Thursday 12 September 2013

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek Four

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. Last week didn't go too well for me and I've slipped dangerously close to the bottom of my own Predictions league. I managed to get three correct outcomes and six incorrect last week and I need to start doing an awful lot better. Here's a look at how the top 10 in my Predictions League stands.


Pos:     Player:                         Week:     Total:

1.         JustinL01                     100         225

2.         Wayne Hubbard            80         250

3.         Karl-Yngve Lund          100        170

4.         Sulabh                         100        165

5.         Paul Kingston                85        165

6.        Abu K                             50        155

7.        Arsenalmartyr                100       150

8.        KildareGunner                 65        140

9.        TheDognash                   40        140

10.      goonerdhanesh              20        130

Saturday September 14

Manchester United v Crystal Palace

12.45pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester.

United won their first game away to Swansea and scored four gols in the process, but they haven't scored in their two games since then. Chelsea and Liverpool are better teams than Crystal Palace though and United will want to get back on track against them. Marouane Fellaini will probably make his debut, but he's hardly the creative midfielder this United team needs.

Robin van Persie is the stand out fantasy performer in the United team and Ashley Young is capable of doing well if he stays fit and gets enough starts.

Palace lost their first two games and the win against Sunderland in their last game was a very important one for them. They still lack some of the quality needed at this level, but they have shown they won't go down without a fight. A trip to the reigning champions isn't an easy task for any newly promoted side and Palace will do well to escape a heavy defeat.

It's still hard to see any Palace players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.

I think United will be far too good for Palace and should win by a good margin. 

Prediction: 3-0

Aston Villa v Newcastle United

3pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham 

Villa had a very tough start to their season and were beaten by both Chelsea and Liverpool after winning their opening game at Arsenal. They weren't outplayed though and could easily have taken something from both of those games. They will be expected to make the running at home to Newcastle and it remains to be seen if they will play as well against teams who are of a similar standard to themselves.

Christian Benteke is the outstanding fantasy candidate in the Villa team with Gabriel Agbonlahor ably supporting him at the moment.

Newcastle were well beaten by City in their first game, but they have kept two clean sheets and taken four points in the two games since then. Their problem would seem to be their lack of goals and they need to start scoring a few of them. They conceded a lot of goals away from home last season and will want to continue their impressive defensive form at home when they go away. 

Hatem Ben Arfa is the Newcastle player most likely to perform with Loric Remy also a possibility now that he's back from injury. Newcastle defenders have done well in their last two games but history would indicate they might not keep that up.

I think Villa should be good enough to beat a Newcasle team who look far short of what they were just over a season ago.

Prediction: 2-1

Fulham v West Bromwich Albion

3pm BST, Craven Cottage, London

Fulham started with a good win at Sunderland, but defeats to Arsenal and Newcastle have shown they are still lacking in some departments. They will fancy their chances at home to a West Brom team who have started this season very badly though. If Fulham are to finish in their usual mid table position they will need to do well at home starting in this game. 

At the moment I can't see any Fulham players to recommend to fantasy managers. 

West Brom are bottom of the table with only one point and no goals in their first three games. Their failure to land Romelu Lukaku on deadline day could be a real blow for them and Victor Anichibe is hardly a suitable replacement. They need to get some goals and points on the board very soon or they could face a long hard season at the wrong end of the table.

There are no West Brom players setting the fantasy world alight at the moment.

I think Fulham should have enough attacking proess at home to take all three points.

Prediction: 2-1

Hull City v Cardiff City

3pm BST, KC Stadium, Hull

Hull have had a tough start to their season with trips to both Chelsea and City, but they did well to win at home to Norwich. They are very organised defensively and will make it hard for any team to break them down. If they're going to stay up they will need to do well at home and a win against fellow new boys Cardiff would certainly help.

Allan McGregor is a good fantasy option if he's fit and Robbie Brady is a cheap alternative who might not do too badly either.

Cardiff have shown they will be no pushover at home by beating City and drawing with Everton already. They will think they have a chance of getting a result at Hull and they look like they might have enough to stay up which has to be their first objective. It won't be easy for them but the signs are very encouraging so far.

Fraizer Campbell and Aron Gunnarsson are the best performers for Cardiff so far but it remains to be see if they will continue to be.

I can see this being a very close game and probably ending in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Stoke City v Manchester City

3pm BST, Britannia Stadium, Stoke

Stoke have won their last two games at home to Palace and away to West Ham which leaves them in fifth place. A home game against City will be a tough test for them, but Stoke are never an easy team to beat at home. They will be more than happy to get anything from this game, but will feel they have a chance after seeing how City fared at Cardiff.

Asmir Begovic and Ryan Shawcross are the best fantasy performers for Stoke so far although Marc Wilson might be the best value buy.

City have won their two home games relatively easily and didn't concede any goals in the process, but it was a different story away from home. They didn't retain their title last season mainly because of their away form and it's a statistic they will need to change. A trip to Stoke could be a very good indicator of their chances of improving that away form. They are scoring freely so far though and are the top scores in the first three games with eight goals.

David Silva is always a good choice if he's fit while both Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta have started this season very well for City.

I think Stoke can give City enough problems to take a point off them.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunderland v Arsenal

3pm BST, Stadium of Light, Sunderland 

Sunderland have only managed one point in their first three games and need all of their new signings to settle in quickly. They will need to show a lot more in defence and attack if they are going to get anything from an Arsenal team who have turned things around since the opening day.

Steven Fletcher could be the Sunderland payer to perform for fantasy managers now that he's back from injury. 

Arsenal shattered their transfer record on the last day of the window to bring Mesut Ozil in from Real Madrid. He's a fantastic player and should fit right in with their style of play. Their squad is still thin in some places and they will need to get their injured players back and keep them fit if they are going to make a real challenge.

When Ozil settles in at Arsenal he will be a fantastic buy for any fantasy manager with Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott all looking very good too.

Arsenal's attacking options should be too much for Sunderland to handle and I think they will take all three points.

Prediction: 1-3

Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City

3pm BST, White Hart Lane, London 

Spurs had won their first two games before losing to Arsenal the last time out. There has been an awful lot of change in their squad and it could take a while for all the new players to settle in. They are struggling to make chanes despite their two wins and their only two goals so far have come from the penalty spot.

Roberto Soldado is the best fantasy option in the Spurs team at the moment, but Christian Eriksen could be one to watch and Jan Vertonghen can't be ignored either.

Norwich have done well at home so far just like last season, but they lost their only away game at Hull. They struggled on the road last season and a trip to Spurs could see them lose their second away game also. 

Steven Whittaker has started very well for Norwich and is available at a good price and Nathan Redmond looks like he might be a good buy at the right price too.

Despite struggling to score goals I think Spurs should get their third win in four league games.

Prediction: 2-0

Everton v Chelsea

5.30pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool

Everton are proving to be the draw specialists again with three out of three so far. This will be their toughest test so far and they will have to do it without Marouane Fellaini who exited to United on deadline day. He will be missed and without him Everton might struggle to finish as high as they have done in the last two seasons.

Seamus Coleman looks to be the best value fantasy buy in the Everton team with Leighton Baines also a good buy but at a much higher price.

Chelsea are in second place and still unbeaten with the draw at champions United as the only points they have dropped so far. They have invested heavily this summer and will be expected to put in a serious title challenge. How they fare in this game might just give a pointer to how their season will go.

There's so much talent to choose from at Chelsea that it's difficult to single any players but Frank Lampard and John Terry are in favour with Jose Mourinho while Ashley Cole, Branislav Ivanovic, Oscar, Eden Hazard and maybe Samuel Eto'O are all possibilities too. For me Juan Mata should be the first name on the team sheet but Mourinho seems to think otherwise at the moment.

Chelsea will be favourites to win but Everton are no pushover at home and might just do enough to snatch a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunday September 15

Southampton v West Ham United

4pm BST. St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton 

Southampton took four points in their first two games before losing at Norwich last week. They were very good at home last season and will want to keep that record going into this season. They will see a home game against West Ham as the ideal chance to get their first home win.

Rickie Lambert still looks like the best fantasy bet in the Southampton team to me.

West Ham looked to have made a very good start to the season until they lost at home to Stoke the last time out. They haven't scored in their last two games and could do with getting Andy Carroll back from injury. They didn't travel well last season and need to take more points on the road if they're going to have a better season this time around. 

Jussi Jaaaskelainen and Kevin Nolan look like they will do well again this season with any of the starting West Ham defenders looking good too.

I think Southampton should have what it takes to beat West Ham.

Prediction: 1-0

Swansea City v Liverpool

4pm BST, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea lost to United and Spurs in their first two games but got a good win at West Brom the last time out. A game against Liverpool will be another very tough task for them and they also have to contend with midweek European football. They will need to keep their key players fit if they are going to do as well as last season. 

If I had taken my own advice and chosen Pablo Hernandez last week my fantasy team would have fared a lot better. 

Liverpool have had a great start to the season with three 1-0 wins in their first three games and Daniel Sturridge bagging all three goals. The win over United was a real confidence booster for them and they will hope they're back among the title contenders for the first time in quite a while. There's still a long way to go for them, but the return of Luis Suarez in a few weeks will be another welcome boost for them. 

Sturridge is the obvious fantasy choice in the Liverpool team at the moment with Simon Mignolet, Jose Enrique and the other Liverpool defenders all performing very well too.

I think Swansea might just have enough to finish the only 100% record in the league by holding Liverpool to a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

That's it for this week.

See you next week.

1 comment:

  1. I don't think we could see lot of draw coming week kick-off!!

    ManCity, Liverpool will win by scoring atleast 2-3 goal...

    Arsenal will clinch 3 points, but I would like to go with 1-2...

    Tottenham, Chelsea will score a bag full of goals...

    ReplyDelete