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'Expert' UK footy tips

Cape Town - Each round of the 2012/13 English Premiership season, a panel of Sport24 staff and occasional 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 (eternally Newcastle-partial), the others are Garrin Lambley (Everton, and last season’s winner), Dominic Valentine (Liverpool) and Herman Mostert (Chelsea).

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

THE PRIME ATTRACTION

LIVERPOOL v MANCHESTER CITY
Sunday, 17:00


It reflects the sad state of affairs at Anfield in recent times that many would query this game getting star status! Certainly the Reds’ wretched start to the campaign (losing 3-0 at West Brom) would have done little to suggest a significant revival is just around the corner. But let’s be fair: they’re still a big club in traditional terms and any game featuring the Scousers against either of the Manchester outfits – in this case defending champions City – is still one to get pulses racing. While there are understandably no takers here for a ‘Pool win, both Garrin and I believe the home team, roared on by the Kop, will partially atone for last weekend’s sickener by scrapping out a point. Dom and Herman, however, have City edging it which is fair enough. Mind you, they were stretched more than they probably expected by new boys Southampton last Sunday. The equivalent fixture ended 1-1 last season (Lescott own goal, Kompany ... plus red card for Mr Balotelli).

Rob: Liverpool 1 Manchester City 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 1-1  

THE GRUDGE MATCH

CHELSEA v NEWCASTLE
Saturday, 18:30


These teams played each other at Stamford Bridge very late last season, and the Toon Army were in great cheer as their team’s more customary London bogey was rather laid to rest in a 2-0 triumph. The game was capped by a memorable, curling second strike from out wide on the left by Newcastle hit man Papiss Cisse. Blues were soon afterwards forced to settle for sixth on the final table, one spot below the surprise-packet Magpies, and only secured Champions League status this year courtesy of actually winning it against the odds! Mind you, revenge-seeking Chelsea don’t have any special reason to fear the visit of these foes, as they’d thumped them 3-0 in their own backyard earlier in 2011/12. I tried to let head overrule heart for this one, but still found myself defiantly backing Alan Pardew’s outfit for a point. The others? Pah! What do they know? 

Rob: Chelsea 1 Newcastle 1
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 0-2   

THE DESPERATE DUEL

NORWICH v QPR
Saturday, 16:00


What a weird, weird start to the season for these two combatants. They were such obvious choices for this slot, as they find themselves immediately joint-bottom of the table courtesy of nightmarish 0-5 reverses! The Canaries were badly out-chirped at Fulham, whilst Rangers took a home hammering from gleeful Welsh raiders Swansea. Intriguingly, they now come together to see who recovers some semblance of composure quicker. Based on home advantage and probably also the fact that they ended last season the safer of the two clubs nearer mid-table, two of us (yours truly included) back the Norwich restorative win, while the other pair of tipsters prefer a stalemate. City did edge this encounter last season.

Rob: Norwich 2 QPR 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 2-1   

THE OTHERS

SWANSEA v WEST HAM
Saturday, 13:45


Rob: Swansea 1 West Ham 1
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 0-1
Last season: Not applicable 

ASTON VILLA v EVERTON
Saturday, 16:00


Rob: Aston Villa 0 Everton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Last season: 1-1   
 
MANCHESTER UNITED v FULHAM
Saturday, 16:00


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

SOUTHAMPTON v WIGAN
Saturday, 16:00


Rob: Southampton 1 Wigan 1
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable 

SUNDERLAND v READING
Saturday, 16:00


Rob: Sunderland 2 Reading 1
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable 
  
TOTTENHAM v WEST BROM
Saturday, 16:00


Rob: Tottenham 1 West Brom 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 1-0

STOKE v ARSENAL
Sunday, 14:30


Rob: Stoke 0 Arsenal 0
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Last season: 1-1

*LEADERBOARD

11 - Dominic
9 - Garrin
8 - Herman
7 - Rob
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