Cape Town - High-riding Arsenal are hugely likely to add to bottom club Sunderland’s misery on their Premiership trek to the north-east on Saturday – all of our forecasters see the Gunners successfully raiding the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland have a miserable two points from a possible 27 so far... though if they want at least some sense of hope, they held these foes 0-0 at the venue last season.
The other two clubs on the same number of points as Arsene Wenger’s charges at the top, Manchester City and Liverpool, should also pick up wins this weekend, though sentiment isn’t unanimous.
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), Lloyd Burnard, Tashreeq Vardien, Maano Nekhavhambe and Lynn Butler (all Man Utd) plus Craig Taylor (Liverpool).
Three points are awarded for an entirely correct scoreline, and one for right result.
OUR FORECASTS:
SUNDERLAND v ARSENAL
Saturday, 13:30
Rob: 0-1
Garrin: 0-2
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 0-2
Craig: 0-3
Lynn: 0-2
Lloyd: 0-1
Last season: 0-0
MANCHESTER UNITED v BURNLEY
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 2-0
Tashreeq: 3-1
Maano: 3-0
Craig: 2-0
Lynn: 2-0
Lloyd: 2-0
Last season: Not applicable
MIDDLESBROUGH v BOURNEMOUTH
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-1
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 1-0
Craig: 1-1
Lynn: 1-0
Lloyd: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable
TOTTENHAM v LEICESTER
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-1
Craig: 1-1
Lynn: 2-1
Lloyd: 1-0
Last season: 0-1
WATFORD v HULL
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 3-2
Maano: 1-0
Craig: 2-1
Lynn: 1-0
Lloyd: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable
WEST BROM v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 0-1
Garrin: 0-2
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 1-1
Craig: 0-2
Lynn: 0-2
Lloyd: 0-2
Last season: 0-3
CRYSTAL PALACE v LIVERPOOL
Saturday, 18:30
Rob: 1-2
Garrin: 0-2
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-0
Craig: 1-2
Lynn: 1-2
Lloyd: 0-1
Last season: 1-2
EVERTON v WEST HAM
Sunday, 15:30
Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 0-0
Craig: 1-1
Lynn: 1-1
Lloyd: 1-0
Last season: 2-3
SOUTHAMPTON v CHELSEA
Sunday, 18:00
Rob: 1-2
Garrin: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 0-1
Craig: 1-2
Lynn: 0-1
Lloyd: 1-2
Last season: 1-2
STOKE v SWANSEA
Monday, 22:00
Rob: 0-0
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 3-2
Maano: 0-0
Craig: 2-2
Lynn: 1-1
Lloyd: 1-1
Last season: 2-2
*LEADERBOARD:
78 Garrin (4 points in last round)
75 Tashreeq (3)
73 Craig (5)
72 Lynn (2)
59 Rob (4)
55 Lloyd (3)
50 Maano (2)