Cape Town - It’s back … and we’ve freshened the format a little.

Each round of the 2010/11 English Premiership season, a panel of Sport24 tipsters have a crack at predicting the results – do it yourself, if you like, and see how your scoreboard compares with ours in the report-back a week later.

Three precious points are given for an entirely correct scoreline, and one for right result.

Compiled by Rob Houwing (the bursting-with-pride champion last season but a Newcastle supporter for his sins), the others are colleagues Garrin Lambley (very Everton-partial), David Brooke (Manchester United), Raymond Kilfoil (Tottenham) and a newcomer in Dominic Valentine (Liverpool).

We will have occasional guest tipsters. Last week, for example, we invited RICHARD MAGUIRE, editorial director of KickOff magazine and a life-long Gunners devotee, to do the first-week honours … and I’m afraid three lousy points was his lot. (He may well argue that the opening weekend offers no “form” yardstick.)

THE PRIME ATTRACTION

MANCHESTER CITY v LIVERPOOL
Monday, 21:00

It’s not every day that the supposed “afterthought” match on a Monday night earns premier billing, but this somehow seems the most fascinating of the week’s fixtures. Last season these clubs slugged out successive draws – 0-0 in the corresponding game and 2-2 at Anfield – and both got their 2010/11 campaigns off with stalemate outcomes. So there’ll be a hunger for victory from both outfits, big-spending City now boasting the addition of James Milner to their plans and ‘Pool rueing the absence of Joe Cole through suspension. I’ve gone with gut feel and audaciously tipped the visitors to nick a full haul of points, and have Dave for company. Nobody backs a Blues win, interestingly …

Rob: Manchester City 0 Liverpool 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-2
David: 0-1
Dominic: 1-1
Last season: 0-0

THE GRUDGE MATCH

FULHAM v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, 17:00

OK, so there’s no special, historical animosity between these clubs but there’s a good reason for my choice, I think: the Red Devils’ worst result of last season was a surprisingly emphatic 3-0 drubbing at Craven Cottage, so revenge will be a crucial driver as United visit again. Goals from Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff sealed the surprise outcome in 2009/10, with one newspaper branding Alex Ferguson’s charges (eventual runners-up for the title) “a shambles”. The presence of former Old Trafford favourite Mark Hughes as Fulham boss, of course, adds to the spice. But United were polished against Newcastle on Monday and should win – that’s how all of our panel see it.

Rob: Fulham 0 Manchester United 2
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 0-2
David: 1-3
Dominic: 1-2
Last season: 3-0

THE DESPERATE DUEL

WEST BROM v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 16:00

I’ve opted for this one primarily because of what happened to the Baggies in their first match back in the top flight: a gruesome 0-6 outcome at champions Chelsea. It immediately put them bottom of the first-week table on goal difference! The visit of ho-hum Sunderland is an opportunity for them to try to pick up at least a pride-restoring point, especially as the Black Cats were held to a 2-2 outcome at the Stadium of Light by Birmingham on opening day. Mind you, majority sentiment favours an away win.

Rob: West Brom 1 Sunderland 1
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 0-2
David: 1-1
Dominic: 0-1
Last season: Not applicable

THE OTHERS

ARSENAL v BLACKPOOL
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Arsenal 3 Blackpool 0
Garrin: 3-0
Raymond: 3-1
David: 2-0
Dominic: 3-0
Last season: Not applicable

BIRMINGHAM v BLACKBURN
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Birmingham 0 Blackburn 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 1-0
Dominic: 1-0
Last season: 2-1

EVERTON v WOLVES
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Everton 1 Wolves 0
Garrin: 2-0
Raymond: 1-0
David: 3-0
Dominic: 2-0
Last season: 1-1

STOKE v TOTTENHAM
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Stoke 1 Tottenham 2
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 0-3
David: 2-2
Dominic: 1-2
Last season: 1-2

WEST HAM v BOLTON
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: West Ham 1 Bolton 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 0-0
David: 2-1
Dominic: 1-1
Last season: 1-2

WIGAN v CHELSEA
Saturday, 18:15

Rob: Wigan 0 Chelsea 2
Garrin: 0-4
Raymond: 0-5
David: 0-6
Dominic: 0-3
Last season: 3-1

NEWCASTLE v ASTON VILLA
Sunday, 14:30

Rob: Newcastle 1 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-2
David: 1-0
Dominic: 1-2
Last season: Not applicable
 
LEADERBOARD

Is the champion worried about his innocuous start? Pah! I very nearly rang iconic rugby pundit Naas Botha to get him to confirm to me that, never mind the Currie Cup, the Footy Tips isn’t won in mid-August. I expect to stabilise this weekend, getting quickly back to more rightful real estate alongside early leaders Garrin and Dom.

8 Garrin and Dominic
7 Raymond and David
4 Rob
3 (Guest tipster) Richard Maguire