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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 to have a crack at a round of matches; watch this space …

This week’s fixtures:

BIRMINGHAM v EVERTON
Saturday, 17:00

The home side for this one have lost some mojo of late, and with Everton showing good “go-forward” and confidence – they come off a 5-1 thumping of hapless Hull – I fancy the Toffees to raid St Andrews successfully this one. But only Dave shares my sentiment, the others all rooting for a stalemate.

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

BOLTON v WIGAN
Saturday, 17:00

Here’s one which I suspect will amount to a backlash occasion for the Trotters after they were stuffed 4-0 at Sunderland in midweek. And that so soon after they’d beaten West Ham on the road! As for Wigan, they tend to have a split personality too, and may still be dining out to excess on the Monday night victory over Liverpool.  Dave and George agree with me.

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

BURNLEY v WOLVES
Saturday, 17:00

These teams were dicing each other at the top of the Championship last season – ouch, and soon may be doing so again? After all, Burnley lie third from bottom and Wolves just one spot higher. So expect tackles to fly in passionately and urgently. I’m copping out with a safe 1-1, as does George. The others all tip Burnley at Turf Moor.

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

CHELSEA v WEST HAM
Saturday, 17:00

Last season the Hammers stole a very encouraging point from this derby. Lightning to strike twice? Nah, can’t see it. Beaten at home last weekend, Gianfranco Zola’s troops shouldn’t have a sniff at Stamford Bridge against the title-seekers. Closest margin in Chelsea’s favour is Dave’s suggested 2-1 …

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

HULL v ARSENAL
Saturday, 19:30

The Gunners are real survivors, aren’t they? Written off (again) a few weeks back, instead they’re right back up there in the hunt for the title. Ailing Hull shouldn’t stop their momentum, although they’ll fight tooth and nail. They were stunned at the Emirates by these opponents last season, but Arse hit back to win away and will do so again. Dave is especially sure!

Rob: Hull 1 Arsenal 2
Garrin: 0-2
Raymond: 0-2 
David: 0-4
George: 1-2
Last season: 1-3

STOKE v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 17:00

A competitive clash of relative mid-tablers, although Villa are a few notches higher and generally seen as the “bigger” outfit. But the Potters don’t roll over for anyone – especially at home – and have memories of triumph in the equivalent clash in 2008/09. But there are no takers for a repeat home win …

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

TOTTENHAM v BLACKBURN
Saturday, 14:45

Spurs are keenly in the hunt for Champions League qualification and will know that home victory against a so-so outfit like Blackburn is imperative to keep that hope alive. Garrin and I see it as close; the others see the White Hart Lane lads finding the net fairly freely.

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

MANCHESTER UNITED v FULHAM
Sunday, 15:30

Think Fulham will be made to Roo this visit? I reckon so: Mr Rooney is certainly in rampant form and nobody sees the Londoners really disturbing the Red Devils’ momentum. The choice is simple: 2-0 or 3-0. And the latter outcome would be a carbon copy of last season …

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

SUNDERLAND v MANCHESTER CITY
Sunday, 18:00

After many weeks gripped by a drought in win terms, the Black Cats suddenly hit their straps in midweek to trounce Bolton. But City won’t come simply to be second belly-ups on the trot, especially as they still harbour high Euro aspirations of their own. And they’re not over-awed by the Stadium of Light: last season they romped to a 3-0 victory. Dave goes rather against the grain of sentiment …

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

LIVERPOOL v PORTSMOUTH
Monday, 22:00

There was a feeling that the Reds were stabilising quite nicely again … and then they went and ruined things by losing at Wigan. Not good. So thank goodness for them crisis-torn Pompey are their visitors, and thus a golden chance to restore some rhythm. Even if they’re not firing on all cylinders, ‘Pool should prevail comfortably. Just a thought: what’s Rafa’s fate if Portsmouth pull off a serious upset?

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

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

219 Rob (3 points in last round)
210 David (4)
206 George (4)
204 Ray (4)
190 Garrin (3)

Verdict: Why are last week’s tallies so low? I suppose our best excuse is that it was a curtailed, five-match round, for which every single one of us earned a royal three points! (We then had to take into account a rogue, re-arranged fixture between Portsmouth and Birmingham, for which Dave, George and Ray gleefully picked up an extra point each for right result.) No change to the order of business, although Dave continues to nibble away like a cheeky squirrel at my lead and there are probably four people still in “title” contention. Sorry, Garrin …