Gunners aiming to better ‘silver’

Cape Town - Runners-up to Leicester City last season, Arsenal begin the new season with a Premiership home toughie against old rivals Liverpool on Sunday … and it’s enough to split the Sport24 tipsters smack down the middle.

Two opt for a Gunners win, two go the other way, and the remaining pair fancy a stalemate - which would be in line with last season’s outcomes.

It was 0-0 at the Emirates Stadium and a 3-3 thriller at Anfield, so there’s also statistical uncertainty, really, over whether we’ll see a cracker this time or something altogether more tame!

Each round of the 2016/17 Premiership campaign, a group of our staff has 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; he swears the Championship is more competitive), the others are Garrin Lambley (Everton), Tashreeq Vardien, Maano Nekhavhambe and Lynn Butler (all Manchester United) plus Craig Taylor (Liverpool).

Three points are awarded for an entirely correct scoreline, and one for right result.

OUR FORECASTS:

HULL v LEICESTER
Saturday, 13:30

Rob: 0-2
Garrin: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 0-1
Craig: 1-2
Lynn: 1-2

Last season: Not applicable          

BURNLEY v SWANSEA
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 0-1
Garrin: 1-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-1
Craig: 0-2
Lynn: 0-1

Last season: Not applicable                                          

CRYSTAL PALACE v WEST BROM
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 1-0
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-2
Craig: 2-2
Lynn: 1-1

Last season: 2-0                                

EVERTON v TOTTENHAM
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-1
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 0-0
Craig: 1-2
Lynn: 0-2

Last season: 1-1                                    

MIDDLESBROUGH v STOKE
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 1-2
Garrin: 1-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-0
Craig: 1-1
Lynn: 0-1

Last season: Not applicable                                     

SOUTHAMPTON v WATFORD
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 2-1
Craig: 2-0
Lynn: 0-0

Last season: 2-0  

MANCHESTER CITY v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 18:30

Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 2-0
Tashreeq: 2-0
Maano: 1-1
Craig: 3-0
Lynn: 3-0

Last season: 4-1                                           

BOURNEMOUTH v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, 14:30

Rob: 1-2
Garrin: 1-2
Tashreeq: 0-1
Maano: 0-4
Craig: 0-3
Lynn: 0-2

Last season: 2-1                                      

ARSENAL v LIVERPOOL
Sunday, 17:00

Rob: 2-1
Garrin: 1-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 0-0
Craig: 1-3
Lynn: 1-2
Last season: 0-0   

CHELSEA v WEST HAM
Monday, 21:00

Rob: 1-0
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 0-1
Maano: 1-1
Craig: 2-1
Lynn: 0-0