Friday 17 January 2014

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 22

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 again last week with two perfect scorelines, five correct outcomes and three incorrect. I remain in sixth place in my predictions league, but I'm still catching the leaders and there's an outside chance I can overhaul them before the season ends. Here's a look at how the top 10 in my predictions league stands.

Pos.    Player.                        Week.    Total

1.          Wayne Hubbard                  110        1545

2.          KildareGunner                      90         1390

3.          MickTheGooner                  185         1350

4.          Paul Kingston                     120         1345

5.          Karl-Yngve Lund                 225         1335

6.          Michael Sheehy                  175          1310

7.          Abu K                                 110          1300

8.          goonerdhanesh                  155          1180

9.          Sulabh                               120          1095

10.        Gaurav Ahuja                      40             830

The January wildcard is available for fantasy managers and there are many opinions on how best to use it. I could offer my own advice, but the best thing I could do is point you to Fantasy Yirma where the very best fantasy performers from the past few seasons run through the options. I have already used mine after my squad was decimated by injuries over the festive period.

Saturday January 18

Sunderland v Southampton 

12.45pm GMT, Stadium of Light, Sunderland

Sunderland have only lost one of their last six league games and have moved off the bottom of the table on goal difference. No other team has lost more home games than Sunderland though and only Villa and Palace have scored less goals at home. If they're going to continue their progress they need to improve at home.

Adam Johnson proved to be a very good fantasy purchase for some last week and along with him Vito Mannone is worth considering.

Southampton have only won two of their last 10 games but those two wins came in their last four games. Only Everton have a better defensive record than Southampton away from home, but they have struggled to score on the road. There has been turmoil at the club this week with the chairman resigning and suggestions the manager may follow him which could affect team morale.

Adam Lallana continues to shine for Southampton while others falter and he's the best fantasy choice in their team although Artur Boruc is back from injury and worth a thought too.

This will be a very close and tight game and I have a feeling it will end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Arsenal v Fulham

3pm GMT, Emirates Stadium, London

Arsenal are still on top of the league with City and Chelsea right behind them. They have won their last four league games and have won seven out of 10 at home. They have the joint best defensive record at home and have only conceded three goals in their last nine home games.

Arsenal defenders are good fantasy choices at the moment with Per Mertesacker and Wojciech Szczesny probably the best of them and Olivier Giroud is doing quite well too. If he's back from injury Aaron Ramsey is a very good buy and Mesut Ozil isn't doing badly either.

Fulham have lost seven of their 10 away games and no other team has conceded more goals away from home. No other team has lost more games than Fulham either, but their lack of draws has meant they are a couple of points above the relegation zone. If they can't improve their defensive record they will have to fight to the very end to try to avoid relegation.

Steve Sidwell has done well for Fulham in recent weeks and might not be a bad fantasy choice.

Arsenal should have too much for the Premier League's worst defence and should win by a few goals.

Prediction: 3-0

Crystal Palace v Stoke City

3pm GMT, Selhurst Park, London

Palace got off to a good start under Tony Pulis but they have only taken four points from their last six games. They have only scored three goals in those games and 13 in their 21 games which is less than any other team. If they're going to win the battle to stay up they will have to find a way to score more goals.

Palace defenders are available at a good price and certainly worth having as backup if not in your starting team.

Stoke have let in a lot more goals than usual this season and only Fulham have conceded more than them. They have only won once in their 10 away games and only Fulham and Norwich have conceded more away goals. They have had a tough run of fixtures recently but will think they can take points from Palace and Sunderland in their next two games.

Stoke have let in a lot of goals recently and it's not easy to see which of their players to choose for fantasy managers.

Palace need to get something from this game and I think they will get a point at least.

Prediction: 1-1

Manchester City v Cardiff City 

3pm GMT, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City are a goalscoring machine at home in particular and they're in fantastic form at the moment. They are the top scorers at home and have the joint best defence while winning all 10 of their home games. They have taken 28 points in their last 10 games and are breathing down the necks of Arsenal despite having a very hectic schedule.

There are so many City players to choose from but the best of them probably are David Silva, Yaya Toure (if he's fit), Alvaro Negredo, Pablo Zabaleta and Vincent Kompany with Sergio Aguero to add to that list if he's fit too.

Cardiff have only won once in their last 11 games and have failed to score in three of their last four games. They've slipped into the relegation zone on goal difference and need to turn things around very quickly. They will do well to get out of this game without conceding a hatful of goals.

It's not easy to choose any Cardiff players in this game in particular.

City may be playing an awful lot at the moment but they should still be far too good for Cardiff.

Prediction: 3-0

Norwich City v Hull City

3pm GMT, Carrow Road, Norwich 

Norwich haven't won any of their last six games and they're only two points above the relegation zone. They don't score too many goals at home but they don't concede too many either and there have been less goals at Carrow Road than any other Premier League ground so far this season. They could do with a win in this game and will be favourites to get it.

Gary Hooper still looks like a good value striker but it's not easy to pick any other Norwich players.

Hull have only won once in their last eight games but that was a 6-0 win at home to Fulham. They have only won once in their 10 away games and no other team has taken less points on their travels. They're still six points above the relegation zone and should stay that way as long as they can continue to pick up points at home.

Allan McGregor remains the best fantasy choice in the Hull team with James Chester to be considered as a back up defender.

Norwich need a win and I think they will just edge this game.

Prediction: 2-1

West Ham United v Newcastle United

3pm GMT, Upton Park, London

West Ham got a much needed win away to Cardiff last week and it was their first win in eight games. They have only won two of their 10 home games though and are only outside the relegation zone on goal difference. There are so many teams involved in the relegation battle that any of them could go down and it might just be West Ham if they can't improve at home and find a way around their terrible injury problems.

If Andy Carroll is fully fit he's a good fantasy choice but otherwise it's not easy to pick any West Ham players.

Newcastle have lost their last three league games in a row without scoring a goal. Their hopes of keeping up with the top four have gone and they need to arrest their slide as soon as possible. They're very much hit or miss away from home with five wins and five losses in their 10 games.

Newcastle haven't scored many fantasy points in recent weeks, but Yohan Cabaye and Loric Remy must still be worth having.

It's hard to call this game but I think it might just end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Liverpool v Aston Villa

5.30pm GMT, Anfield, Liverpool

Liverpool just can't stop scoring goals at the moment and it's almost impossible to stop Luis Suarez at home. They have won nine of their 10 home games with only City scoring more goals at home and no other team conceding less. They need the three points to keep the pressure on the three teams above them and could give Villa very tough afternoon.

Suarez continues to excell and is a fantasy must with Daniel Sturrudge, Steven Gerrard, Phillippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling all scoring well too.

Villa nearly pulled back a two goal deficit at home to Arsenal on Monday night but they lost 2-1. Their poor home record is a severe handicap, but they have taken 15 points in their 10 away games. They have only won once in their last seven games and will do very well to get anything out of this game.

Christian Benteke got his first goal in nearly four months against Arsenal and could be a good choice if he can regain his form of last season.

Liverpool should be far too good for a struggling Villa side.

Prediction: 3-1

Sunday January 19

Swansea City v Tottenham Hotspur

1.30pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea have taken only three points in their last seven games and they're only three points above the relegation zone. They have only won twice in their 10 home games and only Fulham have conceded more goals at home. If they're going to steer clear of trouble that home record has to improve but it won't be easy against Spurs.

Wilfried Bony has been in good form recently and could be considered by fantasy managers.

Spurs have taken 19 points in their last eight games and only Arsenal have won more games away from home. They have done well to get 22 points in 10 away games considering they have only scored 13 goals in those games. They're by far the lowest scorers in the top seven, but their defence has been good with the exceptions of the thrashings by City and Villa.

Christian Eriksen and Emmanuel Adebayor are the Spurs players most likely to succeed at the moment and their defenders have improved in recent weeks too.

This isn't an easy game to call, but Spurs away form might just edge it in their favour.

Prediction: 1-2

Chelsea v Manchester United

4pm GMT, Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea are on a very good run at the moment and have taken 28 points from their 10 home games. They have tightened up in defence and have already added to their squad in the transfer window. If they're going to win the league a home win against the reigning champions would be a huge boost to their chances.

Eden Hazard continues to do it week in and week out for fantasy managers with John Terry getting plenty of points too.

United's form has been up and down this season but they have a good record away from home in the league. They have lost only two of their 10 away games with only Arsenal and Liverpool scoring more away goals. They're 11 points behind the leaders and a defeat in this game would probably be the final blow in their attempt to retain the title.

With Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney out Danny Welbeck had stepped up and has to be a good fantasy choice along with Adnan Januzaj and Patrice Evra.

Chelsea won't have it all their own way and I think United might take a point off them.

Prediction: 2-2

Monday January 20

West Bromwich Albion v Everton

8pm GMT, The Hawthorns, Birmingham

West Brom have only won once in their last 11 games and have only won three of their 10 home games. They're only three points above the relegation zone, but they have at least appointed a new manager. Like so many other clubs their goal for the rest of the season must just be to avoid the drop. 

There are no West Brom players excelling for fantasy managers at the moment.

Everton will know how all of the other top teams have done before they play. They have drawn too many games for their own good but have only lost once away from home in their 10 away games. Their only defeat in their last 14 games was at home to Sunderland and they had to play most of that game with 10 men after Tim Howard was sent off.

Romelu Lukaku, Seamus Coleman, Leighton Baines, Tim Howard and Kevin Mirallas are all good fantasy choices at the moment.

West Brom won't make it easy for Everton, but I think Everton will just nick it.

Prediction: 1-2

That's it for this week.

See you next week.

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2 comments:

  1. Thanks for the mention ! I'm going for a 2-0 against Fulham

    Best of luck

    @FantasyYIRMA

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Any time. As long as Arsenal win I'll be happy.

      Delete