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 (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
TOTTENHAM v MANCHESTER CITY
Sunday, 14:30
Edin Dzeko had a field day in last season’s corresponding match, netting four times as City earned a surprisingly consummate 5-1 victory at White Hart Lane en route to the title. While it’s unlikely that lightning will strike twice (or at least to that extent!), the visitors are defiantly trying to postpone neighbours United’s march to the title and most of us fancy them to win again, despite Spurs’ ongoing quest to secure Champions League status – they’re currently fifth. Mind you, Roberto Mancini’s side didn’t exactly play with ruthless precision in narrowly seeing off Wigan late at home in midweek, so that is perhaps another Tottenham incentive to try to knock them over. But Dom is the only pundit tipping a point for the Londoners.
Rob: Tottenham 1 Manchester City 3
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 2-2
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 1-5
THE GRUDGE MATCH
LIVERPOOL v CHELSEA
Sunday, 17:00
This is still considered a “big” fixture even though these teams’ heydays haven’t often coincided, when you think about it! The Blues are still scrapping hard to ensure at least third-placed finish in the league, whilst ‘Pool are one notch below arch-rivals Everton in seventh and no doubt keen to try to nudge ahead of the Toffees before the campaign ends. The Reds are struggling a bit for goals at present, which is why I back a goalless tussle at Anfield. It’s a grudge outing for Chelsea, however ... they will recall being stuffed 4-1 on Merseyside last season (also towards the end of the campaign), when Liverpool were 3-0 up at the break and had even missed a penalty by then as well!
Rob: Liverpool 0 Chelsea 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 4-1
THE DESPERATE DUEL
QPR v STOKE
Saturday, 16:00
Harry Redknapp used some choice language a few days ago – the bulk of it unflattering – to describe the performances of some of his better-paid QPR players. Maybe it will restore some fire to bellies for the visit of the Potters, but the fact remains that Rangers are all but dead and buried already. Stoke are also a team on a dangerous freefall, with many observers tipping them to slip into the bottom three by the end of the season (the assumption being that great Houdinis Wigan will escape the drop once again). This hardly shapes as a goal-fest, as reflected by the scoreline choices below ...
Rob: QPR 0 Stoke 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-0
Last season: 1-0
THE OTHERS
FULHAM v ARSENAL
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Fulham 0 Arsenal 2
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 2-1
NORWICH v READING
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Norwich 1 Reading 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable
SUNDERLAND v EVERTON
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Sunderland 0 Everton 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 1-1
SWANSEA v SOUTHAMPTON
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Swansea 1 Southampton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-2
Last season: Not applicable
WEST BROM v NEWCASTLE
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: West Brom 2 Newcastle 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-1
Last season: 1-3
WEST HAM v WIGAN
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: West Ham 1 Wigan 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable
MANCHESTER UNITED v ASTON VILLA
Monday, 21:00
Rob: Manchester United 1 Aston Villa 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 2-0
Last season: 4-0
*LEADERBOARD
254 - Dominic (11 points in last round)
248 - Garrin (10)
237 - Herman (7)
234 - Rob (11)
Compiled by Rob Houwing (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
TOTTENHAM v MANCHESTER CITY
Sunday, 14:30
Edin Dzeko had a field day in last season’s corresponding match, netting four times as City earned a surprisingly consummate 5-1 victory at White Hart Lane en route to the title. While it’s unlikely that lightning will strike twice (or at least to that extent!), the visitors are defiantly trying to postpone neighbours United’s march to the title and most of us fancy them to win again, despite Spurs’ ongoing quest to secure Champions League status – they’re currently fifth. Mind you, Roberto Mancini’s side didn’t exactly play with ruthless precision in narrowly seeing off Wigan late at home in midweek, so that is perhaps another Tottenham incentive to try to knock them over. But Dom is the only pundit tipping a point for the Londoners.
Rob: Tottenham 1 Manchester City 3
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 2-2
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 1-5
THE GRUDGE MATCH
LIVERPOOL v CHELSEA
Sunday, 17:00
This is still considered a “big” fixture even though these teams’ heydays haven’t often coincided, when you think about it! The Blues are still scrapping hard to ensure at least third-placed finish in the league, whilst ‘Pool are one notch below arch-rivals Everton in seventh and no doubt keen to try to nudge ahead of the Toffees before the campaign ends. The Reds are struggling a bit for goals at present, which is why I back a goalless tussle at Anfield. It’s a grudge outing for Chelsea, however ... they will recall being stuffed 4-1 on Merseyside last season (also towards the end of the campaign), when Liverpool were 3-0 up at the break and had even missed a penalty by then as well!
Rob: Liverpool 0 Chelsea 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 4-1
THE DESPERATE DUEL
QPR v STOKE
Saturday, 16:00
Harry Redknapp used some choice language a few days ago – the bulk of it unflattering – to describe the performances of some of his better-paid QPR players. Maybe it will restore some fire to bellies for the visit of the Potters, but the fact remains that Rangers are all but dead and buried already. Stoke are also a team on a dangerous freefall, with many observers tipping them to slip into the bottom three by the end of the season (the assumption being that great Houdinis Wigan will escape the drop once again). This hardly shapes as a goal-fest, as reflected by the scoreline choices below ...
Rob: QPR 0 Stoke 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-0
Last season: 1-0
THE OTHERS
FULHAM v ARSENAL
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Fulham 0 Arsenal 2
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 2-1
NORWICH v READING
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Norwich 1 Reading 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable
SUNDERLAND v EVERTON
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Sunderland 0 Everton 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 1-1
SWANSEA v SOUTHAMPTON
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Swansea 1 Southampton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-2
Last season: Not applicable
WEST BROM v NEWCASTLE
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: West Brom 2 Newcastle 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-1
Last season: 1-3
WEST HAM v WIGAN
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: West Ham 1 Wigan 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable
MANCHESTER UNITED v ASTON VILLA
Monday, 21:00
Rob: Manchester United 1 Aston Villa 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 2-0
Last season: 4-0
*LEADERBOARD
254 - Dominic (11 points in last round)
248 - Garrin (10)
237 - Herman (7)
234 - Rob (11)