What is the score going to be when Leicester City welcome Arsenal to the King Power Stadium on Sunday?
That's the question we are asking Leicester Mercury sports writer James Sharpe, who gives us his prediction and casts his eye of the rest of the weekend's action.
It's three points for a correct score and just one point for getting the right result. Don't agree? Think you can do better? Have a go yourself. Put your predictions in the comments section and see if you can beat them.
This year our man is going head-to-head with some of Leicestershire's biggest sporting names. Last week, Sharpe came out on top against City legend Steve Walsh.
This week, the man in the hot seat is Leicestershire Foxes one-day captain Josh Cobb.
Cobby is not the most optimistic for City's chances against the Gunners on Sunday. The big-hitting opener is predicted a 3-1 defeat for Nigel Pearson's men.
Premier League |
Score |
Sharpe |
Cobb |
SATURDAY | | | |
Burnley v Man Utd |
x-x |
1-2 |
0-1 |
Man City v Stoke |
x-x |
4-0 |
2-0 |
Newcastle v Crystal Palace |
x-x |
1-0 |
1-1 |
QPR v Sunderland |
x-x |
1-2 |
1-2 |
Swansea v West Brom |
x-x |
2-0 |
0-1 |
West Ham v Southampton |
x-x |
1-1 |
1-1 |
Everton v Chelsea |
x-x |
1-2 |
0-2 |
SUNDAY | | | |
Aston Villa v Hull |
x-x |
0-0 |
0-0 |
Tottenham v Liverpool |
x-x |
2-2 |
2-1 |
Leicester v Arsenal |
x-x |
2-2 |
1-3 |
| | | |
Leicester City v Arsenal King Power Stadium, Sunday, 4pm
Verdict: The tough tests just keep on coming for Nigel Pearson's men. A lot will depend on the fitness of his key players – Jamie Vardy, Danny Drinkwater, Marc Albrighton…even Dean Hammond.
It is unknown, as yet, whether new signing Esteban Cambiasso will be eligible for the game but I doubt he would feature anyway, as I can't imagine he is up to match fitness yet.
If City can put on the sort of performance as they did against Chelsea last week, and not the awful display that lost to Shrewsbury, they will prove a stern test for an Arsenal side that hasn't been convincing in their first two Premier League, despite picking up four points from a possible six.
With Olivier Giroud out for four months with a broken tibia, it will mean Alexis Sanchez is likely to start up top. He bagged his first goal for the club in the Champions League qualifier on Wednesday.
The Gunners' game against Everton showed that they are still shaky at the back and City could well open them up on the counter. I really think they will give them a good game.
Prediction: 2-2
Burnley v Man Utd Turf Moor, Saturday, 12.45pm
Verdict: If City thought their Capital One Cup defeat was bad, that was nothing compared to Man United's – a 4-0 defeat at MK Dons. They didn't have a bad side out either.
Just watching Louis van Gaal's side play, there is no pace, no tempo, all their passing is sideways with no penetration at all. Let's see if Angel Di Maria, just the £60million, can rejuvenate the side.
Turf Moor is never an easy place to go, but with the Clarets having now lost three in a row, with their own disappointing cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, I think United should still be a smidgen too strong.
Prediction: 1-2
Man City v Stoke Etihad Stadium, Saturday, 3pm
Verdict: I can only see one winner here. Man City were absolutely rampant once they got going against Liverpool. Before they scored the opener, it was pretty level-pegging but once City got going they showed the quality and ruthlessness that took them to the title last season.
Stevan Jovetic scored two, and it took Sergio Aguero just 23 seconds to find the net after coming off the bench. It was quite scary.
Stoke have been a little below what people expected of Mark Hughes' side before the season started and I give them little hope here.
Prediction: 4-0
Newcastle v Crystal Palace St James' Park, Saturday, 3pm
Verdict: Neil Warnock is the man tasked with filling the very successful shoes of Tony Pulis. To be fair, Warnock's style of play will not be too dissimilar to that of Pulis. Organised, disciplined, hard to beat. Some might say, boring.
Newcastle are yet to score in the league this season but, haven't actually looked too bad. They grabbed a goal at Gillingham in midweek and I think they will be too strong at home to Palace.
Prediction: 1-0
QPR v Sunderland Loftus Road, Saturday, 3pm
Verdict: QPR have made a terrible start to the season. They were absolutely dreadful at Tottenham last week, and the most concerning thing for Harry Redknapp was his side just seem to lack all effort. There was no hard work, no desire and no application. You can't survive in the Premier League like that.
Sunderland have drawn both their games so far, including against United last week, but have shown signs of replicating the form they showed at the end of last season. I rate Connor Wickham very highly and think he, and his Sunderland team-mates, could enjoy themselves.
Prediction: 1-2
Swansea v West Brom Liberty Stadium, Saturday, 3pm
Verdict: Swansea have made a cracking start to the season with a thoroughly deserved victory over United on the opening day following by an expected one over Burnley last week.
Bafetimbi Gomis grabbed his first goal for the club in the cup in midweek and should form quite a partnership with Wilfried Bony.
West Brom have shown themselves to be tough to break down but I think will struggle for goals. I think Swansea's frontline will be a bit too strong.
Prediction: 2-0
West Ham v Southampton Upton Park, Saturday, 3pm
Verdict: West Ham are the side that has surprised me most so far. I know they lost to Spurs first week, but they did not play too badly, and they looked really good in their 3-1 victory over Palace last week.
Southampton, meanwhile, have also performed much better than expected despite the departures of most of last season's key players – Lambert, Lallana, Lovren and Shaw.
I expect this one to be tight.
Prediction: 1-1
Everton v Chelsea Goodison Park, Saturday, 3pm
Verdict: For the best part of an hour, City held their own against a Chelsea side many think will go on to win the title. But, as expected, they ultimately proved to have just a bit too much when it mattered.
The problem Everton face against a side with the attacking prowess of Chelsea is that they have shown, in their first two games, that they concede goals pretty easily. Four in two games, so far.
With Cesc Fabregas now pulling the strings, and Eden Hazard now off the mark and looking good, I do fear for Everton's defence.
Prediction: 1-2
Aston Villa v Hull Villa Park, Sunday, 1.30pm
Verdict: Villa are a side that many tipped to struggle this season but, so far, have surprised a few. Their defence looks a lot sturdier that last season with Ron Vlaar taking his World Cup form into the season. The problem is, again, up top and the ability to find goals with Christian Benteke on the sidelines.
Hull will be without Robert Snodgrass for much of the season, Shane Long has been sold and the capture of Jordan Rhodes as his replacement has fallen through. That's an awful lot of firepower that's missing.
Prediction: 0-0
Tottenham v Liverpool White Hart Lane, Sunday, 1.30pm
Verdict: Liverpool were going toe to toe with Man City last week until the first goal went in. Then they were powerless to stop City's relentless quality.
Spurs had the simple task of dispatching an almost non-existent QPR last week but will face a much sterner test here. Everyone will have their eyes on one man: Mario Balotelli. What difference will he make to Liverpool's attack?
Liverpool won 5-0 at White Hart Lane last year but Spurs look a completely different prospect under Mauricio Pochettino.
Both teams have goals in them, though, so it could be a close, exciting game.
Prediction: 2-2