Our tip: Chelsea off to flier

Cape Town – Barring one prediction of a draw, the Sport24 experts overwhelmingly see Chelsea earning “maximum” as they open their title defence against Swansea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Though there are possibly more appealing fixtures on paper, like beefed-up Manchester United at home to Tottenham and Arsenal’s derby against West Ham, the Welsh club – eighth last season – aren’t the easiest of nuts to crack.

But the Blues did down them 4-2 in the equivalent fixture in 2014/15, aided by Diego Costa’s maiden hat-trick for the Londoners.

Each round of the 2015/16 English Premiership season, a panel of our staff has 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), and a quartet of Manchester United devotees – nobody for Bournemouth, regrettably - in Tashreeq Vardien, Wade Pretorius, Lloyd Burnard and Maano Nekhavhambe.

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

OUR FORECASTS:

MANCHESTER UNITED v TOTTENHAM
Saturday, 13:45

Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Wade: 1-0
Tashreeq: 1-0
Lloyd: 0-0
Maano: 3-0
Last season: 3-0

NORWICH v CRYSTAL PALACE
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 1-2
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-2
Lloyd: 0-1
Maano: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable                           

EVERTON v WATFORD
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 3-0
Lloyd: 1-1
Maano: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable                 

LEICESTER v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-2
Lloyd: 1-0
Maano: 0-0
Last season: 0-0                      

BOURNEMOUTH v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 1-2
Wade: 1-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Lloyd: 2-1
Maano:0-1
Last season: Not applicable                   

CHELSEA v SWANSEA
Saturday, 18:30

Rob: 1-0
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 2-0
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 1-1
Lloyd: 2-0
Maano: 2-0
Last season: 4-2                           

ARSENAL v WEST HAM
Sunday, 14:30

Rob: Arsenal 2 West Ham 0
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 3-1
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 3-1
Lloyd: 3-1
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 3-0      

NEWCASTLE v SOUTHAMPTON
Sunday, 14:30

Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-1
Lloyd: 1-1
Maano: 0-1
Last season: 1-2                

STOKE v LIVERPOOL
Sunday, 17:00

Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-1
Lloyd: 0-1
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 6-1              

WEST BROM v MANCHESTER CITY
Monday, 21:00

Rob: 0-1
Garrin: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Wade: 1-3
Tashreeq: 2-4
Lloyd: 0-4
Maano: 0-1
Last season: 1-3