Thankfully the Premier League is back again after yet another international break, and it's plain sailing from here until the end of the season. There's still 27 rounds of games to go, and plenty of points to be won and lost.
I've being running a predictions league for the second season in a row, and I slipped back to seventh place after last week's results. The league has a new leader after one player managed to score 190 points with his gameweek 11 predictions. Here's a look at how my predictions league stands.
| Pos | Name | Week | Total |
| 1 | b_red_devils | 190 | 815 |
| 2 | ahujag | 35 | 710 |
| 3 | gooner2194 | 115 | 615 |
| 4 | Smashit_Tuckit | 50 | 585 |
| 5 | GGooner | 85 | 575 |
| 6 | nitin004 | 130 | 545 |
| 7 | JamrockRover | 55 | 540 |
| 8 | lubu722 | 70 | 485 |
| 9 | NickHemmings | 140 | 465 |
| 10 | DK1247 | 45 | 455 |
Norwich City Vs. ArsenalSaturday November 19, 12.45p.m., BST
Norwich have looked very good since their return to the Premier League, and they have only failed to score on two occasions so far this season. However, they have also failed to keep any clean sheets so far which means they have had to score at least twice to win any game. They will see the Arsenal defence as vulnerable, but if they attack Arsenal too much it could cost them dearly.
Anthony Pilkington still appears to be the very best bet of any of the Norwich players for any fantasy manager.
Arsenal have won four Premier League games in a row for the first time since March 2010, and they will be looking to build on that momentum. With four of the teams above them playing each other this week Arsenal will also be looking to move up the table. Only one team has scored more away goals in the league than Arsenal, but no team has conceded more than them which could make for an entertaining game.
Robin Van Persie is an absolute must for any fantasy manager at the moment.
I think Arsenal will have too much firepower for Norwich, and they will win their fifth league game in a row.
Prediction: 1-3
Everton Vs. Wolverhampton WanderersSaturday November 19, 3p.m., BST
Everton have looked good at times so far this season, but they have now dropped to only one place above the relegation zone. They have lost some very close games, and they need to start winning those games to move back up the table. Their biggest problem still remains their inability to score enough goals, and if they can't start scoring more often their season will be no more than a battle against the drop.
Royston Drenthe has done quite well since arriving at the end of the transfer window, and he looks to be the best bet at Everton for any fantasy manager.
Wolves managed to move out of the drop zone by beating the bottom club in their last game, but they still look like they might struggle this season. They started well, but things have gone wrong since then, and I'm not sure that they have enough to steer clear of the bottom three. They're not scoring many goals either, and they have only scored four times in five away games so far.
I still don't think any Wolves players are setting the world alight, but Stephen Ward is performing well enough to consider as a cheap alternative in any fantasy team.
I think Everton will have enough to beat Wolves, and get themselves into a safer position for the moment at least.
Prediction: 2-0
Manchester City Vs. Newcastle UnitedSaturday November 19, 3p.m., BST
City are five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they have a 100 percent record at home so far. They are breaking records for goals scored in the league, and it's very hard to see who will stop them at this stage. They have had relatively few injury problems so far this season though, and things might change if their luck with injuries changes.
The list of City players that any fantasy manager should have in their team is huge, but David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Eden Dzeko look to be the best bets.
Newcastle have exceeded all expectations so far this season, and they remain unbeaten in the Premier League after 11 games. They have conceded fewer goals than any other team so far this season, but they will have to be at their defensive best to maintain that record after this game. They will have their work cut out to get anything from this game.
Newcastle have over performed so far and that means Steven Taylor, Ryan Taylor, Tim Krul and Demba Ba have been excellent fantasy points winners. Their upcoming games might change that, and it might possibly be a good time to sell Newcastle players.
I can't see Newcastle having enough to get anything out of this game, but it would be great for them and the league if they did.
Prediction: 3-1
Stoke City Vs. Queens Park RangersSaturday November 19, 3p.m., BST
Stoke have found it hard to compete in Europe as well as the Premier League this season, and they have suffered after Europa League games in particular. They are second lowest scorers in the league, and their usually strong defence has been found wanting on a few occasions. They are still very hard to beat at home though which should make them favourites to win this game.
Both Asmir Begovic and Jonathan Walters are by far the best fantasy buys of any of the Stoke players so far this season.
QPR were a little lucky to lose to Manchester City in their last game, and they showed some signs that they might have enough to stay in the Premier League. Their problem is still their inability to score goals, and that might not change until they can sign a new striker in the January transfer window.
It's not easy to recommend any QPR players for a fantasy team, but Anton Ferdinand has probably been their best performer so far with Paddy Kenny not too far behind him.
I think Stoke's strength and style of play at home should be enough for them to take all three points.
Prediction 2-0
Sunderland Vs. Fulham Saturday November 19, 3p.m., BST
Sunderland are only a point above the relegation zone with only two wins in their 11 Premier League games so far. They brought in a lot of players in the transfer window, and it's still unclear whether those players will make the team any better than it was last season. If they continue to struggle the pressure on Steve Bruce is bound to grow even more.
Seb Larsson is Sunderland's outstanding fantasy performer so far, but he is suspended for this game.
Fulham are in a similar position to Sunderland in the league, and yet again they are struggling away from home. They did win their last away game against bottom club Wigan, but they have only managed three goals in five away games. Two of those goals were against Wigan, and they need to start scoring more often away from home.
Clint Dempsey is yet again emerging as Fulham's best fantasy player, and Mark Schwarzer isn't doing too badly either.
I have a feeling that Sunderland will struggle to score without Larsson, and Fulham might just sneak a point.
Prediction: 1-1
West Bromwich Albion Vs. Bolton WanderersSaturday November 19, 3p.m., BST
West Brom are another team struggling near the wrong end of the table, and their home form is the reason for their current troubles. They are the lowest scorers at home in the Premier League so far this season, and yet again it's an issue which they need to address. The injury to Shane Long is a blow to them after he had looked so good in their early games, and I think they will climb the table when he returns to the team.
Chris Brunt is probably the West Brom player most likely to gain fantasy points at the moment.
Bolton eventually managed their first home points of the season by beating Stoke 5-0 in their last game, but they're still in the relegation zone. They have managed two wins and nine goals in their five away games though, and that might just give them some belief for this game.
Both Chris Eagles and Ivan Klasnic look like the best bets of all the Bolton players, and they're both available at a very good price.
West Brom have only drawn two games so far this season, and Bolton haven't drawn any games which leads me to believe this game might end in a draw.
Prediction: 2-2
Wigan Athletic Vs. Blackburn RoversSaturday November 19, 3p.m., BST
Wigan have now lost eight Premier League games in a row, and it's hard to see when that run might end. They are a good team to watch, but they don't score enough goals and their defence is error prone too. That combination is a recipe for disaster, but if they are going to turn things around surely a home game against the team directly above is the ideal opportunity.
Ali Al-Habsi is still by far the best fantasy bet of all the Wigan players.
Blackburn are only a point above Wigan with one Premier League win so far, but they have shown some encouraging signs recently. They have been unlucky in recent games, and if they get a little bit of luck I think they might just be able to climb the table. They need to win away to the only team below them though if they are going to get anywhere near the teams directly above them.
Junior Hoilett is beginning to show the form I expected to see from him this season, and he looks like he could be a good fantasy buy.
I think Blackburn might just about shade a real relegation six pointer.
Prediction: 1-2
Swansea City Vs. Manchester United Saturday November 19, 5.30p.m., BST
Swansea have been great to watch since their promotion from the Championship last summer, and they fully deserve all the plaudits they are receiving. They are unbeaten at home, and they have only conceded one goal in their five home games so far. This will be a really big test for them though, but I'm sure they will give it a go.
Swansea's good defensive record at home has meant Michel Vorm is the highest scoring fantasy goalkeeper so far, but the other Swansea defenders are performing well too. Both Scott Sinclair and Danny Graham are performing pretty well too.
United seem to have gone back to basics since their 6-1 defeat by Manchester City, and they haven't conceded a goal in any competition since that game. They have also stopped scoring at the rate they were at the start of the season, and 1-0 victories are now the order of the day. It has meant their defence is a lot tighter, but the free-flowing attacking football has gone by the wayside.
Wayne Rooney and Nani are United's top scorers so far, but they haven't been doing the business in recent games. At the moment United's defensive players might just be a better bet for any fantasy manager.
I think Swansea will give United a really tough test, but United will take all three points.
Prediction: 1-2
Chelsea Vs. Liverpool Sunday November 20, 4p.m., BST
Chelsea have won all but one of their home games in the Premier League this season, but they lost that game 5-3 to Arsenal. It was a big blow to them, but a victory over Liverpool would help to restore some of their confidence at least. Their defence certainly isn't as good as it was a few years ago, and if it doesn't improve they will find it hard to try to keep pace with Manchester City.
The best performing fantasy players for Chelsea are the old guard of John Terry and Frank Lampard who are still racking up points no matter what.
Liverpool have taken nine points from their five away games so far, but the opposition were reduced to 10 men in two of those games before Liverpool made the breakthrough. I haven't been overly impressed by them this season, and I can't see them finishing in the top four. The continued injuries to Steven Gerrard aren't helping their cause either.
No Liverpool players are outstanding in fantasy circles, but Jose Reina, Jose Enrique, Charlie Adam and Luis Suarez are all worth a punt.
I think Chelsea will have too much for a Liverpool team which don't play particularly well, and they should win.
Prediction: 2-1
Tottenham Hotspur Vs. Aston Villa Monday November 21, 8p.m., BST
Spurs have taken 22 points from their last eight Premier League games, and they are favourites to finish in the top four this season. They are scoring freely at the moment, and Brad Friedel is performing heroics in goal for them at times too. They have won their last three home games in a row, and they will see this as a great chance to continue that record.
Rafael Van Der Vaart is Spurs' best performing fantasy player so far, and he is being ably assisted by both Gareth Bale and Emmanuel Adebayor.
Villa may be in eighth place in the Premier League, but I have been far from impressed with them at times this season. I can't see anything but mid-table obscurity for them, and that might not be enough to keep their new manager Alec McLeish in his job.
Gabriel Agbonlohor and Darren Bent are the best performing Villa players so far, and they are both possibly worth including in any fantasy team.
I think Spurs should have enough to beat a Villa team who still haven't won away from home this season despite drawing four games.
Prediction: 2-0
That's it for this week, but feel free to tell me where I may have gone right or wrong as the case may be.
It's not too late to join the 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.
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See You Tomorrow.
Hello,
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