BEAT THE EXPERT!

Sunderland to beat Liverpool, Arsenal to beat Newcastle and Boro to beat Leeds this weekend – our footy expert delivers his weekly predictions…

Sunderland vs Liverpool
Saturday 10 March
Sunderland will look to bounce back after their agonisingly close win-turned-draw in last week’s Tyne-Wear derby, but they will have to do it without suspended duo Lee Cattermole and star man Sebastian Sessegnon. There’ll be no beach balls this time round either to aid the Black Cats, but they’ll not fear a Liverpool side beaten at home by Arsenal last weekend while only winning the League Cup against Championship opponents on penalties a fortnight ago. Liverpool can’t get the best out of £35m man Andy Carroll, while Luis Suarez is more miss than hit lately, following his high-profile suspension.
The Black Cats to nudge this one 2-1.

Arsenal vs Newcastle
Monday 12 March
Arsenal is never an easy place to go to but Newcastle have had mixed fortune there over the past few seasons, a far cry from their Highbury jinx. Arsenal are buoyed in recent weeks with Robin van Persie showing no relent in scoring as last week’s winning double at Liverpool took him past the 30-goal mark. Manager of the Month Arsene Wenger will be looking to continue his run of form against a side which got out of jail in the Tyne-Wear derby last weekend.
The Gunners to keep firing, 3-1.

Middlesbrough vs Leeds
Sunday 11 March
As close as Boro will come to a derby clash in the Championship, they’ll look to continue their recent good form and push on for promotion, although the play-offs are looking the more realistic resting place at the minute, as the top three march on. A calculated 2-0 performance against Barnsley in midweek followed last week’s victory at Portsmouth while Leeds – under Neil Warnock – haven’t won for three weeks.
Boro to continue their push, with a narrow 1-0 win.

Walsall vs Hartlepool
Saturday 10 March
Pools lost at Huddersfield on Tuesday evening to further dent their disappearing play-off hopes but they’ll look to bounce back against a Walsall side fighting off relegation. Defeat to the Terriers came on the back of a creditable draw with MK Dons and a fine away victory at Bury, so Neale Cooper’s men look to have exorcised the demons of their horror show at basement boys Wycombe three weeks ago. The return of James Poole will give Cooper’s men much needed firepower.
Pools to win this one, 2-1.