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'Expert' UK footy tips

Cape Town - Each round of the 2013/14 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), Dominic Valentine (Liverpool, and the defending champion), Herman Mostert (Chelsea) and newcomer Earl Haupt (another ‘Pool fan).

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

THE PRIME ATTRACTION

LIVERPOOL v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, 14:30


Aided by their 100 percent record thus far, expect the Anfield faithful to be in an ebullient mood on Sunday (mind you, against these near-neighbouring foes the ‘Pool fans would be vocal even if they were relegation candidates at the time of combat). With a bit of luck, this will eclipse Monday’s Man Utd-Chelsea clash for excitement value – not too much is required for that. Having dropped points in that one, I suspect champions United may just be keen to seize all three here, despite the obvious difficulty involved. Our pundits offer you all scenarios, but I’m backing the Red Devils triumph. They won on Merseyside last season too, with strikes from Messrs Rafael and Van Persie (who else?) neutralising Steven Gerrard’s opener for Liverpool. 

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

THE GRUDGE MATCH

ARSENAL v TOTTENHAM
Sunday, 17:00


A pretty obvious choice for the category, this one: and not just because it is the North London derby. There is a strong retribution flavour to it as well, at least as far as visitors Spurs are concerned. Their fans are probably still having nightmares about the 5-2 score-line in the Gunners’ favour in the corresponding clash at the Emirates Stadium last season – and exactly the same outcome occurred a season earlier! If it is any semblance of assurance to the Tottenham faithful, however, Spurs had actually led 1-0 thanks to an early Emmanuel Adebayor goal in 2012/13, before he was red-carded and the game then changed complexion completely. I’m backing a much tighter Arsenal win this time, and am not without some support in that theory ...

Rob: Arsenal 2 Tottenham 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 1-1
Last season: 5-2 

THE DESPERATE DUEL

WEST BROM v SWANSEA
Sunday, 14:30


It is so early in the season that the team at the very bottom of the table might still be well capable of winning the title. Only, er, Swansea probably won’t, will they? The Welsh outfit are yet to pick up a point from six, and now travel to the Midlands in the keen attempt to break their duck. The Baggies ain’t exactly flying, either: they lie 17th with a lone point to show. One thing you can say about basement Swansea is that they’ve started with two real toughies (champions Manchester United at home and Spurs away), and were very resilient in a 1-0 defeat at White Hart Lane last time out. But a gut feel is WBA nicking it, as they did in the last campaign. 

Rob: West Brom 1 Swansea 0 
Garrin: 1-0
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 0-0
Last season: 2-1

THE OTHERS

MANCHESTER CITY v HULL
Saturday, 13:45


Rob: Manchester City 2 Hull 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 2-0
Earl: 2-0
Last season: Not applicable

CARDIFF v EVERTON
Saturday, 16:00


Rob: Cardiff 0 Everton 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable

NEWCASTLE v FULHAM
Saturday, 16:00


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

NORWICH v SOUTHAMPTON
Saturday, 16:00


Rob: Norwich 2 Southampton 1 
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 2-1
Last season: 0-0

WEST HAM v STOKE
Saturday, 16:00


Rob: West Ham 1 Stoke 1
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 1-1
Last season: 1-1

CRYSTAL PALACE v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 18:30


Rob: Crystal Palace 1 Sunderland 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 0-1
Last season: Not applicable

*LEADERBOARD

23 - Herman (8 points in last round)
21 - Dominic (9)
19 - Garrin (7)
14 - Rob (6)
13 - Earl (5)

*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing

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