Chris Sutton is providing insights and forecasts for each Premier League fixture this season, collaborating with various guests along the way.
For the upcoming midweek clashes spanning Tuesday to Thursday, he is joined by Jimmy Brown, the drummer of UB40 and a devoted Birmingham City supporter.
Sutton's prognostication stands at 2-1 for the matches in question.
He addresses the recent scrutiny directed at Erling Haaland, the Manchester City forward, following their draw with Arsenal. Sutton contends that attributing City's offensive limitations solely to Haaland is misguided; instead, he highlights the responsibilities of key players such as Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva in creating scoring opportunities. Sutton also critiques the comparison made by Roy Keane, who likened Haaland's performance to that of a League Two player, deeming it far-fetched.
Looking ahead to City's encounter with Aston Villa, Sutton emphasizes the importance of closing the gap to league leaders Liverpool to no more than three points.
He anticipates a challenging match against a formidable Villa side known for their attacking prowess.
Despite the expected resilience from Villa, Sutton believes that securing a victory is imperative for Pep Guardiola's squad and predicts a favorable outcome.
On the contrary, Brown envisions a 3-1 triumph for City.
He envisages City seizing a 2-0 advantage, with Villa managing to pull one back and mount a comeback bid. Nevertheless, Brown foresees City capitalizing on Villa's defensive vulnerabilities to secure a late third goal and seal the victory.