Cape Town – Each round of the 2014/15 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), Herman Mostert (Chelsea), Earl Haupt (Liverpool) and a pesky new trio of Manchester United devotees in Tashreeq Vardien, Wade Pretorius and Maano Nekhavhambe.
Three points are awarded for an entirely correct scoreline, and one for right result.
THE PRIME ATTRACTION
TOTTENHAM v LIVERPOOL
Sunday, 14:30
With last season’s runners-up ‘Pool so well beaten by champions Manchester City on Monday, I just fancy Spurs can cash in further on their table-topping start to the season by seeing off the Reds at White Hart Lane, though it is a slightly nervous pick. Still, I see I am not alone. Others among us, however, may well have been more tempted to take into account what happened in last season’s equivalent clash: the home side were humiliated 5-0, with a certain, now departed Luis Suarez in rampant form with a brace. Whatever the result here – and we offer you all three – nobody expects things to be so one-sided this time ...
Rob: Tottenham 2 Liverpool 1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 0-5
THE GRUDGE MATCH
EVERTON v CHELSEA
Saturday, 18:30
The Toffees are back in the showcase evening kick-off slot at Goodison again on Saturday, and will still be seething about how they frittered away their clear advantage over Arsenal last weekend to have to share the spoils 2-2. So they ought to be suitably fired-up for the next tricky assignment against Chelsea, who are one of just four sides with a 100 percent record after two rounds. I guess the smart pick is Jose Mourinho’s charges to take it, but I’ve gone a little against the grain to back a stalemate and have Maano for company. The grudge billing is because the expensively-assembled Londoners will not have forgotten being pipped 1-0 at the same ground last season (Steven Naismith making the key difference on the score-sheet).
Rob: Everton 1 Chelsea 1
Garrin: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 0-1
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 1-0
THE DESPERATE DUEL
BURNLEY v MANCHESTER UNITED
Saturday, 13:45
Yes, I had the embattled Red Devils in this category last weekend, but after an unconvincing draw with Sunderland and then that 0-4 embarrassment against MK Dons in the League Cup ... sorry, they stay! The desperation factor also comes in from a Burnley point of view, of course, because the humble newcomers are nought from two in the Premiership. Everyone knows they’ll be buoyed by just the hint of a giant-killing opportunity in this one, given United’s fragility. That said, all of our cerebral panel – even if they do include some Man Utd-partial folk – believe a semblance of more normal service will return for the visitors, and they’ll just about get through victorious.
Rob: Burnley 0 Manchester United 1
Garrin: 0-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 0-2
Tashreeq: 1-3
Maano: 0-1
Last season: Not applicable
THE OTHERS
MANCHESTER CITY v STOKE
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Manchester City 2 Stoke
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 3-0
Earl: 3-0
Wade: 3-0
Tashreeq: 2-0
Maano: 2-0
Last season: 1-0
NEWCASTLE v CRYSTAL PALACE
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Newcastle 2 Crystal Palace 0
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 1-0
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 2-0
Maano: 2-1
Last season: 1-0
QPR v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: QPR 1 Sunderland 1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 0-1
Last season: Not applicable
SWANSEA v WEST BROM
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Swansea 0 West Brom 0
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-2
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 1-2
WEST HAM v SOUTHAMPTON
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: West Ham 1 Southampton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 3-1
ASTON VILLA v HULL
Sunday, 14:30
Rob: Aston Villa 2 Hull 0
Garrin: 1-0
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 1-0
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 1-2
Last season: 3-1
LEICESTER v ARSENAL
Sunday, 17:00
Rob: Leicester 0 Arsenal 1
Garrin: 0-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 0-2
Maano: 1-3
Last season: Not applicable
*LEADERBOARD
21 - Rob (9 points in last round)
18 - Herman (11)
17 - Garrin (11)
15 - Maano (8)
14 - Wade (8) & Earl (7)
12 - Tashreeq (7)