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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

CHELSEA v ARSENAL
Saturday, 14:45

Log-leading Chelsea, heartened by their onward progress in the Champions League, have a golden opportunity at their home fortress to put potentially safe distance between themselves and at least one other title-hungry outfit: London neighbours Arsenal. The Blues have a four-point lead over the third-placed Gunners, though Arsenal do sport a game in hand. Arsene Wenger, on the other hand, can truly turn the heat up on Jose Mourinho and company if his charges can actually win the encounter. Given the high stakes, yours truly and one or two others take the safe option of a stalemate, as the game could well be cagey. Others favour a repeat of last season’s outcome at the ground, when it was Chelsea 2 (Mata, Lampard pen) Arsenal 1 (Walcott).

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

THE GRUDGE MATCH

MANCHESTER UNITED v MANCHESTER CITY
Tuesday, 21:45

Of course it is difficult to say whether United will carry good vibes into this spicy midweek derby, as they will have played West Ham away first, in a test of their ability to build immediately on the Champions League turnaround heroics against Olympiakos. But whatever has happened in London, this will be their first revisit to Old Trafford after the thrilling 3-0 Euro win ... and who better to try to knock over next there than their cross-town arch-rivals? Perhaps in examining their fourth spot on the table, some people are forgetting just how credible City’s title push is – they have more games in hand than anyone above them. My suspicion (and I see I am not alone) is that the Red Devils had a bit of a false dawn against the Greeks, and that City – who won 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the season, with two Aguero strikes – will prove just a tad too strong in a fierce battle.   

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

THE DESPERATE DUEL

CARDIFF v LIVERPOOL
Saturday, 17:00

The word “desperation” does not apply to Liverpool in the traditional sense right now, I grant you ... they’re on fire! But yes, they’ll be desperate all right to knock over embattled Cardiff on the road, because if they don’t they’ll undo many of the gains of recent weeks that have seen them climb to second on the log. As for the Welsh outfit, they stay very deep in relegation woe so getting at least a point out of this tussle is pretty important if they are to somehow pull clear. Our panel unsurprisingly heavily backs a pretty comfortable ‘Pool victory, perhaps also aware that they prevailed 3-1 at Anfield (Luis Suarez scored twice and set up the other) in the first-round game.

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

THE OTHERS

EVERTON v SWANSEA
Saturday, 17:00

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

HULL v WEST BROM
Saturday, 17:00

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

MANCHESTER CITY v FULHAM
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: Manchester City 4 Fulham 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 3-0
Herman: 2-0
Earl: 3-0
Last season: 2-0   

NEWCASTLE v CRYSTAL PALACE
Saturday, 17:00

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

NORWICH v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 17:00

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

WEST HAM v MANCHESTER UNITED
Saturday, 19:30

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

TOTTENHAM v SOUTHAMPTON
Sunday, 15:30

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

ASTON VILLA v STOKE
Sunday, 18:00

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

ARSENAL v SWANSEA
Tuesday, 21:45

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

NEWCASTLE v EVERTON
Tuesday, 21:45

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

WEST HAM v HULL
Wednesday, 21:45

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

LIVERPOOL v SUNDERLAND
Wednesday, 22:00

Rob: Liverpool 1 Sunderland 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 3-0
Last season: 3-0   
*LEADERBOARD

238 - Dominic (9 points in last round)
235 - Garrin (6)
215 - Rob (3)
214 - Herman (7)
197 - Earl (7)
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