Newcastle are chasing a club-record 10th straight win against Bournemouth on Saturday, but are Eddie Howe’s side now in the title race?

“No-one was talking about Newcastle winning the title at the start of December, but now they just need to hang on in there,” said BBC Sport’s football expert Chris Sutton.

“I don’t think it is going to happen but they have an outside chance. If they keep winning, let’s see where it takes them.”

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

For week 22, he takes on doctor and comedian Ed Patrick, who supports Nottingham Forest.

Patrick is touring the UK with his show, Catch Your Breath, including a date at the Comedy Store in London on 8 April.

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Patrick is a lifelong Forest fan, who is enjoying their time in the top four after two seasons spent battling relegation.

“It’s slightly bonkers,” he told BBC Sport. “You go from having that constant fear of watching every game, trying to get enough points to survive, to being nervous in a very different way.

“Let’s be honest, we started the season just hoping not to be in a dogfight at the bottom again, and anything else would have been a bonus.

“I was celebrating when we beat Everton a couple of weeks ago to get to 37 points because that meant we have reached safety, but now the new fear is that we need to make the Champions League just to keep our players.

“There is so much love from the fans for this team, that is almost the biggest reason for us getting in.

“To see them playing with a cohesion and a heart that you automatically have as a fan, it just makes you grow into them more and more.

“Look at someone like Murillo, who is not only such a great player but he is exciting to watch as well, which is very rare for a centre-half.

“There is a feeling that if we didn’t get top four, he would go elsewhere. But at the same time you end up thinking, ‘well, if he is having such a great time then why wouldn’t he stay?’ – and it is the same for the rest of the team too.

“When you watch us, we’re not carefree but it is like our players are really enjoying their football, and the style we play as well.

“We don’t need possession all the time, because we know exactly what our plan is and how we can get up the pitch.

“Whether we make the top four or not is just down to whether we can maintain that level of enjoyment, which I think we will.”

Chris Sutton and Ed Patrick were speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.

This is a hard one, because Newcastle are on such a brilliant run but Bournemouth have not lost for a long time, either.

The Cherries are 10 games unbeaten, since 23 November, while Newcastle would set a new club record of 10 wins in a row in all competitions if they beat them.

Magpies boss Howe has never beaten his old team in five attempts in the Premier League since he came to St James’ Park in 2021, but I am expecting that to change on Saturday.

Bournemouth will score and they are very capable of nicking a victory here, but Newcastle have momentum and belief and they also have Alexander Isak, who is absolutely flying at the moment.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

Ed’s prediction: I have only gone for one clean sheet out of this entire set of fixtures – I think it is going to be a high-scoring one, starting here. Newcastle are right on our tail and I can certainly see Joelinton and Anthony Gordon on the scoresheet here to help give them another win. 3-1

I thought Liverpool were really unlucky not to beat Nottingham Forest on Tuesday. They played well had enough chances to win, but Forest keeper Matz Sels made some excellent saves.

Now, with Arsenal winning on Wednesday, this game has become massive for Liverpool. If they don’t win it, people are going to really question them.

Arne Slot’s side have drawn their past two league games, and lost to Tottenham in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

So, since the turn of they year they have only won one game in four in all competitions – the FA Cup tie against Accrington.

It is something of a mini-blip for them, and they need to get back on track. But they are still where they want to be – four points clear at the top of the Premier League and with a game in hand on the teams below them.

This is going to be another tough game for the leaders though.

People might see Brentford’s late comeback against Manchester City as justification for them resting players in their FA Cup home defeat by Plymouth.

I disagree with that, but the Bees have shown this season that they never lie down and I can see them scoring and keeping this close.

Unlike City, though, I believe Liverpool will find a way of getting over the line.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-2

Ed’s prediction: What happened on Tuesday changed my mind about what I think will happen here, and this is probably my most controversial prediction. Brentford will be buoyed by coming back against City and while Liverpool were great in spells against us, they also got a bit frustrated. 2-1

‘Foxes never quit’ is Leicester’s motto, but it is starting to look like they have done.

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side are on a run of six straight league defeats and are in desperate trouble.

I was too generous to them in my prediction before they played Crystal Palace on Wednesday because I thought they would score, but Palace won that one very comfortably in the end.

It’s not a surprise to see Leicester struggling now because I think it’s a case where they have been a mess all season.

There are people out there who will think this has been coming, because they sacked Steve Cooper and then seemed to give Van Nistelrooy the job off the back of two wins against them while in temporary charge of Manchester United.

He was a great player who had his managerial apprenticeship with PSV, and I admired the job he did with United too, so this situation is not on him – he just inherited this team.

It is always a struggle for promoted teams, but there seemed to be a different expectation from Leicester fans because of their recent history, and a belief they would stay up easily then kick on.

The Premier League does not work like that – and they have found that out.

Fulham are not on a great run either, although they come into this game off the back of a lot of draws rather than defeats.

I thought Marco Silva’s side deserved something out of their defeat to West Ham on Tuesday, and they won’t slip up again. I can see Leicester scoring, because they are due a goal, but Fulham will have too much quality for them.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-2

Ed’s prediction: I can see goals at both ends here. Fulham have got a resilience about them at the moment, and they seem to be clawing themselves back into games – but they are just a little bit leaky. 2-2

New West Ham boss Graham Potter got a win in his first home game, against Fulham on Tuesday, but I thought the Hammers got away with one a little bit there.

The safe bet here would be to go for a draw but I am not going to do that.

Instead I am going for a Palace away win, to continue their recent improvement.

Sutton’s prediction: 0-1

Ed’s prediction: Potter is a good coach and he has clearly brightened up the place. Palace boss Oliver Glasner is a good manager as well and they have really picked up, but I am going to back West Ham. I have got a couple of mates who are Hammers fans so they will be happy about that. 3-1

This was the game that did for Arsenal last season. They won 16 of their last 18 league games, but had one bad half against Aston Villa and the defeat cost them the title.

That memory must still hurt, but it might actually help Mikel Arteta’s side focus on getting the job done this time.

Aston Villa come into this game after a good win at Everton but they allowed David Moyes’ side to have a few opportunities.

The Gunners deserved their win over Tottenham on Wednesday and I can see them building on that performance, by finding their ruthless touch.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-0

Ed’s prediction: There is a lot of negative press about Arsenal but they are still in a very good position. It will be hard for them without some key players, but I have a feeling they will grind this one out. 2-1

Sean Dyche was accused of being too defensive-minded before he got sacked last week, but Everton got a little bit stuck between being hard to beat and pushing for a goal when they lost to Aston Villa on Wednesday.

It meant they were quite open and, although David Moyes’ side had chances, Villa really should have won by more than one goal.

I think it will be a similar story here, where Everton’s approach will be different because they are at home.

If they were away, I think they would be happy to sit in and soak up pressure, but they might be a little bit more expansive at Goodison Park, and I don’t see it ending well for them.

Everton’s lack of goals – they have scored only 15 in their first 20 games – is pathetic. It cannot continue but, while it does, it looks like the weight of the world is on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s shoulders.

It should not be a case of him or bust in terms of Everton finding the net but that’s how it felt against Villa and he is struggling. I have been there myself, when the goals are not flowing, and he looks hesitant and clunky in front of goal.

As a striker you have got to want chances to come your way but Calvert-Lewin looks like he is on the back foot in front of goal, and also that he’s lacking the clarity of mind you have when you are flying form-wise, and you just finish those chances without thinking about them.

So, it’s hard to make a case for Everton to beat Tottenham, even though Ange Postecoglou’s side are on a poor run too.

Antonín Kinsky did not have a great game in goal against Arsenal but it was a disappointing display by the whole team.

Spurs have fallen so low in the table – 14th – that they need a win, and quickly. This might be the boost they need, although I am not convinced they will keep a clean sheet, even against Everton.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-3

Ed’s prediction: We will see that new manager bounce with Everton here. I think they will go from a team not scoring much, to a team that scores two against Tottenham. 2-1

My son is the assistant manager of my Fantasy team – I am Brian Clough, and he is Peter Taylor – and he told me to get Amad Diallo in this week.

Guess what? I over-ruled him, and obviously Diallo went on to score a hat-trick for Manchester United against Southampton.

It really was a case of United finding a way to win so late on in that game, because their performance for most of it had not been great, especially in the first half.

Being able to do that is important, so fair play to Diallo and manager Ruben Amorim, but it does not mean United have cracked it, or turned a corner.

I must say this every week about them, but they remain a work in progress and there are going to be lot more bumps in the road for Amorim.

This might be one of them, because Brighton are much tougher opposition than Saints were.

The Seagulls got back to winning ways in the league against Ipswich on Thursday. I fancy them here more than I do United, but I am going to go with a draw.

As I mentioned earlier, United have got a habit of getting something out of games, and this time they will find a way of getting a draw.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

Ed’s prediction: This is another tough one to call. It has felt like United are picking up, while Brighton had not been buzzing quite as much as before they beat Ipswich. 1-0

Southampton put up a decent fight against Manchester United but Tyler Dibling went off with an ankle injury in the second half and if he is missing here then that is a massive blow.

Let’s face it, it is going to be hard for Saints even if Dibling does play. Forest are playing so well and Chris Wood keeps on scoring, so this should be a routine home win for them.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-0

Ed’s prediction: I feel like the test of a team is not just how they do in the big games but the ones that come after them. Following up our draw against Liverpool will be hard but we have been so consistent all season that I think we will win this one, and quite comfortably too. I am backing Callum Hudson-Odoi to get a goal because he is due one, and he is in my Fantasy team too. 3-0

After a couple of encouraging games, Ipswich’s home defeat by Brighton on Thursday was a disappointing result and performance.

Manchester City did not get the win they wanted either, slipping up late on at Brentford just when people were thinking they were back in a bit of form.

Still, Erling Haaland’s new contract is great news for City and will give their fans a bit of a lift in what has been a difficult season. I would not be surprised if he celebrates it with a goal or two.

Ipswich can make it difficult for them, especially Liam Delap who is facing his old club. I think Delap will score, but City will win.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-2

Ed’s prediction: To use a doctor’s term, City have haemorrhaged points in the past few weeks but I feel like they will want to make up for what happened to them against Brentford. It looks like Phil Foden is starting to find some form too. 1-3

Chelsea are not in great form but they are going to click again at some point and, if they do, they are going to wipe the floor with Wolves.

Vitor Pereira had that initial bounce as Wolves manager but they have found it difficult in their past two league games, losing 3-0 to Forest and Newcastle, and I don’t see things getting much better for them at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea should win comfortably, while Wolves still have a lot of work to do to get out of relegation trouble. They are in the thick of that battle at the moment.

Sutton’s prediction: 3-0

Ed’s prediction: Both of these teams are tricky to predict. Bournemouth caused Chelsea problems on Tuesday, but I think they carry more of an attacking threat than Wolves do. I’ve got Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez in my Fantasy team so that’s behind my thinking here too. 2-0

Chris continued his winning start to 2025, and moved top of the scoreboard too.

He got eight correct results from the 10 midweek games in week 21, with three exact scores, giving him a total of 170 points and securing his second successive victory of the year.

That was enough to beat both his guests, Bank of Dave 2 stars Rory Kinnear and Dave Fishwick.

Rory got seven correct results with no exact scores, giving him 70 points, while Dave also managed seven correct results with three exact scores, leaving him with 130 points (his score is used in the guest total below).

The BBC readers were wrong about the first six games of the week, but did recover to pick up four correct results and one exact score, giving them 70 points.