'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

ARSENAL v CHELSEA
Monday, 22:00

If Arsenal are genuinely hurting – some of their players certainly showed it immediately afterwards – following the 6-3 humbling at Man City, then Chelsea could have their work cut out to earn a decent result at the Emirates in this top-of-table derby. The Blues weren’t great in beating another London outfit, Crystal Palace, 2-1 last time out, but do have the incentive of knowing that victory would take them ahead of the current leaders. Chelsea beat the Gunners in their own den last season ... but I don’t believe it’s going to occur again.

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

THE GRUDGE MATCH

MANCHESTER CITY v LIVERPOOL
Thursday, 19:30

Each team will have played a prior fixture before this meeting next Thursday, but it’s a potential classic on the full Boxing Day bill, isn’t it? Any Mancs v Scousers encounter gets the blood pumping in the north-west of England, and this one could be one of those key “six-pointers” in the title race as both combatants are pushing hard for the title at this stage. I know the Reds stuffed Spurs 5-0 away in their last game, but also fancy that City’s formidable home record will be enough to see them nick this one by the odd goal.

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

THE DESPERATE DUEL

SUNDERLAND v NORWICH
Saturday, 17:00

It’s getting close to that time where Sunderland simply have to start winning if they are to give themselves a realistic chance of avoiding the drop – they are currently a dangerous four points adrift of anyone else at the bottom. But with ho-hum Norwich (14th placed) the visitors to the Stadium of Light, winning is not beyond the Black Cats’ capability.

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

THE OTHERS

LIVERPOOL v CARDIFF
Saturday, 14:45

Rob: Liverpool 2 Cardiff 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 3-1
Earl: 3-0
Last season: Not applicable   
 
CRYSTAL PALACE v NEWCASTLE
Saturday, 17:00

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

FULHAM v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 17:00

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

MANCHESTER UNITED v WEST HAM
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: Manchester United 2 West Ham 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-0
Last season: 1-0      
 
STOKE v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: Stoke 1 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 2-1
Last season: 1-3    

WEST BROM v HULL
Saturday, 17:00

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

SOUTHAMPTON v TOTTENHAM
Sunday, 15:30

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

SWANSEA v EVERTON
Sunday, 17:00

Rob: Swansea 1 Everton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-2
Last season: 0-3  
  
HULL v MANCHESTER UNITED
Thursday, 14:45

Rob: Hull 0 Manchester United 2
Garrin: 0-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 0-2
Last season: Not applicable    

ASTON VILLA v CRYSTAL PALACE
Thursday, 17:00

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

CARDIFF v SOUTHAMPTON
Thursday, 17:00

Rob: Cardiff 1 Southampton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable     
 
CHELSEA v SWANSEA
Thursday, 17:00

Rob: Chelsea 3 Swansea 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 2-0
Earl: 2-0
Last season: 2-0    

EVERTON v SUNDERLAND
Thursday, 17:00

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

NEWCASTLE v STOKE
Thursday, 17:00

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

NORWICH v FULHAM
Thursday, 17:00

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

TOTTENHAM v WEST BROM
Thursday, 17:00

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

WEST HAM v ARSENAL
Thursday, 17:00

Rob: West Ham 1 Arsenal 2
Garrin: 0-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-2
Last season: 1-3    

*LEADERBOARD

129 - Garrin (10 points in last round)
124 - Dominic (7)
123 - Herman (4)
117 - Rob (8)
106 - Earl (11)