BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton is set to pit his wits against legendary guitarist and Manchester City fan Johnny Marr in predicting the outcome of the upcoming Premier League fixtures. This weekly challenge also includes predictions from artificial intelligence and BBC readers.

Sutton noted the growing pressure on Manchester United boss Michael Carrick, suggesting that a poor run of results could lead to increased speculation about his future, especially with a three-week international break looming. "Any negativity is going to just fester, really," Sutton commented.

Marr, whose new album "The Age Of Everything" is set for release, expressed his satisfaction with Manchester City's perfect start to the season. He highlighted the team's resilience in their derby victory against Manchester United, even after a controversial red card for Phil Foden. "It's all a bit of a learning curve for the fans and the club with a new manager and so many new players, so to see how the team dug in and won was so great for City fans," Marr stated.

He also commented on the new City manager, Enzo Maresca, saying, "No-one expected Maresca to win his first four games... but then again, why not? He's shown that he's his own man with his own philosophy. I like him."

The article details predictions for various matches:

Friday, 18 September

Chelsea vs. Brentford: Sutton predicts a 2-2 draw, while Marr and AI favor Brentford with a 1-2 scoreline. Sutton highlighted Chelsea's attacking prowess but noted their defensive frailties, contrasting it with Brentford's balanced approach.

Saturday, 19 September

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Aston Villa: Sutton predicts a 1-2 victory for Aston Villa, with Marr and AI favoring Spurs 2-1. Sutton questioned Tottenham's lack of improvement under their manager despite significant spending.

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Arsenal: All three predictors – Sutton, Marr, and AI – anticipate a 1-2 win for Arsenal. Sutton acknowledged Brighton's aggressive style but felt Arsenal were a class above.

Everton vs. Ipswich Town: Sutton predicts a narrow 1-0 win for Everton, while Marr and AI foresee a 2-0 and 2-1 victory respectively. Sutton praised Ipswich's ambition and their manager's setup but ultimately favored Everton's experience.

Newcastle United vs. Hull City: Sutton and Marr predict a 1-1 draw and a 3-0 win for Newcastle, respectively, with AI also predicting a 3-0 win for Newcastle. Sutton acknowledged Hull's defensive strength and attacking threat.

Nottingham Forest vs. Coventry City: Sutton, Marr, and AI all predict a 2-0 win for Nottingham Forest. Sutton noted Coventry's struggles and Frank Lampard's challenge in rallying his team.

Sunday, 20 September

Bournemouth vs. Liverpool: Sutton predicts a 1-1 draw, while Marr and AI foresee wins for Liverpool (1-2 and 1-3 respectively). Sutton expressed doubts about Liverpool's current form and sync with their manager's tactics.

Leeds United vs. Crystal Palace: Sutton predicts a 2-0 win for Leeds, with Marr predicting 2-1 and AI predicting 1-1. Sutton lauded Leeds manager Daniel Farke and praised the team's organization and the form of their striker.

Manchester City vs. Sunderland: Sutton predicts a 2-1 win for Manchester City, while Marr and AI favor City with scores of 3-0 and 4-0 respectively. Johnny Marr shared his thoughts on former manager Pep Guardiola and his favorite City players, including Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, David Silva, and Kevin De Bruyne.

Fulham vs. Manchester United: Sutton and Marr predict a 2-2 draw and a 1-1 draw, respectively, with AI predicting a 1-2 win for Fulham. Sutton’s view of Fulham improved significantly after their draw at Anfield, while he noted Manchester United’s poor performance in the Carabao Cup.

Sutton's previous week's performance saw him and his guest, Marc White, both score 40 points. AI achieved 60 points with an exact score prediction. BBC readers also secured 40 points, with one exact score, and moved level with Sutton at the top of the predictions table.