It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I didn't do so well last week with only three correct outcomes and six incorrect in the nine games that were played. It means I remain in fourth place at the mid-point of the season.
Here's a look at how my predictions league table stands.
Pos Player Week Total
___ _____ ____ ____
1. antonius_ronny_s 100 1295
2. RSun624 100 1140
3. AblockGooner -20 1140
4. JamrockRover 00 1035
5. goonerdhanesh 40 900
6. Rutland Gooner 5 895
7. ahujag 0 890
8. BenAFCBeast 65 850
9. Plasticninja 25 820
19. birchy1962 0 815
Saturday December 29
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Sunderland V Tottenham Hotspur
12.45pm GMT, The Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Sunderland had a very good win at home to champions City on Wednesday. They have won three of their last four games to move well away from the relegation zone. Their home record isn't great with three wins, three draws and three defeats, but they do seem to have stabilised their defence in recent games.
Simon Mignolet has done well in goal for Sunderland and Stephane Sessegnon is in good form at the moment too.
Spurs are back in the top four after their 4-0 win away to Villa. Only United have scored more goals away from home than them and they have won five of their away games. They have conceded a lot of goals away from home too on the four games they have lost.
Gareth Bale is by far the best fantasy bet among the Spurs players with Jermaine Defoe doing quite well too.
I think Sunderland will give Spurs a very tough game and it could end with the spoils shared.
Prediction: 1-1
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Aston Villa V Wigan Athletic
3pm GMT, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa were well beaten by Spurs following their record defeat to Chelsea. Confidence has to be low for such a young team and they need to get something from this game. They have won only two of their nine home games and no other team has scored less goals at home.
At the moment there are no Villa players who are doing well for fantasy managers.
Wigan were beaten yet again by Everton on Wednesday and they're stuck in the relegation zone. They have taken only one point in their last six games and only West Ham have scored less away goals than them. It's a game which Wigan really need to take something from if they are going to climb the table.
Arouna Kone is probably the best fantasy choice among the Wigan players.
This is a very important game for both clubs and a defeat would be a blow to either team which could see the game ending all square.
Prediction: 1-1
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Fulham V Swansea City
3pm GMT, Craven Cottage, London
Fulham have only won once in 11 league games and their slide down the table continues. They have won four of their nine home games though and they are usually a much tougher proposition at home.
Dimitar Berbatov got back on the scoresheet on Wednesday and at his best he's worth considering for any fantasy manager.
Swansea have only conceded eight goals in nine away games as they have become very tough to beat. They have only taken two points in their last four games though and they need to get back to winning ways. They will fancy their chances of doing so against a struggling Fulham team.
Miguel Michu continues to be by far the best fantasy bet among the Swansea players as long as he is passed fit to play.
I think this will be a right game and could end up in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
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Manchester United V West Bromwich Albion
3pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester
United won at home against Newcastle on Wednesday but were again far from convincing in defence. They have won eight of their nine home games and are the highest scorers in the league too. I'm not quite sure how a team who have conceded 28 goals in 19 games can be six points clear at the top of the table though.
Robin van Persie continues to excel for fantasy managers and it's hard to ignore the form of Patrice Evra too.
West Brom had a good win away to QPR on Wednesday to keep in touch with the teams chasing fourth place. They have won three of their nine away games and are not an easy team to beat. A trip to the league leaders is a tough task for them, but they will give it their all I'm sure.
None of the West Brom players are standing out at the moment for fantasy managers as the load seems to be shared among the team.
United have to be favourites but West Brom could possibly have the right set up to get something from this game.
Prediction: 3-2
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Norwich City V Manchester City
3pm GMT, Carrow Road, Norwich
Norwich have lost their last two games but were unbeaten in 10 games before that. They have won five of their nine home games and beaten both United and Arsenal at home. They're a tough team to break down and will give their all to add City to their impressive list of scalps.
Both Robert Snodgrass and Sebastien Bassong seem to be the best fantasy choices in the Norwich team.
City were beaten away from home for the first time this season at Sunderland and they're now seven points behind United. They have the best defensive record away from home, but they simply aren't scoring enough goals on the road. If they're going to retain their title they need to improve away from home.
Vincent Kompany's return might mean he is a good fantasy choice with Carlos Tevez still scoring well too.
I think City will just about edge a very tight game.
Prediction: 1-2
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Reading V West Ham United
3pm GMT, Madjeski Stadium, Reading
Reading climbed off the foot of the table on goal difference with their 0-0 draw at home to Swansea. They have only one league win this season but they have improved defensively in their last two games. Despite that improvement they have still conceded more goals than any other team.
There are no Reading players who look worthy of recommendation to fantasy managers at the moment.
West Ham didn't play on Wednesday after their game against Arsenal was postponed. Their players should be fresher than the Reading players but they will have to play without a recognised striker. They are the lowest scorers away from home with only five goals in eight games.
Jussi Jaaskelainen looks to be the West Ham player most likely to succeed for fantasy managers.
I think Reading might just get their second win of the season in this game.
Prediction: 1-0
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Stoke City V Southampton
3pm GMT, Britannia Stadium, Stoke
Stoke are still unbeaten at home and they have only conceded four goals in nine home games. They did very well to come from behind and win Liverpool on Wednesday night. They have the tightest defence in the league but they don't score an awful lot of goals either.
Asmir Begovic, Ryan Shawcross, Robert Huth and Geoff Cameron are all scoring well for fantasy managers at the moment.
Southampton have lost six of their eight away games so far and conceded 21 goals in the process. They have tightened up at the back in their last five games, but that has coincided with them struggling to score themselves. They're only a point above the relegation zone and need to pick up more away points to help their fight against relegation.
Rickie Lambert looks to be the best fantasy choice for Southampton right now.
I think Stoke will be too strong for Southampton and continue their progress up the table with a win.
Prediction: 2-0
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Arsenal V Newcastle United
5.30pm GMT, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal didn't play on Wednesday after their game with West Ham was postponed and their players should be fresh. They have only won four of their eight home games and have struggled against very defensive teams. When they do make the breakthrough they can score a lot though and only the top three have more home goals than them.
Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott are probably the best fantasy bets in the Arsenal team at the moment.
Newcastle played very well against United on Wednesday but ended up losing 4-3. They haven't won any of their nine away games so far and have lost seven of their last nine games too. They have slipped into the wrong end of the table and need to reverse that slide very quickly.
Demba Ba remains by far the best fantasy bet among the Newcastle players.
I think Arsenal should have enough to get the win over a Newcastle team who could be tired after their exploits on Wednesday.
Prediction: 2-1
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Sunday December 30
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Everton V Chelsea
1.30pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton have won the first two games of Marouane Fellaini's three game suspension but this will be a much tougher test for them. They are unbeaten at home and no other team has lost less games than them so far. A win for them could see them rise as high as third in the table.
With Fellaini suspended Stephen Pienaar seems to be the best fantasy choice among the Everton players.
Chelsea have come back from the World Club Championship in determined fashion. They have being scoring freely when the opportunity arises and defending when they have had to. With City dropping points they will feel there is a chance for them to become the main challengers to United.
All of Chelsea's defenders seem to be good fantasy choices at the moment with Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres doing well in attack too.
I think this will be a very close game and could end up a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
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Queens Park Rangers V Liverpool
4pm GMT, Loftus Road, London
QPR have only one home win in nine games and they're the lowest scorers at home in the league. Their away form is even worse and they're back on the bottom of the table again. They have to start scoring goals and winning games at home if they are to have a chance of avoiding the drop.
There are still no QPR players worth recommending to fantasy managers.
Liverpool have only won two of their nine away games and conceded 16 goals in the process. They took an early lead at Stoke on Wednesday night but ended up losing 3-1. Their form is very much up and down with three wins and three defeats in their last six games.
Steven Gerrard has come into form for Liverpool and Luis Suarez is always a good fantasy option too.
I think Liverpool will be too strong for QPR and should take all three points.
Prediction: 1-3
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That's it for this week but as always feel free to tell me where I may have gone right or wrong as the case might be.
See you next week.
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