‘Expert’ UK footy tips

Cape Town - Each round of the 2011/12 English Premiership season, a panel of Sport24 staff tipsters have a crack at predicting the results - do it yourself, if you like and see how you compare afterwards.

Our forecasts also offer assistance (if that is the right word!) to those who take part in the SuperBru megapool (Pool code: cropriot) created by Sport24.

Compiled by Rob Houwing (the champion for the last two seasons but a Newcastle supporter for his sins), the others are colleagues Garrin Lambley (very Everton-partial), David Brooke (Manchester United), Dominic Valentine (Liverpool) and a welcome newcomer in the form of “converted” rugby devotee Tank Lanning (yup, another of those infernal Red Devils fans).

THE PRIME ATTRACTION

MANCHESTER UNITED v CHELSEA

Sunday, 17:00

It would be overly dramatic, at this fledgling stage, to suggest that all other comers can kiss their title hopes goodbye if United win again … but that scenario would, nevertheless, only firm up bookies’ belief that Fergie and company are destined to retain the silverware with a bit to spare. Messrs Hernandez and Vidic were the scorers in last season’s equivalent game in early May as United deservedly won 2-1 to all but wrap up the title. Chelsea have started 2011/12 solidly … but will that be enough, considering the Red Devils’ blistering league form? No, say all but Garrin, who invariably goes a cagey 1-1 for these kind of match-ups …

Rob: Manchester United 2 Chelsea 1

Garrin: 1-1

David: 2-0

Tank: 1-0

Dominic: 2-0

Last season: 2-1

THE GRUDGE MATCH

FULHAM v MANCHESTER CITY

Sunday, 16:00

Fulham finished a very tidy eighth last season, but their worst home performance of the campaign was a humbling 1-4 reverse to the very same Man City, so they ought to be suitably fired up to erase that memory if they can. The controversial Carlos Tevez smashed in the first and last goals in the unexpected near-rout -- not the sort of result ex-City man Mark Hughes, wearing the Fulham manager’s suit, wanted to see. On this season’s early formbook, you have to tip the visitors to contain too much ammo once more, even if the Londoners should be more resilient this time. All of us back the City maximum haul.

Rob: Fulham 0 Manchester City 1

Garrin: 0-2

David: 0-2

Tank: 0-1

Dominic: 1-2

Last season: 1-4

THE DESPERATE DUEL

BLACKBURN v ARSENAL

Saturday, 13:45

Blackburn are finally off the mark with a point from last weekend, but remain rooted to the bottom and still in need of a real fire-in-the-belly performance to lift the morale of their faithful. Of course the Gunners are not exactly in vintage nick, either, already eight points off the top and languishing in an unacceptable (for them) 12^th. They have come a cropper at this venue a few times before, in what is often a highly physical tussle, but did win in the North West last season and will do enough to bag three points: David even sees it as a bit of a cruise …

Rob: Blackburn 0 Arsenal 2

Garrin: 1-2

David: 0-3

Tank: 0-2

Dominic: 1-2

Last season: 1-2

THE OTHERS

ASTON VILLA v NEWCASTLE

Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Aston Villa 2 Newcastle 1

Garrin: 2-1

David: 1-1

Tank: 1-1

Dominic: 2-1

Last season: 1-0

BOLTON v NORWICH

Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Bolton 1 Norwich 0

Garrin: 3-2

David: 2-1

Tank: 1-1

Dominic: 1-0

Last season: Not applicable

EVERTON v WIGAN

Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Everton 2 Wigan 1

Garrin: 2-0

David: 2-1

Tank: 1-0

Dominic: 1-0

Last season: 0-0

SWANSEA v WEST BROM

Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Swansea 1 West Brom 0

Garrin: 1-1

David: 1-1

Tank: 1-1

Dominic: 1-1

Last season: Not applicable

WOLVES v QPR

Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Wolves 1 QPR 0

Garrin: 2-1

David: 1-0

Tank: 1-0

Dominic: 2-1

Last season: Not applicable

TOTTENHAM v LIVERPOOL

Sunday, 14:30

Rob: Tottenham 1 Liverpool 1

Garrin: 1-1

David: 0-0

Tank: 1-2

Dominic: 1-1

Last season: 2-1

SUNDERLAND v STOKE

Sunday, 16:00

Rob: Sunderland 1 Stoke 1

Garrin: 1-1

David: 3-2

Tank: 0-1

Dominic: 1-0

Last season: 2-0

LEADERBOARD

Under our traditional, in-house scoring system for the five Sport24 staff featured here, surprise package Tank maintains the lead after a moderate haul of six points in the last round, but Dominic had the most productive round (nine) and shifts seamlessly into second. This is the state of affairs:

32 Tank (6 points in last round)

29 Dominic (9)

27 David (5)

26 Garrin (7)

16 Rob (7)

*In the broad, Sport24.co.za pool on SuperBru, which sports 1091 players, “Andy” still leads with 40.75 points, with “TopGun” now lying second on 40.00. The yellow cap for best performance in the last round belongs to “Dee”.