Predictions For Premier League Gameweek Three

It’s that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I didn’t have the best week last week with one perfect prediction, four correct outcomes and five incorrect outcomes which kept me in fifth place in my predictions league. Here’s a look at how the top five in that league stands.

Pos:   Player:                   Res:  Cls:  Exa: Slm: Pts:

1. Always a Gooner    4      9      6       2       21
2. Gunnerdapper         7      6      3       2       18
3. Derek                      5      6      6       1       18
4. Faroukh                   5    10.5   0       2     17.5
5. JamrockRover         5     7.5    3       2     17.5

I didn’t have a great week with my fantasy team either as my last minute decision to use my free hit didn’t pay off. I would actually have fared better if I had stuck to my guns and gone with the same team that did average at best for me the previous week. I will be back to that team this week and I will have to think carefully about the one free transfer I have available.

Ollie Watkins, Cole Palmer and Florian Wirtz all cost too much to be underperforming for me and I think I will have to move them all on very soon. The chances are I will bring Antoine Semenyo in and maybe Chris Wood too if I decide to take a four point hit. At the moment I’ll probably opt for Mohamed Salah as my captain with Joao Pedro being an option too.

Saturday August 30

Chelsea v Fulham

12.30pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea came from behind to win 5-1 away to West Ham last week and that win leaves them in fourth place after two games. They drew their opening home game 0-0 against Palace, but after beating West Ham last week they will be more confident of winning this game. They’re in the middle of a good run of games which should see them keep that place near the top of the table.

If Cole Palmer is still injured then Joao Pedro is the best bet for fantasy managers in the Chelsea team with their defenders and keeper worth considering too.

Fulham came from behind to draw 1-1 at home to United last week to make two draws in their first two games. They scored very late to draw their first away game at Brighton and they will find it difficult to get anything from this game. They have shown great resilience to come from behind in both of their games and they have a couple of good games after this one.

I’m not sure which Fulham players will perform best for fantasy managers this season, but we might get a better idea over the next few weeks.

I think Fulham will make things difficult for Chelsea, but the home team should take the three points.

Prediction: 2-1

Manchester United v Burnley

3pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester

United led 1-0 away to Fulham last week, but they couldn’t hold to get their first win of the season and they had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Their home record was far from impressive last season and this game gives them the ideal chance to get their first home win of the season. They have two very difficult games after this one which means nothing less than three points will suffice.

Burnley got their first win of the season last week with a 2-0 victory at home to Sunderland. Their away games to start the season are far from easy and they will need to take points at home to make up for it. Like all the other promoted teams survival in the top flight is their main objective and that will probably be determined by their results against the so called lesser teams.

Burnley’s defenders and keeper can all be had at very god prices for fantasy managers and their fixtures improve in a few weeks.

I think United will get their much needed first win of the season in this game with a couple of goals to spare.

Prediction: 2-0

Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth

3pm BST, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

Spurs had a very impressive 2-0 win away to City last week to maintain their 100% start to the season. They won their opening home game 3-0 against Burnley and they will be confident of winning this game too. They’re one of three teams to win their first two games and one of only two teams yet to concede a goal.

Brennan Johnson, Richarlison and Mohammed Kudus are looking good for fantasy managers at the moment with the Spurs defenders and keeper impressing too.

Bournemouth got their first points of the season last week with a 1-0 win at home to Wolves after losing their opening game at Liverpool. They have had a couple of tough games to get their away schedule going and they will do well to get anything out of this game. They have a reasonably good run of games after this one and any points from this game would be a welcome bonus.

Antoine Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier are the Bournemouth players to have at the moment for fantasy managers with Evanilson and the returning Justin Kluivert possibilities too.

I think Spurs will continue their impressive start to the season with a narrow victory in this game.

Prediction: 2-1

Sunderland v Brentford

3pm BST, Stadium of Light, Sunderland

Sunderland lost 2-0 away to Burnley last week, but at least they won their opening game. They won their opening home game against West Ham and they have a very good chance of getting something from this game too. They have a fairly good run of games coming up, but no games are easy for newly promoted teams.

Some of Sunderland’s defenders are available at a good price and Eliezer Mayenda is worth a look too.

Brentford won 1-0 at home to Villa last week after being well beaten in their opening game away to Forest. They have a far better chance of getting something from this game though. They have a very tough run of games coming up so they probably need to get something from this game.

Dango Ouattara and Igor Thiago might be worth considering for fantasy managers.

I think this will be a close game with a draw being the most likely outcome.

Prediction: 1-1

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton

3pm BST, Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton

Wolves lost 1-0 away to Bournemouth last week to leave them pointless and goalless after their first two games. They lost their opening home game 4-0 against City, but Everton should not prove as difficult an opponent. They’re only one place off the foot of the table and they’re one of two teams yet to score.

Jorgen Strand Larsen is the best of the Wolves players for fantasy managers, but they might not be able to hold on to him.

Everton got life in their new stadium off to a great start with a 2-0 win at home to Brighton last week. That put the disappointment of the defeat against Leeds in their opening away game behind them. They have a fairly good run of games coming up and they will feel they have a good chance of getting something from this game.

Iliman Ndiaye is the Everton player most likely to perform for fantasy managers while Jack Grealish, James Tarkowski and Jordan Pickford could do well too.

I think Wolves poor start to the season will continue as Everton win a close game.

Prediction: 1-2

Leeds United v Newcastle United

5.30pm BST, Elland Road, Leeds

Leeds lost 5-0 away to Arsenal last week, but they at least managed to win their opening game. They will be hoping for the home crowd to get behind them like they did in their opening home game against Everton as that home form will be crucial in their efforts to stay up. They only play one of the big six in their next 10 games and they need to make that run of games count.

I’m still not sure which Leeds players to recommend to fantasy managers.

Newcastle conceded very late to lose 3-2 at home to Liverpool last week to leave themselves with only one point from their first two games. They drew their first away game 0-0 against Villa and they will be hoping to get their first away win in this game. They have a good run of games coming up, but they need to find a striker as soon as possible to try to keep pace with the leaders.

With Anthony Gordon suspended and Alexander Isak wanting a transfer it’s probably a good idea for fantasy managers to hold off on Newcastle players for a few weeks.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see the spoils shared in this game.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunday August 31

Brighton And Hove Albion v Manchester City

2pm BST, AMEX Stadium, Brighton

Brighton lost 2-0 away to Everton last week, but they had plenty of chances to get something from the game and they also missed a penalty. They drew their opening home game against Fulham after conceding a very late goal and this will be a difficult home game for them. They play three of the big six in their next four games starting with this one which is a very tough run of games.

Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter are the Brighton players to consider for fantasy managers, but maybe not for the next few weeks.

City lost 2-0 at home to Spurs last week to put their impressive opening win against Wolves in a different light. They won that away game 4-0 against Wolves, but they showed their deficiencies last week. If they’re going to challenge for the title this season they need to show more consistency and they play United and Arsenal in their next two games after this one.

Tijjani Reijnders and Erling Haaland are the City players to own for fantasy managers at the moment.

I think this will be a close game, but City should have the firepower to take the three points.

Prediction: 1-2

Nottingham Forest v West Ham United

2pm BST, City Ground, Nottingham

Forest came from behind to draw 1-1 away to Palace last week to make it four points from their first two games. They won their first home game 3-1 against Brentford and they will be expected to make it two home wins out of two in this game. They have a good run of games to start the season with the exception of their trip to Arsenal in their next game.

Chris Wood looks like the Forest player to have again for fantasy managers with Dan Ndoye a possibility too.

West Ham led at home to Chelsea last week, but they ended up losing 5-1 which left at the foot of the table. They lost their opening away game 3-0 against newly promoted Sunderland and they will struggle to get anything from this game. They have conceded eight goals in their first two games and they need to tighten up at the back or it will be a long hard season for them.

Despite their awful start to the season Jarrod Bowen should still come good for fantasy managers.

I think Forest will continue their impressive start to the season with a victory in this game.

Prediction: 3-1

Liverpool v Arsenal

4.30pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool

Liverpool led 2-0 away to Newcastle last week, but they needed a last gasp goal to win 3-2 and make it six points from their first two games. They won their first home game 4-2 against Bournemouth with two late goals and it was their home form which won them the title last season. They are the highest scorers already, but only three other teams have conceded more goals and that’s an issue they have to resolve.

Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo are all looking very good for fantasy managers at the moment.

Arsenal won 5-0 at home to Leeds last week to put themselves on top of the table after their first two games. They won their first away game 1-0 against United, but this will be a much tougher task. Only Liverpool have scored more goals so far and they’re one of two teams still to concede, but that could change in this game.

Arsenal’s defenders and keeper are very good options for fantasy managers, but maybe not in this game while Declan Rice and Viktor Gyokeres are worth having too.

This is a game which could go either way, but a draw is probably the most likely outcome.

Prediction: 2-2

Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

7pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham

Villa lost 1-0 away to Brentford last week to leave themselves with only one point and no goals from their first two games. They drew their opening game 0-0 at home to Villa and had a man sent off too, but they created very little in that game. They have really struggled to create chances so far, but they are in the middle of a very good run of games.

If Villa can get their form together then Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins can do well for fantasy managers.

Palace led at home to Forest last week, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw to make it two points from their first two games. They drew their first away game 0-0 at Chelsea and they will fancy their chances in this game too. They have a mixed bag of games at the moment, but they will feel confident of getting something from any game after winning two trophies.

With Eberechi Eze now an Arsenal player Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ismaila Sarr and Daniel Munoz are the Palace players to have for fantasy managers.

This is a difficult game to call, but I have a feeling Palace might just edge it.

Prediction: 1-2

That’s it for this week.

See you next week.

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek Two

 It’s that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I did reasonably well last week with no perfect predictions, six correct outcomes and four incorrect outcomes which leaves me in fifth place in my predictions league. Here’s a look at how the top five in that league stands.

Pos: Player                Res   Cls   Exa   Slm     Pts  

1.     Derek                  3       4.5     3       1       11.5

2.     TOPGUN            2       4.5     3       1      10.5

3.      Poirot                 3         6      0       1       10

4.      Gunnerdapper    5         0      3        1       9

5.      JamrockRover   2         6       0        1      9

I didn’t have a great start to the season with my fantasy team though as a few of my highly priced players failed to perform. Micky van de Ven, Trevoh Chalobah, Tijjani Reijnders and Mohamed Salah were the only players to prove their worth and I have some ground to make up already. It’s still early days though and I’m hoping to climb the rankings gradually over the next few weeks.

Salah was my captain last week and the chances are he will be again this week. I will probably hold off on making any transfers as I look to build them up and use them together next week or the week after.

Friday August 22

West Ham United v Chelsea

8pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London

West Ham lost 3-0 away to newly promoted Sunderland last week and they need to perform an awful lot better if they going to stay clear of the wrong end of the table. They will be looking to get something from their first home game of the season, but they won’t find Chelsea an easy opponent.

Jarrod Bowen is the best of the Chelsea players for fantasy managers while El Hadji Malick Diouf is worth considering too.

Chelsea could only draw 0-0 at home to Palace last week as it looked like their exertions at the Club World Cup have taken their toll. They have a good run of games to start their season though and they will feel confident of getting something from this game after West Ham’s result last week.

Chelsea’s defenders and keeper are all good choices for fantasy managers while Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro can do well too.

I think Chelsea might just have enough to narrowly win this game.

Prediction: 1-2

Saturday August 23

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur

12.30pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester

City strolled to a 4-0 win away to Wolves last week to put them on top of the table early on, but they won’t find Spurs such a pushover. If they’re going to challenge for the title this season this is a game they need to win to show they are contenders.

Erling Haaland and Tijjani Reijnders are both looking like very good options for fantasy managers at the moment with the City defenders and keeper looking good too.

Spurs won 3-0 at home to newly promoted Burnley last week to get their season off to a very good start. This is a very tough game for them, but they have a great run of fixtures after it.

Mohammed Kudus looks like a good choice for fantasy managers with the Spurs defenders possibilities after this game too.

I think City should be strong enough at home to take the three points in this game.

Prediction: 3-1

Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers

3pm BST, Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth

Bournemouth conceded two late goals to lose 4-2 away to Liverpool last week and they will be hoping to fare a lot better in this game. They were strong defensively for most of last season, but their new look defence might take a while to gel.

Antoine Semenyo showed just how good he can be for fantasy managers against Liverpool last week and Evanilson is worth watching too.

Wolves lost 4-0 at home to City last week to leave at the foot of the table early on. They will be hoping to improve on that result quickly and they might have a chance of getting something from this game against that new look Bournemouth defence.

Jorgen Strand Larsen is the Wolves player of most interest to fantasy managers at the moment and there could be others to consider over the next few weeks.

I think Bournemouth showed enough against Liverpool last week to suggest they will win this game.

Prediction: 3-1

Brentford v Aston Villa

3pm BST, Gtech Community Stadium, London

Brentford lost 3-1 away to Forest last week and the signs post Thomas Frank aren’t too good for them early on. They could be about to lose Yoane Wissa after already losing Bryan Mbeumo and Cristian Norgaard which will put them on the back foot early on.

Igor Thiago looks like the Brentford player who could do well for fantasy managers.

Villa drew 0-0 at home to Newcastle last week and they were fairly lucky to get that point. They had a very good season last season, but fell just short of qualifying for the Champions League and maintaining that progress could prove difficult for them.

Despite not doing much last week Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers still look like good options for fantasy managers.

I think Villa will probably just about get the better of a very close game.

Prediction: 1-2

Burnley v Sunderland

3pm BST, Turf Moor, Burnley

Burnley lost 3-0 away to Spurs last week as they found their return to the top flight difficult. A game against one of the other newly promoted clubs might suit them better though and they will be anxious to take the three points.

I’m still not sure if there are any Burnley players to really interest fantasy managers, but they have a lot of cheap defenders and a cheap keeper too who could warm the bench of those looking for value.

Sunderland celebrated their return to the Premier League with a 3-0 win at home to West Ham last week. This game offers them the opportunity to make it two wins out of two and put some real space between them and the wrong end of the table.

Reinildo Mandava, Simon Adingra and Eliezer Mayenda could all potentially do a good job for fantasy managers at the right price.

After last week’s performance I think Sunderland are the more likely to take three very important points in this game.

Prediction: 1-2

Arsenal v Leeds United

5.30pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London 

Arsenal won 1-0 away to United last week despite being far from their best. They should relish a game against a newly promoted team as their first home game of the season and it should give them the opportunity to show how good they can be.

Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyokeres, Declan Rice and the Arsenal defenders and keeper all look like very good choices for fantasy managers.

Leeds returned to the top flight in style last week with a 1-0 win at home to Everton. A trip to Arsenal will be a much tougher proposition for them though and anything they can get from this game would be a huge boost.

Joe Rodon could be a good cut price defender for fantasy managers to consider.

I can’t see anything other than an Arsenal victory in this game.

Prediction: 2-0

Sunday August 24

Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest

2pm BST, Selhurst Park, London 

Palace drew 0-0 away to Chelsea last week and they would have won the game if VAR hadn’t ruled out Eberechi Eze’s free kick goal. Their biggest problem could be keeping the players they have with Eze and Marc Guehi both possibly moving before the window closes.

Jean-Philippe Mateta and Daniel Munoz are good options for fantasy managers along with Eze and Guehi.

Forest won 3-1 at home to Brentford last week to get their season off to a very good start. A trip to Palace will be a tougher challenge for them though and they conceded a lot of goals away from home late on last season.

Chris Wood showed last week that he can still perform for fantasy managers while Elliot Anderson and the Forest defenders are possibilities too.

I think Palace will make home advantage pay with a narrow victory in this game.

Prediction: 2-1

Everton v Brighton And Hove Albion

2pm BST, Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool 

Everton lost 1-0 away to newly promoted Leeds last week and they had very little to offer in that game. Their first game in their new stadium should be a different proposition though and the atmosphere promises to be electric.

James Tarkowski, Iliman Ndiaye and Jordan Pickford could all be worth considering for fantasy managers.

Brighton conceded a goal right at the death to draw 1-1 at home to Fulham last week. They showed enough in that game to suggest they will do well this season, but they probably need to sign a striker soon.

Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter are both good options for fantasy managers while Maxim de Cuyper is a possibility too.

I think this will be a close game with a draw being the most likely outcome.

Prediction: 1-1

Fulham v Manchester United

4.30pm BST, Craven Cottage, London

Fulham scored a very late goal to rescue a point in a 1-1 draw away to Brighton last week. They will have to perform a lot better to get anything out of this game though.

Harry Wilson looks like he just might do well for fantasy managers and he’s available at a good price too.

United lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal last week, but they put in a very good performance at least. They need to turn that performance into points though and they have every chance to do so in this game.

Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha are both looking like they could do well for fantasy managers with Leny Yoro worth considering too.

I think Fulham will make United work hard and might just take a point off them.

Prediction: 1-1

Monday August 25

Newcastle United v Liverpool

8pm BST, St. James’s Park, Newcastle 

Newcastle drew 0-0 away to Villa last week and they probably would have won if Alexander Isak hadn’t refused to play. Liverpool will offer them a much tougher test though and they could struggle without Isak again.

I’m not sure there are any Newcastle players to recommend to fantasy managers in this game, but their fixtures improve after this game which should make Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga good options along with whoever might be their striker at that point.

Liverpool scored two late goals to get their title defence off to a good start in a 4-2 win at home to Bournemouth last week. They have some defensive issues to sort out, but it looks like they will score plenty of goals and that total will only increase if they sign Isak.

Mohamed Salah is still the best choice in the Liverpool team for fantasy managers with Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike very good options too.

I think Newcastle will make a game of it, but Liverpool’s strength up front will prove decisive.

Prediction: 1-2

That’s it for this week.

See you next week.

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek One

 It’s that time of the season again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I had a good season with my predictions last season, but a late drop in form saw me finish in second place in my predictions league. I’ll be hoping to go one better this season.

I had a very good season with my fantasy team too as I finished inside the top 25,000 out of well over 11 million players. I hope to do even better this time out and getting off to a good start can be of enormous benefit towards that goal. I’ll be going with a few of the old reliables again this season as well as a few cut price options to make sure I can have as many premium assets in my squad as possible.

The extra bench boost, triple captain and free hit chips that need to be used before the turn of the year could be very interesting and I will have to think a lot about how and when to use them. I had considered bench boosting in week one to get a good start to the season, but I can’t be sure of who will start for certain just yet so I’ll hold off on it for the moment. I will be going with Mohamed Salah as my captain though and hoping he does as well for me as he did last season.

Friday August 15

Liverpool v Bournemouth 

8pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool 

Liverpool will be looking to defend the title that they won last season and they have invested heavily to strengthen an already very strong squad. It was their strength at home which proved decisive last season and they will be looking to get off to a good start at home this season too.

Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike and the Liverpool defenders and keeper are all looking like very good options for fantasy managers.

Bournemouth have sold most of their defence from last season and it could take them a while to gel together this season. They did very well to finish in the top half of the table last season and that will probably be their goal again this season.

Antoine Semenyo, Justin Kluivert (if he’s fit to play) and Evanilson can all do well for fantasy managers.

I can’t see anything other than a Liverpool victory in this game.

Prediction: 3-1

Saturday August 16

Aston Villa v Newcastle United 

12.30pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham 

Villa just missed out on the Champions League places last season and they will be looking to go one better this season. They have a good run of fixtures to start the season which should make their players very attractive to fantasy managers. 

Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers (if he’s fit to play) are the Villa players to have for fantasy managers with Ezri Konsa and Ian Maatsen good value options in defence too.

Newcastle have had a very bad transfer window so far and they could yet lose Alexander Isak if he gets his way. They qualified for the Champions League ahead of Villa on goal difference last season, but they could struggle to reach those heights if Isak departs.

With Isak looking like an exile for the moment at least Anthony Elanga could be the Newcastle player to watch for fantasy managers.

I think Villa will get the better of what looks like being a close game.

Prediction: 2-1 

Brighton And Hove Albion V Fulham

3pm BST, AMEX Stadium, Brighton 

Brighton had a pretty good season last season when they managed to finish in eighth place, but matching that will probably be the best they can hope for this time. The loss of Joao Pedro could hit them badly and it doesn’t look like they have replaced him yet, but you never know with Brighton’s fantastic recruitment policy.

Danny Welbeck could be the player to profit from Joao Pedro’s sale with Kaoru Mitoma and Maxim de Cuyper worth considering for fantasy managers too.

Fulham finished on top of the bottom half of the table last season and it doesn’t look like they have done much to build on that squad so far. They have some difficult games to start the season and they will want to get something on the board in this game before facing United and Chelsea. 

I’m not sure there are any Fulham players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment, but that could change over the next few weeks.

I think Brighton will get their season off to a good start with a reasonably comfortable victory in this game.

Prediction: 3-1

Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley 

3pm BST, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London 

Spurs made up for an extremely disappointing league campaign last season by winning the Europa League which qualified them for the Champions League. They parted ways with their manager despite that win and they are still trying to build a stronger squad with the season upon them.

Mohammed Kudus and Dominic Solanke could be the best of the Spurs players for fantasy managers while their defence is offering some value too as they have a fairly good run of games to start the season. 

Burnley came second in the Championship last season and they conceded very few goals in the process, but the Premier League is a much tougher proposition. If they are going to have any chance of staying up they will need to build on that strong defence, but scoring goals could be a real problem for them.

Martin Dubravka and Maxine Esteve could offer some real value to fantasy managers if they’re willing to take a risk on Burnley’s defensive assets.

I think Spurs should get their season off to a good start by winning this game with at least a couple of goals to spare.

Prediction: 2-0

Sunderland v West Ham United 

3pm BST, Stadium of Light, Sunderland 

Sunderland managed a surprise victory in the play-off final to win promotion, but holding on to that position will be a huge task for them. They have invested heavily in their squad, but whether those players will have enough to make them competitive is a difficult question to answer at the moment.

Marc Guiu is the Sunderland player to have for fantasy managers at the moment even if it’s just as a reasonably priced option to sit on the bench.

West Ham had a very disappointing season last time out and Graham Potter will have to work some magic to improve on that this season. The transfer window is still open and they probably need to avail of it quickly after losing Mohammed Kudus to Spurs.

Jarrod Bowen is the one dependable asset in the West Ham team for fantasy managers while Aaron Wan-Bissaka is very popular too given his price and performance under Potter last season while El Hadji Malick Diouf could be one to watch.

I think West Ham should have enough in Bowen to take the three points in this game.

Prediction: 1-2

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City 

5.30pm BST, Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton 

Wolves only finished two places above the relegation zone last season, but they still comfortably avoided the drop. They will be hoping to do a lot better this season, but the loss of Matheus Cunha is a real blow for them.

With Cunha gone Jorgen Strand Larsen might just be the Wolves player to have for fantasy managers.

City failed to defend their title last season, but at least a strong finish to the season saw them finish in the top four. They have invested heavily in their squad since the turn of the year and expectations will be high for them to regain the title.

Erling Haaland is the City player to have for fantasy managers with Josko Gvardiol, Rayan AIT-Nouri, Omar Marmoush and Tijjani Reijnders good choices too.

I think City will get their season off to a good start by taking all the points in this game.

Prediction: 1-3

Sunday August 17

Chelsea v Crystal Palace 

2pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London 

Chelsea managed to qualify for the Champions League last season and they then went on to win the Club World Cup. They will be hoping to make a genuine challenge for the title this season, but their players could suffer from having such a small break during the summer.

Joao Pedro seems to be the popular choice for fantasy managers in the Chelsea team with Cole Palmer plus all of their defenders and keeper good options too.

Palace might not have finished in the top half of the table last season, but they managed to win the FA Cup to make it a season to remember. They will hope to do better in the league this season, but they will need to hold on to their best players if that’s going to happen.

Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eberechi Eze, Ismaila Sarr and Daniel Munoz all look like good picks for fantasy managers.

I think Palace will make Chelsea work very hard and I think they will manage to take a point from them.

Prediction: 2-2

Nottingham Forest v Brentford 

2pm BST, City Ground, Nottingham 

Forest were so close to qualifying for the Champions League last season, but they failed right at the end and they could find it difficult to match that performance this season. It’s not going to be easy for them to match that performance, but they have at least managed to hold on to most of last season’s squad.

Chris Woods, Morgan Gibbs-White and all of the Forest defenders and keeper can do very well for fantasy managers.

Brentford managed to finish in the top half of the table last season, but they have lost their top scorer and manager since then. They could struggle to finish that high this season, but I still think they’re too good to get caught up at the wrong end of the table.

Caoimhin Kelleher and Yoane Wissa (if he isn’t sold) are the Brentford players to have for fantasy managers with Thiago a possibility too.

I think this will be a close game with Forest probably making home advantage count.

Prediction: 2-1

Manchester United v Arsenal 

4.30pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester 

United had an incredibly disappointing season last season and losing the Europa League final only made it worse. They have bought a lot of new attacking players, but they have a long way to go to make themselves contenders for a top four place.

Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Benjamin Sesko all have the ability to do well for fantasy managers if United can play well.

Arsenal finished second for the third time in a row last season and the pressure has to be on them to go one better this time out. They are another club to have invested heavily in new players and they will need those players to gel quickly if they are going to challenge Liverpool.

Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyokeres and all of the Arsenal defenders and keeper are very good options for fantasy managers.

I think United will make things difficult, but the chances are Arsenal will win this game.

Prediction: 1-2

Monday August 18

Leeds United v Everton 

8pm BST, Elland Road, Leeds 

Leeds won promotion from the Championship last season and their only goal will be to retain their Premier League status this season. They probably need to get something from this game because their next two games are a lot more difficult.

I’m not sure there are any Leeds players to recommend to fantasy managers just yet, but that could change as the season progresses.

Everton spent a long time fighting relegation last season, but they eventually managed to finish in 13th place. With a new stadium to play in they will be hoping to improve on that and hopefully finish in the top half of the table.

Iliman Ndiaye and James Tarkowski are the Everton players most likely to perform for fantasy managers.

I think this will be a very close game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the spoils shared.

Prediction: 1-1

That’s it for this week.

See you next week.

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 38

It’s that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I had a reasonably good week last week with one perfect prediction, five correct outcomes and four incorrect outcomes which unfortunately saw me marginally lose my place at the top of my predictions league with just one set of games left to play. Here’s a look at how the top five in that league stands.

Rank	Player	Res	Cls	Exa	Slm	Pts
1	Gooners	67	133.5	111	28	339.5
2 1	JamrockRover	59	148.5	105	27	339.5
3 -	nzbuddy	53	130.5	132	24	339.5
4 -	TeeBee	62	133.5	111	25	331.5
5 1	robbieg	61	156	84	27

I didn’t have the greatest week with my fantasy team either as little things went against me such as Bryan Mbeumo missing a penalty, William Saliba going off injured and Alexander Isak not playing. I dropped a little in the overall rankings, but I’m still in a very healthy overall position as we go into the final round of games. On a positive note I managed to win my own fantasy Head to Head league and I’m in a very good position to win two leagues in work which both have cash prizes.

My choice of Ollie Watkins as my captain paid off to a degree as he managed an assist which was at least more than Mohamed Salah scored. I will probably go with Jarrod Bowen as my captain this week as an away game against Ipswich is an attractive fixture, but I’m still not sure at this stage. Transfer wise I will be looking to bring in a Bournemouth or Arsenal player with both of those teams having very attractive fixtures too.

Sunday May 25

All games 4pm BST.

Bournemouth v Leicester City 

Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth 

Bournemouth lost 3-1 away to City last week which saw them drop into the bottom half of the table and they can now finish no higher than ninth. They have only won once in their last seven home games and they lost five of those games, but only Liverpool and Forest have conceded less goals on their own ground. They have only won twice in their last 12 games, but they couldn’t ask for a better home fixture to finish the season.

Antoine Semenyo, Evanilson and Milos Kerkez are the Bournemouth players who could do very well for fantasy managers in this game.

Leicester won 2-0 at home to Ipswich last week and that win moved them up to third from last in the table, but their relegation was confirmed a long time ago. They have only taken two points from their last seven away games with no other team conceding more goals on the road. They have taken seven points and scored six goals in their last three games since they were relegated, but two of those games were against the two teams below them with only Southampton conceding more goals.

I can’t see any Leicester players to recommend to fantasy managers in their final game.

I can’t see anything other than a comfortable Bournemouth victory in this game.

Prediction: 3-0

Fulham v Manchester City 

Craven Cottage, London 

Fulham came from behind to win 3–2 away to Brentford last week and that win moved them into the top half of the table. They have lost their last two home games and they conceded five goals in those games and Forest are the only team in the top half of the table to have scored less goals on their own patch. They have lost four of their last six games which has cost them their chance of European football and no other team in the top half of the table has scored less goals.

Raul Jiminez is probably the Fulham player most likely to do well for fantasy managers in this game.

City won 3-1 at home to Bournemouth last week to move into third place and they will definitely qualify for the Champions League if they don’t lose this game. They have taken five points from their last three away games and they kept clean sheets in each of those games, but it’s their away form which has cost them the defence of their title. They are unbeaten in nine games and they kept clean sheets in five of those games with only Liverpool scoring more goals.

Kevin de Bruyne is probably the City player to have for fantasy managers as he plays his last game for the club.

I think this will be a close game with a draw being the most likely outcome.

Prediction: 2-2

Ipswich Town v West Ham United 

Portman Road, Ipswich 

Ipswich lost 2-0 away to Leicester last week and that defeat saw them drop to second last in the table with their fate decided a long time ago. They have lost their last eight home games with only Southampton scoring less and conceding more goals on their own ground. They have only taken two points from their last seven games and they conceded 16 goals in those games with only Southampton conceding more goals.

I can’t see any Ipswich players to interest fantasy managers.

West Ham lost 2-1 at home to Forest last week, but they managed to hold on to 15th as the two teams directly below them both lost. They won their last away game after losing the previous three, but only three other teams have scored less goals on the road. They have only won once in their last 10 games as their change of management didn’t seem to have the desired effect.

Jarrod Bowen is the West Ham player who can do very well for fantasy managers this week.

I think Ipswich will make a game of it, but West Ham will take the three points.

Prediction: 1-2

Liverpool v Crystal Palace 

Anfield, Liverpool 

Liverpool lost 3-2 away to Brighton last week after twice taking the lead as their form since securing the title has fallen off. They have taken 22 points from their last eight home games with no other team conceding less goals on their own patch and only City scoring more. They haven’t won in three games since winning the league and they conceded eight goals in those games, but no other team has scored more goals and only Arsenal have conceded less.

Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz should be good options for fantasy managers in Liverpool’s last home game of the season.

Palace won 4-2 at home to Wolves last week as they celebrated winning the FA Cup and they can still finish in the top half of the table if they win this game and other results go their way. They have taken four points from their last two away games after heavily losing the previous two with only four other teams conceding less goals on their travels. They are unbeaten in five games and they scored nine goals in those games, but this could be a tough game for them.

Eberechi Eze is the Palace player most likely to do well for fantasy managers in this game.

I think Liverpool will celebrate their title win by taking all the points in this game.

Prediction: 2-1

Manchester United v Aston Villa

Old Trafford, Manchester 

United lost 1-0 away to Chelsea last week to leave them two places above the relegated teams and their chance to save their season ended in disappointment when they lost the Europa League final on Wednesday night. They have only taken one point in their last three home games and they failed to score in each of those games with only the bottom three scoring less goals on their own ground. They have only taken two points from their last eight games and they failed to score in five of those games with only four other teams scoring less goals.

I can’t see any United players who might do well for fantasy managers in this game.

Villa won 2-0 at home to Spurs last week to keep their Champions League hopes alive, but they have to win this game as well as hoping other results go their way to qualify. They have won four of their last five away games and they kept clean sheets in each of those wins. They have won eight of their last nine games and they kept clean sheets in six of those games, but Fulham are the only team in the top half of the table to have scored less goals.

Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers are the Villa players to have for fantasy managers in this game.

I think Villa will get the win they need in this game, but it might not be enough for them.

Prediction: 1-2

Newcastle United v Everton

St. James’s Park, Newcastle 

Newcastle lost 1-0 away to Arsenal last week, but they kept their place in the top four and they will qualify for the Champions League if they win this game. They have won their last five home games and they scored 16 goals in those games with only City and Liverpool scoring more goals on their own patch. They have only taken seven points from their last five games, but they will be confident of getting the win they need in this game.

If he’s fit to play Alexander Isak is the best bet in the Newcastle team for fantasy managers with Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes plus their defenders and keeper good options too.

Everton won 2-0 at home to Southampton last week in an emotional farewell to Goodison Park and that win means they will finish the season in 13th place. They have won two of their last three away games with only Southampton scoring less goals on their travels, but only Arsenal conceding less. They have taken seven points from their last three games after only winning once in the previous nine with only the three relegated teams scoring less goals.

I don’t think we’ll see enough from any Everton players in this game for them to be of interest to fantasy managers.

I think Newcastle will get the win they need to dine at the top table next season.

Prediction: 3-0

Nottingham Forest v Chelsea 

City Ground, Nottingham 

Forest won 2-1 away to West Ham last week to stay in the hunt for a Champions League place, but they need to win this game and hope Villa or Newcastle don’t win their games. They have only taken one point from their last three home games, but no other team has conceded less goals on their own ground. The win against West Ham kept their chances alive, but it was only their second win in seven games.

If Forest are going to get the win they need Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Elanga and Chris Wood are all possibilities for fantasy managers.

Chelsea won 1-0 at home to United last week and they will qualify for the Champions League if they win this game and they could even do so if they lose depending on other results. They have only won once in their last 10 away games and they only scored five goals in those games. They have won four of their last five games and they have to win this game to make sure of that Champions League spot.

I’m not sure which Chelsea players can return points for fantasy managers with the way they have played away from home for the past few months.

This is a game which could go either way with both sides needing to win and the chances are the spoils will be shared.

Prediction: 1-1

Southampton v Arsenal 

St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton 

Southampton lost 2-0 away to Everton last week and they have been confirmed to finish at the foot of the table for what seems like a long time. They have only taken two points from their last 13 home games with no other team scoring less or conceding more goals on their own patch. They have only taken three points from their last 13 games with no other team scoring less or conceding more goals.

I can’t see any Southampton players to recommend to fantasy managers.

Arsenal won 1-0 at home to Newcastle last week and they should finish second even if they lose this game. They are unbeaten in their last 13 away games, but they drew seven of them with no other team drawing more games or conceding less goals on their travels. The win against Newcastle was only their second win in seven games, but they drew four of them with only Everton drawing more games and no other team conceding less goals.

Almost all of the Arsenal players can have a good game for fantasy managers in this game.

I can’t see anything other than a good win for Arsenal in this game.

Prediction: 0-3

Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton And Hove Albion

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London 

Spurs lost 2-0 away to Villa last week and they’re only one place above the relegated teams, but they saved their season by winning the Europa League on Wednesday night. They have only won once in their last five home games with only five other teams conceding more goals on their own ground. They have only won once in their last 11 games and they conceded 23 goals in those games, but no other team in the bottom half of the table has scored more goals.

Despite winning a trophy on Wednesday night I don’t think we will see enough from Spurs players in this game to interest fantasy managers.

Brighton came from behind to win 3-2 at home to Liverpool last week and they will definitely finish in eighth place if they don’t lose this game. They won their last away game after only taking one point from the previous three with no other team in the top half of the table conceding more goals on the road. They have taken 10 points and scored nine goals from their last four games to make themselves very strong favourites to finish eighth.

Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck are the Brighton players who could impress for fantasy managers in this game.

I think Brighton will inflict Spurs 22nd league defeat of the season on them in a fairly close game.

Prediction: 1-2

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brentford 

Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton 

Wolves lost 4-2 away to Palace last week, but they held on to 14th place as the three teams directly below them lost too. They lost their last home game after winning the previous three with only five other teams conceding more goals on their own patch. They have lost their last three games after winning the previous six and they conceded seven goals in those defeats with only the three relegated teams conceding more goals.

Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen are the Wolves players to have for fantasy managers in this game.

Brentford lost 3-2 at home to Fulham last week after leading 2-1 and they can still finish in eighth place if they win this game and Brighton lose. They have taken 23 points from their last 10 away games and they scored 19 goals in those games with only Arsenal conceding less goals on their travels. They had won four games in a row before losing to Fulham and they have scored 13 goals in their last five games with only the top four scoring more goals.

Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa are the Brentford players who can do well for fantasy managers in this game with Kevin Schade a possibility too.

I think this will be a close game and the most likely outcome is a draw.

Prediction: 2-2

That’s it for this season.

See you next season.