Expect Gunners ‘blank’ at Blues?

Cape Town - Leaders Chelsea are strongly fancied by the Sport24 gurus to continue on their merry way as Premiership leaders, despite the visit of fierce London rivals Arsenal to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Five of the forecasters see the Blues prevailing, with only two believing the Gunners will partially atone for that awful, home Watford slip-up by grabbing a point.

Each round of the 2016/17 Premiership campaign, a group 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; he swears the Championship is more competitive), the others are Garrin Lambley (Everton), Lloyd Burnard, Tashreeq Vardien, Maano Nekhavhambe and Lynn Butler (all Man Utd) plus Craig Taylor (Liverpool).

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

OUR FORECASTS:

CHELSEA v ARSENAL
Saturday, 14:30

Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-1
Craig: 1-1
Lynn: 2-0
Lloyd: 2-0

Last season: 2-0                 

CRYSTAL PALACE v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: 1-0
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-2
Maano: 0-0
Craig: 2-1
Lynn: 1-0
Lloyd: 2-0

Last season: 0-1                                  

EVERTON v BOURNEMOUTH
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 3-2
Maano: 2-1
Craig: 2-1
Lynn: 1-0
Lloyd: 2-0

Last season: 2-1                                          

HULL v LIVERPOOL
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: 1-2
Garrin: 0-2
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-1
Craig: 1-2
Lynn: 1-2
Lloyd: 1-2

Last season: Not applicable                                           

SOUTHAMPTON v WEST HAM
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: 2-1
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 2-1
Craig: 1-1
Lynn: 1-2
Lloyd: 1-2

Last season: 1-0                                                  

WATFORD v BURNLEY
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: 1-0
Garrin: 1-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-0
Craig: 2-1
Lynn: 2-1
Lloyd: 3-1

Last season: Not applicable             

WEST BROM v STOKE
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-1
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 2-0
Craig: 2-1
Lynn: 1-1
Lloyd: 2-2

Last season: 2-1                                                         

TOTTENHAM v MIDDLESBROUGH
Saturday, 19:30

Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 2-0
Tashreeq: 3-1
Maano: 3-1
Craig: 2-0
Lynn: 2-0
Lloyd: 3-0

Last season: Not applicable                                                   

MANCHESTER CITY v SWANSEA
Sunday, 15:30

Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 3-0
Tashreeq: 3-0
Maano: 3-2
Craig: 3-1
Lynn: 3-1
Lloyd: 3-0

Last season: 2-1            

LEICESTER v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, 18:00

Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 1-3
Craig: 1-2
Lynn: 0-2
Lloyd: 1-1

Last season: 1-1                                                    

*LEADERBOARD:

175 Lynn (7 points in last round)
174 Garrin (10)
165 Rob (7)
159 Craig (5) & Tashreeq (5)
158 Lloyd (3)
155 Maano (3)