Manchester United’s manager Michael Carrick is feeling the pressure after a disappointing start to the Premier League campaign, and the upcoming clash with Leeds United on Saturday has fans wondering whether the Red Devils can turn their fortunes around. BBC Sport football pundit Chris Sutton voiced his scepticism, noting that Leeds have rarely been the favourites in this fixture and that United’s chances look slim. “Leeds are a much more rounded team,” Sutton said, adding that the club’s supporters are likely to relish the opportunity to see their side beat United.
Sutton is running a new prediction exercise for all 380 Premier League matches this season, using an AI tool powered by Microsoft Copilot Chat and input from BBC Sport readers. In the current round, he has taken on former heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley, an Ipswich Town fan and boxer who will fight for the WBO title against Daniel Dubois at the O2 Arena on Saturday. Wardley’s rematch follows a 11‑round bout in May in which Dubois stopped him to claim the crown. Wardley, who has seen Ipswich’s promotion to the Premier League in the 2024‑25 season, praised the club’s early form, citing three wins from six games and the resilience shown in last‑minute victories over Sunderland and Fulham.
The predictions themselves are split between the pundit, the boxer and the AI. For United’s game, Sutton has forecast a 1‑1 draw, Wardley a 1‑2 win for Leeds, and the AI a 1‑2 result. In the other fixtures highlighted, Sutton’s predictions range from a 2‑2 draw for Liverpool against Brentford to a 3‑1 win for Fulham over Hull, while Wardley’s forecasts tend to favour his own side or the opposition. The AI consistently suggests a 1‑2 scoreline in several matches, reflecting its algorithmic approach to the data.
Wardley, who has balanced a strict training regime with attendance at Ipswich matches, highlighted the importance of new signings and a new manager in keeping the club competitive after promotion. “Three wins from six games is a great start for any team coming up from the Championship,” he said, noting that the recent victories demonstrate character and resilience.
As the Premier League weekend approaches, United’s visitors to Leeds will face a side that has shown promise in the early stages of the season. Whether Carrick can rally his squad to a better result remains to be seen, while Wardley’s fight for the WBO title will be a high‑profile event on the same night. The predictions from Sutton, Wardley and the AI will be tallied on BBC Sport’s new Match of the Day predictor game, offering fans a chance to test their own forecasts against the most popular scorelines.