There were quite a few unexpected results last week with all of the promoted teams winning, and Liverpool and Arsenal both losing whilst conceding four goals. The big winners were Manchester United as they beat Chelsea to maintain their 100% record, and move two points clear of second placed Manchester City.
Here's a look at how my predictions league stands.
| Pos | Name | Week | Total | |
| 1 | ahujag | -45 | 345 | |
| 2 | gooner2194 | -40 | 200 | |
| 3 | Bradley08 | -40 | 195 | |
| 4 | DK1247 | -15 | 195 | |
| 5 | JamrockRover | 15 | 190 | |
| 6 | NickHemmings | -80 | 190 | |
| 7 | nawa87 | -10 | 180 | |
| 8 | Sofire | -100 | 165 | |
| 9 | Smashit_Tuckit | -55 | 155 | |
| 10 | lubu722 | -35 | 140 |
Manchester City Vs. Everton
Saturday September 24, 12.45pm BST
Manchester City have had a very good start to the season with 13 points from their first five league games. They were two up at Fulham last week, but were pegged back and their Champions League schedule could have an impact on their title challenge. Their home form has been perfect so far with two wins out of two and seven goals scored with none conceded.
Both David Silva and Sergio Aguero are setting the Premier League alight at the moment, but there is a possibility Aguero will be rested ahead of the Champions League trip to Bayern Munich.
Everton didn't play in the first week of the season and they lost their first game in week two, but since then they have picked up seven points in three games. They usually start off their Premier League campaign poorly and improve, but with a good start a top six finish is a real possibility. A trip to City won't be easy for them, but they won't make it easy for City either.
It's difficult to pick any attacking Everton players at the moment but defensively Tim Howard, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka are all doing pretty well.
I think Everton will give City a run for their money, but their lack of firepower will let them down and City will take all three points.
Prediction 2-0
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Arsenal Vs. Bolton Wanderers
Saturday September 24, 3pm BST
Arsenal are 17th in the league table and, it's their worst start in 58 years apparently. They also suffered their worst defeat in over 100 years when they lost 8-2 to Manchester United a few weeks ago, and it doesn't make pretty reading for Arsenal fans. Their squad went through huge changes in the summer and it seems the players are still adjusting, but they are good enough to turn things around.
At the moment Arsenal's defenders should be avoided like the plague, but Mikael Arteta looks to be a good buy at his current price.
Bolton are in the middle of a very tough run in the league, but they had a supposedly easier game last week and lost at home to Norwich. With Chelsea to play next week they could find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table if they don't get some sort of result from this game. Their defence has only conceded one goal less than Arsenal's and that statistic could well be reversed after this game.
At the moment Martin Petrov is the best Bolton player to choose, as Ivan Klasnic is serving a three game ban
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I think Arsenal will get things back on track with a good win, and pile even more misery on Bolton.
Prediction 4-1
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Chelsea Vs. Swansea City
Saturday September 24, 3pm BST
Chelsea were well beaten in the end by Manchester United last week, but they did create plenty of chances against the champions. They are still capable of scoring plenty of goals, but their defence is looking a lot weaker than it has been in a number of years. They will value this opportunity to put some pressure on the two Manchester clubs who are ahead of them in table.
Despite Chelsea's defensive weaknesses both John Terry and Jose Boswinga are raking up fantasy points, as is Frank Lampard despite being well past his best.
Swansea scored their first Premier League goals last week, and it brought them three points against West Brom. It also moved them out of the relegation zone, and if they can continue that goalscoring form they have a chance of staying up. Their defence has been very solid since they let in four goals on the opening day of the season against Manchester City.
The best bet from the Swansea team for any fantasy manager has to be their goalkeeper Michel Vorm, but if their defence remains solid there is a lot of value to be had in it.
I think Chelsea will have too much attacking power for Swansea, and they will run out comfortable winners.
Prediction 3-0
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Liverpool Vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Saturday September 24, 3pm BST
Liverpool's good start to their league campaign has gone by the wayside with successive defeats and five goals conceded in their last two games. I haven't been overly impressed by them since Kenny Dalglish took over, and they could find their attempt to finish in the top four a very tough struggle. Jamie Carragher looks to have passed his best, and their defence as a whole looks a little shaky too.
Charlie Adam is still the Liverpool player most likely to deliver fantasy points, but that might change with Steven Gerrard back in the team.
Wolves are in a similar situation to Liverpool, as they have lost their last two games without scoring after a good start to the season. Their expectations are a lot lower than Liverpool's though, and they will be happy to finish somewhere in the middle of the table. They were very poor on their travels last season, but they look a little better away from home this time around.
Matt Jarvis is still the Wolves player most likely to deliver fantasy points.
I think Liverpool will get back on track with a win, but Wolves won't make it easy for them.
Prediction 3-1
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Newcastle United Vs. Blackburn Rovers
Saturday September 24, 3pm BST
Newcastle are in the top four and unbeaten after five games, with only two goals conceded. Their problems are in their ability to score, but Leon Best looks like he might be the man to cure that problem. They look to be punching well above their weight at the moment, but as long as their defence remains solid they will have a relatively good season.
Take your choice from Tim Krul, Steven Taylor or Roger Taylor in defence for Newcastle, but Leon Best is also available at a very good price.
Blackburn got themselves off the bottom of the table with a 4-3 win over Arsenal last week, after twice going behind. It helped to ease the pressure on their manager, but his problems could be far from over as the season progresses. I still think they will struggle, and he could possibly be the first managerial casualty of the season.
Before the season started I liked the look of Junior Hoilett, and I think he might still come good for them.
I think Newcastle will manage another narrow victory to maintain their current top four status.
Prediction 2-1
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West Bromwich Albion Vs. Fulham
Saturday September 24, 3pm BST
West Brom had some tough games to start their season, but they came back with a win away to Norwich two weeks ago. Their 3-0 defeat to Swansea last week was a major setback for them, and it has left them propping up the league table. They will be looking to take all three points from a Fulham team who don't travel well.
Shane Long started the season off in great form, but he hasn't scored in the last three games for West Brom and there aren't too many other candidates from their team.
Fulham have yet to win a game this season, and they have lost both of their away games so far. If they lose this game they will be rooted to the foot of the table, and Martin Jol will start to feel some pressure. I think their team is good enough to finish a lot higher, but they need to start putting points on the board.
At the moment Danny Murphy is the their best point scorer, but both Clint Dempsy and Bobby Zamora look likely to do well too.
I think West Brom just just about win a very close game.
Prediction 2-1
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Wigan Athletic Vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday September 24, 3pm BST
Wigan started well with five points against the three newly promoted teams, but since then they have lost twice and conceded six goals. They have found it difficult to score goals for the last few seasons, and it has meant they have struggled. They will need to score a couple of goals to get anything out of this game, and I can't see it happening.
Ali Al-Habsi is again raking up points in goal for Wigan, and Franco Di Santo is doing very well up front for them, but I don't know how long it will continue.
Spurs had two bad defeats to start the season, but they have come back with two good wins in their last two games. Holding on to Luka Modric looks like it could be of real benefit to them, as does the addition of Emmanuel Adebayor for now. His track record at other clubs would suggest it's only a honeymoon period though, and things will probably go wrong at some stage.
From a fantasy perspective Modric and Adebayor currently look to be good buys, as does Jermaine Defoe. Rafael Van Der Vaart is back from injury too, and he can be a great asset to any fantasy team.
I think Spurs superior fire power will tell, and they will emerge with a narrow victory.
Prediction 1-2
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Stoke City Vs. Manchester United
Saturday September 24, 5.30pm BST
Stoke's great start to the season came to an abrupt end when Sunderland beat them 4-0 last week. They are trying to cope with the Premier League as well as Europa League football, and it's not an easy task for any team to manage. They have got a very good home record though, and this could be United's toughest league test so far this season.
From a fantasy perspective Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has had a great start to the season, and Jonathan Walters looks like a good buy too.
United have a 100% record in defence of their Premier League title so far, and they have looked really good so far. They have scored 21 goals in five league games, and their attacking options seem endless. I'm still not convinced by their defence though, but they are scoring so easily that hardly seems relevant.
Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young are both racking up loads of points, and Nani is following closely behind them. David de Gea has loads of points too, but I'm still not convinced by him. Javier Hernadez has looked good since returning from injury and he can't be ignored either.
I think United will have far too much for Stoke to cope with, and will emerge with all three points yet again.
Prediction 1-3
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Queens Park Rangers Vs. Aston Villa
Sunday September 25, 4pm BST
QPR look to be the most likely of the three promoted clubs to flourish in the Premier League, and the players they added late in the transfer window have helped their cause. They haven't managed to score in their two home games so far this season, but they will be looking to put that right in this game. Their whole squad looks strong enough to finish mid-table, but they could still do with a goalscorer.
Joey Barton always performs well, and he would probably be the best fantasy bet in the QPR team.
Villa are unbeaten in their five Premier League games so far this season, but they have drawn four of them. A few wins wouldn't go astray to add to all the draws, but anything that is unbeaten must have some degree of confidence. This could be a tough game for them, and they will do well to keep their unbeaten run.
Gabriel Agbonlahor is Villa's stand out player so far, but he has been ably supported by Stiliyan Petrov and Darren Bent.
I think Villa will keep their unbeaten record by getting their fifth draw of the season.
Prediction 2-2
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Norwich City Vs. Sunderland
Monday September 26, 8pm BST
Norwich had played very well in their first four games with very little reward until they won 2-1 away to Bolton last week. They try to play football the right way, but at times they have a lack of real class at this level. They might stay in the Premier League, but it won't be easy for them.
At the moment it's hard to see any Norwich players that are scoring enough fantasy points to consider buying.
Sunderland's poor start to the season came to a sudden end last week when they beat Stoke 4-0. Seb Larsson was the star of the show for them, and his contribution could be very important for them this season. They will see this as a game they can take three points from if they can play as well as they did last week.
Larsson is the outstanding Sunderland player so far this season, but Nicklas Bendtner could possibly benefit from his ball delivery too.
I can see this game ending in a draw.
Prediction 1-1
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That's it for this week's predictions, but feel free to tell me where I have gone wrong or right as the case might be.
It's not too late to join over 850 teams in my Fantasy League and there are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.
To join the predictions league just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.
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See You Tomorrow.
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