Do you want to put your football knowledge to the test and win £10k in the process? Of course you do! Who wouldn’t? With The Sportsman, you can test your predictive skills and win a huge cash prize in the process. It takes minutes, if that, to enter this contest and there is minimal risk for a huge cash reward, so make sure you get your picks in by 3pm on Saturday afternoon.
With The Sportsman, all you have to do is pick the correct three-way result - home win, draw, away win - in 10 assigned matches and the correct total number of goals, ranging from the Premier League all the way down to League 2 – Pick 10, Get 10, Win £10k! It’s a simple concept, but allows you to win big.
The Perfect 10 contest is UK only and is for users aged 18 and over, so keep that in mind when trying to enter, but below, we run through our selections and the reasoning behind our choices ahead of the weekend’s action. Even if you don’t win the top prize this weekend, there is also the chance to win a guaranteed £5,000 if you’re top of The Sportsman’s Christmas Special leaderboard on Christmas Day – you would enjoy a very merry Christmas with that!
BURNLEY vs WATFORD – DRAW
Three of the last four league meetings between these two at Turf Moor have ended in a draw. Burnley will hope to make home advantage count, but Watford will make it difficult for the Clarets. We feel another stalemate is on the cards here.
CRYSTAL PALACE vs BOURNEMOUTH – HOME WIN
Crystal Palace secured a late draw against Bournemouth in this match last season and have improved considerably in recent weeks. The Eagles are unbeaten in their last four at Selhurst Park, winning two. They could record a victory in this one.
HUDDERSFIELD vs BRIGHTON – HOME WIN
Huddersfield have lost their last four league games and have won only four top-flight matches all season. Three of those have come at home, however, and two of their last three at the John Smith’s Stadium. The Terriers won this match last season and a repeat wouldn’t be a huge surprise.
SWANSEA vs WEST BROM – DRAW
Swansea have a solid home record against West Brom, winning five of the last six meetings between these two at the Liberty Stadium. The Baggies, though, have drawn their last three league outings, while the Swans haven’t won a Premier League match since mid-October. This is a game neither team will want to lose.
BURTON vs PRESTON – AWAY WIN
Burton have lost their last six home games and currently foot the table. Preston, while not a free-scoring Championship side, know how to grind out results and are unbeaten in their last four, winning two. If they can nick an early goal, Alex Neil’s side should sneak this.
HULL vs BRENTFORD – DRAW
Both teams are strong pushing forward, but laborious at the back. Hull appointed Nigel Adkins as manager on Thursday and he’ll hope to make an immediate impact on Saturday. Brentford have drawn the joint-most games (9), while Hull are following suit, with seven. Another stalemate could be the outcome here.
QPR vs LEEDS – AWAY WIN
QPR fell to a 1-0 defeat to Preston last time out and have now lost four of their last five league matches. Ian Holloway’s side are dropping down the table and Leeds, who are looking to overcome a recent rut, could put another crucial three points on board at Loftus Road.
MK DONS vs SHREWSBURY – DRAW
MK Dons have drawn four of their last six at home, while Shrewsbury have two draws to their name from their last five on the road. The Dons have been the better of the two teams in recent years, but high-flying Shrewsbury are hoping to bounce back from back-to-back defeats and keep up the pressure on Wigan at the top of the table.
LIVERPOOL vs EVERTON – HOME WIN
Sam Allardyce may make Everton more defensively solid, yet it’ll be easier said than done to keep Liverpool’s rampant attack at bay. The Reds come into Sunday’s Merseyside Derby with their tails high and have won three of the last four meetings between these two at Anfield. Liverpool should win this with ease.
MANCHESTER UNITED vs MANCHESTER CITY – HOME WIN
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 40 matches at Old Trafford, since a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City last season in fact. City have begun to slip in recent weeks, going behind in two of the last three Premier League matches, while United have conceded just one home league goal in eight this season, winning all eight of those. City are out to secure a record 14th successive Premier League victory in a single season, but could come unstuck on Sunday.
TOTAL GOALS SCORED – 30
