'Expert' UK footy tips

Cape Town - Each round of the 2014/15 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), Herman Mostert (Chelsea), Earl Haupt (Liverpool) and a pesky new trio of Manchester United devotees in Tashreeq Vardien, Wade Pretorius and Maano Nekhavhambe.

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

THE PRIME ATTRACTION

CHELSEA v ARSENAL
Sunday, 15:05

This game looked just as appealing for the grudge slot, given the rather jaw-dropping result at Stamford Bridge last season, but prime billing certainly also applies. These two London outfits both come off heartening European victories in midweek, to only add to the spice. The log-leading Blues have made a rather better start than any of the other traditional “big” clubs, and it is no surprise that sentiment leans toward the Gunners being downed. Mind you, nobody expects any repeat of the 6-0 shame (including two Oscar strikes) in the last campaign, which only added to Arsene Wenger’s increasing crop of grey hair. On that occasion, they were 2-0 up after seven minutes and Arsenal simply never recovered ...   

Rob: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0  
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 6-0                         

THE GRUDGE MATCH

MANCHESTER UNITED v EVERTON
Sunday, 13:00

No lack of evidence to justify this category: any inter-city match between sides from Manchester and Liverpool has a bit of extra needle. Of course there should also have been the “Rooney factor”, with the Red Devils star doing battle once more with his old club – but he is suspended for this one after a sending-off. Mind you, United will still be breathing some extra fire when they remind themselves of last season’s corresponding result at Old Trafford – 1-0 to the Toffees, in another mortifying experience for Everton’s former gaffer David Moyes, then at the helm of the hosts. Both are under pressure to climb the table after pretty innocuous starts to 2014/15, but a narrow Man Utd win is the popular pick. 

Rob: Manchester United 1 Everton 0
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 0-1                         

THE DESPERATE DUEL

SWANSEA v NEWCASTLE
Saturday, 16:00

Alan Pardew defiantly insists there’s still fire in himself, and fire in his charges! It is just not being reflected, crucially, in the results column, and the “Pardew out” lobby is mushrooming as a consequence. The once-mighty (well, you know ....) Toon sit an unflattering second from last on the table, still winless from six matches, and their long-suffering fans will not be too confident of the situation improving at Swansea, who lie an encouraging fifth and claimed the spoils 3-0 in the fixture last season. Mind you, the Welsh club are on a bit of a wobble themselves (one point from their last three games after a dream start) so hope springs eternal if you are black-and-whites inclined ... I’m just not quite hopeful enough to suggest anything but a Swansea victory here.

Rob: Swansea 1 Newcastle 0  
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 3-0                    

THE OTHERS

HULL v CRYSTAL PALACE
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Hull 1 Crystal Palace 0
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 1-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 0-1                   

LEICESTER v BURNLEY
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Leicester 2 Burnley 0
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 1-0
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable           

LIVERPOOL v WEST BROM
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Liverpool 1 West Brom 0
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 4-1                

SUNDERLAND v STOKE
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Sunderland 0 Stoke 0
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 1-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 1-0          

ASTON VILLA v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 18:30

Rob: Aston Villa 0 Manchester City 2
Garrin: 0-2
Herman: 1-3
Earl: 1-3
Wade: 1-3
Tashreeq: 1-3
Maano: 1-3
Last season: 3-2                   

TOTTENHAM v SOUTHAMPTON
Sunday, 15:05

Rob: Tottenham 1 Southampton 1
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 2-1
Last season: 3-2

WEST HAM v QPR
Sunday, 17:15

Rob: West Ham 2 QPR 0
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 1-0
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 2-0
Last season: Not applicable            

*LEADERBOARD

43 - Garrin (9 points in last round)
41 - Rob (9)
39 - Herman (7)
33 - Wade (9)
31 - Earl (8) & Maano (8)
28 - Tashreeq (8)