Friday 2 March 2012

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 27

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the scorelines of the upcoming Premier League games. Last week didn't go too badly last week with 6 correct outcomes and only three incorrect. It meant that I moved up to fourth in my predictions league, and like Arsenal back into the Champions League places.

For all those playing fantasy football there is a full schedule of games for the next two weeks, but in the week after that there are only five games. It's always good to keep an eye on the upcoming fixtures, and which teams may not be playing in any given week. Those teams that miss out on their league games because of the FA Cup will also have an extra game to make up at some stage, and their players are highly desirable in those weeks.

Here's a look at how my predictions league stands.

 Pos  Player  Week Total 
 ahujag   40  1300
 2  b_red_devils   40  1240
3  GGooner   120  1180
 4  JamrockRover   55  990
 5  nitin004   0  990
 6  gooner2194   120  975
 7  DK1247   0  855
 8  nawa87   70  850
 9  sanziano   20  850
 10  Rutland Gooner   -30  830
  
Liverpool v Arsenal

Liverpool Vs. Arsenal 

Saturday March 3, 12.45p.m., BST

Liverpool find themselves seven points behind fourth placed Arsenal going into this game with a game in hand after their Carling Cup final victory last weekend. They are unbeaten at home in the league this season, but they have drawn eight of their 12 home games so far. Only Manchester City have conceded less goals at home than Liverpool so far this season.

The Liverpool defenders seem to be performing better for fantasy managers, and Jose Reina, Martin Skrtel, Glen Johnson and Martin Skrtel are all well worth buying.

Arsenal had a great victory at home to Spurs last week to put them back into the Champions League places. They have being scoring freely away from home, but they have also conceded a lot of goals on their travels. A win in this game would see them close the gap to third placed Spurs to only four points.
Robin van Persie is a must for any fantasy manager, and Theo Walcott isn't doing too badly either.

I think Arsenal will continue their winning ways in the Premier League by taking all three points.

Prediction 1-2
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Blackburn v Aston Villa

Blackburn Rovers Vs. Aston Villa

Saturday March 3, 3p.m., BST

Blackburn are only in the relegation zone on goal difference, but they have lost nine of their 13 home games so far. Only the top five teams have scored more goals than Blackburn, but they also have the worst defence in the Premier League. A win would surely see them move out of the relegation zone, and they will be looking to take all three points.

Yakubu is by far the best bet among the Blackburn players for any fantasy manager.

Villa have only won two of their last 11 Premier League games, but they were both away from home. They have drawn 11 of their 26 games so far, and they have slipped to fifteenth in the table. There is still a big points gap between Villa and the relegation zone, but they need a few wins to ensure their Premier League status for next season.

It's very hard to see any Villa players that might be worth buying for fantasy managers.

I think Blackburn will manage to win a tight game, and do their chances of survival an awful lot of good.

Prediction 3-2
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Man City v Bolton

Manchester City Vs. Bolton Wanderers

Saturday March 3, 3p.m., BST

City have won all 13 of their home games in the Premier League so far this season. They have scored 40 goals and only conceded six in those games. It's impossible to see City slipping up against a struggling Bolton side.

Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergo Aguero are the best fantasy bets among the City players, but there are plenty of other choices too.

Bolton have lost their last three Premier League games ina  row, but they're still only one point away from exiting the relegation zone. They have won four of their 13 away games so far, but they have lost the other nine. They seem to be rather hit or miss on the road, and they will have to hit in a big way to get anything out of this game.

It's hard to pick any Bolton players for fantasy managers, but I have a feeling Ryo Miyaichi might do well up against slightly easier opponents.

I think City will have far too much for Bolton, and they should win comfortably.

Prediction 4-0
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QPR v Everton

Queens Park Rangers Vs. Everton

Saturday March 3. 3p.m., BST

QPR have taken only six points from their last14 Premier League games, and they're only outside the relegation zone on goal difference. They have only won twice at home so far this season, and relegation is a real possibility for them. Mark Hughes was brought in to save them from that scenario, but it isn't working at the moment.

At a push I suppose Bobby Zamora is the best fantasy bet among QPR's players, and Djibril Cisse might do well when he returns from suspension.

Everton had a very good 2-0 win over Chelsea in their last Premier League game two weeks ago. They are struggling to score goals, but only three teams have a better defensive record than them. Everton are in the top half of the table now, and they will be looking to push on in the later stages of the season as per usual.

Tim Howard and Leighton Baines are the best performing players in the Everton team for fantasy managers.

I think Everton might have enough to get a victory, but I have a feeling things will end all square.

Prediction 1-1
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Stoke v Norwich

Stoke City Vs. Norwich City

Saturday March 3, 3p.m., BST

Stoke ended their run of four defeats in a row by beating Swansea last week, and they will be looking to climb back into the top half of the table by beating Norwich. Their home record hasn't been quite so impressive this season, but they have had to play midweek Europa League games.

With Jonathan Walters out of scoring form at the moment Peter Crouch could be the best fantasy bet among the Stoke players.

Norwich set out to play football against every single opponent, and they have to be admired for it. Paul Lambert has done a magnificent job at the club, and he will surely go on to bigger and better things at some stage. In the meantime Norwich continue to entertain while sitting proudly in the top half of the table.

The Norwich team is very prone to change, but Anthony Pilkington, Grant Holt and Steve Morison are all good value fantasy buys.

This will be a game of contrasting styles, and I think Stoke's more agricultural approach might just get them a victory.

Prediction 2-1
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West Brom v Chelsea

West Bromwich Albion Vs. Chelsea

Saturday March 3, 3p.m., BST

Albion have been in fine form recently with nine goals scored in their last two Premier League games. They beat Sunderland 4-0, and no other team had scored more than two goals against Sunderland so far this season. Their home record has been poor so far this season, but that changed against Sunderland.

None of the West Brom players have set the fantasy world alight yet, but in recent weeks both James Morrison and Peter Odemwingie are doing really well.

Chelsea beat Bolton in their last game, but it was only their third win in 11 Premier League games. They haven't done too badly away from home, and only Manchester United have conceded less goals on their travels than them. They're still fighting to finish in the Champions League positions too, and it could be a very tough task for them.

Juan Mata, Frank Lampard and Daniel Sturridge are the best performing Chelsea players in the fantasy stakes.

I think West Brom might just be able to get the better of Chelsea.

Prediction 2-1
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Wigan v Swansea

Wigan Athletic Vs. Swansea City

Saturday March 3, 3p.m., BST
 
Wigan have only won once at home so far this season, and they have scored less goals at home than any other team in the Premier League. Despite their lack of goals they're still only one point away from safety, and a win in this game could possibly see them move out of the relegation zone.

Ali Al-Habsi continues to score plenty of fantasy points in the Wigan goal despite their lowly league position.

Swansea have done really well since promotion, but they have struggled away from home at times. They're still nine points clear of the relegation zone, and they will have achieved their goal for the season if they stay up.

Scott Sinclair, Danny Graham and Michel Vorm are all doing really well for fantasy managers, and available at a very good price too.

I can see this game ending in a  draw.

Prediction 1-1
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Newcastle v Sunderland

Newcastle United Vs. Sunderland 

Sunday March 4, 12p.m., BST
 
Newcastle are doing well to remain in the hunt for a top four finish, but they threw away two precious points at home to Wolves in their last game. They have only lost two home games in the Premier League so far this season, and they need to take all three points in this game. It won't be an easy task against their local rivals in what should be an intense game for both the players and the fans.

Tim Krul and Ryan Taylor are scoring very well defensively for Newcastle with Demb Ba and Papiss Cisse doing the business at the other end.

Sunderland had being doing really well under Martin O'Neill until West Brom thrashed them 4-0 last week.It was hardly the ideal preparation for a trip to local rivals Newcastle this week, but I'm sure Sunderland will be up for the game. A win would see them close the gap on Newcastle to seven points, and give them the possibility of finishing ahead of them this season.

Simon Mignolet, Stephane Sessegnon and James McLean are all performing very well for fantasy managers at the moment.

I think this game could go either way, but the most likely scenario is a draw.

Prediction 2-2
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Fulham v Wolves

Fulham Vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sunday March 4, 2.05p.m., BST
 
Fulham have won their last two Premier League games, and they're safely in mid-table. Their home form has improved recently too, and they're a match for any team on their own turf. They will see this game against struggling Wolves as a great opportunity to make it three wins in a row.

Clint Dempsey is the stand out performer among the Fulham players, but Pavel Pogrebnyak looks like he could do very well too.

Wolves did really well to come from two goals down and get a point away to Newcastle last week. They have only won once in their last 12 Premier League games though, and relegation is a very real possibility for them. Terry Connor has taken the reins for the rest of the season after the board made a mess of trying to replace sacked manager Mick McCarthy.

Wolves players aren't exactly setting the fantasy world alight, but Matt Jarvis, Steven Fletcher and Kevin Doyle are probably their most likely candidates.

I think Fulham should have too much for a Wolves team that make a lot of defensive errors.

Prediction 3-1

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Tottenham v Man Utd

Tottenham Hotspur Vs. Manchester United 

Sunday March 4, 4.10 p.m., BST
 
Spurs were in great form until they were undone in spectacular fashion by Arsenal last week. They rarely trouble United when they play them, and a defeat could be another big blow for them. Only Manchester City have won more home games than Spurs so far this season, but they still won't relish playing the reigning champions.

Brad Friedel, Kyle Walker and Benoit Assou-Ekotto are all doing very well defensively for Spurs with Gareth Bale and Emmanuel Adebayor scoring plenty of attacking points.

United have the best away record in the Premier League so far this season, and they rarely lose to Spurs. They have done really well to keep pace with City during a very tough run of games, and this is the last one of them. If they can get three points off Spurs they will really fancy themselves to retain their title. 

Patrice Evra, Nani and Wayne Rooney are all scoring very well for United so far this season.
I have a feeling United will win this one, and put some real pressure on Spurs.

Prediction 1-3

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That's it for this week, but feel free to tell me where I may have gone right or wrong as the case might be.

See you tomorrow.

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