Quarter of football fans say they have ‘sixth sense’ for predicting games

More than one-quarter of football fans reckon they have a “sixth sense” for knowing what is going to happen during a game.

A poll of 1,000 followers of the sport found seven in 10 have had made a prediction about a match that turned out to be correct.

Although the same proportion confessed their pre-game predictions often turned out to be severely inaccurate.

The survey also asked so-called “football psychics” to predict the outcome of the 20/21 football season – with Liverpool tipped to retain their title – but only just.

Precisely 24.9 per cent of those polled selected Jurgen Klopp’s champions to win the league again, compared to 24.2 per cent who think Manchester City will take the title back.

As a result of the survey findings, pub company and brewer Greene King has hired an official “Psy-Kick” to help sports fans predict the outcome of the games at one of its London pubs.

The predictor has been appointed at The Globe pub in London, and will be on hand to ease the nerves of football fans, by providing punters with predictions while they watch the football fixtures.

Chris Conchie, head of sport at Greene King, said: “Like football fans all over the country, we’re really excited that the Premier League is finally back.

“No matter who you support, there’s nothing more nerve-wracking than watching your team play a match and not knowing what the outcome will be.

“With the new season kicking off and back-to-back games scheduled, there’s everything to play for."

The study also found that fans predict Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho will not get to the end of his fifth game before incurring a touchline ban or a fine for his outspoken antics.

Another one in four believed Real Madrid star Gareth Bale will return to the Premier League before the season is through.

England hero Harry Kane was tipped to finish the season as the top scorer in the league, according to the OnePoll results.

Fans also expected no fewer than three managers to get the axe before Christmas – with Aston Villa boss Dean Smith thought the first to go.

West Ham boss David Moyes was expected to be next on the chopping block, followed by Steve Bruce at Newcastle United.

Manchester United were deemed the side most likely to win the most penalties (35 per cent), followed by Liverpool and Manchester city (8 per cent).

Fans also said they expect 10 goals to be denied for their team by controversial VAR decisions – averaging out at more than one every four games.

SWNS