Sutton’s Insights vs. Boxer Francesca Hennessy

Overview of Tottenham’s Performance

Tottenham has successfully advanced to the Champions League Round of 16, yet their form in the Premier League continues to be a concern for coach Thomas Frank.

During a recent draw against Burnley, many Spurs fans expressed their frustration, which was noted by football analyst Chris Sutton. He remarked, “Their domestic performance starkly contrasts their achievements in Europe, and facing Manchester City on Sunday might pose another challenging day for Frank.”

Sutton is predicting outcomes for all 380 Premier League matches this season and is comparing them against AI, BBC Sport readers, and several guests. This week, his guest for predictions is Francesca Hennessy, a boxer who supports Chelsea.

Francesca is scheduled to compete against Ellie Bouttell in a WBC title eliminator on Saturday, with coverage available on BBC Two starting at 20:00 GMT.

Feel free to make your predictions as well! The most frequent score chosen will be reflected in the scoreboards at the end of this page. Ten points are given for correctly predicting a win, draw, or loss, while an exact score earns 40 points.

Francesca Hennessy: Rising Star in Boxing

Francesca Hennessy, a two-time national amateur champion and the winner of events like the Women’s Winter Box Cup, began her professional career with Boxxer in August 2023.

Originally drawn to Chelsea because of her brother, Michael Hennessy Jr., a fellow professional boxer, Francesca quickly developed a passion for the club. “I idolized my brother, and since he was a Chelsea fan, I followed him. Eventually, I became a fan myself at the right time, as the team was performing well,” she shared. Her favorite players include legends Frank Lampard and John Terry. “I recently posted a video on social, and to my surprise, Terry commented! I couldn’t believe it,” she added.

Francesca’s Passion for Sports

Hennessy spoke to BBC Sport about transitioning from a shy schoolgirl to an aspiring boxing champion, recounting her early days in football. “I played a lot when I was younger, often with boys since there wasn’t a girls’ team until I was 11. We entered a competition with a girls’ team and ended up winning it. I also got player of the tournament, which was a fantastic experience,” she noted.

Though boxing has taken center stage for her now, she remains a football fan. “It’s crucial for young girls to see role models in sports, inspiring them to participate. Watching women’s boxing and football grow has been incredible; it’s the same with the achievements of the Lionesses and Chelsea’s women’s team—Lauren James is my favorite player on both sides!”

Insights from Chris Sutton and Francesca Hennessy were shared with BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.

Premier League Predictions

Saturday, 31 January

Match: Brighton vs. Everton

• Venue: Amex Stadium, 15:00 GMT
• Chris Sutton believes Everton has a chance for a point given their solid away record; he predicts a draw.
• Francesca, while a fan of Brighton, is backing Everton to win: 1-2.
• The AI predicts a different outcome, forecasting a 2-1 victory for Brighton.

Match: Arsenal vs. Leeds

• Venue: Elland Road, 15:00 GMT
• Sutton expects a narrow win for Arsenal: 0-1.
• Francesca, supportive of Arsenal despite recent wobbling, predicts a more comfortable victory: 1-3.
• AI leans towards Arsenal too, predicting a scoreline of 0-2.

Match: Wolves vs. Bournemouth

• Venue: Molineux, 15:00 GMT
• Sutton sees this game ending in a stalemate, while Francesca is backing Bournemouth: 0-1.
• AI agrees with Sutton’s prediction of a 1-1 draw.

Match: Chelsea vs. West Ham

• Venue: Stamford Bridge, 17:30 GMT
• Sutton believes Chelsea will edge out a win: 2-1.
• Francesca predicts a significant victory for Chelsea, excitedly stating they will win 3-0.
• The AI echoes Sutton’s sentiments with a prediction of 2-0 in favor of Chelsea.

Match: Liverpool vs. Newcastle

• Venue: Anfield, 20:00 GMT
• Sutton foresees a tight game with a score of 2-1 towards Liverpool, while Francesca thinks it could be a close contest that Newcastle might win: 2-3.
• AI predicts Liverpool will dominate with a 3-1 scoreline.

Sunday, 1 February

Match: Aston Villa vs. Brentford

• Venue: Villa Park, 14:00 GMT
• Sutton predicts Villa will win 2-0, while Francesca expects an even larger margin of 3-0.
• AI believes it will be a closer match with a score of 2-1 for Villa.

Match: Manchester United vs. Fulham

• Venue: Old Trafford, 14:00 GMT
• Sutton anticipates United should take the win at 2-1. Francesca also sees United winning, with a score of 3-1.
• The AI backs United too, predicting a 2-0 victory.

Match: Nottingham Forest vs. Crystal Palace

• Venue: City Ground, 14:00 GMT
• Sutton predicts a narrow 1-0 win for Forest, while Francesca is optimistic for Palace at 1-2.
• AI has a different outlook, believing it will end in a draw: 1-1.

Monday, 2 February

Match: Sunderland vs. Burnley

• Venue: Stadium of Light, 20:00 GMT
• Sutton is skeptical about Burnley’s chances and favors Sunderland to win 1-0. Francesca agrees, seeing the Black Cats victorious at home as well.
• The AI sees a potential draw: 1-1.

Last Week’s Predictions Recap

Last week’s prediction results were close and dramatic, coming down to the final match. Chris Sutton secured his first weekly victory of 2026 with a total of 110 points, outperforming guest Éanna Hardwicke, BBC readers, and AI. Sutton and the BBC audience both predicted a draw correctly, boosting their scores significantly.

Stay updated with sports predictions and analyses for the upcoming matches!