PL Predictions, Week 32: Rich O’Flynn

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This season, our man Mark will take on someone from the world of music or celebrity every Friday to predict the outcome of the 10 Premier League games that weekend.

Every correct result is worth one point, while every correct scoreline is worth three points. We will keep a tally throughout the season to see how Mark fares against all of our guests.

After an 8-3 win over JP Dalton in week 31, Mark now has 215 points for the season, 31 more than the guests’ 184.

TEAMtalk Prediction League 2014-15
Contestant Points
Cormac Neeson 13
Jools Gizzi 10
Franko Fraize 10
Sam Rourke 9
Gaz Coombes 8
Sundowners 8
Olly Murs 8
Peter Oags 8
Paul Merson (x5) 7.8 (average)
Alex Brooker 7
Peter Hooton 7
Jed Laidlaw 7
Tony McGuinness 7
Mark Holmes 7 (average)
Saint Raymond 6
Van McCann 6
Billy Lunn 5
Ryan Malcolm 5
Wretch 32 5
Jono Yates 5
Jah Wobble 4
JP Dalton 3
Ben Samson 3
Steve Bracknall 3
Prides 3
Meridian Dan 0

Swansea City v Everton

Mark: Swansea look good for eighth spot this season, but Everton have improved in recent weeks and are plenty good enough to take a point if they play to their best. 1-1

Rich: I think Swansea will edge this one. Gary Monk has done an amazing job this year and Martinez’s lads are struggling a bit in front of goal. 1-0

Southampton v Hull City

Mark: I’m not quite sure why Southampton’s form has dropped off so much, but they’re a good side and should get three points from this one fairly comfortably. 2-0

Rich: Although Southampton’s top-four shout is looking pretty unlikely likely they still have a shout at making a go for the Europa league. Pelle to score both. 2-0

Sunderland v Crystal Palace

Mark: Lots of people will be expecting Sunderland to cruise to safety after winning the derby last weekend, but those people don’t know Sunderland! Against a Palace side full of confidence, they could be brought back down to earth. 1-1

Rich: Sunderland are looking invigorated under Dick, but Palace are bursting with confidence too. Pardew for Manager of the Year anyone? 1-1

Tottenham v Aston Villa

Mark: Tottenham are highly unlikely to make the top four now, but they’ve taken a step forward this season and my opinion and should be too strong for Villa. 3-1

Rich: Benteke to score both in the second half. Villa need to win and Spurs’ season seems to be winding down prematurely. 1-2

West Brom v Leicester City

Mark: Leicester have given themselves a fighting chance of survival after that win over West Ham last weekend, but I can’t see West Brom losing for a second consecutive match at home. 1-0

Rich: As much as I’ve loved Leicester this season I’m going for Pulis’ lads on this one. 1-0

West Ham v Stoke City

Mark: West Ham are in awful form, while Stoke have lost three on the bounce. Both need a win to stand a chance of overhauling Swansea – and staying ahead of Crystal Palace. However, there’s little between these two teams. 1-1

Rich: I’ve got a feeling Stoke will edge this one! They’re on the way up and Sam looks more like a dead man walking these days. 0-2

Burnley v Arsenal

Mark: Burnley have competed well against the top teams at Turf Moor this season, but Arsenal are playing some terrific stuff at the moment and won’t be stopped. 1-3

Rich: As much as I hate to say it, the Gunners will keep firing. Specialists at finishing the season strong and with a hint of a title challenge they’ll smash this one. Sanchez with a brace at least. 0-4

QPR v Chelsea

Mark: Chelsea are grinding out results but aren’t on what you’d call top form. QPR will be unbelievably fired up for this one and can give the media cause to claim the title race is still on. But it really isn’t, no matter what happens here. 1-1

Rich: The Chelsea machine will grind on methinks. I don’t think this will be the game to watch or anything but they’ll get the job done. 0-2

Manchester United v Manchester City

Mark: It’s a cliche, but form goes out of the window in games like this so it certainly won’t be a foregone conclusion. However, City seem to have given up for the season just as United are hitting form. 2-1

Rich: Got to be the most interesting game of the weekend, this. City HAVE to win but United seem to have found their feet of late. I’m going for a 3-2 final score for City. 2-3

Liverpool v Newcastle

Mark: Having lost the last couple of games, Liverpool couldn’t have hoped for better opponents than Newcastle. The season can’t end quickly enough for the Magpies, and I expect another bad 90 minutes for them at Anfield. 3-0

Rich: My beloved Liverpool will win this one. They need to respond after the last two games and Newcastle are looking pretty shaky. I don’t think it’ll be an easy run though. I’m expecting a nervy finish. 2-1

Five from Rich O’Flynn

How did you come to support your club and what are your favourite memories from your time as a fan?

My oldest brother has been a fan since the 80s and its filtered down. I’ve always been a Red as long as I can remember. Favourite memory? There’s been a lot but the ecstasy of beating Arsenal 4-2 in the Champions League quarter-final in 2008 was amazing. I was at that game. Babel sent Anfield into raptures with his goal. Good times.

Who have been your biggest heroes during your time supporting the club?

It’s got to be Gerrard. They don’t make them like that anymore. Big shout out to Jamie C though. We all dream of a team of Carraghers.

What do you make of the current team? What are your hopes for the rest of the season?

I like Rodgers, and the preferred starting 11 is pretty strong. The season has unraveled a bit after United and Arsenal and the suspensions though. I think a fifth-placed finish will be as much as we can hope for. We need Europe to attract signings and we need to finish strongly to convince our best and brightest to stay. Come on the lads.

Everyone has a soft spot for another team. Who’s yours and why?

I hate to say it as they ruined us last season, but I’m a fan of Palace. The Eagles are smashing it at the moment and have a habit of pulling results out of the bag at the last moment. Also our manager supports them fanatically.

What’s going on for you at the moment?

We’ve just released our debut album so were touring it and loving life in general. Good times… just need Liverpool to get a trophy to complete the puzzle.

All We Are’s new single ‘Utmost Good’ will be released on April 20 through Double Six Records.

This season Mark has been most overly optimistic about Manchester City, who have claimed some 13 points less than he has tipped them to pick up, but has underestimated the abilities of Southampton and Crystal Palace, who have both won seven points more than he has predicted.