Tipsters: Roaring start for Chelsea!

Cape Town - Champions Chelsea ought to have a relative walk in the park in their first 2017/18 English Premiership match, at home to Burnley on Saturday, in defence of their title.

So say all of the Sport24 forecasters... with the only issue of dissent being whether they beat last season’s 16th-placed battlers by a 2-0 or 3-0 margin.

The Blues did win the corresponding game at Stamford Bridge 3-0 in the last campaign, with strikes from Messrs Hazard, Willian and Moses.

Each round of the 2017/18 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), Lloyd Burnard, Tashreeq Vardien, Baden Gillion 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:

ARSENAL v LEICESTER
Friday, 20:45

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

Last season: 1-0              

WATFORD v LIVERPOOL
Saturday, 13:30

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

Last season: 0-1                                             

CHELSEA v BURNLEY
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 3-0
Garrin: 3-0
Tashreeq: 3-0
Lloyd: 2-0
Lynn: 2-0
Craig: 2-0
Baden: 2-0

Last season: 3-0                                   

CRYSTAL PALACE v HUDDERSFIELD
Saturday, 16:00

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

Last season: Not applicable                                       

EVERTON v STOKE
Saturday, 16:00

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

Last season: 1-0                                          

SOUTHAMPTON v SWANSEA
Saturday, 16:00

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

Last season: 1-0      

WEST BROM v BOURNEMOUTH
Saturday, 16:00

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

Last season: 2-1                                                 

BRIGHTON v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 18:30

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

Last season: Not applicable                                           

NEWCASTLE v TOTTENHAM
Sunday, 14:30

Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-2
Lloyd: 1-1
Lynn: 1-1
Craig: 1-2
Baden: 1-3

Last season: Not applicable    

MANCHESTER UNITED v WEST HAM
Sunday, 17:00

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

Last season: 1-1                                               

*LEADERBOARD WILL BE UPDATED WEEKLY