode Island.
Our subscriber competition this week
Burnley vs SunderlandSaturday at 3 pm / 10 AM ET
Derek says: “Sunderland’s secret to success in the championship game – willing to ced, keep it organized and strike on the counter – treated West Ham.
“The combination of flexibility in the game and the quality of summer signing in the game, especially the midfielders of Granit Xhaka, Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki will see them against Burnley. The days of face-to-face from Burnley. The incredible playoffs that started will not last, but my optimism isn't over.”
Burnley 1-2 Sunderland
Ollie said: Leeds and Sunderland both had home advantage when they returned to top flights last weekend, so Burnley had to do the same on Saturday. They remained unbeaten in 23 championship games last season at Turf Moore, with only eight goals. Clean sheets will be hard to play in the Premier League and the goal on the other end will be hard to do, but I love that they are here. Sorry, Derek.
Burnley 1-0 Sunderland
Xhaka and Sunderland won the opening weekend (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Oli's other predictions
West Ham and Chelsea
Ollie said: West Ham at London Stadium always seems to be tougher than on the more atmospheric Upton Park, but it's still one of those fixtures you'd like to play on Saturday lunch time instead of Friday night. The noisy crowd can bring more home teams, especially with teams like Chelsea. Unlike Sunderland, West Ham will be in the fight. But Chelsea may just be a shadow.
West Ham 1-2 Chelsea
Manchester City and Tottenham
Ollie said: Remember Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-0 victory at Etihad last season? How angry is that? That was the moment when I really started thinking that there was something wrong with Manchester City. They recovered as the season progressed, but they needed to rebuild their halo. A 4-0 victory in Wolves last weekend helped in this regard. The same goes for the victory over the Spurs.
Manchester City 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Bournemouth and the Wolf
Ollie said: Last week, they were impressed by Anfield's Bournemouth when they fought back twice, looking like they were sticking to a valuable point of view until it inevitably happened. By contrast, Wolves' defeat by Manchester City brought some unsettling signs. Vitor Pereira did a great job last season, but the team looked short.
Bournemouth 2-1 Wolf
Brentford vs Aston Villa
Ollie said: Last week, I fantasized about Villa vs Newcastle, but they let me down. They were the second best even before Ezri Konsa’s red card. But it was a great opportunity to beat the Brentford team, who had a lifelong hardship after Thomas Frank. The convenience of Nottingham Forest’s deforestation from Brentford should leave Ollie Watkins looking forward.
Brentford 1-2 Aston Villa
Arsenal and Leeds
Ollie said: After the victory returns to the top flight against Everton, it feels like a game that will bring Leeds to land on Earth with a sharp illustration of bumps and mass settings. Arsenal's frontline looks dull in their first game at Old Trafford, but they, along with new striker Victor Gyokeres, should be clearer here.
Arsenal 3-0 Leeds
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest
Ollie said: A first-class mid-sized Premier League? It wasn't this season that the owners of the palace were angry at a series of events that led to their place in the European Union. It could be very nervous on the board, but on the court it looks like a game between two very decent and well-matched teams.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Everton and Brighton
Ollie said: Still trying to get my head around Everton's idea of playing anywhere outside of Goodison Park, never mind being called Hill Dickinson Stadium somewhere – though attractive. In order to make the excitement of the new era, this will require some habits. Note that Brighton seems to prefer playing more than Everton in the final seasons than Everton, so maybe both effects are.
Everton 1-1 Brighton
Fulham vs. Man
Ollie said: This usually ends with Manchester United's dramatic late championships: Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, Lisandro Martinez…even in 2007 Cristiano Ronaldo. They need to win. They might get one here.
Fulham 1-2 Manchester United
Newcastle and Liverpool
Ollie said: You know what I said about West Ham is a more difficult place on Friday night? Well, St James's Park threatens to be a visit to Liverpool: Monday's bank holiday, under floodlights, Newcastle and its fans are indignant about Alexander Isak's behavior and Liverpool's pursuit of his pursuit. Eddie Howe's players will be fired and fans will be emitting blood. This is a huge test of Liverpool's determination. Is this new look team ready?
Newcastle 2-1 Liverpool
(Top photo: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images; Design: Demetrius Robinson)