There have been an awful lot of games in the last few weeks and it's not easy to predict which players will play for their clubs and which ones will be rested. The choice of fantasy captain can be crucial at the moment and I think it has to be Luis Suarez at home to a team which struggles away from home. I can't see Liverpool resting him with so few other options available to them while other clubs can afford to rest some of their best players at times.
Here's a look at how the top 10 in my predictions league stands .
Pos. Player. Week. Total
1. Wayne Hubbard 115 1430
2. KildareGunner 150 1290
3. Paul Kignston 15 1200
4. Abu K 135 1170
5. MickTheGooner 90 1145
6. Karl-Yngve Lund 80 1070
7. Michael Sheehy 140 1035
8. Sulabh -20 1010
9. goonerdhanesh 120 980
10. Gaurav Ahuja 10 805
Wednesday January 1
Swansea City v Manchester City
12.45pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Swansea haven't won in their last five games and have only won two of their nine home games. They have had no problems scoring at home, but have conceded quite a few goals too and have actually taken more points away from home. They are sure to make a game of it with City, but will have their work cut out to get anything from this game.
Swansea players haven't done an awful lot to impress for fantasy managers in recent weeks.
City have taken 22 points in their last eight games and scored 26 goals in the process. They are only a point behind Arsenal at the top of the table but they have lost four of their nine away games. If they're going to live up to their favourites tag they're going to have to improve that away record.
With David Silva suspended Yaya Toure, Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany and Alvaro Negredo are probably the City players to have for fantasy managers as long as they play.
I think City should be good enough to win this game despite their problems away from home.
Prediction: 2-3
Arsenal v Cardiff City
3pm GMT, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal have bounced back from their poor run to win their last two games and retake top spot in the league. They haven't been beaten at home since the opening day defeat by Villa and no other team has conceded less goals at home. They have a few problems with injury at the moment, but this is a game they should win.
Theo Walcott looks like the Arsenal player most likely to succeed if he's passed fit to play with Aaron Ramsey injured and Mesut Ozil doubtful. Arsenal's defenders have been impressive too with Wojciech Szczesny and Per Mertesacker the best of them.
Cardiff have only won once in their nine away games and no other team has scored less goals away from home than they have. They have only won once in their last nine games and have slipped to only two points above the relegation zone. They blew a two goal lead at home to bottom club Sunderland on Saturday and ended up dropping two very valuable points.
Steven Caulker and David Marshall have done well for Cardiff, but this may not be the ideal game to have Cardiff defenders.
I think Arsenal should be good enough to win by a few goals despite any injury worries they might have.
Prediction: 3-0
Crystal Palace v Norwich City
3pm GMT, Selhurst Park, London
Palace have won four of their last eight games to move out of the relegation zone on goal difference. Their defence has tightened up and has given them chances to take points despite their lack of goals. They are the joint lowest scorers at home and the lowest scorers overall, but it doesn't seem to be affecting them too much at the moment.
Marouane Chamakh, Barry Bannon and Danny Gabbidon could be the Palace players to have if they continue their progress up the table.
Norwich have only taken two points in their last four games to drop back to within three points of the relegation zone. They have lost six of their nine away games and only Fulham and Stoke have conceded more goals away from home. A defeat in this game would be a huge blow for them and I'm sure they would be more than happy with a draw.
Gary Hooper, Leroy Fer and John Ruddy are all possibilities for fantasy managers and at a good price too.
I think this will be a very close game and it will probably end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Fulham v West Ham United
3pm GMT, Craven Cottage, London
Fulham looked like they were making some real progress under their new manager until Hull put six goals past them in the second half on Saturday. They have only won two of their nine home games and have the worst defensive record both home and away. This is a huge game for them against one of the two teams below them and it's one they really need to win.
I still can't see any Fulham players who might make a difference for fantasy managers.
West Ham have only taken seven points in their last 12 games and it's seen them drop to second last in the league. They have only won once in nine away games and only scored six goals in those games. If they're going to win the battle against relegation they need to either get Andy Carroll back from injury or buy a new striker in the transfer window.
Jussi Jaaskelainen is still the best fantasy bet among the West Ham players.
This could be a very close game between two teams who really need the points and I think Fulham might just edge it.
Prediction: 2-1
Liverpool v Hull City
3pm GMT, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool lost their last two games away to City and Chelsea, but they played well in both games. They're back in fifth place six points behind the leaders, but have some relatively easier games coming up. They have won eight of their nine home games and only free scoring City have scored more goals at home than Liverpool.
Luis Suarez is a must have for fantasy managers and always a good choice as captain in home games. Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson are worth considering too along with Phillippe Coutinho.
Hull have only won once in their nine away games and have only scored seven goals in those games. They had been struggling to score goals until they put six past Fulham in the second half on Saturday and that win took them into the top half of the table. They won at home to Liverpool at the start of December, but will find it a lot harder to get anything from the return fixture.
Allan McGregor has been impressive in goal for Hull but most of his points have come in home games.
I think Liverpool will get back to winning ways with a comfortable enough victory in this game.
Prediction: 3-0
Southampton v Chelsea
3pm GMT, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton
Southampton have had some very tough games recently and have only taken five points from their last eight games. They have only lost two of their nine home games though and are a match for most teams at home. They play good football and can cause problems for any team, but will find it hard to get a result against title chasing Chelsea.
Adam Lallana continues to impress for fantasy managers and is well worth having.
Chelsea are third in the table and they're only two points behind the leaders after beating Liverpool on Sunday. They have only won three of their nine away games though and will have to improve that record if they're going to win the league. They have taken a more pragmatic approach in recent games and it has paid off, but they have the players to take teams on and beat if they so wish.
Eden Hazard is the must have player in the Chelsea team with John Terry performing well too.
I think this will be another very close game and it might just end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Stoke City v Everton
3pm GMT, Brutannia Stadium, Stoke
Stoke have let in eight goals in their last two games away from home and will be happy to have a game on their home patch. They have only lost one of their nine home games and have the joint best defensive record at home. They won't have it easy against high flying Everton, but they are capable of getting a result against any team at home.
Asmir Begovic had been the Stoke player to have but he's out injured for a while and Ryan Shawcross is probably the next best bet.
Everton bounced back from their home defeat to Sunderland to beat Southampton 2-1 on Sunday. They are up to fourth in the table and have only lost one of their nine away games so far. They have the best defensive record away from home and have a run of games coming up which could see them move even further up the table.
Seamus Coleman continues to impress for Everton with Tim Howard and Romelu Lukaku looking good too.
Stoke are never an easy team to beat at home and Everton draw a lot of games which makes me think this game will end all square.
Prediction: 1-1
Sunderland v Aston Villa
3pm GMT, Stadium Of Light, Sunderland
Sunderland did very well to come from 2-0 down to take a point at Cardiff on Saturday. They're unbeaten in their last four games, but they're still bottom of the table and no other team has lost more home games. Their defence has looked good in recent weeks and they have a chance of staying up if they can score a few more goals.
Sunderland defenders have done well in recent weeks with Vito Mannone available at a good price and Phil Bardsley possibly worth considering too.
Villa got a point at home to Swansea on Saturday and it was their first one in five games. They have done better away from home though and have won as many games as they have lost on the road. They're only four points above the relegation zone and cannot afford to lose to the bottom club.
Brad Guzan is the only real possibility in the Villa team, but he hasn't done too well in recent weeks.
This is a really big game for Sunderland and I think they might just squeeze a narrow victory.
Prediction: 1-0
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle
3pm GMT, The Hawthorns, Birmingham
West Brom haven't won in nine games but they have at least drawn their last three games to halt their slide down the table. They have only won two of their nine home games and are only two points above the relegation zone. They need to get a win to get some confidence back, but it won't be easy against a strong Newcastle team.
I can't see any West Brom players making an impact for fantasy managers at the moment.
Newcastle were a little unlucky to lose 1-0 at home to Arsenal on Sunday, but they have still won seven of their last 10 games. Only Arsenal, United and Spurs have won more games away from home and they're only four points off a top four place. They will want to bounce back from the defeat to Arsenal and have a very good chance of doing so against a struggling West Brom team.
Yohan Cabaye, Loric Remy, Yoan Gouffran and Tim Krul are all worth considering for fantasy managers at the moment.
I think this will be a close game and a draw is the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 2-2
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
5.30pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester
United have won their last four games to move up to sixth in the table and they're only three points off a top four place. They have lost three home games already though and their challenge is usually built on a solid home platform. They have taken points off teams they should beat in recent weeks, but their season could well be defined by how they do against the tougher teams to beat.
Wayne Rooney is the best fantasy choice among the United players if he's fit to play and Patrice Evra has done quite well too.
Spurs have had some poor results but they have still managed to win four of their last six games. They're only behind United on goal difference with only Arsenal having a better record away from home. This will be a very tough game for them but they will feel they have a chance with their away record and United's home record.
Emmanuel Adebayor is looking good for Spurs at the moment and Kyle Walker has done quite well too.
I think this will be a very close game and United might just edge it.
Prediction: 3-1
That's it for this week.
See you next week.
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