Share

'Expert' UK footy tips

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

LIVERPOOL v CHELSEA
Saturday, 14:45

Who will ever forget Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard’s costly slip in the equivalent fixture toward the end of last season, which many believe swung the destiny of the title chase against the then fiercely-contending Reds? Certainly the Anfield faithful are badly haunted, a situation not helped by their bilious start to the latest campaign. ‘Pool are already 12 points off the log-leading Blues, so another defeat at home would be disastrous. They come off successive 1-0 losses at Newcastle and then in midweek at Real Madrid with a controversially weakened line-up, so spirit may not be that high. But the majority of our panel interestingly still fancy a stalemate here ... and I concur.

Rob: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1  
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 0-2                        

THE GRUDGE MATCH


SUNDERLAND v EVERTON
Sunday, 15:30

It was difficult job pinpointing the game for this slot this week ... I searched frantically for a regional derby, usually a solid banker, and couldn’t find one. So the Black Cats against the Toffees gets the billing, simply on the grounds of slightly peculiar events between them last season – Everton won 1-0 in the north-east and Sunderland 1-0 in the trip to the north-west! I was very tempted to join Earl and Maano in fancying a Toffees triumph, but then got cold feet: the red-and-whites are on a mini-high after beating Crystal Palace in London on Monday night, whereas Everton were a bit unexpectedly held goalless at Goodison by Swansea. Blank score-sheet again?

Rob: Sunderland 0 Everton 0
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-2
Last season: 0-1                          

THE DESPERATE DUEL

SOUTHAMPTON v LEICESTER
Saturday, 17:00

The desperation here, needless to say, is all Leicester’s. They have slid progressively down to third-but-last on the table after the newcomers had comfortably evaded the drop zone in initial combat. Foxes fans have certainly had the smiles wiped off their dials since that amazing 5-3 victory over Manchester United a few weeks ago: it’s been five games since without a win. I guess you could say that Saints will be motivated by some “urgency” as well, if only because the unlikely second-placed team will wish to keep in contact with clinical Chelsea, currently four points superior. A full house tips a home win.

Rob: Southampton 1 Leicester 0  
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-0
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 3-1
Maano: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable                     

THE OTHERS

BURNLEY v HULL
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: Burnley 1 Hull 1
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 0-1
Wade: 0-1
Tashreeq: 1-3
Maano: 0-1
Last season: Not applicable                    

MANCHESTER UNITED v CRYSTAL PALACE
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: Manchester United 2 Crystal Palace 0
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 2-0
Earl: 1-0
Wade: 3-0
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 2-0
Last season: 2-0            

WEST HAM v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: West Ham 1 Aston Villa 0
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 2-0
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 0-0                

QPR v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 19:30

Rob: QPR 1 Manchester City 2
Garrin: 0-2
Herman: 1-3
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 1-3
Tashreeq: 1-3
Maano: 0-2
Last season: Not applicable           

TOTTENHAM v STOKE
Sunday, 15:30

Rob: Tottenham 2 Stoke 1
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 1-0
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 3-0                    

WEST BROM v NEWCASTLE
Sunday, 15:30

Rob: West Brom 1 Newcastle 1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 2-2
Wade: 2-2
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 1-0

SWANSEA v ARSENAL
Sunday, 18:00

Rob: Swansea 1 Arsenal 1
Garrin: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-2
Last season:1-2              

*LEADERBOARD

78 - Garrin (7 points in last round)
74 - Rob (6)
70 - Wade (11)
68 - Herman (4)
64 - Tashreeq (8)
57 - Earl (8)
53 - Maano (6)

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1472 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2251 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE