Cape Town - Manchester United’s unfamiliar presence in lowly 12th on the English Premiership table has clearly had an influence on the Sport24 forecasters.
All but one see arch-rivals Liverpool, the runaway leaders, gleefully raiding Old Trafford for all three points in Sunday’s clash – there would not be such pronounced confidence in past seasons, would there?
Each round of the 2019/20 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), the others are Garrin Lambley (Everton, and defending champion), Lloyd Burnard, Tashreeq Vardien, Baden Gillion and Lynn Butler (all Man United) plus Craig Taylor (Liverpool).
Three points are awarded for an entirely correct score-line, and one for right result.
OUR FORECASTS:
EVERTON v WEST HAM
Saturday, 13:30
Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Lloyd: 2-0
Lynn: 0-1
Craig: 1-1
Baden: 2-1
Last season: 1-3
LEICESTER v BURNLEY
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 1-0
Garrin: 2-0
Tashreeq: 2-1
Lloyd: 2-0
Lynn: 1-1
Craig: 2-0
Baden: 3-1
Last season: 0-0
WOLVES v SOUTHAMPTON
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 1-0
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-0
Lloyd: 2-1
Lynn: 2-1
Craig: 2-1
Baden: 1-0
Last season: 2-0
CHELSEA v NEWCASTLE
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 2-1
Garrin: 2-0
Tashreeq: 2-0
Lloyd: 3-0
Lynn: 4-0
Craig: 2-0
Baden: 4-1
Last season: 2-1
TOTTENHAM v WATFORD
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 3-0
Tashreeq: 2-0
Lloyd: 2-0
Lynn: 1-0
Craig: 2-1
Baden: 3-0
Last season: 2-1
ASTON VILLA v BRIGHTON
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 2-1
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Lloyd: 2-1
Lynn: 2-1
Craig: 1-1
Baden: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable
BOURNEMOUTH v NORWICH
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 2-1
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-2
Lloyd: 3-1
Lynn: 0-1
Craig: 2-1
Baden: 2-2
Last season: Not applicable
CRYSTAL PALACE v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 18:30
Rob: 0-2
Garrin: 0-2
Tashreeq: 1-2
Lloyd: 0-3
Lynn: 1-3
Craig: 0-4
Baden: 1-5
Last season: 1-3
MANCHESTER UNITED v LIVERPOOL
Sunday, 17:30
Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-2
Tashreeq: 0-2
Lloyd: 0-3
Lynn: 0-2
Craig: 1-2
Baden: 1-2
Last season: 0-0
SHEFFIELD UNITED v ARSENAL
Monday, 21:00
Rob: 0-1
Garrin: 0-2
Tashreeq: 1-0
Lloyd: 1-3
Lynn: 0-3
Craig: 1-1
Baden: 0-1
Last season: Not applicable
LEADERBOARD
68 Garrin (5 points in last round)
61 Tashreeq (2)
59 Baden (6)
52 Lloyd (3)
51 Rob (3)
49 Lynn (4)
40 Craig (5)