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
ARSENAL v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 13:45
If you looked at this weekend’s programme in table-position terms, then the prime attraction should really be Chelsea v Swansea – a clash of the only two teams remaining with 100 percent records. But it’s not a traditionally sexy match and instead the Gunners entertaining champions Man City holds slightly deeper appeal. Despite that nasty home gremlin against Stoke last time out (or should that read: because of?), City earn some quite healthy favour among our panel for an away win, although majority sentiment is a 1-1 stalemate. Those tipping the visitors to prevail no doubt suspect a significant Blues backlash this weekend. These foes shared the spoils in the equivalent fixture last season ... though never forget that up in Manchester the result was a tennis-set 6-3 to the hosts!
Rob: Arsenal 1 Manchester City 1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 1-1
THE GRUDGE MATCH
SOUTHAMPTON v NEWCASTLE
Saturday, 16:00
Usually a red-letter derby is a pretty good way of filling this slot, but there’s a notable absence of those in the latest round and not too many other obvious “grudge” games. So perhaps just a little influenced by personal leanings, I’ve installed the Mighty Toon in this category. After all, they’re away to an outfit who thumped them 4-0 in the corresponding south-coast clash last season, so there’s that to try to make determined amends for. The normally sober Daily Telegraph described Newcastle as “abject” that day. But hope springs eternal ... I’m defiantly backing the black-and-whites to salvage a point this time, though support among my colleagues is in short supply. Saints may just blood Belgian international signing Toby Alderweireld – the defender was seemingly earmarked for Newcastle initially!
Rob: Southampton 1 Newcastle 1
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano:0-1
Last season: 4-0
THE DESPERATE DUEL
CRYSTAL PALACE v BURNLEY
Saturday, 16:00
By contrast to the above category, this one was rather easier to fill: it pits against each other the bottom two teams on the early log. Both Palace and Burnley sport a meagre one point from a possible nine and will doubtless be attracting strengthening bookies’ favour for the dreaded drop at season’s end. That said, they go into this one having each come off fighting draws last time out – Burnley held, er, mighty Manchester United to a goalless draw and Palace shared a 3-3 rollercoaster ride at Newcastle. On that basis, I fancy another draw here ... though again I am stunningly outvoted as the Londoners get huge backing for a home win.
Rob: Crystal Palace 1 Burnley 1
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 1-0
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-0
Maano:1-0
Last season: Not applicable
THE OTHERS
CHELSEA v SWANSEA
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Chelsea 2 Swansea 0
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 3-1
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 3-2
Maano: 2-0
Last season: 1-0
STOKE v LEICESTER
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Stoke 1 Leicester 0
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 1-0
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-0
Maano: 0-0
Last season: Not applicable
SUNDERLAND v TOTTENHAM
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Sunderland 1 Tottenham 1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 0-1
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-2
Last season: 1-2
WEST BROM v EVERTON
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: West Brom 1 Everton 2
Garrin: 0-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 0-2
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 0-2
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 1-1
LIVERPOOL v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 18:30
Rob: Liverpool 2 Aston Villa 0
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 2-0
Earl: 3-1
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 2-1
Last season: 2-2
MANCHESTER UNITED v QPR
Sunday, 17:00
Rob: Manchester United 1 QPR 0
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 2-0
Earl: 3-0
Wade: 3-0
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 3-1
Last season: Not applicable
HULL v WEST HAM
Monday, 21:00
Rob: Hull 0 West Ham 0
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-0
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 1-0
*LEADERBOARD
22 - Rob (1 point in last round)
20 - Garrin (3) & Herman (2)
17 - Wade (3) & Earl (3)
16 - Maano (1)
13 - Tashreeq (1)