Thursday 3 May 2012

Predictions for Premier League Gameweek 37

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. The season is almost over now, and next week will be my final round of predictions until next August. As always I've enjoyed them, but the unpredictability of the Premier League doesn't make it easy.

Last week didn't go too well with no correct scorelines, five correct outcomes and nine incorrect. It means I'll be fighting to finish fifth in my predictions league, but I won't stop trying. There's no predictions league table this week, as it hasn't been updated as of yet.

Arsenal Vs. Norwich City

Saturday May 5, 12.45 pm BST

Arsenal have to win their last two games to be sure of finishing third. They haven't won in three games though, and they're not making things easy for themselves. Only the top two teams have won more home games than them, and only Manchester City have a better defensive record at home than them too.

Arsenal players aren't performing too well at the moment, but Robin van Persie and Thomas Vermaelen are still top class fantasy performers. 

Norwich have lost four of their last five away games, and only kept two clean sheets so far this season. They concede a lot of goals, but they have performed very well on occasions too. Despite having little to play for they will still put all they have into the game.

There aren't too many Norwich players setting the world of fantasy football alight.

Arsenal have to win this game, and I think they should do so despite their injury problems.

Prediction 3-1 
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Newcastle United Vs. Manchester City

Sunday May 6, 1.30 pm BST

Newcastle had a great win away to Chelsea on Wednesday night, and it got them right back into the race for third and fourth places. They have been very good at home this season, and only Manchester City have lost less home games than them. They need to take all three points in this game, and it will be a very tough task for them.

Papiss Cisse has scored 11 goals in his last eight games for Newcastle, and he's a must for any fantasy manager.

City got the win they needed against United on Monday night, and now they will be champions if they win their last two games. They have struggled away from home in recent months, but they have still scored more away goals than any other team. Only United have a better defensive record away from home too, and City will have to go for a win.

There's plenty of City players to choose from for fantasy managers with Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero all looking good.

I have a feeling City might just about be able to get the win they need to set up their first title win since the sixties.

Prediction 1-2 
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Aston Villa Vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Sunday May 6, 2 pm BST

Villa probably only need one point from their last two games to ensure their Premier League survival. They have only won four home games this season, and no other team has scored less home goals than them either. They have been far from impressive this season, but surely they owe their fans a performance in the final game of the season.

I can't see any Villa players that look capable of making an impression for fantasy managers.

Spurs have found their form again just in time, and they need to keep winning to try to qualify for next season's Champions League. If they win their last two games they will finish no worse than fourth, but that might not be good enough depending on the outcome of the Champions League final. Their win at Bolton on Wednesday night was their first away win since December, and they need to do the same again.

Kyle Walker, Rafael van der Vaart, Gareth Bale and Emmanuel Adebayor are all racking up fantasy points at the moment.

I know Spurs need to win this game, but Villa need something from it too and I think it will end in a draw.

Prediction 1-1 
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Bolton Wanderers Vs. West Bromwich Albion Bolton

Sunday May 6, 2 pm BST

Bolton are behind QPR on goal difference, and they will probably need four points from their last two games to survive. With a trip to Stoke on the last day that means they quite simply have to win this game. They have lost 11 of their home games so far though, and only Wolves have conceded more home goals than them.

If Bolton are to survive Martin Petrov could be the player to supply the assists for their goals.

West Brom are comfortably in mid-table with two games left to play this season. Their manager will be moving on to bigger and better things when the season ends, and it will be interesting to see how the players react. They have been good on the road with seven wins so far this season.

I can't see any West Brom players likely to excel in the last two games of the season.

I think Bolton will get the three points because they have to.

Prediction 2-1 
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Fulham Vs. Sunderland

Sunday May 6, 2 pm BST

Fulham had a good win away to a second string Liverpool team on Tuesday night, and they can still finish above Liverpool if they can take more points than them in their last two games. They have won nine of their 18 home games so far, and scored plenty of goals in the process.

Clint Dempsey is the outstanding fantasy player in the Fulham team.

Sunderland haven't won any of their last six games, but at least they managed to score for a change last week. They have only four away wins to their name so far, and they have struggled to score on the road too.

Stephane Sessegnon, Simon Mignolet and James McLean are not bad fantasy buys, but they have slipped in recent weeks.

I think Fulham are likely to take all three points, as they have the chance to move up to eighth place.

Prediction 2-0 
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Queens Park Rangers Vs. Stoke City

Sunday May 6, 2 pm BST

QPR face a daunting trip to Manchester City in their final game, and they have to get something from this game. They have won their last four home games to give themselves a chance of survival, and a fifth home win in a row might just be enough.

QPR players aren't exactly performing brilliantly, but Djibril Cisse might be the man to save them if he isn't sent off again.

Stoke have been poor away from home this season, and they have only won four games. They have only scored 11 goals in those games, and they have little left to play for.

There are no Stoke players who look like scoring plenty of fantasy points for the rest of the season.

I can see QPR getting the win they need, but their fate will not be decided until the final day of the season.

Prediction 2-0 
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Wolverhampton Wanderers Vs. Everton

Sunday May 6, 2pm BST

Wolves are already relegated, and they are going to finish bottom of the table too. They have lost 13 home games so far, and no other team has scored less home goals than them either. They have the worst defence at home too, but they showed against Swansea last week that they will keep trying their best no matter what.

Matt Jarvis has been the best fantasy performer for Wolves this season, but their players are probably best avoided.

Everton look set to finish seventh this season, and above their arch rivals Liverpool too. They are unbeaten in seven matches, and they will fancy their chances against a team that are already relegated.

Nikica Jelavic has six goals in his last five games, and along with Steven Pienaar he looks like a good fantasy bet at the moment.

I can't see Wolves being able to get anything from this game, and Everton should win comfortably.

Prediction 0-2 
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Manchester United Vs. Swansea City

Sunday May 6, 4pm BST

United lost away to City on Monday night, and they lost their place at the top of the table to them too. They have the easier games to finish their season, but they need City to drop points at some stage. They will know the outcome of the City game before they play, and it could be a real boost for them.

There are plenty of United players to choose from with Wayne Rooney, Antonio Valencia and Nani probably the most likely to perform well.

Swansea have lost 10 away games so far this season, and conceded quite a few goals in the process. They have done very well since their promotion, and put up some great performances against some of the top teams. This game will be a really big ask for them though, and they could be in for a bad day.

Michel Vorm, Scott Sinclair and Gylfi Siggurdson have all performed really well for fantasy managers, and are available at a good price too.

I think United will have far too much for Swansea in a game they just have to win.

Prediction 4-1 
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Blackburn Rovers Vs. Wigan Athletic

Monday May 7, 8pm BST

Blackburn have to win their last two games if they're going to have any chance of staying in the Premier League. They have lost six of their last seven games, and conceded an awful lot of goals this season too. They have won six home games, but lost 11 and things are looking pretty grim for them.

Blackburn have lost their goalscoring touch, and none of their players look likely to perform well for fantasy managers.

Wigan have had a great run of results to move them to the relative safety of sixteenth place, and they look likely to avoid relegation. Three points from their last two games would surely be enough for them to survive, and the fixture list has been kind to them with Wolves to come after this game. They have won five of their last seven games, and beaten some of the best teams in the league in the process.

Victor Moses and Ali Al-Habsi are probably the Wigan players most likely to do well for them for the rest of the season.

This is a game Blackburn have to win, but I think Wigan will get at least a point out of it.

Prediction 2-2 
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Liverpool Vs. Chelsea

Tuesday May 8, 8 pm BST

Liverpool play Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday, and then again in the league on Tuesday night. Liverpool have only won five home games so far this season, and only managed 20 goals in the process. This will be their final home game of the season, and surely they will want to send their fans away happy for the summer.

It's hard to know what Liverpool players will be playing, but Luis Suarez got a great hat trick last week and could be the man for the job again.

Chelsea are realistically out of the race for a top four finish, and they will probably rest some players with a Champions League final to play. They have only won six away games so far this season, and their away form has probably cost them a top four spot.

With the Champions League final and FA Cup left this season Chelsea might rest some of their better players, and it might not be a bad idea to avoid them for fantasy managers.

The outcome of the FA Cup final will have a huge bearing on this game, and I can only guess it will end in a draw.

Prediction 1-1 
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That's it for this week but like usual feel free to tell me where I may have gone right or wrong as the case might be.

See you tomorrow.

2 comments:

  1. Sadly I don't think Spurs are going to drop points at Villa. Villa have been truly terrible this season and deserve their place in the table.

    However if they and Newcastle were to drop points then it could make life much more comfortable for us if we can beat Norwich.

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  2. Villa need something from the game to ensure their safety and hopefully they can raise their game. I think Newcastle will be really pushed to beat City and if we win on Saturday it will put real pressure on both of them on Sunday.

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