Cape Town - Each round of the 2013/14 English Premiership season, a panel of Sport24 staff and occasional guest tipsters have a crack at predicting the results - do the exercise yourself, if you like, and see how you compare afterwards.
Compiled by Rob Houwing (Newcastle-partial), the others are Garrin Lambley (Everton), Dominic Valentine (Liverpool, and the defending champion), Herman Mostert (Chelsea) and newcomer Earl Haupt (another ‘Pool fan).
Three points are awarded for an entirely correct scoreline, and one for right result.
THE PRIME ATTRACTION
ARSENAL v EVERTON
Sunday, 18:00
Especially considering their drought-breaking win at Old Trafford in midweek, there is talk that the Toffees may even end above defending champions Manchester United this season (that would be enough to make Garrin unplayable at the office) and march all the way into a Champions League spot for good measure. But there’s a bit of a hold-your-horses trend for this weekend: all of us anticipate leaders Arsenal beating them at the Emirates Stadium. Arsene Wenger’s troops are in fine nick themselves, let’s not forget ... although the Merseysiders did manage a spirited goalless draw in their last visit to Gunners territory in 2012/13.
Rob: Arsenal 2 Everton 0
Garrin: 1-0
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 3-1
Earl: 2-1
Last season: 0-0
THE GRUDGE MATCH
MANCHESTER UNITED v NEWCASTLE
Saturday, 14:45
You have to be able to remember the jousting between Sir Alex Ferguson and Kevin Keegan -- when Toon were a temporary yet trophy-less force to be reckoned with in the mid-1990s -- to appreciate the grudge billing when these grand old clubs meet. But the bar has been raised in the passion stakes for this one also because last season’s corresponding clash at Old Trafford was a seven-goal thriller. Surprisingly, the black-and-whites dominated for large parts in scoreboard terms, but gut-wrenchingly for them the Red Devils’ now slightly peripheral Javier Hernandez stole all three points with a 90th minute winner (it also put the hosts ahead for the first time). Being Magpies-partial, I am a little fearful of a Man U backlash considering their home loss to Everton on Wednesday; Newcastle’s 3-0 thumping at Swansea after a great run also suggests a minor “correction” may be beginning for them, alas ...
Rob: Manchester United 2 Newcastle 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Last season: 4-3
THE DESPERATE DUEL
SUNDERLAND v TOTTENHAM
Saturday, 19:30
The Black Cats were dapper, despite their bottom-placed adversity, in losing 4-3 at home to Chelsea in midweek. But the cold fact remains that they surrendered another three points and remain marooned on a mere eight points from 14 matches. Signs of a Crystal Palace mini-revival do little to aid the mood at the Stadium of Light, and it will also be no comfort that up-and-down Spurs come off a stabilising away victory at Fulham. I have a hunch that Sunderland will be capable of grabbing a point ... and Herman and Earl share that suspicion.
Rob: Sunderland 1 Tottenham 1
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 2-2
Last season: 1-2
THE OTHERS
CRYSTAL PALACE v CARDIFF
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: Crystal Palace 1 Cardiff 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable
LIVERPOOL v WEST HAM
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: Liverpool 3 West Ham 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 3-1
Earl: 2-0
Last season: 0-0
SOUTHAMPTON v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: Southampton 0 Manchester City 2
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-2
Last season: 3-1
STOKE v CHELSEA
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: Stoke 0 Chelsea 2
Garrin: 0-2
Dominic: 0-1
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 0-1
Last season: 0-4
WEST BROM v NORWICH
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: West Brom 2 Norwich 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Last season: 2-1
FULHAM v ASTON VILLA
Sunday, 15:30
Rob: Fulham 1 Aston Villa 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-1
Last season: 1-0
SWANSEA v HULL
Monday, 22:00
Rob: Swansea 2 Hull 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 1-0
Earl: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable
*LEADERBOARD
118 - Herman (18 points in last, double round)
115 - Garrin (22)
113 - Dominic (19)
106 - Rob (19)
94 - Earl (11)
Compiled by Rob Houwing (Newcastle-partial), the others are Garrin Lambley (Everton), Dominic Valentine (Liverpool, and the defending champion), Herman Mostert (Chelsea) and newcomer Earl Haupt (another ‘Pool fan).
Three points are awarded for an entirely correct scoreline, and one for right result.
THE PRIME ATTRACTION
ARSENAL v EVERTON
Sunday, 18:00
Especially considering their drought-breaking win at Old Trafford in midweek, there is talk that the Toffees may even end above defending champions Manchester United this season (that would be enough to make Garrin unplayable at the office) and march all the way into a Champions League spot for good measure. But there’s a bit of a hold-your-horses trend for this weekend: all of us anticipate leaders Arsenal beating them at the Emirates Stadium. Arsene Wenger’s troops are in fine nick themselves, let’s not forget ... although the Merseysiders did manage a spirited goalless draw in their last visit to Gunners territory in 2012/13.
Rob: Arsenal 2 Everton 0
Garrin: 1-0
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 3-1
Earl: 2-1
Last season: 0-0
THE GRUDGE MATCH
MANCHESTER UNITED v NEWCASTLE
Saturday, 14:45
You have to be able to remember the jousting between Sir Alex Ferguson and Kevin Keegan -- when Toon were a temporary yet trophy-less force to be reckoned with in the mid-1990s -- to appreciate the grudge billing when these grand old clubs meet. But the bar has been raised in the passion stakes for this one also because last season’s corresponding clash at Old Trafford was a seven-goal thriller. Surprisingly, the black-and-whites dominated for large parts in scoreboard terms, but gut-wrenchingly for them the Red Devils’ now slightly peripheral Javier Hernandez stole all three points with a 90th minute winner (it also put the hosts ahead for the first time). Being Magpies-partial, I am a little fearful of a Man U backlash considering their home loss to Everton on Wednesday; Newcastle’s 3-0 thumping at Swansea after a great run also suggests a minor “correction” may be beginning for them, alas ...
Rob: Manchester United 2 Newcastle 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Last season: 4-3
THE DESPERATE DUEL
SUNDERLAND v TOTTENHAM
Saturday, 19:30
The Black Cats were dapper, despite their bottom-placed adversity, in losing 4-3 at home to Chelsea in midweek. But the cold fact remains that they surrendered another three points and remain marooned on a mere eight points from 14 matches. Signs of a Crystal Palace mini-revival do little to aid the mood at the Stadium of Light, and it will also be no comfort that up-and-down Spurs come off a stabilising away victory at Fulham. I have a hunch that Sunderland will be capable of grabbing a point ... and Herman and Earl share that suspicion.
Rob: Sunderland 1 Tottenham 1
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 2-2
Last season: 1-2
THE OTHERS
CRYSTAL PALACE v CARDIFF
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: Crystal Palace 1 Cardiff 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable
LIVERPOOL v WEST HAM
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: Liverpool 3 West Ham 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 3-1
Earl: 2-0
Last season: 0-0
SOUTHAMPTON v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: Southampton 0 Manchester City 2
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-2
Last season: 3-1
STOKE v CHELSEA
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: Stoke 0 Chelsea 2
Garrin: 0-2
Dominic: 0-1
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 0-1
Last season: 0-4
WEST BROM v NORWICH
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: West Brom 2 Norwich 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Last season: 2-1
FULHAM v ASTON VILLA
Sunday, 15:30
Rob: Fulham 1 Aston Villa 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-1
Last season: 1-0
SWANSEA v HULL
Monday, 22:00
Rob: Swansea 2 Hull 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 1-0
Earl: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable
*LEADERBOARD
118 - Herman (18 points in last, double round)
115 - Garrin (22)
113 - Dominic (19)
106 - Rob (19)
94 - Earl (11)