Second place is still up for grabs though and hopefully I can do a lot better this week. Here's a look at how my predictions league stands.
Pos. Player. Week. Total
___ ______ ____ _____
1. antonius_ronny_s 150 2450
2. birchy1962 125 1780
3. RSun624 70 1780
4. ahujag 00 1745
5. JamrockRover 20 1735
6. b_red_devils 110 1675
7. nawa87 85 1620
8. Rutland Gooner 50 1615
9. AblockGooner 25 1600
10. Meikku -5 1405
Saturday April 27
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Manchester City v West Ham United
12.45pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City surrendered their title with a whimper when they were beaten by Spurs last week and United beat Villa. They have the best defensive record at home though and only United have won more home games. They need another couple of wins to guarantee second place and surely this should be the first of them.
Carlos Tevez is the City player most likely to perform for fantasy managers.
West Ham beat Wigan last week to move into the top half of the table and guarantee their Premier League survival. They have only won three away games though and are the lowest scorers away from home. They are unbeaten in their last five games and will feel they have a chance against a City team with little to play for.
Andy Carroll and Jussi Jaaskelainen are the West Ham players to consider.
I think City's home form should be good enough to see them through.
Prediction: 2-0
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Everton v Fulham
3pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton were beaten by relegation threatened Sunderland last week and that defeat ended their hopes of a top four finish. They haven't scored in their last two games and they now need to make sure they finish ahead of Liverpool. They have a good home record with only one defeat in 17 games and will want to get back to winning ways.
Leighton Baines is probably the best fantasy bet among the Everton players.
Fulham were beaten by both Chelsea and Arsenal at home last week to drop into the bottom half of the table. They are as good as safe from relegation though and have little left to play for. They have only taken one point in four games and only won three of 17 on the road.
At this stage there aren't any Fulham players worth considering for fantasy managers.
I think Everton will win this game without having to stretch themselves too much.
Prediction: 2-0
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Southampton v West Bromwich Albion
3pm BST, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton
Southampton are eight points above the relegation zone after taking 12 points in their last six games. They have only lost five of their 17 home games and are surely safe from the drop. They have a chance to move into the top half of the table if they can continue their current form for their last four games.
Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez are the Southampton players to watch for fantasy managers.
West Brom have only taken two points in their last four games but are still safely in the top half of the table. They have lost nine of their 16 away games but will feel they have a chance of getting a result at Southampton.
With two games next week Romelu Lukaku could be a good choice for fantasy managers.
I think Southampton are playing well enough at the moment to take the three points.
Prediction: 2-1
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Stoke City v Norwich City
3pm BST, Britannia Stadium, Stoke
Stoke got a priceless win at QPR last week to move six points clear of the bottom three. They have only lost four of their 17 home games, but they have struggled to score goals all season long. A win in this game would surely be enough to maintain their Premier League status for another season.
It's hard to see any Stoke players to choose at the moment but at a push Asmir Begovic and Jonathan Walters are their best performers.
Norwich got a priceless win last week too and it leaves them a point ahead of Stoke. They have only won once in 17 away games and only Villa and Newcastle have conceded more away goals. If they can avoid defeat they will be more or less safe from relegation for another season.
Robert Snodgrass is the best of a bad bunch when it comes to fantasy choices in the Norwich team.
I can see this being a very tight and tense game and probably ending in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
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Wigan Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur
3pm BST, DW Stadium, Wigan
Wigan have only taken one point in their last three games and find themselves three points adrift of safety with a game in hand on the teams above them. They have only won four of their 16 home games and really need to get something from this game. They have conceded more goals at home than any other team in the league.
If Wigan are to have a chance of staying up Arouna Kone and Shaun Maloney could be the players to earn fantasy points.
Spurs did themselves a world of good last week by coming from behind to beat City. Only United have won more away games and scored more away goals than Spurs. They have a real chance to move ahead of Arsenal ahead of their game with the newly crowned champions on Sunday.
Gareth Bale is again a must have for fantasy managers and he plays twice next week too.
I think Spurs will have too much for Wigan and will get the win.
Prediction: 1-3
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Newcastle United v Liverpool
5.45pm BST, St. James Park, Newcastle
Newcastle got a very important point at West Brom last week but they're not quite out of the woods yet. They have won nine of their 17 home games though and only the top six can better that. A win in this game would surely be enough to ease any relegation fears for this season.
It's hard to see what Newcastle players to pick at the moment.
Liverpool managed to take a point with a very late equaliser at home to Chelsea last week, but the game will be remembered for Luis Suarez biting Branislav Ivanovic. They will have to do without his services for this game and could struggle to score without him. They have only won five of their 17 away games, but they've only lost five too.
With Suarez suspended Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard are the Liverpool players most likely to perform.
I can see Newcastle edging a little closer to safety by getting a draw in this game.
Prediction: 2-2
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Sunday April 28
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Reading v Queens Park Rangers
1.30pm BST, Madjeski Stadium, Reading
Reading lost at Norwich last week and it's only a matter of time before their relegation is confirmed. Despite their lowly status Reading have only lost six home games, but they have only taken one point in their last nine games. If they lose this game they will be relegated no matter how any of the other teams fare.
There are no Reading players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.
QPR have only taken one point in their last five games and will be relegated if they lose this game. Only Reading have lost more away games than QPR and they have only won four of their 34 league games in all. If they manage to win this game it will only postpone their inevitable relegation at the very best.
Loric Remy has looked good since joining QPR in January and could score a few goals in their remaining games.
I can see this game ending in a draw and both teams getting relegated at the same time.
Prediction: 2-2
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Chelsea v Swansea City
3pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea could pay dearly for the last minute equaliser they conceded against Liverpool last week, as they have a very tough run of games to finish their season. Despite being in the last four of the Europa League they need to make sure they finish in the top four of the Premier League. Only the top two have won more home games than Chelsea and only City have conceded less home goals than them.
Juan Mata and Eden Hazard are the Chelsea players to watch and they have two games next week too.
Swansea have only taken two points in their last five games as their league form has suffered since they won the Capital One Cup. They have only won four of their 16 away games and have struggled to score goals away from home. They managed a 2-0 win at Chelsea in the Capital One Cup semi final in January, but they will do well to get anything from this game.
With two games next week also Miguel Michu could be a good choice for fantasy managers.
I think Chelsea will manage a win despite any fatigue they might have from their Europa League game on Thursday night.
Prediction: 2-0
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Arsenal v Manchester United
4pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal have taken 25 points in their last 10 games and are in third place in the league, but they have played a game more than both Chelsea and Spurs. Only United have scored more home goals than Arsenal and more goals have been scored at the Emirates than any other Premier League ground so far this season. They need to take at least a point from this game and it won't be easy against the team that have just won their 20th league title.
Santi Cazorla has had a great first season in the Premier League and is still probably the best fantasy choice in the Arsenal team.
United clinched the league title on Monday night and they will want to amass as many points as possible this season. They have won 12 of their 17 away games and scored more away goals than any other team. It won't be an easy task for them against an Arsenal team with a lot to play for, but United will go for the win.
Robin van Persie is the outstanding fantasy performer this season and United's defensive players have kept eight clean sheets in their last 10 games.
As an Arsenal fan I have to go for an Arsenal win in this game but it won't be an easy task.
Prediction: 2-1
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Monday April 29
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Aston Villa v Sunderland
8pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa are still only three points above the bottom three and have played a game more than Wigan. They have taken 10 points in their last six games though and look like they have enough about them to avoid the drop. They have only won four of their 17 home games and only QPR have scored less home goals than Villa.
Christian Benteke may not have scored in his last two games but he's still the best fantasy choice in the Villa team.
Sunderland have been born again since Paolo di Canio took over from Martin O'Neill and they have won their last games to move six points clear of the drop zone. They have lost nine of their 17 away games but they have scored more goals away than they have at home. A win in this game would surely guarantee their Premier League survival for another season.
Stephane Sessegnon has done very well in the last two games and looks to be the player benefiting most from the arrival of di Canio.
This could be a very close and very hard fought game and I have a feeling it will end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
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That's it for this week.
See you next week.
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