Chris Sutton and Jon McClure Share Predictions for Tottenham vs. Liverpool Match

Chris Sutton, who offers predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season alongside various guests, is joined by Reverend & the Makers vocalist Jon McClure for week 17. Sutton predicts a 2-3 scoreline. Referencing Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou’s recent statement that “management is a harder job than being prime minister,” Sutton, drawing on his own time managing Lincoln, affirmed this perspective. He noted that Postecoglou is familiar with the fluctuating fortunes managers face weekly, a pattern evident throughout Spurs’ current season. Sutton suggested this variability could also characterize the upcoming match. He anticipates Tottenham will find “some joy” in what he expects to be an “action packed” game, but believes Liverpool will not yield and expects them to prevail. He highlighted that Spurs’ handling of Mohamed Salah on the counter-attack will be crucial, though he doubts they can fully contain him. Regarding Liverpool’s draw against Fulham last weekend, Sutton acknowledged that some might view it as an unfavorable outcome for Arne Slot’s team. However, having attended the match, he described Liverpool’s performance with 10 men as “incredible,” stating, “They looked like they were the team with the extra man.” McClure’s prediction is 1-2. He characterized Spurs as “weird” due to their inconsistent performances and noted that, similar to Sheffield Wednesday (the team he supports), they appear to perform better in away games, speculating if this is due to their counter-attacking style. McClure is backing Liverpool, asserting that the club’s appointment of Slot is the “appointment of the decade.” He observed that Slot has retained positive aspects from the “Jurgen Klopp era – the high press and all that – but they just seem a little bit more street smart.” McClure also expressed admiration for Slot’s “very honest” interview style, calling him “wonderful” and believing he “is going to do great things at Liverpool.”