Sutton and Watts face off in FA Cup and Premier League predictions 2026

Manchester City aim for fourth straight FA Cup final against Southampton at Wembley.

Record-breaking City seek FA Cup glory Manchester City have already set the standard for consecutive FA Cup semi-finals with eight appearances between 2019 and 2026. Now, they have the chance to become the first team in history to reach four finals in a row when they face Championship side Southampton at Wembley on Saturday at 17:15 BST. The match will be broadcast live on BBC One and Radio 5 Live. Pep Guardiola may not rotate his squad significantly for the semi-final, as the next league game isn’t until May 4 at Everton, but the focus remains on getting the team firing again after their recent performance against Burnley. ## Sutton’s predictions challenge AI and fans Chris Sutton is taking on AI predictions, BBC Sport readers, and a variety of guests across all 380 Premier League games this season. For this weekend’s fixtures, he is teaming up with Tottenham fan Alfie Watts, co-host of the Race Across the World: The Detour visual podcast. Watts and Tyler West are releasing weekly episodes every Thursday until May 21, available to watch now on iPlayer. ## Watts reflects on Spurs struggles and referee life Alfie Watts, the youngest winner of Race Across the World in series four, also serves as a qualified referee officiating at step three and four of the football pyramid, including the Isthmian League and Southern League Premier Division. Growing up near London Colney, where Arsenal and Watford train, Watts didn’t inherit a footballing family but fell in love with the sport through school playground games and his uncle’s friend, a Spurs fan. Despite the team’s current relegation battle, Watts remains optimistic, though he admits his support complicates things. "I sometimes wish they weren’t friends - it would have made my life a lot easier if I supported someone else!" he shared. Watts grew up during the Mauricio Pochettino era, expecting consistent top-four finishes, and now sees this season as a sharp departure from those expectations. "There was a time when, if we lost, the result would literally ruin my weekend but as I’ve got a bit older I am a bit more relaxed about it. Even if we go down this season, football will go on.. and so will Spurs." ## Watts’ Spurs outlook: relegation fight or miracle escape Alfie Watts openly questions whether Tottenham deserve to stay in the Premier League this season. "The way I see it, we don’t deserve to stay up this season so, if we do, it’s a bonus." His concerns stem from a season plagued by injuries and defensive frailties, with the team conceding four goals at home to Arsenal and Forest. Watts argues that while injuries have played a part, the lack of goals and defensive stability points to deeper issues. "You can probably put our lack of goals down to some players being out, but when you are conceding four home and away against Arsenal and three at home to Forest, can you blame injuries - or are we just rubbish?" ## Sunderland and Forest clash in tight battle Sunderland’s resilient display against Aston Villa last week, where they fought back from 3-1 down to earn a draw before losing in stoppage time, showcased their gritty season. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, have been scoring goals but face a tougher challenge at the Stadium of Light. Forest sit five points clear of relegation rivals Spurs but could struggle against a Sunderland side that has not lost in their last seven games across all competitions. These teams have met recently, with Forest scoring four against Burnley, but this fixture feels far more balanced. "Vitor Pereira's side have been tough to beat recently - they have not lost any of their past seven games in all competitions and they have been good on the road too." ## Aston Villa and Fulham seek contrasting outcomes Aston Villa are juggling league ambitions with a Europa League semi-final next week, so Unai Emery may avoid major changes for their clash with Fulham. Fulham’s recent form includes no goals in their past two games, but Chris Sutton expects them to break their duck against Villa. "Villa are on a good little run of results but they have not won any of their past four league away games. I don’t want to say this will be a draw, but I think I have to." Alfie Watts sees Fulham’s home advantage as key, predicting a draw at Craven Cottage. "I do wonder if Marco Silva's time at Fulham is coming to a natural end. I am going for them to get a point here because they are good at home." ## Liverpool face Crystal Palace in high-stakes clash Liverpool secured a dramatic late winner against Everton last week, with Virgil van Dijk scoring in the 100th minute, a result that could have cost Chris Sutton’s prediction title. Arne Slot’s side are pushing for Champions League football, and another win would edge them closer to that goal. Crystal Palace, though, have already beaten Liverpool three times this season, including in the Community Shield, Premier League, and Carabao Cup. Despite Palace being safe in mid-table, Sutton believes their familiarity with Liverpool’s weaknesses could cause an upset. "The Eagles have already got the better of them three times this season - on penalties at Wembley to decide the Community Shield, in the Premier League at Selhurst Park and then at Anfield in the Carabao Cup." ## Everton and West Ham battle for survival points West Ham’s relegation fight intensifies as they host Everton, with both teams needing points to stay afloat. Everton impressed against Liverpool, particularly with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s display, while West Ham salvaged a point at Palace last time out. A 1-1 draw between these sides earlier in the season suggests another tight encounter. "It finished 1-1 when these two sides met earlier in the season, and this smells of another draw to me." Alfie Watts hopes Everton can aid Spurs’ survival hopes but acknowledges West Ham’s desperation for the three points. ## Tottenham face must-win game against Wolves Tottenham’s survival hinges on a victory against Wolves, who are already relegated. Spurs have failed to win any of their last 15 league games and haven’t kept a clean sheet in 14 matches. Chris Sutton acknowledges the odds are stacked against Spurs but predicts an unlikely win, betting on an error-free performance. "Spurs absolutely must win this game, so I am going to say they will - and also that Wolves won’t score." Alfie Watts fears the psychological impact of another defeat, as Spurs also face Villa and Chelsea in their final five games. "I just feel like if we lose this, we are down. There would be no coming back from it." ## FA Cup semi-finals promise thrilling clashes Manchester City, top of the Premier League, take on Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final, while Chelsea face Leeds United. City have lifted the FA Cup seven times between 1904 and 2023, while Southampton’s solitary triumph came in 1976. Southampton have won seven straight Championship games and knocked Arsenal out in the last round, but Chris Sutton still expects City to advance comfortably, provided they avoid wastefulness. "Tonda Eckert has done a phenomenal job with Saints but I still think City will come out comfortable winners." Alfie Watts warns City not to underestimate Southampton’s improvement under Eckert, who took over in December. "Southampton have been so good, that City can’t take this for granted." ## Chelsea’s crisis continues against resilient Leeds Chelsea’s managerial merry-go-round continues as interim boss Calum McFarlane leads the team against Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-final. Liam Rosenior’s dismissal came after he criticized his players for an unacceptable display against Brighton. "The lack of effort some of the Chelsea players put in against Brighton was more damning on them than their manager," Sutton noted. Leeds, meanwhile, drew with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in February and beat them at Elland Road in December, showing their resilience. Sutton expects Leeds to edge through at Wembley. ## Manchester United and Brentford aim for late-season points Manchester United’s recent unpredictability under Michael Carrick could be tested when they face Brentford, who beat them 3-1 earlier this season. Brentford’s attacking threat, including Igor Thiago’s two goals against United, looms large, though their recent trend of draws complicates Sutton’s prediction. "The Bees just keep on drawing games at the moment, though, so I’ve really got to go for another draw here." Alfie Watts humorously notes Brentford’s strong season since poaching Thomas Frank from Spurs, calling their success "quite sickening for Spurs fans." ## Current prediction standings after week 34 fixtures Three games from week 34 have already been played, with Chris Sutton and Alfie Watts each securing one correct result so far, earning 10 points each. AI and BBC Sport readers are ahead with two correct results, totaling 20 points. All participants’ points will be tallied once the weekend’s Premier League games conclude. Sutton and Watts’ predictions will be updated after all fixtures are played. ## FA Cup and Premier League fixtures breakdown | FA Cup semi-final | 1st in Premier League v 4th in Championship | | --- | --- | | Last major trophy? City: 2026 Carabao Cup. Southampton: 1976 FA Cup | | FA Cup wins? City: 7 between 1904 and 2023. Southampton: 1 | | FA Cup semi-final | 8th in Premier League v 15th in Premier League | | --- | --- | | Last major trophy? Chelsea: 2025 Club World Cup. Leeds: 1992 First Division title | | FA Cup wins? Chelsea: 8 between 1970 & 2018. Leeds: 1 in 1972, when they beat Chelsea in the final |