Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 14

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I did quite well in the weekend games with three correct scorelines, four correct outcomes and three incorrect. It means I've moved up to eighth place in my predictions league and caught up ever so slightly on the league leader. Here's a look at how the top 10 in my predictions league stands.

Pos.    Player.                             Week.    Total

1.         Paul Kingston                            90          1080

2.         KildareGooner                           75            910

3.         Wayne Hubbard                         5             910

4.         Abu K                                        100          880

5.         MickTheGooner                        140          865

6.         Karl-Yngve Lund                        95           860

7.         Sulabh                                       80           840

8.         Michael Sheehy                        110          755

9.         Gaurav Ahuja                             45          715

10.       TheDognash                              85          700

Tuesday December 3

Crystal Palace v West Ham United

8pm GMT, Selhurst Park, London

Palace have a new manager but their biggest problem is still their inability to score goals and they're the lowest scorers in the league. They have only taken four points in six home games and failed to score in four of those games. They have tightened up at the back recently with only one goal conceded in their last three games.

I can't see any Palace players worth considering for fantasy managers.

West Ham got a much needed win at home to Fulham on Saturday and will want to beat another one of the teams below them in this game. They have only conceded four goals in their six away games and that's the best defensive record away from home in the league. If they're going to move clear of the relegation zone this is a game they really should be winning. 

Jussi Jaaskelainen might not be a bad choice for fantasy managers at the moment.

I think West Ham will win a very close game now that that eventually have someone to play as a striker.

Prediction: 0-1

Wednesday December 4

Arsenal v Hull City

7.45pm GMT, Emirates Stadium, London

Arsenal are top of the league and have won five out of their six home games with 10 out of 13 wins overall. They have only conceded one goal in their last five league games and that was away to United. They have a tough run of games coming up and will want to get another three points on the board before those games.

Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil showed against Cardiff why they are must have players for fantasy managers and Arsenal defenders are looking a good bet at the moment with Olivier Giroud worth considering too.

Hull got a very good 3-1 win at home to Liverpool on Sunday and it gave them some breathing space in their ultimate battle to stay in the league. Their home form has been very good but they have lost five out of six on the road and conceded 13 goals in the process. They will give their all to try to match their result against Liverpool, but it will be a huge task for them away to the league leaders.

Allan McGregor could be the Hull player to have for fantasy managers now that he has returned from injury.

I can't see anything other than a resounding win for Arsenal in this game.

Prediction: 3-0

Liverpool v Norwich

7.45pm GMT, Anfield, Liverpool

Liverpool have only taken one point in their last two games and conceded six goals in the process. Both of those were away from home though and they will relish a home game against a struggling Norwich team to try to get back on track. They have won five of their six home games and only City and Southampton have conceded less goals at home.

Luis Suarez is in great form for Liverpool with Steven Gerrard looking pretty good too.

Norwich got a much needed win at home to Palace on Saturday to move them four points clear of the relegation zone. They have suffered a few bad defeats away from though and have the worst defensive record away from home. Only Sunderland have scored less goals away from home than Norwich and they could be in for a tough night against a free scoring Liverpool team.

Gary Hooper could be the best fantasy option in the Norwich team with two goals in three games since he eventually managed to get a starting place.

This could be a long night for Norwich and I think Liverpool will beat them with ease.

Prediction: 4-0

Manchester United v Everton

7.45pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester 

United drew their last two games 2-2 away from home and this will be another hard game for them despite being at home. Old Trafford is usually a fortress for United but they have only won three of their six home games and only scored eight goals in the process. They will be hoping Robin van Persie will return from injury to boost their chances as Wayne Rooney is having to take on all the responsibility at the moment.

Rooney is almost carrying the United attack single handed at the moment and is by far their best option for fantasy managers.

Everton had a very good win at home to Stoke on Saturday and have only lost once in their first 13 league games. They have scored seven goals in their last two games and kept four clean sheets in their last five games. A trip to United is never an easy task but Everton have every chance of getting a result.

Romelu Lukaku and Seamus Coleman are probably the best fantasy choices in the Everton team with Phil Jagielka, Tim Howard and Kevin Mirallas looking good too.

I think this will be a very close game and could well end up with the honours shared.

Prediction: 1-1

Southampton v Aston Villa

7.45pm GMT, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton 

Southampton lost their last two games away to Arsenal and Chelsea and they will be happy to have a home game against a team who are nowhere near as good as either of those teams. They're unbeaten at home and no other team has conceded less home goals than Southampton. They're only two points outside the top four and could find themselves even closer after this game.

Southampton's defenders have suffered in the last few games but Dejan Lovern and Jose Fonte still look like they could be good buys. Adam Lallana has done well in midfield this season and could be worth picking now that Arsenal and Chelsea are out of the way.

Villa have struggled to score goals recently and have failed to score in five of their last seven games. They have only lost once away from home though and only West Ham have a better defensive record away from home. They will make themselves tough to break down and look to hit Southampton on the break when they can.

It's always risky to pick Villa defenders but Brad Guzan, Ron Vlaar and Ciaran Clarke are looking pretty good at the moment.

I think this will be a low scoring affair and Southampton might just nick it with the only goal.

Prediction: 1-0

Stoke City v Cardiff City

7.45pm GMT, Britannia Stadium, Stoke

Stoke were well beaten by Everton at the weekend and they will be happy to have a home game against a team below them in the league. They have only lost one of their six home games and have only conceded three goals in the process. They had gone three games unbeaten until Everton beat them at the weekend and they cannot afford to lose this game.

Asmir Begovic is probably the best fantasy bet in the Stoke team.

Cardiff have come off the back of two very tough home games and find themselves only one place above the relegation zone. They have only won once in their six away games and only scored four goals in those games. They're not an easy team to beat though and will make Stoke work very hard for anything they might get.

Peter Whittingham could be worth a fantasy punt for his ability to deliver excellent set pieces.

I think this will be a very close game, but I have feeling Stoke will just edge it.

Prediction: 1-0

Sunderland v Chelsea

7.45pm GMT, Stadium of Light, Sunderland 

Sunderland got off the foot of the table with a 0-0 draw at Villa, but they are five points below the fourth last team. After losing their first four home games they have won their last two against Newcastle and City and will want to take another scalp in this game. They will have to be at their very best to have any chance of getting anything from the second team in the league.

It's hard to see any Sunderland players making an impression for fantasy managers.

Chelsea did very well to come from behind at home to Southampton on Sunday and win 3-1. That win has put them up to second in the table, but their away form hasn't been great with only eight points in six games. If they're going to keep pace with Arsenal they will probably have to win this game.

Eden Hazard, Oscar and John Terry still look like the best fantasy choices in the Chelsea team.

This will be a very tough test for both teams and a I have a feeling it will end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Swansea City v Newcastle United

7.45pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea played well at times away to City on Sunday but ended up losing 3-0. They have only won once in six home games and have the worst defensive record at home along with Fulham. They're still learning to balance league and European football and are suffering quite a few injuries possibly as a result.

It's not too easy to pick any Swansea players for fantasy managers at the moment with Miguel Michu and Wilfried Bony both injured.

Newcastle have won their last four league games in a row to move up to sixth in the table. They have won three of their six away games and will think they have a very good chance of winning this game too. They struggled last season when they had European football to contend with, but they have no such distraction this time around.

Loric Remy is the best fantasy choice in the Newcastle team with Yohan Cabaye and Yoan Gouffran looking good at the moment too.

I think Newcastle have a very good chance of taking the three points and might just win by a single goal. 

Prediction: 1-2

Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur 

8pm GMT, Craven Cottage, London

Fulham parted ways with Martin Jol on Sunday after five consecutive defeats with the team stuck in the relegation zone. They have only won once in their six home games and no other team has conceded more goals at home. Usually they manage to score a few goals at least, but this season only the two teams below them have scored less goals than them.

I can't see any Fulham players to pick for fantasy players at the moment, but that might change with a new manager.

Spurs had the best defensive record in the league up until a couple of weeks ago, but they have conceded eight goals in their last two games. They have won three of their six away games so far but have only managed to score four goals in those games and 11 goals overall. Despite their recent poor run they're only three points outside the top four and they at least managed to score for the first time in four league games when they drew 2-2 with United on Sunday.

Spurs players aren't exactly turning it on for fantasy managers right now.

This is an ideal chance for Spurs to get back to winning ways and I think they will do so by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 0-2

 West Bromwich Albion v Manchester City

8pm GMT, The Hawthorns, Birmingham 

West Brom's defeat at Newcastle was only their second defeat in 10 league games and they're unbeaten in their last four home games. They have drawn a lot of games though and they need to turn a few of their draws into wins. They will feel they have a good chance with City's poor away results so far, but it won't be easy for them to get anything out of this game.

It's not too easy to see which West Brom players might excel in this game but Gareth McAuley is not a bad bet in the longer term.

City have a fantastic home record but they have had some real problems on the road up to now. They have only taken four points from six away games and three of the teams who have beaten them are in the bottom half of the table. They're still by far the highest scorers in the league but 29 of their 37 goals have come at home.

Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo, Yaya Toure, Pablo Zabaleta and Samir Nasri are all very good fantasy choices at home in particular.

City have to start winning games away from at some stage and I think they will win this game.

Prediction: 1-2

That's it for this week.

See you next week.