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'Expert' UK footy tips

Cape Town - 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 score-line, and one for right result.

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

We occasionally invite guest tipsters; last week SuperSport cricket commentator and former Zimbabwe paceman POMMIE MBANGWA, a Red Devils fan, had a crack and earned six points for his trouble.

Although FA Cup semis are distractions this weekend, there are also some pretty decent Premiership fixtures stretching into the middle of next week ...

THE PRIME ATTRACTION

ARSENAL v LIVERPOOL
Sunday, 17:00


With leaders Manchester United committed to a big FA Cup semis date with bitter derby rivals City this weekend, the Gunners simply must win this one to keep the title race alive – it would take them back to within four points of the Red Devils. But Liverpool’s renaissance continues and they showed their mettle in beating Roberto Mancini’s side 3-0 at Anfield on Monday. I suspect they may have enough in them to thwart Arsenal’s victory quest and snatch a point at the Emirates. Still, the Gunners did the double against ‘Pool last season and David and Dominic both opt for the home win.

Rob: Arsenal 0 Liverpool 0
Garrin: 1-1
David: 2-1
Dominic: 2-1
Last season: 1-0

THE GRUDGE MATCH

TOTTENHAM v ARSENAL
Wednesday, 20:45


Yes, it’s Arsenal in action again ... and another toughie, into the bargain. I guess a North London derby is not the most sought-after fixture for Arsene Wenger in his desperate bid to haul in Manchester United at the top. You are offered all options on this one from our sages, but I’m tipping Arse to come away from White Hart Lane smiling, with Spurs still a tad deflated by their Euro two-leg drubbing at the hands of Real Madrid. That said, they are duelling for Champions League status again next season, and I don’t deny that a Tottenham win (Dave’s choice) is also perfectly feasible.

Rob: Tottenham 0 Arsenal 2
Garrin: 1-1
David: 1-0
Dominic: 1-0
Last season: 2-1

THE DESPERATE DUEL

BLACKPOOL v WIGAN
Saturday, 16:00


Yes, I know that “massive” games in the nether regions are coming dime-a-dozen at present – but it’s also a sign of just how many sides are potentially still in relegation peril. This tussle is no different, with fourth-from-bottom Blackpool entertaining the wooden-spoonists Wigan. Three of us back the home win, especially as the Tangerines have knocked over a few big guns at their atmospheric stronghold of Bloomfield Road. But the incentive for Wigan is that victory might well take them right out of the drop zone.

Rob: Blackpool 2 Wigan 0
Garrin: 1-1
David: 2-1
Dominic: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable

THE OTHERS

BIRMINGHAM v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 16:00


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

EVERTON v BLACKBURN
Saturday, 16:00


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

WEST BROM v CHELSEA
Saturday, 16:00


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

WEST HAM v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 16:00


Rob: West Ham 1 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 2-1
David: 1-1
Dominic: 2-1
Last season: 2-1

NEWCASTLE v MANCHESTER UNITED
Tuesday, 20:45


Rob: Newcastle 0 Manchester United 1
Garrin: 1-2
David: 1-2
Dominic: 0-2
Last season: Not applicable

CHELSEA v BIRMINGHAM
Wednesday, 20:45


Rob: Chelsea 2 Birmingham 0
Garrin: 2-0
David: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Last season: 3-0

LEADERBOARD

There was incredibly little separating your friendly tipsters in the last round of fixtures: the top two earned eight points each and the next two seven. So the pecking order is undisturbed. Still, I feel the race for the “silverware” remains wide open ... it’s a test of patience and nerve and I back my experience under the circumstances, needless to say!

228 Dominic (8 points in last round)
224 Rob (8)
204 David (7)
183 Garrin (7)
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