Monday 27 January 2014

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 23

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I managed five correct outcomes last week and five incorrect which was a little better than most others in my predictions league. It means I moved up to fourth in the league and I am getting my hopes up just a little that I could actually have a chance of winning it if I continue my current progress.

Pos.    Player.                       Week.    Total

1.         Wayne Hubbard             0        1545

2.         MickTheGooner            95       1445

3.         KildareGooner             -20       1370

4.         Michael Sheehy            45       1355

5.         Karl-Yngve Lund            0        1335

6.         Paul Kingston              -10       1335

7.         Abu K                            30       1330

8.         goonerdhanesh               0       1180

9.         Sulabh                           15       1110

10.       Gaurav Ahuja                 55        885

Tuesday January 28

Manchester United v Cardiff City

7.45pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester

United have spent big to bring Juan Mata in and try to make up the ground on the teams above them in the league. Their problems have been at home with only five wins and four defeats in their 11 home games and only 14 goals scored in those games. If they're going to finish in the Champions League places they have to do better at home and where better to start than against the bottom club in the league.

Danny Welbeck and Adnan Januzaj could be the United players to have at the moment and Mata must be considered too now that he has joined United.

Cardiff have only taken one point from their last six games and find themselves at the bottom of the table as a result. They have only won once in 11 away games and only Palace have scored less goals away from home. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have to work some magic to keep them up, but the bottom half of the table is very tight and they are only six points off tenth place.

It's hard to see any Cardiff players to pick for fantasy managers right now.

Despite not being at their best United should be too good for the team at the foot of the table.

Prediction: 3-0

Norwich City v Newcastle United

7.45pm GMT, Carrow Road, Norwich

Norwich got a much needed win against Hull in their last game after six games without a win. That win moved them five points clear of the relegation zone. They are a tough team to beat at home and have only lost four of their 11 home games with only 11 goals conceded in those games.

There's not an awful lot happening with Norwich players at the moment and it's not a bad idea to avoid them.

Newcastle won away to West Ham last time out to halt a run of three consecutive defeats all of which they failed to score in. They still haven't drawn away from home with six wins and five defeats in their 11 away games. Their chances of a top four place have faded but they're only one point behind the reigning champions.

Yohan Cabaye and Loric Remy remain the best fantasy choices in the Newcastle team.

It's never easy to know how Newcastle will play but I think they will build on last week's victory with another win. 

Prediction: 1-2

Southampton v Arsenal

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

Southampton have only won two of their last 11 games and that run started when they lost away to Arsenal in November. They have only lost three of their 11 home games though and have played some very good football both home and away. It won't be easy for them against the league leaders but they are sure to give it a go.

Adam Lallana is still the outstanding fantasy choice in the Southampton team with Jay Rodriguez performing well too.

Arsenal have won seven games in a row in all competitions and five in a row in the league. They have won eight of their 11 away games and only Liverpool have scored more goals on the road. They have some very tough games coming up and need to get as many points as possible on the board before those games.

Per Mertesscker, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna and Wojciech Szczesny are all very good fantasy choices at the moment with Santi Cazorla and maybe even Jack Wilshere to be considered too.

This should be a very good game and it will be very close, but I think Arsenal might just nick it.

Prediction: 1-2

Sunderland v Stoke City

7.45pm GMT, Stadium Of Light, Sunderland

Sunderland have only lost once in their last seven league games and have moved off the foot of the table on goal difference. They have lost seven of their 11 home games though and only Fulham and Swansea have conceded more goals at home. Their progress to the Carling Cup final may be just the boost they need to pull them clear of the relegation zone.

Adam Johnson is in sparkling form at the moment and Vito Mannone is doing quite well too.

Stoke have only taken one point in their last five games and find themselves just four points above the relegation zone. They have only won once in 11 away games and only Fulham have conceded more goals away from home. This is a big game for them against one of the teams below them and they cannot afford to lose it.

It's tough to see any Stoke players making an impression for fantasy managers at the moment.

This is a very big game for both clubs and I think Sunderland are playing well enough at the moment to take all three points.

Prediction: 2-1

Swansea City v Fulham

7.45pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea haven't won any of their last eight league games and are only three points above the relegation zone. They have only won two of their 11 home games and only Fulham have conceded more goals at home. Their next five home games are all very winnable and they need to win a few of them to insure Premier League survival. 

Wilfried Bony is the Swansea player most likely to succeed for fantasy managers right now.

Fulham have lost five of their last seven league games, but they are outside the relegation zone because they managed to win the other two. They have lost eight of their 11 away games and have the worst defensive record away from home. This is a very big game for both teams and Fulham can move above Swansea if they win it.

At a push Steve Sidwell might not be the worst purchase for fantasy managers.

This is as much a must win game for Swansea as it is a must not lose game for Fulham and I think Swansea will come through with the three points.

Prediction: 3-1

Crystal Palace v Hull City

8.00pm GMT, Selhurst Park, London

Palace looked certainties for relegation before Tony Pulis took the reins, but they have won five of their last 11 league games. If they beat Hull they will be level with them on 23 points and they aren't easy to beat at home with only five defeats in their 11 games. Only Villa have scored less goals than them at home though and they are the lowest scorers overall in the league.

Palace defenders haven't fared too badly in recent weeks and are all available at a very reasonable price.

Hull have lost their last three games without scoring a goal and those games came right after their 6-0 win against Fulham. They have only taken five points and scored seven goals in their 11 away games and their home form is crucial to their survival. Things are so tight in the lower half of the table that they could easily get drawn into a relegation battle and any points they get from this game would be a welcome boost.

Like Palace defenders the Hull defenders are worth looking at for their price and their defensive record at home in particular.

I think Palace's recent home form will be too much for a Hull side which struggle on the road.

Prediction: 1-0

Liverpool v Everton

8.00pm GMT, Anfield, Liverpool

Liverpool dropped two valuable points at home to Villa in their last league game and have been drawn into the fight for fourth place rather than first place as a result. Liverpool have won nine of their 11 home games though and only City have scored more home goals than them. They have been fairly sound defensively at home too with only Arsenal conceding less goals at home. 

Luis Suarez is still the best fantasy player to have as captain with both Daniel Sturrudge and Steven Gerrard to be considered too.

Everton have only lost two league games so far and only one of them was away from home. They have the best defensive record away from home too with only 11 goals conceded in their 11 away games. They have drawn a lot of away games though and would probably be very happy to get another draw in this game.

If Seamus Coleman is out for a short while with his injury there are still plenty of fantasy options in the Everton team such as Leighton Baines, Tim Howard, Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku.

This should be a very tight game with so much at stake and I think it will end in a draw.

Prediction: 2-2

Wednesday January 29

Aston Villa v West Bromwich Albion 

7.45pm GMT, Villa Park, Birmingham 

Villa have only won once in their last eight games, but they got a very good point away to Liverpool in their last game. They have only won twice in their 11 home games though and are the lowest scorers at home with only eight goals in those games. They're in tenth place in the league but they could still get drawn into the relegation battle if they can't improve on that home form.

Gabriel Agbonlahor and Christian Benteke both look like they might have hit form at exactly the right time to save Villa.

West Brom have only won once in their last 12 games and are only four points above the relegation zone. They have only won once away from home but they have only lost four of those games with six away draws to their name. If they're going to stay clear of the relegation zone they could do with getting something from this local derby.

It's very difficult to see any West Brom players to pick for fantasy managers, but that might change as their new manager exerts his influence.

I have a feeling this game will end with the spoils shared.

Prediction: 2-2

Chelsea v West Ham United

7.45pm GMT, Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea have won their last five league games to move within two points of the leaders. They have taken 31 points in their 11 home games with only West Brom taking a point off them at home so far. They will want to get the three points in the bag for this game before going to City at the weekend.

Eden Hazard and John Terry are still the best fantasy choices in the Chelsea team despite Samuel Eto'o bagging a hat trick last week.

West Ham have only taken five points in their last nine games and have slipped into the relegation zone. They will be hoping the return of Andy Carroll to fitness will boost their chances of survival, but they need to get some of their better defenders fit too. Goal scoring hasn't been a problem with nine goals in their last six games, but they conceded three goals in four of those games.

It's tough to see any West Ham players making an impression for fantasy managers or in the Premier League at the moment.

I can't see anything other than a comprehensive Chelsea win in this game.

Prediction: 3-0

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City

7.45pm GMT, White Hart Lane, London

Spurs have taken 16 points in their last six league games and are only outside the top four on goal difference. They were beaten 6-0 away to City though and will want to gain some revenge, but it won't be easy against free scoring City. Spurs have only won five of their 11 hone games and have conceded as many goals as they have scored at home so far.

Emmanuel Adebayor and Christian Eriksen are the Spurs players to have at the moment and their defenders have done well recently too but may be a risk for this game.

City have won their last seven league games in a row to move within a point of the leaders Arsenal. They have lost four of their 11 away games though and they haven't scored goals as freely away from home. This is a big week for City and if they can beat Spurs and then Chelsea at the weekend they will be even stronger favourites to win the league.

There are so many City players to choose from with Yaya Toure, David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo probably the best of them, but Jesus Navas, Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta have done well too.

This is a tough one to call, but I think it might just end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

That's it for this week.

See you next week.


1 comment:

  1. This is an awesome post. I think it is very good prediction. This sharing concept is a good way to enhance the knowledge pool about football. Thank you very much for this post.

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