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'Expert' UK footy tips

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

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

THE PRIME ATTRACTION

ARSENAL v NEWCASTLE
Monday, 22:00


It ought to only act as a further spur (oops, perhaps I shouldn’t use that dreaded word!) to notably resurgent Arsenal that last season the Toon got the better of them over the two Premiership “legs” ... the black-and-whites won 1-0 in London, a city where they otherwise seldom tend to get on the right end of results, and of course had that thrilling fightback in the home game to share the spoils at 4-4 from 0-4 down! Remember Cheik Tiote’s late screamer? I know I do. But the realist in me says the Gunners, alas, might win fairly comfortably on Monday night. They are on a rampant run themselves, led by the ceaseless scoring exploits of Mr Van Persie, whilst Newcastle have been rather below-par for a few weeks and come off a bruising derby draw with Sunderland. I do quite like Dave’s thinking on the clash, mind ... 

Rob: Arsenal 2 Newcastle 0
Garrin: 2-1
David: 1-1
Last season: 0-1

THE GRUDGE MATCH

LIVERPOOL v EVERTON
Tuesday, 22:00


Well, we’re not really talking title contenders here, but that fact is hardly going to dampen enthusiasm on Merseyside for one of the great derbies, is it? This game was postponed because of a clash with Liverpool’s successful date in the Carling Cup final recently, and now finds itself in a standalone Tuesday night slot which will command broad appeal. Staunch Toffee Garrin backs the Blues to pinch a point at Anfield, but Dave and I tip the home win. (In my case, anyway, with no special science or confidence.) Last season’s equivalent game was a 2-2 stalemate, with Dirk Kuyt’s penalty salvaging a point for ‘Pool and thus denying Everton their first away victory in this fixture in the 2000s.

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

THE DESPERATE DUEL

BOLTON v QPR
Saturday, 14:45


An alarming development has occurred for five clubs in the Premiership ... they have become “cut off” from the pack at the wrong end of the table, at least eight points adrift of relative safety. And only two points separate all these wobbling teams themselves. The unlucky customers are, from 16th spot down, QPR, Blackburn, Wolves, Bolton and Wigan. What’s more, four of them are in action against each other this weekend. We’ve put the spotlight on Bolton v QPR here, but there’s also a key meeting between Wolves and Blackburn. Dave and I both back the Trotters to down the Londoners, but Garrin envisages a grimly-contested stalemate.

Rob: Bolton 2 QPR 0
Garrin: 1-1
David: 2-0
Last season: Not applicable 

THE OTHERS


ASTON VILLA v FULHAM
Saturday, 17:00


Rob: Aston Villa 1 Fulham 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 1-2
Last season: 2-2 

CHELSEA v STOKE
Saturday, 17:00


Rob: Chelsea 3 Stoke 0
Garrin: 2-0
David: 2-0
Last season: 2-0   

SUNDERLAND v LIVERPOOL
Saturday, 17:00


Rob: Sunderland 1 Liverpool 1
Garrin: 1-2
David: 0-1
Last season: 0-2 

WOLVES v BLACKBURN
Saturday, 17:00


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

EVERTON v TOTTENHAM
Saturday, 19:30


Rob: Everton 1 Tottenham 0
Garrin: 1-1
David: 2-2
Last season: 2-1  

MANCHESTER UNITED v WEST BROM
Sunday, 16:00


Rob: Manchester United 1 West Brom 0
Garrin: 2-0
David: 3-1
Last season: 2-2

SWANSEA v MANCHESTER CITY 
Sunday, 16:00


Rob: Swansea 0 Manchester City 1
Garrin: 0-2
David: 0-3
Last season: Not applicable

NORWICH v WIGAN
Sunday, 18:00


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

LEADERBOARD

I’m just beginning to fancy that this will turn into the tightest Sport24 race in years, with just seven points separating Garrin at the top from yours truly at the basement, especially after a competitive last weekend in which my 10-point haul (we offer three for an entirely correct scoreline, one for right result) proved the most productive. Mind you, the other lads didn’t fare too badly either, like I said. So it’s survival of the fittest and most patient ...

193 Garrin (9 points in last round)
189 David (7)
186 Rob (10)
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