I still have a long way to go to catch the early pace setter, but at least I'm now heading in the right direction. Here's a look at how my predictions league stands.
| Pos | Name | Week | Total | ||
| 1 | ahujag | 70 | 565 | ||
| 2 | JamrockRover | 125 | 435 | ||
| 3 | gooner2194 | 45 | 375 | ||
| 4 | Smashit_Tuckit | 95 | 360 | ||
| 5 | lubu722 | 110 | 325 | ||
| 6 | Bradley08 | 65 | 295 | ||
| 7 | DK1247 | 10 | 285 | ||
| 8 | NickHemmings | 35 | 285 | ||
| 9 | nawa87 | 30 | 285 | ||
| 10 | RADOK1993 | 50 | 265 |
Liverpool Vs. Manchester UnitedSaturday October 15, 12.45BST
Liverpool have been impressive at times so far this season, but they still have a lot to prove. A win in this game would leave them only three points behind United, but it won't be an easy task for them. This is a huge game for their fans, and the they will be right behind the team from the very start.
From a fantasy perspective Jose Enrique, Charlie Adam and Luis Suarez are the best bets in the Liverpool team, but Adam's chances could be limited with Steven Gerrard back in the picture.
United have taken 19 points from their first seven league games, and they have looked very impressive at times. Their defence hasn't looked too good without Nemanja Vidic though, and they could find themselves under a lot of pressure in this game. If they can get enough possession on the break they could run the Liverpool defence ragged at times.
It's hard to decide which United players to choose in any fantasy team, but a successful team will need to have some of their attacking players in it. There's a lot to choose from, but Wayne Rooney and Nani look to be certainties at the moment.
I think it will be a very close game with both teams having plenty of chances, and it will end in a draw.
Prediction: 2-2
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Manchester City Vs. Aston VillaSaturday October 15, 3pm BST.
City have scored nine goals and conceded none in their three home league games so far this season. They have looked very impressive going forward, but their defence has leaked a few goals on the road. A win in this game could see them go to the top of the table if United fail to beat Liverpool earlier in the day.
Sergio Aguero is a certainty for any fantasy manager, but he only has a 50% chance of being fit to play. With Carlos Tevez in the bad books it could leave the way open for Eden Dzeko and David Silva to get the goals they need to go top. Any City defenders look to be a good bet when they are playing at home too.
Villa are still unbeaten in the league so far this season, but they have drawn all three of their away games. Anything other than a defeat in this game would be a great result for them, but it will be a long hard day if they are to achieve it.
The stand out Villa player so far has been Gabriel Agbonlahor, and he looks to be a very good fantasy buy at the moment.
I can't see anything other than a City victory, and it could well be a big enough win to see them go top of the league no matter what the result of the United game is.
Prediction: 2-0
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Norwich City Vs. Swansea CitySaturday October 15, 3pm BST
Norwich have looked very good at times since their promotion, and this is a real opportunity for them to progress even further up the table. They have looked far from outclassed in their trips to both Chelsea and United, and they have a real chance of staying up this season. THey have a great work ethic, and play together as a team should do.
It's still very difficult to single out any Norwich player to choose for a fantasy team.
Swansea find themselves in the top half of the table despite having lost all three of their away games so far. Their biggest problem has been scoring goals, as their defence looks very good and they still haven't conceded a home goal this season. Like Norwich their aim is to stay up this season, and their start has given them every chance of doing just that.
Swansea keeper Michel Vorm is a good fantasy bet when they are at home, and there are plenty of other reasonabaly priced defenders in their team to choose from. In midfield Scott Sinclair looks like he might be capable of racking up quite a few points this season.
I think Norwich will get the upper hand in this game, as Swansea are finding it hard to score on their travels.
Prediction: 2-0
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Queens Park Rangers Vs. Blackburn RoversSaturday October 15, 3pm BST
QPR had started their season quite well after their promotion, but their 6-0 defeat to Fulham in their last game was a real blow. They're still in a good position in the table, but they need to get things back on track as soon as possible. They haven't done too well in their home games so far with only one point and one goal in three games.
Joey Barton still looks like the QPR player most likely to make an impression in any fantasy team.
Blackburn are second last in the table and they have conceded 17 goals in their first seven goals. Steve Kean is under real pressure at the moment, and he needs his players to start getting results very soon. If they don't sort out their defensive problems they will have a long hard fight against relegation.
Blackburn's players are all under performing so far this season, but Junior Hoilett still looks capable of making an impact.
Prediction: 2-1
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Stoke City Vs. FulhamSaturday October 15, 3pm BST
Stoke's good start has gone a little off course with only one point in their last three league games. They have being finding the going a little tough, as they have being playing on Thursday nights in the Europa League too. Their home form is still good though, and they have to be favourites to win this game.
Asmir Begovic is the Stoke player most likely to succeed in any fantasy team with Jonathan Walters as an outside bet.
Fulham's slow start to the season was turned on it's head the last time out when they beat QPR 6-0. They have had a very poor away record over the last few seasons in the Premier League though, and they need to change that. Like Stoke they have had busy Thursday nights playing in Europe's second line competition.
Both Danny Murphy and Clint Dempsey are performing well in Fulham's midfield so far. Andy Johnson did really well in their last game, but Bobby Zamora still looks a better bet in the long run.
I think Stoke will win a low scoring game, but it will be far from pretty.
Prediction: 1-0
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Wigan Athletic Vs. Bolton WanderersSaturday October 15, 3pm BST
Wigan started the season by taking five points from the three newly promoted teams, but they have lost their last four games since then. The inability to score goals has plagued them for the last few seasons, and it looks likely to be their achilles heel yet again. They have the home advantage though, and they have to make it count against the current bottom team in the table.
Wigan keeper Ali Al-Habsi is not a bad fantasy buy, and Franco Di Santo is their only other player looking likely to do well so far this season.
Bolton have had a tough start to the season with games against all of the main contenders for the title. Those games didn't go too well for them, and they're currently on the bottom of the table with only three points. The 21 goals they conceded in the first seven games are a real worry for them, and they have to tighten up at the back.
Martin Petrov has had a good start for Bolton, and Ivan Klasnic is now back from suspension and he could add to his four league goals in the first five games.
I think this game could see a few goals in it, and it will end up with the spoils shared.
Prediction: 2-2
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Chelsea Vs. Everton Saturday October 15, 5.30pm BST
Chelsea are only three points off the top of the league, and they have a real chance to close that gap over the next few weeks. United have a tough game against Liverpool this week, and then they play City next week. If Chelsea can win both games they will be right up there competing for the top spot despite their defensive problems so far this season.
Jose Bosingwa looks to be the Chelsea defender most likely to score fantasy point, and Ramires has had a good start in midfield too. Frank Lampard silenced his critics in their last game with a hat-trick, but he may not get to play often enough to play in any fantasy team. It's tough to know which Chelsea striker is a good fantasy bet at the moment, and it might be better to wait until they have settled on a first choice.
Everton were on the wrong side of a very poor refereeing decision in their defeat to Liverpool on their last outing. They have looked very good so far this season, but they are still having problems scoring goals. If they had been able to afford a new striker in the summer they might havew much better prospects this season.
At the moment there are no Everton players excelling in the fantasy stakes, but the whole team are playing very well as a unit.
I think Everton will make a good game of it, but Chelsea's superior firepower will win them the game.
Prediction: 2-1
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SUNDAY
West Bromwich Albion Vs. Wolverhampton WanderersSunday October 16, 12.00pm BST
West Brom are only just outside the relegation zone after a tough start to the season, but they need to start stringing some results together very soon. They haven't won at home yet, and their only home goal was in their first game against United. They will see this as a real chance to get their first home win though, and get one up on their local rivals too.
Shane Long is still West Brom's best performing fantasy player so far this season, but his rate of scoring has slowed down.
Wolves started the season really well, but defeats in their last four league games have seen them slide down the table. They need to stop that run s soon as possible, or they will spend another season fighting relegation. They look good enough to finish in mid-table, but they need to back up their promise with results.
Matt Jarvis is still their best fantasy bet, but as long as they are losing games there are few fantasy points to be won in their team.
I think West Brom have just enough to get the win they need.
Prediction: 2-1
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Arsenal Vs. Sunderland Sunday October 16, 1.30pm BST
This is a really big game for an Arsenal team that have been far from impressive in the Premier League so far this season. If they are going to make their way back towards challenging for fourth place they simply have to beat Sunderland. Their list of injured stars is a real hindrance at the moment, but they still have enough good players to get the result they need.
Arsenal defenders should still be avoided for fantasy managers, but Mikael Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Robin Van Persie are look capable of getting plenty of fantasy points.
Sunderland are one of the few teams below Arsenal in the league, and they have had a poor start to the new season too. They will be without Nicklas Bendtner for this game, as he is on loan from Arsenal to them. Their striking options will be limited without Bendtner, and their defence hasn't looked too good so far this season.
Seb Larsson is by far the best bet of the Sunderland players, and Bendtner is promising too when he is available again.
I think Arsenal should win this game, but I will be surprised if they keep a clean sheet.
Prediction: 3-1
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Newcastle United Vs. Tottenham HotspurSunday October 16, 3pm BST
Newcastle are still unbeaten in the Premier League so far this season, and they're sitting pretty in fourth place. They have conceded less goals than any other team in the league so far this season, but they have had luck on their side on a few occasions. They have defended very well as a unit so far, and they will make things very tough for Spurs.
At the moment Tim Krul, Steven Taylor and Ryan Taylor are all looking good defensively for Newcastle with Jonas Guitterez performing well in midfield. It's a straight choice between Demba Ba and Leon Best up front for Newcastle, but it's tough to know which one to choose.
Spurs looked to be in a lot of trouble after losing their first two games and conceding eight goals in the process, but they have managed to turn things around. They have won their four league games since then, and they are sixth in the table with a game in hand. A win against Newcastle would be a great result for them in their quest to make it through to the Champions League for next season.
I still think Spurs defenders should be avoided, but Rafael Van Der Vaart, Luka Modric and Emmanuel Adebayor are all looking good in attacking roles at the moment.
I think this should be a very tight game, and it will end up with the spoils shared.
Prediction: 1-1
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That's it for today.
As always feel free to tell me where I have gone right or wrong as the case may be.
It's not too late to join over 900 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.
Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, tumblr and Facebook too.
I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook which you can join here.
See You Tomorrow.
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