Now Foxes face 'hoodoo' Gunners

Cape Town - Just round two of the English Premiership... and already the meeting of “one and two” from last season as champions Leicester entertain Arsenal on Saturday.

The Foxes hardly had an appetising start to their defence last weekend, crashing 2-1 at promoted Hull City, though the Gunners also stumbled immediately in that 4-3 home loss to Liverpool.

So the stakes are raised that bit further in both instances here, although Arsene Wenger’s charges will take great heart from their achievements against Leicester last season: they were the only side to do the double over them, including handing them their lone home reverse.

It was a biggie, too... 5-2, including a hat-trick to Alexis Sanchez, although our pundits are more cagey about a score-line this time, with 1-1 a pretty popular choice.

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), 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:

MANCHESTER UNITED v SOUTHAMPTON
Friday, 21:00

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

Last season: 0-1          

STOKE v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 13:30

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

Last season: 2-0                                           

BURNLEY v LIVERPOOL
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 1-2
Garrin: 0-2
Tashreeq: 1-4
Maano: 0-1
Craig: 1-3
Lynn: 0-1

Last season: Not applicable                                

SWANSEA v HULL
Saturday, 16:00

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

Last season: Not applicable                                    

TOTTENHAM v CRYSTAL PALACE
Saturday, 16:00

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

Last season: 1-0                                      

WATFORD v CHELSEA
Saturday, 16:00

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

Last season: 0-0   

WEST BROM v EVERTON
Saturday, 16:00

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

Last season: 2-3                                            

LEICESTER v ARSENAL
Saturday, 18:30

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

Last season: 2-5                                       

SUNDERLAND v MIDDLESBROUGH
Sunday, 14:30

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

Last season: Not applicable    

WEST HAM v BOURNEMOUTH
Sunday, 17:00

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

Last season: 3-4                                            

*LEADERBOARD (after 1st round):

11 - Garrin
10 - Craig
9 - Rob
7 - Lynn
5 - Tashreeq
3 - Maano