Who would have thought that both Manchester United and Arsenal wouldn't have won at home, or that Wigan would finally put an end to their losing streak by winning away to Sunderland. Hopefully I can do a little better this week, and move up a place or two in my predictions league. Here's a look at how my league stands.
| Pos | Player | Week | Total |
| 1 | b_red_devils | -50 | 900 |
| 2 | ahujag | 15 | 825 |
| 3 | GGooner | 35 | 740 |
| 4 | Smashit_Tuckit | 35 | 730 |
| 5 | nitin004 | 95 | 700 |
| 6 | JamrockRover | -10 | 675 |
| 7 | gooner2194 | -30 | 645 |
| 8 | lubu722 | 35 | 635 |
| 9 | Rutland Gooner | -5 | 630 |
| 10 | Bradley08 | -30 | 585 |
Newcastle United Vs. Chelsea Saturday December 3, 12.45p.m., BST
Newcastle did very well to take a point away to Manchester United last week, and they will be hoping to go one better at home to Chelsea. They are still unbeaten at home this season, and they are still holding on to fourth place too. If Newcastle lose they will definitely slip out of the top four, and I expect them to fight to maintain their position.
Tim Krul has scored plenty of fantasy points in goal for Newcastle so far, and Ryan Taylor has scored quite well too as has Demba Ba.
Chelsea have had a rough time in recent weeks, but at least they got back to winning ways against Wolves in the Premier League last week. They need to win this game to climb back into the top four, but it won't be easy against a Newcastle team with a solid defence. If Chelsea can sort out their own defensive woes they might just be able to turn things around, but it won't be an easy task.
Chelsea's best performing fantasy players are John Terry and Frank Lampard, but Daniel Sturridge and Juan Mata could be worth a punt too.
I think Newcastle will look to keep things tight and hit Chelsea on the break, and the game will end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
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Blackburn Rovers Vs. Swansea CitySaturday December 3, 3p.m., BST
Blackburn may have given a new deal to their manager Steve Kean, but surely he can't last too much long if they don't start to climb the table. Their defeat to Stoke last week saw them slip to the bottom of the Premier League, and they are conceding too many goals to stay up. They have scored as many goals as fourth placed Liverpool, but unless their defence tightens up I think they will be relegated.
Junior Hoilett is the only Blackburn player currently scoring well enough for any fantasy manager to consider.
Swansea's unbeaten home record came to an end against Manchester United a couple of weeks ago, and they have suffered on their travels. They have only managed two points and four goals in six away games, but they have conceded 14 goals. They will continue to play good football at home and away though, but it will cost them points on the road.
Michel Vorm is doing really well in goal for Swansea and should be considered for any fantasy team, as should most of their defenders and Scott Sinclair in midfield too.
I think Blackburn will manage their second win of the season, and give their manager a little bit of breathing space.
Prediction: 2-1
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Manchester City Vs. Norwich CitySaturday December 3, 3p.m., BST
City may be struggling in the Champions League, but they have reached the Carling Cup semi-finals and they are five points clear at the top of the Premier League. They have a 100 percent home record so far in the league this season, and it's hard to see that changing against Norwich. They might be prepared to rest some of their star players with a crucial Champions League game coming up a few days later, and that could give their opponents some hope.
There's a string of City players every fantasy team should have and David Silva is probably the best of them, but Vincent Kompany, Micah Richards and Sergio Aguero are all performing really well too.
Norwich have conceded in every single Premier League game so far this season, and that's not a good statistic for any team playing against City. They will do well to keep City from scoring quite a few goals, and they will have to work incredibly hard. The beauty of the Premier League is that any team can beat any other team, but Norwich will have to ride their luck to get anything out of this game.
Anthony Pilkington is the best performing Norwich player in the fantasy stakes so far.
I think City will win relatively easily no matter what team they put out.
Prediction: 4-1
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Queens Park Rangers Vs. West Bromwich AlbionSaturday December 3, 3p.m., BST
QPR are the lowest scoring team at home in the Premier League so far this season. Their best performances at home came against Chelsea and Man City, and they need to find that form in this game. They have only won once at home so far, but their three away wins have left them relatively safe in mid-table
There aren't a whole lot of QPR players making themselves must buy players for fantasy managers at the moment, but Luke Young and Heidar Helguson are the best of a bad bunch.
West Brom aren't scoring too many goals so far this season, and no other team has scored less than them. They have managed two wins away from home though, and they will see this as a game they can possibly get something from.
Chris Brunt and Shane Long are the best performing West Brom players in the fantasy stakes so far, but they aren't really doing all that well.
I have a feeling this one will end with the honours shared.
Prediction: 1-1
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Tottenham Hotspur Vs. Bolton WanderersSaturday December 3, 3p.m., BST
Spurs are on a great run in the Premier League at the moment with nine wins and a draw in their last 10 games. They look like exiting the Europa League after their defeat on Wednesday night, but that could help their chances in the league. Without the distractions of midweek football they could find things a lot easier at the weekends.
Gareth Bale, Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor are all on top of their game at the moment, and worth including in any fantasy team.
Bolton's mini revival was ended last week when they lost at home to Everton, but they have won more points on the road so far. They have conceded more goals than any other team in the league so far, and that won't help them against a Spurs team that are scoring freely at the moment.
If Bolton can score any goals Chris Eagles and Ivan Klasnic will probably be the men to get in on the act.
I can't see anything other than a good win for Spurs in this game.
Prediction: 3-1
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Wigan Athletic Vs. ArsenalSaturday December 3, 3p.m., BST
Wigan did really well to beat Sunderland with a last minute goal last week, but they really should have lost the game. They are the joint lowest scorers in the league so far this season, and only two teams have conceded less goals than them too. They play attractive football, but without changing those statistics they will struggle to stay up.Wigan had a cracking win against the Gunners a couple of years ago, when they won 3-2 in a real thriller but I cannot see them having any luck here.
Ali Al-Habsi is still the only Wigan player worth considering for any fantasy manager so far.
Arsenal's run of five Premier League wins in a row came to an end when they drew against Fulham last week. At least they managed a draw though, and they will be looking to get back to their winning ways against Wigan. There's an opportunity for them to move closer to the top four if they can take all three points.
It's difficult to look past beyond Robin van Persie when choosing a fantasy captain, but Thomas Vermaelen is scoring very well since his return from injury too.
I think Arsenal will have too much firepower for Wigan and take all three points.
Prediction: 1-3
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Aston Villa Vs. Manchester UnitedSaturday December 3, 5.30p.m., BST
Villa had a good start to the season, but they have only won one of their last six games. They have won three of their six home games so far though, and they will be hoping to get something from this game.
Gabriel Agbonlahor is by far the best performing Villa player so far this season.
United have conceded only one goal in four games since they let six in against City. That goal came at home to Newcastle last week when they really should have won, and they will be looking to make up for it against Villa. They need the three points as they can't afford to fall any further behind City.
Wayne Rooney is still United's top fantasy player but he hasn't scored in their last eight games. Nani would be the next best bet, but he hasn't scored in seven games so maybe United defenders might be worth looking at.
I think United will get the win they need, and keep another clean sheet too.
Prediction: 0-2
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Everton Vs. Stoke CitySunday December 4, 3p.m., BST
Everton have managed two wins in a row in the Premier League, and it has moved them back into the top half of the table. Another win in this game and they will be closing in on the teams challenging for a top four place. Goalscoring has been their biggest problem so far, but at least they have gotten a little tighter at the back.
Everton players haven't covered themselves in fantasy glory so far, but Leighton Baines will be worth looking at if they can stay tight at the back.
Stoke ended a run of four consecutive Premier League defeats by beating Blackburn last week, but they still looked weak in defence to me. They have found it hard playing in the league after Europa League games, and they were in action on Thursday night. They have only managed three goals and four points in six away games, and they will do well to get anything out of this game.
Jonathan Walters is by far Stoke's best performing fantasy player so far this season.
I think Everton should be able to punish Stoke, as they struggle to cope with the hardship of playing European football.
Prediction: 3-1
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Wolverhampton Wanderers Vs. Sunderland Sunday December 4, 4p.m., BST
Wolves have only won once in their last 11 Premier League games, and it's left them just one place above the relegation zone. They are another team finding it hard to score at the moment, but they will fancy their chances at home to managerless Sunderland.
Wolves players haven't covered themselves in fantasy glory so far this season.
Sunderland parted ways with manager Steve Bruce this week, and they need to get a replacement in very quickly. They signed a lot of new players in the summer, but they don't seem to have gelled together so far. They have only managed five goals away from home so far, but they have only conceded six and that could lead to a low scoring game.
Seb Larsson has performed very well for Sunderland this season, and without him they would probably be in the bottom three.
I think this game might just end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
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Fulham v LiverpoolMonday December 5, 8p.m., BST
Fulham usually do well in the Premier League because of their home form, but they have only won one of their six home games so far. They need to start taking more points at home, but like Stoke it's not easy playing European games in midweek and Premier League games at the weekend.
Clint Dempsey is Fulham's top fantasy performer as usual, but Mark Schwarzer is doing pretty well too.
Liverpool have managed to win four of their six away games so far, but they have only won twice at home. If they can take another three points in this game they could move up a place in the table. They need to sort out their home form, or they won't go much further though.
No Liverpool players have been outstanding so far this season, but Jose Reina, Jose Enrique, Charlie Adam and Luis Suarez have done pretty well.
I think Fulham might just have enough to take a point off Liverpool.
Prediction: 1-1
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That's it for today, but feel free to tell me where I have gone right or wrong as the case may be.
It's not too late to join the almost 1,000 other 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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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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