Our tip: City to pip Chelsea

Cape Town - Four of the seven-strong Sport24 panellists see Manchester City edging out Chelsea in Sunday’s Premiership “Battle of the Blues”.

Perhaps influenced by last season’s 1-1 outcome at the Etihad Stadium - when former Chelsea idol Frank Lampard earned the hosts a late leveller - the other three predict another stalemate.  

A second potential Sunday humdinger has Arsenal, in a further London derby for them, trying to make amends for the 2-0 home loss to West Ham by downing confident Crystal Palace in their own den; sentiment leans toward the Gunners.

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 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:

ASTON VILLA v MANCHESTER UNITED
Friday, 20:45

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

SOUTHAMPTON v EVERTON
Saturday, 13:45

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

WEST HAM v LEICESTER
Saturday, 16:00

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

SWANSEA v NEWCASTLE
Saturday, 16:00

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

SUNDERLAND v NORWICH
Saturday, 16:00

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

WATFORD v WEST BROM
Saturday, 16:00

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

TOTTENHAM v STOKE
Saturday, 16:00

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

CRYSTAL PALACE v ARSENAL
Sunday, 14:30

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

MANCHESTER CITY v CHELSEA
Sunday, 17:00

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

LIVERPOOL v BOURNEMOUTH
Monday, 21:00

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

*LEADERBOARD:

8 - Lloyd
7 - Wade & Tashreeq
5 - Maano & Herman
4 - Rob
3 - Garrin