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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

TOTTENHAM v CHELSEA
Saturday, 13:45


The Premiership weekend gets off with a Saturday lunchtime cracker, at least on paper. Hosts Spurs lie second on the table, just behind arch-rivals Arsenal, and come off a gritty, late-secured victory at Cardiff last Sunday – something that arguably hinted at a new steel in their midst? Meanwhile for all the talk of Jose Mourinho’s second coming at Stamford Bridge not getting off to quite the start desired, the Blues did see off Fulham in another all-London affair last time out in the league and do lie a promising enough fourth. Two-one to Chelsea seems a popular pick, a forecast possibly influenced by last season’s away win in the fixture: Juan Mata bagged two goals as the Blues came from behind then to earn a thrilling 4-2 win. It’s Andre Villas-Boas against his old mentor Mr Mourinho on the touchline ...  

Rob: Tottenham 1 Chelsea 2 
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 2-1
Last season: 2-4   

THE GRUDGE MATCH

MANCHESTER UNITED v WEST BROM
Saturday, 16:00


OK, so it was a bit of a “Fergie festival” affair on the last day of the 2012/13 season, with the Red Devils already safely in possession of the title, but the fact remains that the last time these foes met, United were held to a rare 5-5 draw! That match was at The Hawthorns, of course, with hostilities instead earmarked for the tougher environment – at least as far as WBA are concerned – of Old Trafford on this occasion. The other “grudge” aspect comes from the fact that the home team ought to be hopping mad after their undignified thrashing at arch-rival Manchester City, and their fans will expect nothing less than a backlash against labouring opponents who do, though, come off a 3-0 thumping of Sunderland. Most of us take a fairly cautious route on the likely Red Devils win.

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

THE DESPERATE DUEL


SUNDERLAND v LIVERPOOL
Sunday, 17:00


The senior players at Sunderland have finally got what they wanted in seeing the slightly dilly Paolo Di Canio sacked as manager after a miserly haul of one point from a possible 15 – the Black Cats lie rock bottom and were stuffed 3-0 at West Brom in that last fixture. But I have this long-standing theory that managerless clubs can be dangerous opponents in any interim period: hence my tip (backed up by ‘Pool fan Earl, of all people) that Sunderland will grind out a point before the Stadium of Light faithful. Liverpool, remember, suffered a wobble last weekend – though many did – in losing to Southampton at Anfield and being knocked off their lofty perch at the top. Most of the panel see the Merseysiders going home happier ...

Rob: Sunderland 1 Liverpool 1
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-1
Last season: 1-1 

THE OTHERS

ASTON VILLA v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 16:00


Rob: Aston Villa 0 Manchester City 2
Garrin: 0-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 0-2
Last season: 0-1 

FULHAM v CARDIFF
Saturday, 16:00


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

HULL v WEST HAM
Saturday, 16:00


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

SOUTHAMPTON v CRYSTAL PALACE
Saturday, 16:00


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

SWANSEA v ARSENAL
Saturday, 18:30


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

STOKE v NORWICH
Sunday, 14:30


Rob: 1-0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-0
Earl: 1-1
Last season: 1-0

EVERTON v NEWCASTLE
Monday, 21:00


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

*LEADERBOARD


48 - Herman (9 points in last round)
42 - Garrin (5)
39 - Rob (10)
38 - Dominic (7)
36 - Earl (4)

*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing

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