[Sports] Premier League predictions: Chris Sutton v Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott

[BirSaNN]

The Premier League title race is not over yet but, in terms of predictions, we already have a winner.

BBC Sport's football expert Chris Sutton, in his debut season in the predictions hot seat after taking over from Mark Lawrenson, has just wrapped up a resounding victory over his guests, which has been confirmed with three weeks to go.

It is effectively his second Premier League success, 28 years after he won the actual title while playing for Blackburn Rovers, and it clearly means just as much - although this time there is no trophy and he had to provide his own champagne.

"I lost to my guest for the first three weeks so, after the way I started the season, this is the stuff of miracles," said Sutton. "It's one of the great comebacks - a real footballing fairytale, especially to win it so early, with a few weeks to spare.

"I've limped over the line a little, to be honest, because there have been some very strange results recently. Last Monday, for example, when there were 21 goals in three games, including five from Everton who normally take a month to score that many.

"Still, it's nice to be able to sit back and celebrate after getting it done."

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

This weekend he is taking on Joe Elliott, frontman of rock legends Def Leppard and a Sheffield United fan.

Def Leppard's new album, Drastic Symphonies, is released on 19 May, the same date they play a special hometown gig at iconic Sheffield venue the Leadmill.

The Leadmill is one of many small UK music clubs threatened by closure and all proceeds from the gig will go towards the Music Venue Trust, which has been set up to help grassroots venues around the country survive.

Def Leppard then embark on their biggest ever European tour, including dates at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane on 22 May and Wembley Stadium on 1 July.

With the Blades' automatic promotion back to the Premier League already secured, Elliott is glad he does not have to worry about suffering play-off heartbreak at either venue and can focus on performing instead.

"After our warm-up at the Leadmill to raise awareness for little clubs, our first proper gig is at Bramall Lane which is always a big deal for us.

"I get the excitement about the play-offs from a neutral's point of view because you get this big game at Wembley, but we lost in the semi-finals last year and I'm glad we don't have to go through all of that again.

"It also makes our Bramall Lane gig that much easier because we don't have to deal with having a play-off game this weekend. Instead of worrying about who might be at home first, they can set up properly for the gig now.

"We had to move it once because of the play-offs and it wouldn't have been an issue this time, but it's nice not to have to worry about it at all.

"It's the same with Wembley. Every time I have been there with Sheffield United we have lost. I missed the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City because I was too busy but I didn't particularly want to go because I am bad luck.

"The only visit I really wanted this year was to play there, not to go and watch my team there - so with us going up I am buzzing about everything at the moment."

The Blades are back in the big time after a two-year absence but Elliott is not sure how they will do next season - he just hopes they stay up.

"It's difficult to know exactly how we will do because a lot of our players are out of contract and it doesn't look like we will be able to spend much," he explained.

"When we went up last time, under Chris Wilder in 2019, we were like a breath of fresh air and finished ninth.

"But that was because of our fans - for teams like us, the crowd really is the 12th man so we really missed them when the games were played behind closed doors after lockdown.

"With 30,000 people behind us, I'd like to think we can make the top half again but I am realistic and even finishing 17th would be incredible. It all depends on who Heckers [manager Paul Heckingbottom] keeps and how he can motivate whoever he gets on board."

link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65548294