Sports Mole takes on Corella’s Joel Smith for a Premier League predictions challenge in gameweek 32 of the 2023-24 season.
After a midweek round of fixtures that saw all three title contenders continue their relentless pace with victories, the latest tests of their credentials await in gameweek 32 this weekend.
Liverpool still lead the way but face the prospect of an away trip to their biggest rivals on Sunday when they take on Manchester United at Old Trafford, just weeks after losing a 4-3 thriller at the same ground in the FA Cup, and days after Man United lost by the same scoreline in an instant classic against Chelsea.
As in midweek, Jurgen Klopp‘s men are the last of the three contenders in action, meaning that they could go into that contest as low as third in the table should other results go against them earlier in the weekend.
A busy Saturday of seven matches is bookended by the other two title hopefuls, with Manchester City kicking things off at Crystal Palace before Arsenal face a testing trip to Brighton & Hove Albion in the evening game.
There is also a big game at the other end of the table as Everton host relegation rivals Burnley at Goodison Park on Saturday, while the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur both feature on Sunday.
Each gameweek, Sports Mole is taking on a famous musician or band in a prediction competition, and this week it is the turn of Corella singer Joel Smith.
Saturday, 12.30pm
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Joel: Crystal Palace 0-3 Man City
Sports Mole: Crystal Palace 1-3 Man City
Saturday, 3pm
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Joel: Aston Villa 2-1 Brentford
Sports Mole: Aston Villa 2-1 Brentford
Saturday, 3pm
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Joel: Everton 1-1 Burnley
Sports Mole: Everton 2-2 Burnley
Saturday, 3pm
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Joel: Fulham 2-3 Newcastle
Sports Mole: Fulham 2-2 Newcastle
Saturday, 3pm
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Joel: Luton 0-1 Bournemouth
Sports Mole: Luton 1-2 Bournemouth
Saturday, 3pm
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Joel: Wolves 2-2 West Ham
Sports Mole: Wolves 1-1 West Ham
Saturday, 5.30pm
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Joel: Brighton 1-2 Arsenal
Sports Mole: Brighton 0-2 Arsenal
Sunday, 3.30pm
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Joel: Man Utd 1-3 Liverpool
Sports Mole: Man Utd 1-3 Liverpool
Sunday, 5.30pm
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Joel: Sheff Utd 0-2 Chelsea
Sports Mole: Sheff Utd 1-3 Chelsea
Sunday, 6pm
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Joel: Spurs 2-1 Nott’m Forest
Sports Mole: Spurs 3-1 Nott’m Forest
Joel Q&A
How did you come to support Manchester United and what are your favourite memories from your time as a fan?
My earliest memory of football would be heading over to Blundell Park in Grimsby to watch Town. They were playing Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup and I was captured from that moment. My dad supported Man United, so I naturally fell into that team and had every kit every year.
I did one year go to watch Leeds vs. Arsenal at Elland Road. I was only maybe around 8 years old at the time, and didn’t fully understand the rules of the game.
At half time, the teams swapped sides. I was sat in the Leeds end, thinking they were still shooting towards our side of the goal. Next thing you know, the net is rippling – I jumped out my seat and started cheering, only to realise Thierry Henry slotted one home for Arsenal… my dad got abit of abuse for that!
Who have been your favourite five players for your club?
My number one player for United was Ronaldo. I tried to play just like him. Other players I loved were Scholes, Vidic and Van der Sar. Special mention for Taarabt at QPR though.
What’s going on with the band at the moment?
Our debut album ‘Once Upon a Weekend is out May 3rd and the tour kicks off then too. We’ve also got loads of festival slots, including the main stage at Reading and Leeds, and Kendal Calling!
Check out ‘Head Underwater’, the latest release from Corella, available on all digital streaming platforms now.
You can follow Corella on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter).
2023-24 SEASON LEADERBOARD (ARTISTS)
Scores are calculated as one point for a correct result and five points for a correct scoreline.
1. SPRINTS’ Sam (19pts | Gameweek 9)
2. Flat Party’s Nic (18pts | Gameweek 7)
3. SPRINTS’ Jack (16pts | Gameweek 9)
= Joshua Grant (16pts | Gameweek 30)
5. SPRINTS’ Karla (14pts | Gameweek 9)
= Noah and the Loners’ Noah Riley (14pts | Gameweek 20)
7. Palace’s Leo Wyndham (13pts | Gameweek 24)
= Nathan Evans (13pts | Gameweek 28)
9. Flat Party’s Dylan (12pts | Gameweek 7)
10. Flat Party’s Rory (10pts | Gameweek 7)
= Master Peace (10pts | Gameweek 23)
12. Tom Speight (9pts | Gameweek 2)
= Majestic & Beyond Chicago (9pts | Gameweek 3)
= Sea Girls’ Andrew Dawson (9pts | Gameweek 8)
15. New Rules’ Ryan Meaney (8pts | Gameweek 6)
= K.A.D (8pts | Gameweek 12)
= Solar Eyes (8pts | Gameweek 25)
18. Kid Kapichi’s Jack Wilson (7pts | Gameweek 5)
= Feeder’s Taka Hirose (7pts | Gameweek 18)
= Fat White Family’s Lias Saoudi (7pts | Gameweek 21)
= One True Pairing (7pts | Gameweek 29)
22. Ed Cosens (6pts | Gameweek 22)
= Only The Poets (6pts | Gameweek 27)
24. Sainte (5pts | Gameweek 13)
25. Insincere (4pts | Gameweek 1)
= STONE (4pts | Gameweek 10)
= Slick Don (4pts | Gameweek 14)
= The Blinders’ Charlie McGough (4pts | Gameweek 15)
= Alex Spencer (4pts | Gameweek 16)
= Chiedu Oraka (4pts | Gameweek 26)*
31. Barry Can’t Swim (3pts | Gameweek 4)
= Keen Roy (3pts | Gameweek 11)
= The Mysterines’ Paul Crilly (3pts | Gameweek 31)
34. Bill Ryder-Jones (2pts | Gameweek 19)
* = Gameweek with reduced number of fixtures
2023-24 COMPETITION HISTORY
Gameweek 1: Insincere 4-16 Sports Mole
Gameweek 2: Tom Speight 9-16 Sports Mole
Gameweek 3: Majestic & Beyond Chicago 9-9 Sports Mole
Gameweek 4: Barry Can’t Swim 3-9 Sports Mole
Gameweek 5: Kid Kapichi’s Jack Wilson 7-11 Sports Mole
Gameweek 6: New Rules’ Ryan Meaney 8-10 Sports Mole
Gameweek 7: Flat Party’s Rory, Nic & Dylan 10/18/12-3 Sports Mole
Gameweek 8: Sea Girls’ Andrew Dawson 9-9 Sports Mole
Gameweek 9: SPRINTS’ Jack, Same & Karla 16/19/14-16 Sports Mole
Gameweek 10: STONE 4-6 Sports Mole
Gameweek 11: Keen Roy 3-9 Sports Mole
Gameweek 12: K.A.D 8-8 Sports Mole
Gameweek 13: Sainte 5-2 Sports Mole
Gameweek 14: Slick Don 4-6 Sports Mole
Gameweek 15: The Blinders’ Charlie McGough 4-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 16: Alex Spencer 4-3 Sports Mole
Gameweek 17: N/A
Gameweek 18: Feeder’s Taka Hirose 7-9 Sports Mole
Gameweek 19: Bill Ryder-Jones 2-7 Sports Mole
Gameweek 20: Noah and the Loners’ Noah Riley 14-5 Sports Mole
Gameweek 21: Fat White Family’s Lias Saoudi 7-10 Sports Mole
Gameweek 22: Ed Cosens 6-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 23: Master Peace 10-12 Sports Mole
Gameweek 24: Palace’s Leo Wyndham 13-11 Sports Mole
Gameweek 25: Solar Eyes 8-9 Sports Mole
Gameweek 26: Chiedu Oraka 4-5 Sports Mole *
Gameweek 27: Only The Poets 6-8 Sports Mole
Gameweek 28: Nathan Evans 13-2 Sports Mole
Gameweek 29: One True Pairing 7-3 Sports Mole *
Gameweek 30: Joshua Grant 16-10 Sports Mole
Gameweek 31: The Mysterines’ Paul Crilly 3-9 Sports Mole
* = Gameweek with reduced number of fixtures
