SASoccermag editor Wade Pretorius challenges former Proteas batsman HD Ackerman to put his Premier League knowledge to the test.

UPDATE: There could be no separating HD Ackerman and our pundit after both tipsters failed to hit their stride. Ackerman correctly predicted three matches with no correct scores which was matched by our editor and part-time Superbru guru, Wade Pretorius.

Ackerman, played four Tests for South Africa scoring 161 runs at an average of 20.12, before moving behind the mic as an expert analyst for SuperSport.

Football has a rich history in the Ackerman household with HD revealing just how he became such an ardent Red Devils supporter.

‘In the eighties, the FA Cup final was always a highlight on the TV calendar for my dad and I,’ Ackerman tells SASoccermag.

‘He was a Liverpool supporter while I wasn’t exactly sure on who to support between Spurs and Manchester United. Both of those sides had some success in the competition in those days. I finally made my decision in 1985, Kevin Moran was sent off in the final against Everton and a young Norman Whiteside stepped up and slotted one past Neville Southall and just like that my decision was made … I would be a United die hard forever!’

Ackerman’s highlights as a fan include his first trip to Old Trafford, the treble in 1999 but one event stands out head and shoulders above.

‘My trip to Wembley to watch, what was not a good final against liverpool (in their horrendous white suits), is my ultimate highlight. Seeing the king (Eric Cantona) score an incredible goal to win 1-0.’

Looking ahead to this week, the Manchester derby is the standout fixture for which Ackerman has tipped a score draw.

‘Sergio Aguero will be a big loss for City and I think Jose Mourinho will set up more defensively than he has in previous matches. Mourinho will probably be happy with a point … although I won’t be.’

Premier League Week 4:

Manchester United 1-1 Manchester City (Wade’s pick: 1-0)

Middlesbrough 1-1 Crystal Palace (Wade’s pick: 2-1)

Stoke 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Wade’s pick: 1-2)

Arsenal 3-0 Southampton (Wade’s pick: 2-0)

Bournemouth 2-0 West Bromwich Albion (Wade’s pick: 0-0)

Burnley 1-2 Hull City (Wade’s pick: 1-0)

West Ham United 2-0 Watford (Wade’s pick: 2-0)

Liverpool 3-2 Leicester (Wade’s pick: 2-1)

Swansea City 0-2 Chelsea (Wade’s pick: 1-2)

Sunderland 1-1 Everton (Wade’s pick: 1-1)

Scoring:

1 point for a correct result

3 points for an exact pick

3 points for six or more correct results in a game week

*Follow HD Ackerman on Twitter: @ackershd