What is the score going to be when Leicester City take on Newcastle at St James' Park in the Premier League?
That is the question we are asking Leicester Mercury sports writer James Sharpe, who gives us his prediction of the game and casts his eye over the rest of the weekend's action.
This season, he is going head-to-head with some of Leicestershire's sporting names. Last week, he took on City ambassador Alan Birchenall, and the two saw out the first stalemate of the season. To see how everyone got on click HERE.
This week, it's the turn of Leicester Hockey Club and stepping up are the Pukkas' "resident football gurus" forward Liz George and first-team coach David Mayer.
The duo are feeling confident about City's chances, too, and have plumped for a 2-1 win for Nigel Pearson's men.
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.
Newcastle v Leicester City St James' Park, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: How two 2-2 can have such different effects on a team's morale. For City, conceding a 96th-minute equaliser at home to struggling Burnley was a huge disappointment. It felt like a defeat. For Newcastle, though, and perhaps more importantly the under-pressure Alan Pardew, Papiss Cisse's brace at Swansea secured a much-needed point and some more breathing space. Newcastle desperately need that first win, though. Both sides have goals in them, yet both are struggling to keep them out at the back. Nigel Pearson won't set his side out to get a point, they will attack. I think we could see a high-scoring draw. I would take a point, too.Sharpe's prediction: 2-2George and Mayer say: 1-2
Man City v Spurs Etihad Stadium, Saturday, 12.45pmVerdict: Man City put 11 goals past Spurs in last season's meetings combined, winning 6-0 at home and 5-1 away. While Spurs are a more solid outfit than last campaign, and picked up an encouraging victory over Southampton, they are still lacking in the goal department and that is always going to be crucial against a side like City. One goal will not be enough to nick it for Spurs. Sergio Aguero should be good to go, despite flying back from the Far East earlier this week. I think City will win pretty comfortably.Sharpe's prediction: 2-0George and Mayer say: 3-1
Arsenal v Hull Emirates Stadium, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: Arsenal's injury list is almost as long as Leicester Tigers'. Mesut Ozil is the latest star name on the treatment table, while Aaron Ramsey is still on the sidelines. Hull, meanwhile, picked up a really good victory over Crystal Palace before the international break and will be no pushovers. Even so, Arsenal should still be too strong for Steve Bruce's men.Sharpe's prediction: 2-1George and Mayer say: 2-0
Burnley v West Ham Turf Moor, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: It was inevitable, wasn't it? After nearly 11 hours of football without a goal, it had to be against Leicester that Burnley finally got their elusive second goal of the season. And then, of course, Ross Wallace's 96th-minute free-kick grabbed them a point. Burnley certainly have spirit. They are organised, determined and difficult to beat. West Ham, though, are no longer a side that will just shut up shop away from home and settle for a point. They carry a strong attacking threat and will take the game to Burnley. While Sean Dyche's men will not go down without a fight, I fancy the visitors to edge out a win.Sharpe's prediction: 1-2George and Mayer say: 1-1
Crystal Palace v Chelsea Selhurst Park, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: Like West Ham, Palace are a side renowned for their grim resolve. That perception, earned under Tony Pulis, no longer gives them enough credit. As well as that, they have some serious attacking threat, not least on the flanks through Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie. The problem, though, is that they are going up against a Chelsea side that is absolutely ruthless. They will be able to break down Warnock's walls and have the toughness to deal with the hosts' physical threat.Sharpe's prediction: 0-2George and Mayer say: 1-3
Everton v Aston Villa Goodison Park, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: After surprising everyone with how positively they started the season, Villa come out of the international break on a run of three straight defeats. Equally surprising has been Everton's poor start to the campaign. A side that promised so much after last season, Roberto Martinez's side has won just once and picked up a solitary point at home so far. Villa will be boosted by the hopeful return of Christian Benteke, who will provide a serious handful to an Everton defence without John Stones. Of course, after such a long layoff, Benteke will be lacking sharpness but I do fancy Villa to get something from the game.Sharpe's prediction: 2-2George and Mayer say: 2-0
Southampton v Sunderland St Mary's, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: As a mark of Southampton's impressive start to the campaign, Graziano Pelle and Ronald Koeman were awarded player and manager of the month respectively. They were not quite on song in their defeat at Spurs before the international break but are still third in the table going into the weekend. Sunderland, meanwhile went into the break following their first win of the campaign. Getting both their strikers – Steven Fletcher and Connor Wickham – on the scoresheet is always a good sign. I still think Southampton will have the edge.Sharpe's prediction: 2-1George and Mayer say: 2-0
QPR v Liverpool Loftus Road, Sunday, 1.30pmVerdict: Is there any hope for QPR? They are bottom of the table, leaking goals for fun and nowhere near compensating for that at the other end. Harry Redknapp is relying far too heavily on Charlie Austin up top. At the back they are a total shambles. There seems to be no energy, or cohesion among the side and that will be a serious problem against a Liverpool with serious pace and skill. Daniel Sturridge is set to return and with Raheem Sterling also causing havoc, QPR could be in for a long afternoon. Sharpe's prediction: 0-3George and Mayer say: 0-4
Stoke v Swansea Britannia Stadium, Sunday, 4pmVerdict: Swansea made a blistering start to the season, winning their first three games. Since then, though, they have stagnated somewhat now four games without a win. Stoke's home form has been pretty average so far; the Britannia was a fortress last season. I think this is going to be a pretty close one. I've gone for a draw.Sharpe's prediction: 1-1George and Mayer say: 1-2
West Brom v Man Utd The Hawthorns, Monday, 8pmVerdict: Man Utd are currently in the Champions League places. How on earth did that happen? It's not that long ago that City beat them 5-3 and the public was pointing out that they had fewer points than at the same stage under David Moyes. Their world-class attack has started to fire now with Radamel Falcao, Angel di Maria, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie all finding the net across the last two games. They are still suspect at the back, though, but I don't see West Brom having enough up top to cause too much concern.Sharpe's prediction: 1-3George and Mayer say: 1-3
| Premier League | Score | Sharpe | George/Mayer |
| SATURDAY | |||
| Man City v Spurs | x-x | 2-0 | 3-1 |
| Arsenal v Hull | x-x | 2-1 | 2-0 |
| Burnley v West Ham | x-x | 1-2 | 1-1 |
| C Palace v Chelsea | x-x | 0-2 | 1-3 |
| Everton v Aston Villa | x-x | 2-2 | 2-0 |
| Newcastle v Leicester | x-x | 2-2 | 1-2 |
| Southampton v Sunderland | x-x | 2-1 | 2-0 |
| SUNDAY | |||
| QPR v Liverpool | x-x | 0-3 | 0-4 |
| Stoke v Swansea | x-x | 1-1 | 1-2 |
| MONDAY | |||
| West Brom v Man Utd | x-x | 1-3 | 1-3 |
Newcastle v Leicester City St James' Park, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: How two 2-2 can have such different effects on a team's morale. For City, conceding a 96th-minute equaliser at home to struggling Burnley was a huge disappointment. It felt like a defeat. For Newcastle, though, and perhaps more importantly the under-pressure Alan Pardew, Papiss Cisse's brace at Swansea secured a much-needed point and some more breathing space. Newcastle desperately need that first win, though. Both sides have goals in them, yet both are struggling to keep them out at the back. Nigel Pearson won't set his side out to get a point, they will attack. I think we could see a high-scoring draw. I would take a point, too.Sharpe's prediction: 2-2George and Mayer say: 1-2
Man City v Spurs Etihad Stadium, Saturday, 12.45pmVerdict: Man City put 11 goals past Spurs in last season's meetings combined, winning 6-0 at home and 5-1 away. While Spurs are a more solid outfit than last campaign, and picked up an encouraging victory over Southampton, they are still lacking in the goal department and that is always going to be crucial against a side like City. One goal will not be enough to nick it for Spurs. Sergio Aguero should be good to go, despite flying back from the Far East earlier this week. I think City will win pretty comfortably.Sharpe's prediction: 2-0George and Mayer say: 3-1
Arsenal v Hull Emirates Stadium, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: Arsenal's injury list is almost as long as Leicester Tigers'. Mesut Ozil is the latest star name on the treatment table, while Aaron Ramsey is still on the sidelines. Hull, meanwhile, picked up a really good victory over Crystal Palace before the international break and will be no pushovers. Even so, Arsenal should still be too strong for Steve Bruce's men.Sharpe's prediction: 2-1George and Mayer say: 2-0
Burnley v West Ham Turf Moor, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: It was inevitable, wasn't it? After nearly 11 hours of football without a goal, it had to be against Leicester that Burnley finally got their elusive second goal of the season. And then, of course, Ross Wallace's 96th-minute free-kick grabbed them a point. Burnley certainly have spirit. They are organised, determined and difficult to beat. West Ham, though, are no longer a side that will just shut up shop away from home and settle for a point. They carry a strong attacking threat and will take the game to Burnley. While Sean Dyche's men will not go down without a fight, I fancy the visitors to edge out a win.Sharpe's prediction: 1-2George and Mayer say: 1-1
Crystal Palace v Chelsea Selhurst Park, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: Like West Ham, Palace are a side renowned for their grim resolve. That perception, earned under Tony Pulis, no longer gives them enough credit. As well as that, they have some serious attacking threat, not least on the flanks through Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie. The problem, though, is that they are going up against a Chelsea side that is absolutely ruthless. They will be able to break down Warnock's walls and have the toughness to deal with the hosts' physical threat.Sharpe's prediction: 0-2George and Mayer say: 1-3
Everton v Aston Villa Goodison Park, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: After surprising everyone with how positively they started the season, Villa come out of the international break on a run of three straight defeats. Equally surprising has been Everton's poor start to the campaign. A side that promised so much after last season, Roberto Martinez's side has won just once and picked up a solitary point at home so far. Villa will be boosted by the hopeful return of Christian Benteke, who will provide a serious handful to an Everton defence without John Stones. Of course, after such a long layoff, Benteke will be lacking sharpness but I do fancy Villa to get something from the game.Sharpe's prediction: 2-2George and Mayer say: 2-0
Southampton v Sunderland St Mary's, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: As a mark of Southampton's impressive start to the campaign, Graziano Pelle and Ronald Koeman were awarded player and manager of the month respectively. They were not quite on song in their defeat at Spurs before the international break but are still third in the table going into the weekend. Sunderland, meanwhile went into the break following their first win of the campaign. Getting both their strikers – Steven Fletcher and Connor Wickham – on the scoresheet is always a good sign. I still think Southampton will have the edge.Sharpe's prediction: 2-1George and Mayer say: 2-0
QPR v Liverpool Loftus Road, Sunday, 1.30pmVerdict: Is there any hope for QPR? They are bottom of the table, leaking goals for fun and nowhere near compensating for that at the other end. Harry Redknapp is relying far too heavily on Charlie Austin up top. At the back they are a total shambles. There seems to be no energy, or cohesion among the side and that will be a serious problem against a Liverpool with serious pace and skill. Daniel Sturridge is set to return and with Raheem Sterling also causing havoc, QPR could be in for a long afternoon. Sharpe's prediction: 0-3George and Mayer say: 0-4
Stoke v Swansea Britannia Stadium, Sunday, 4pmVerdict: Swansea made a blistering start to the season, winning their first three games. Since then, though, they have stagnated somewhat now four games without a win. Stoke's home form has been pretty average so far; the Britannia was a fortress last season. I think this is going to be a pretty close one. I've gone for a draw.Sharpe's prediction: 1-1George and Mayer say: 1-2
West Brom v Man Utd The Hawthorns, Monday, 8pmVerdict: Man Utd are currently in the Champions League places. How on earth did that happen? It's not that long ago that City beat them 5-3 and the public was pointing out that they had fewer points than at the same stage under David Moyes. Their world-class attack has started to fire now with Radamel Falcao, Angel di Maria, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie all finding the net across the last two games. They are still suspect at the back, though, but I don't see West Brom having enough up top to cause too much concern.Sharpe's prediction: 1-3George and Mayer say: 1-3
