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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

MANCHESTER UNITED v ARSENAL
Sunday, 18:10


This is perhaps the most enticing game of the season yet, given the backdrop to it ... though Red Devils v Gunners is usually massive anyway. Suddenly, you see, the United giant is beginning to stir – they have netted three times each in successive Premiership victories over Stoke and Fulham, and now comes the truest test of whether they are ready to mount a spirited defence of their title. It cannot be denied that there is pressure: even at this relatively early stage they are a considerable eight points adrift of Arsene Wenger’s resurgent, log-leading Londoners. What’s more, the visitors come off three league wins on the trot plus a terrific Euro midweek triumph at Borussia Dortmund. There’s a flurry of support for a conservative 1-1 result among our tipsters. But this particular forecaster, ever dashing, has a hunch Old Trafford will be vibrant come the final whistle, repeating the score-line from last season’s corresponding game when Robin van Persie sickeningly (from an Arse point of view, of course) netted against his former club ...  

Rob: Manchester United 2 Arsenal 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-1
Last season: 2-1    
 
THE GRUDGE MATCH

SUNDERLAND v MANCHESTER CITY
Sunday, 16:05


It seems a particularly ominous time for the struggling (19th-placed) Black Cats to have to tackle the City juggernaut, even if they do boast home advantage on Sunday. The Manchester outfit have discovered a rich vein of scoring form, rattling seven past hapless Norwich last weekend and then another five against CSKA Moscow more recently in the Champions League. Also not helping Sunderland’s cause is that City will have bitter memories of last season’s meeting at the Stadium of Light: as defending champions and leaders at the time, they were dealt a heavy blow over the festive season period when the home team earned a shock 1-0 win courtesy of Ji Dong-won’s injury-time strike. All of us see City avenging that outcome here, though Dominic and I have a feeling the red-and-whites will be pretty resilient and only surrender by the odd goal ...

Rob: Sunderland 0 Manchester City 1
Garrin: 0-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-3
Earl: 0-2
Last season: 1-0     

THE DESPERATE DUEL

LIVERPOOL v FULHAM
Saturday, 17:00


The desperation factor comes through Fulham’s boss Martin Jol apparently being severely imperilled from an employment point of view if the London club lose at Anfield, for what would constitute a third successive reverse. The table tells you plenty about Jol’s woes – though he remained surprisingly bullish this week! – as Fulham are only two points clear of the drop zone as things stand. But what of Liverpool? They’re also under some pressure for this clash, given that they were well beaten by Arsenal last Saturday to slip five points off the lead and must strike back fast if they are to stay right among the pace-setters. All of the panel suggest a comfortable ‘Pool victory, perhaps taking our cue from last season’s 4-0 outcome on Merseyside. 

Rob: Liverpool 3 Fulham 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 3-1
Earl: 2-0
Last season: 4-0   

THE OTHERS

ASTON VILLA v CARDIFF
Saturday, 17:00


Rob: Aston Villa 1 Cardiff 1
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic:  2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable  

CHELSEA v WEST BROM
Saturday, 17:00


Rob: Chelsea 2 West Brom 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 3-0
Earl: 3-0
Last season: 1-0   

CRYSTAL PALACE v EVERTON
Saturday, 17:00


Rob: Crystal Palace 0 Everton 1
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 0-2
Last season: Not applicable  
 
SOUTHAMPTON v HULL
Saturday, 17:00


Rob: Southampton 1 Hull 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable  
 
NORWICH v WEST HAM 
Saturday, 19:30


Rob: Norwich 1 West Ham 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 0-0
Last season: 0-0   
 
TOTTENHAM v NEWCASTLE
Sunday, 14:00

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

SWANSEA v STOKE
Sunday, 18:10


Rob: Swansea 2 Stoke 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-0
Last season: 3-1 
 
*LEADERBOARD

90 - Herman (8 points in last round)
83 - Dominic (13)
82 - Garrin (8)
76 - Rob (9)
74 - Earl (7)

*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing
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