Friday 5 April 2013

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 32

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I managed to get six correct outcomes last week and four incorrect which kept me in fourth place in my predictions league. The teams above me all fared better though and the league leader now has a Manchester United style lead.

I'm still hopeful of finishing possibly as high as second, but time is running out for me. Here's a look at how my predictions league stands.

Pos     Player                         Week     Total
___    _____                         _____     _____
1.       antonius_ronny_s        150          2190
2.       RSun624                    110          1725
3.       ahujag                          85           1625
4.       JamrockRover             70           1590
5.       b_red_devils               115          1485
6.       birchy1962                 110          1480
7.       Rutland Gooner            80          1435
8.      AblockGooner              70          1415
9.       nawa87                      110          1335
10.     Meikku                        45          1330

Saturday April 6
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Reading v Southampton 



12.45pm BST, Madjeski Stadium, Reading

Reading are seven points away from safety with seven games left and relegation seems a certainty for them. They have lost their last six games and managed to score only four goals in those games. If they are to have any hope of staying up they have to win this game.

I can't see any Reading players worth recommending to fantasy managers at the moment.

Southampton did themselves an awful lot of good with a 2-1 win over Chelsea last weekend. They're four points above the drop zone with seven games left, but they have only won two of their 15 away games. They will see this as an ideal opportunity to put some real space between themselves and the other teams at the wrong end of the table.

Rickie Lambert is the Southampton player most likely to perform for fantasy managers with Jay Rodriguez in good form at the moment too.

This is a bit of a grudge game for Reading manager Nigel Adkins after Southampton sacked him in January. His old side have a much better chance of staying up and winning this game too.

Prediction: 1-3
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Norwich City v Swansea City



3pm BST, Carrow Road, Norwich

Norwich sit only four points above the drop zone and have only won once in their last 14 games. They have only lost three of their 15 home games so far though and have a good defensive record at home. They need a win to push them very close to safety but their lack of goals at home won't make it easy.

I can't see any Norwich players setting the world of fantasy football alight at the moment.

Swansea have hit a bit of a slump since winning the Capital One Cup and have lost their last three games. They have lost seven of their 15 away games and have struggled to score goals away from home. For such a good attacking team their away games have produced surprisingly few goals from both sides.

Miguel Michu got back on the scoresheet last week, but his league goals have dried up since the turn of the year.

I think Swansea might just be good enough to get the win and pile the pressure on Norwich.

Prediction: 1-2
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Stoke City v Aston Villa



3pm BST, Britannia Stadium, Stoke

Stoke are another team on a bad run who could get dragged into the relegation fight if they can't start winning again. They have taken only one point in their last five games despite only losing twice at home this season. This is a game they quite simply cannot afford to lose.

I can't see any Villa players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.

Villa are still in the relegation zone, but only on goal difference. They have won crucial games against other teams at the wrong end of the table recently and will fancy their chances against a Stoke team on a bad run. They have only won three of their 15 away games though and only Newcastle have conceded more away goals.

Christian Benteke is the in form Villa player at the moment with nine goals in his last 11 games.

Villa really need a win but I think they might have to settle for a draw.

Prediction: 1-1
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West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal



3pm BST, The Hawthorns, Birmingham

West Brom have won of their 15 home games and only the top two can better that. They have a good defensive record at home with only City and Chelsea conceding less home goals. They're still in a very creditable eighth place and would love to get one over on one of the big teams in the Premier League.

Romelu Lukaku looks like the West Brom player most likely to do well for fantasy managers.

Arsenal have won five of their last six league games and are putting real pressure on the teams ahead of them in the race for a top four finish. Only the top two have lost less away games than Arsenal and they have the best defensive record away from home. If they can win this game they will be in the top four for at least 24 hours.

Santi Cazorla is the best fantasy bet in the Arsenal team and they have two home games next week too.

This game could go either way, but I think Arsenal are good enough to take all three points.

Prediction: 1-2
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Sunday April 7
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Liverpool v West Ham United



1.30pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool

Liverpool have won four of their last five games, but the defeat at Southampton a few weeks ago was costly. They are still hoping for a top four finish but they have to pass three teams and make up seven points in their last seven games to do so. They have been pretty good at home but four defeats in 15 homes means Anfield is far from the fortress it once was.

Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez continue to be the best fantasy performers in the Liverpool team with Phillippe Coutinho possibly worth a shot too.

West Ham have won two of their last three games to move six points clear of the drop zone. Only Reading have lost more away games though and no other team has scored less away goals. They should get enough points to stay up with four of their last eight games at home.

Andy Carroll would be the West Ham player to watch, but he can't play against the team he is on loan from.

Liverpool have suffered from a lack of consistency, but they should find beating West Ham at home a relatively easy task.

Prediction: 2-0
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Tottenham Hotspur v Everton



2.05pm BST, White Hart Lane, London

Spurs got back to winning ways with a win at Swansea last week and they need to win this game too. They have taken more points and scored more goals away from home so far though. They have a very tough schedule at the moment and could find it hard to keep performing at their best. The injury picked up by Gareth Bale on Thursday night could be a huge blow to their top four chances.

Gareth Bale continues to impress in almost every game although he tends to score a lot more goals away from home and it's hard to see what other Spurs players to pick with him out for the next few weeks.

Everton have won their last three games to keep in touch in the battle for the top four. They have only lost four of their 14 away games and a win at Spurs would put them in a very good place. It won't be easy for them without the suspended Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar.

Everton play twice next week so their players could be worth watching for fantasy managers. Both Fellaini and Pienaar will be back from suspension for those games.

Both of these teams need to take all three points in this game and I think it will be very close and could end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1
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Chelsea v Sunderland 



3pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea have three wins and three losses in their last six league games. Their hold on a top four place is anything but secure and surely Rafa Benitez has to play his strongest team on the remaining league games. What's the point in possibly winning the FA Cup and Europa League if Chelsea finish outside the Champions League places.

As long as Juan Mata plays he's the best fantasy choice in the Chelsea team with Frank Lampard and Eden Hazard looking good too.

Sunderland have taken only three points in their last eight games and that run cost Martin O'Neill his job last week. They are only one point above the dreaded relegation zone and their leading goal scorer is out for the rest of the season. They have only won three of their 15 away games and things are looking bleak for them right now.

Simon Mignolet looks like the only Sunderland player capable of scoring points for fantasy managers.

Chelsea should have far too much at home for a team on a very bad run despite Chelsea's very busy schedule.

Prediction: 3-0
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Newcastle United v Fulham



3pm BST, St. James Park, Newcastle

Newcastle have lost their last two games and are now only three points above the relegation zone. A Europa League quarter final trip to Benfica on Thursday night won't make their task on Sunday any easier, but at least they're at home. They have managed to win eight of their 15 home games so far and need to keep winning at home to stay up.

I've being praising both Yohan Cabaye and Mousso Sissoko in recent weeks, but both of them seem to have gone off the boil.

Fulham have taken 10 points in their last four games and Dimitar Berbatov has scored five goals in those games. They're in the top half of the table and only a complete collapse could see them threatened with relegation. They have only won three of their 15 away games so far though.

Berbatov is in fine form for Fulham at the moment and has to be considered by any fantasy manager.

Newcastle are never an easy team to beat at home and their need for three points should be enough to see them get them.

Prediction: 2-1
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Queens Park Rangers v Wigan Athletic



4.10pm BST, Loftus Road, London

QPR have lost their last two games and are now seven points away from the safety of seventeenth place with seven points left. They have only won two of their 15 home games and only managed 11 goals in those games. With Wigan currently in the covered seventeenth spit this a game QPR quite simply have to win if they are to have any hope of staying up.

Loric Remy is probably the best of a bad bunch in the QPR team.

Wigan have won three of their last four games to climb out of the bottom three on goal difference. They have managed to win four of their 14 away games so far and that's better than the other teams at the wrong end of the table. A win in this game would give them a great chance of yet again beating the drop.

Arouna Kone continues to impress for Wigan and is by far the best fantasy choice in their team.

This is a huge game in the relegation dogfight and I have a feeling QPR will get the win they need in it.

Prediction: 2-1

Monday April 8
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Manchester United v Manchester City



8pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester

United have won 14 of their 15 home games and only Arsenal can match them for goals scored at home. They have taken 50 points in their last 18 games and have a 15 point lead at the top of the table. Mathematically they need 10 points in their last eight games to claim their twentieth title, but realistically it's all over bar the shouting.

Robin van Persie continues to be the outstanding fantasy candidate in the United team.

City have lost two of their last five games and with United winning virtually every game it's just not good enough. Their hopes of retaining their title are gone and they can only hope they can win the FA Cup instead. City have only won seven if their 15 away games, but only Arsenal have conceded less away goals than them.

Carlos Tevez and David Silva are currently the City players most likely to perform.

It doesn't really matter who wins this game in terms of the final destination of the title as United surely have it wrapped up already. Pride is at stake though and I think United might just edge a very close affair.

Prediction: 2-1
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That's it for this week.

See you next week.

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