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'Expert' UK footy tips

Cape Town - Each round of the 2012/13 English Premiership season, a panel of Sport24 staff and occasional guest tipsters have a crack at predicting the results - do it yourself, if you like, and see how you compare afterwards.

Compiled by Rob Houwing (eternally Newcastle-partial), the others are Garrin Lambley (Everton, and last season’s winner), Dominic Valentine (Liverpool) and Herman Mostert (Chelsea).

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

THE PRIME ATTRACTION

MANCHESTER CITY v ARSENAL
Sunday, 17:00


Just recently, the heat on Arsene Wenger and a seemingly low-ambition boardroom has receded a bit: life after Robin van Persie has not been quite the apocalyptic scenario envisaged by Gunners fans of a more glass-half-empty disposition. They enter this daunting fixture against the champions at Eastlands on the back of excellent league wins away to Liverpool and a home trouncing of Southampton, plus victory over Montpellier in France in the Champions League. City, of course, will be sick as parrots about that 3-2 loss at Real Madrid after snatching a lead pretty late in the enthralling midweek game. Will it impact in any way on their performance against Arsenal? I doubt it, especially as they will be keen to return to winning ways after being held at Stoke. All of the panel see City edging it, with a difference of only one goal. 

Rob: Manchester City 1 Arsenal 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 1-0  

THE GRUDGE MATCH

LIVERPOOL v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, 14:30


On any other day, this game would be deemed the main event. But it is a reflection of the way Liverpool’s stocks have plunged in recent years that they tackle their arch-rivals in the north-west from a lowly 17th spot in the (admittedly early) Premiership table. ‘Pool have not yet earned a win and “boast” two draws and two losses. Meanwhile Sir Alex Ferguson, whose empire remains watertight, comes up against his seventh different Liverpool boss – now Brendan Rodgers – since the start of his reign with the Red Devils. The way things have been going for Sunday’s home side thus far, don’t discount the possibility that when they lock horns in the return fixture later in the season, it’s an eighth! But there is some hope for the long-suffering Kop faithful: Herman bravely ventures that they’ll earn a morale-soaring win, with Garrin tipping a hard-earned point. 

Rob: Liverpool 0 Manchester United 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 1-1   

THE DESPERATE DUEL

SOUTHAMPTON v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 16:00


Poor old Saints. They seem to have become stuck with this slot ... the promoted club remain the only team yet to pick up a single point after four matches and desperately need that to change fast. I just fancy that the visit of Villa, no great shakes themselves these days and currently lying a humdrum 13th, is an opportunity for the duck to be broken and I’ve even picked a home win. Garrin and Dom are not quite as enthusiastic, though they envisage a draw, whilst Herman sees Southampton going nought points from fifteen – ouch. Presumably, he interprets Villa’s home win against Swansea last weekend as reason to suggest the Midlands outfit may have started an improvement drive ...

Rob: Southampton 2 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 0-1
Last season: Not applicable    

THE OTHERS

SWANSEA v EVERTON
Saturday, 13:45


Rob: Swansea 0 Everton 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Last season: 0-2 

CHELSEA v STOKE
Saturday, 16:00


Rob: Chelsea 2 Stoke 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 3-1
Last season: 1-0     

WEST BROM v READING
Saturday, 16:00


Rob: West Brom 0 Reading 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable   

WEST HAM v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 16:00


Rob: West Ham 2 Sunderland 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable 

WIGAN v FULHAM
Saturday, 16:00


Rob: Wigan 1 Fulham 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 0-0
Last season: 0-2    

NEWCASTLE v NORWICH
Sunday, 16:00


Rob: Newcastle 2 Norwich 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 3-0
Herman: 2-0
Last season: 1-0

TOTTENHAM v QPR
Sunday, 17:00


Rob: Tottenham 1 QPR 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 3-1

*LEADERBOARD

28 Dominic (7 points in last round) & Garrin (8)
25 Herman (9)
21 Rob (4)
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