Cape Town - Each round of the 2009/10 English Premiership season, a panel of self-proclaimed Sport24 soothsayers have a crack at predicting the week’s results.

Compiled by Chief Writer Rob Houwing (2008/09 runner-up), with regular predictions also from Managing Editor Garrin Lambley (the defending champion), Content Producer Raymond Kilfoil, Commercial Manager David Brooke and former Bafana Bafana and AmaZulu striker George Dearnaley, you’ll seldom find us singing from the same song-sheet.

Occasionally we invite a celebrity guest tipster (see below for how decently KENNY NIEMACH fared last weekend) to have a crack at a round of matches; watch this space …

This week’s fixtures:

BOLTON v FULHAM
Saturday, 17:00

Fulham are a bit wonky at present, despite managing to just about subdue bottom club Portsmouth 1-0 in a re-arranged midweeker. Bolton were beaten an Anfield last time out but that is no major disgrace and most of us back them for a hard-earned point – Garrin goes even further.

Rob: Bolton 0 Fulham 0
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 1-1
George: 1-1
Last season: 1-3

BURNLEY v WEST HAM
Saturday, 17:00

After such a promising start, Burnley have suddenly hit huge swells and are a ship in distress. Yet to win under Brian Laws, maybe the visit of fellow battlers West Ham is their opportunity? Remember that they’re fairly resilient at home. The bulk of the panel eye an away win, interestingly.

Rob: Burnley 2 West Ham 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 0-2
David: 1-2
George: 1-2
Last season: Not applicable

HULL v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 17:00

Hull are fighting valiantly to avoid the drop, although they’re deep in the mire. The 1-1 outcome against leaders Chelsea was a step in the right direction, and they haven’t lost in two outings. But you fancy that City will be too strong and Ray, especially, bears only a gloomy message for Phil Brown’s outfit …

Rob: Hull 1 Manchester City 2
Garrin: 0-2
Raymond: 0-3
David: 1-3
George: 1-2
Last season: 2-2

LIVERPOOL v EVERTON
Saturday, 14:45

The Merseyside derby comes with the Toffees generally on the up and probably feeling a wee bit bullish. The stalemate is majority pick – that was the corresponding outcome last season – but Ray and I have a feeling Liverpool will nick it, to the delight of the long-suffering Kop.

Rob: Liverpool 2 Everton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-0
David: 2-2
George: 1-1
Last season: 1-1

MANCHESTER UNITED v PORTSMOUTH
Saturday, 17:00

Of course this should be a walk in the park for in-form Manchester Roo-nited, although sometimes complacency can creep in on occasions like this and the Red Devils may just “do what is necessary”, rather than go full throttle. Ray and Dave do fancy a romp, nevertheless.

Rob: Manchester United 2 Portsmouth 0 
Garrin: 3-0
Raymond: 5-0 
David: 5-0
George: 3-0
Last season: 2-0

STOKE v BLACKBURN
Saturday, 17:00

Here’s a great candidate for nil-nil (most leagues have at least one every weekend, don’t they?) so that’s where my cross goes. After all, both teams earned precisely that outcome on the road on the last programme – Blackburn at West Ham and the Potters at Sunderland.

Rob: Stoke 0 Blackburn 0
Garrin: 1-0
Raymond: 0-1
David: 2-1
George: 1-0
Last season: 1-0

SUNDERLAND v WIGAN
Saturday, 17:00

Sunderland last won a Premiership match when Oasis released their last album. I’m joking, of course, but it does seem a while! So you would think smart money is no more than a point for the Black Cats here – especially when you notice that Wigan nicked this game last winter. Still, George appears to have become an ardent Sunderland fan for the weekend. I’ll have to have words …

Rob: Sunderland 1 Wigan 1
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 0-0
David: 1-0
George: 3-1
Last season: 0-1

TOTTENHAM v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 19:30

A close match-up between sides hungrily eyeing major Euro slots. Villa won at White Hart Lane in 2008/09 so you fancy Spurs will be warier this time. Ray and Dave fancy a reverse outcome on this occasion, although Villa had a heartening away win at Fulham last week and may cheekily envisage a repeat result on another away trip. I so nearly steered that course …

Rob: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-1
David: 2-1
George: 2-2
Last season: 1-2

BIRMINGHAM v WOLVES
Sunday, 15:30

Sunday lunch-time (well, in UK terms, anyway) fare at St Andrews with Birmingham having experienced a slight “correction” in recent weeks after an impressive run. This is their chance to restore a winning habit and waddaya know … we’re unanimous for a change!

Rob: Birmingham 2 Wolves 0
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 2-1
David: 3-2
George: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable

CHELSEA v ARSENAL
Sunday, 18:00

What wouldn’t Arsene Wenger give for a repeat of last year’s result in the plumb tie of the weekend! The Gunners badly need the win after their deflating Emirates defeat to arch-rivals Man Utd. But I can’t see any Chelsea favours on offer, either. Three of us back the Blues to prevail.

Rob: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 2-0
George: 2-0
Last season: 1-2

ABBREVIATED FORECASTS FOR LOOMING MIDWEEK MATCHES:

FULHAM v BURNLEY
Tuesday, 22:00

Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-0
David: 2-0
George: 2-0
Last season: Not applicable

MANCHESTER CITY v BOLTON
Tuesday, 21:45

Rob: 3-1
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 2-0
David: 1-0
George: 2-0
Last season: 1-0

PORTSMOUTH v SUNDERLAND
Tuesday, 21:45

Rob: 2-1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 0-1
George: 1-0
Last season: 3-1

WIGAN v STOKE
Tuesday, 21:45

Rob: 2-1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 1-1
George: 1-0
Last season: 0-0

ARSENAL v LIVERPOOL
Wednesday, 21:45

Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-1
David: 1-1
George: 2-1
Last season: 1-1

ASTON VILLA v MANCHESTER UNITED
Wednesday, 21:45

Rob: 0-1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-2
David: 0-1
George: 1-3
Last season: 0-0

BLACKBURN v HULL
Wednesday, 22:00

Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 2-2
Raymond: 1-1
David: 1-1
George: 2-1
Last season: 1-1

EVERTON v CHELSEA
Wednesday, 22:00

Rob: 1-2
Garrin: 0-1
Raymond: 1-2
David: 1-2
George: 1-1
Last season: 0-0

WEST HAM v BIRMINGHAM
Wednesday, 21:45

Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-2
David: 1-0
George: 2-0
Last season: Not applicable

WOLVES v TOTTENHAM
Wednesday, 21:45

Rob: 1-0
Garrin: 0-2
Raymond: 1-3
David: 0-2
George: 0-2
Last season: Not applicable

*LEADERBOARD (three points for wholly correct score-line, one for right result):

173 Rob (6 points in last round)
168 David (10)
166 George (8)
160 Ray (12)
153 Garrin (9)

Verdict: OK, it’s not so hot at the top for yours truly. Last weekend’s iffy haul of six points was eclipsed by …. er, everyone. But a five-point cushion is still a five-point cushion, as Confucius reminded me in a morale-boosting email. Ray continues to be the form player (12 points last time): he’s still fourth, but now well within reach of even second place. I should mention that last week’s guest tipster, SuperSport pundit KENNY NIEMACH, registered nine points – beating the previous landmark of five achieved by all of Neil Andrews, Mark Gleeson and Gavin Hunt for a single round. Good shooting, striker.