Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 24

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I managed one perfect result last week, three correct outcomes and six incorrect. It meant I dropped to seventh in my predictions league, but I'm still very close to a top three place. Here's a look at how the top 10 in my predictions league stands.

Pos.    Player.                        Week.    Total

1.         MickTheGooner          140        1585

2.         Wayne Hubbard           20         1565

3.         Paul Kingston             145         1480

4.         Karl-Yngve Lund         115         1450

5.         Abu K                         115          1445

6.         KildareGunner              50          1420

7.         Michael Sheehy            60         1415

8.         goonerdhanesh            10          1190

9.         Sulabh                          25          1135

10.       Gaurav Ahuja                 0           885

Saturday February 1

Newcastle United v Sunderland 

12.45pm GMT, St. James Park, Newcastle 

Newcastle sold their best player to PSG during the week and won't find life without Yohan Cabaye easy. Loric Remy got a red card at Norwich on Wednesday night and he will miss this fierce local derby as a result. Newcastle will want to gain revenge for the 2-1 defeat at Sunderland in October and have only lost three of their 11 home games.

With their two star performers missing it's hard to see any Newcastle players to recommend at the moment, but Yoan Gouffran has done well in home games.

Sunderland won at home for the first time in two months on Wednesday night and that win moved them out of the relegation zone. They have only won twice away from home in 11 games, but they are unbeaten in their last five away games. They will fancy their chances against a Newcastle team missing their star performers.

Adam Johnson is the in form Sunderland player at the moment with Vito Mannone well worth considering too.

I think this will be a very close game and could well end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

West Ham United v Swansea City

3pm GMT, Upton Park, London

West Ham got a very good point away to Chelsea on Wednesday night, but they're still in the bottom three. They have only won two of their 11 home games and have only won once in their last 10 games home and away. If they're going to avoid relegation they're going to have to show a lot more of the spirit they showed against Chelsea. 

It's not easy to see any West Ham players doing well for fantasy managers at the moment.

Swansea got their first win in nine games at home to Fulham on Tuesday night. They have lost six of their 11 away games, but only Chelsea have a better defensive record away from home. The win over Fulham gave them some breathing space at the wrong end of the table, but a defeat to West Ham would be a big blow to their chances of steering clear of the drop zone.

Wilfried Bony looks like the Swansea player most likely to succeed for fantasy managers at the moment.

I think this will be another very close game and it could well end in a draw too.

Prediction: 1-1

Cardiff City v Norwich City

3pm GMT, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff

Cardiff have only taken one point in their last seven games and have failed to score in four of them. They have only won three of their 11 home games and no other team has scored less goals at home than Cardiff. They're only three points from safety with 15 games to play, but they will have to improve if they are going to have a chance of staying up.

I can't see any Cardiff players making an impression for fantasy managers right now.

Norwich have kept clean sheets in their last two games and they took four points from those games. They have lost seven of their 11 away games though with only Fulham and Stoke conceding more goals away from home. They're five points above the relegation zone and a win in this game would give them a really important buffer over the teams in trouble.

Cardiff players are hardly setting the fantasy world alight at the moment either.

If Cardiff are to avoid the drop this is the type of game they need to win and I think they might just nick it.

Prediction: 2-1

Everton v Aston Villa

3pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool

Everton were soundly thrashed by Liverpool on Tuesday night and have a fair few injury problems at the moment. They have only lost one of their 11 home games though and need to win to keep pace with the fight for fourth place. If they can't find someone to score the goals of the injured Romelu Lukaku they could find themselves among the also rans.

If Seamus Coleman is back from injury he's Everton's top fantasy performer with Leighton Baines and Kevin Mirallas worth considering too.

Villa have taken eight points in their last five games and they're in the top half of the table with an eight point gap to the relegation zone. They have only lost three of their 11 away games and only Chelsea have a better defensive record away from home. It won't be easy for them against a good Everton team, but they are set up to hit teams on the break away from home.

Christian Benteke looks to have regained some form with three goals in three games and could be the best fantasy bet in the Villa team.

This could be a very close affair but I think Everton will take the three points.

Prediction: 2-1

Fulham v Southampton 

3pm GMT, Craven Cottage, London

Fulham have lost 12 of their last 15 games and have the worst defensive record at home and away from home. They have lost seven of their 11 home games and will do well to avoid relegation if they can't improve their defensive record. It looks like it could be a very tough remainder of the season for them, but they are still only three points away from safety. 

I still can't see any Fulham players to recommend with the possible exception of Steve Sidwell.

Southampton were very good against Arsenal on Tuesday night and probably should have taken all three points. They have a good defensive record away from home but they have only won three of their 11 away games. They started the season very strongly and the signs are they might just finish it strongly too.

Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez keep racking up the fantasy points week after week and are well worth having in any fantasy team.

I think Southampton are good enough to take the three points from this game.

Prediction: 1-2

Hull City v Tottenham Hotspur

3pm GMT, KC Stadium, Hull

Hull have lost their last four games in the league without scoring a goal and are drifting dangerously close to the relegation zone. They have only lost three of their 11 home games though and only Arsenal have a better defensive record at home. If they're going to keep a safe distance from the relegation zone they need to start scoring goals and winning games again.

Hull defenders aren't a bad fantasy choice at the moment when they're at home in particular.

Spurs took another real hiding from City on Wednesday night, but they're still right in the fight for fourth place. They have won eight of their 11 away games and only Chelsea have a better defensive record away from home despite the six goals Spurs they conceded at City. The defeat on Wednesday night was their third thrashing of the season, but they have managed to bounce back from the other two and need to do so again. 

Christian Eriksen and Emmanuel Adebayor still look like they could be good fantasy buys as long as Spurs can bounce back.

I think Spurs away form will be enough to see them take the three points.

Prediction: 0-2

Stoke City v Manchester United

3pm GMT, Britannia Stadium, Stoke

Stoke have taken only one point in their last six games and lost their last two games by the same 1-0 scoreline to Palace and Sunderland. They have only lost two of their 11 home games though and have beaten Chelsea and drawn with City at home. They're just three points above the relegation zone and need to turn some recent good performances into points on the board. 

I can't see any Stoke players making an impression for fantasy managers at the moment.

United may have lost to both Chelsea and Spurs recently, but they have still won six of their last eight league games. They have kept clean sheets in four of those eight games and are only six points off the top four despite a very disappointing league campaign so far. They have won as many league games away from home as at home and have scored more goals away from home.

With Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney back from injury and Juan Mata new among the ranks there are plenty of good fantasy options in the United team too and Patrice Evra is worth considering too.

I think United will be too strong for Stoke and continue their fight for a top four place with a win.

Prediction: 1-3

Sunday February 2

West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool

1.30pm GMT, The Hawthorns, Birmingham 

West Brom have only won once in their last 13 league games and have slipped to only three points above the relegation zone. They have only won three of their 11 home games and have only kept one clean sheet in that very poor run. Like so many other clubs they need to improve quickly before they find themselves in a very awkward position.

There haven't been any West Brom players excelling this season although Chris Brunt and James Morrison have looked good in recent weeks.

Liverpool had a great 4-0 win over Everton on Wednesday night and are looking good in fourth place. They have only won four of their 11 away games though and have conceded 20 goals away from home. They have the firepower to beat any team, but they need to improve in defence to stay ahead in the race for fourth place. 

Every fantasy team just has to have Luis Suarez in it and Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard are in fine form too.

I think Liverpool will be able to score enough goals to insure all three points in this game.

Prediction: 1-3

Arsenal v Crystal Palace

4pm GMT, Emirates Stadium, London

Arsenal ended their run of five league wins in a row when they drew 2-2 at Southampton on Tuesday night. They're only one point behind City and haven't lost a home league game since the opening day. They have the best defensive record at home too and a win would put them back on top of the table ahead of the game between City and Chelsea the next night.

Santi Cazorla continues to shine for Arsenal along with any or all of their defence.

Palace have won six of their last 12 games to move four points clear of the relegation zone. They have kept clean sheets in seven of their last 13 league games and have proved very hard to beat since Tony Pulis got the manager's job. They have lost nine of their 11 away games though and have only scored five goals in those games.

Jason Puncheon has been very good in recent weeks since he missed a penalty against Spurs and the Palace defenders and goalkeeper have been very good bargain buys too.

Arsenal have to win this game and I think they will do so by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 2-0

Monday February 3

Manchester City v Chelsea

8pm GMT, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City are an unstoppable machine at home and have won all 11 of their home league games scoring 42 goals in the process. They're on top of the table and will move six points ahead of Chelsea if they can beat them. They won't find it too easy against a packed Chelsea defence, but if any team can break them down it's City.

There are so many City players to choose from with Yaya Toure and David Silva in fine form along with Vincent Kompany, Alvaro Negredo and maybe even Eden Dzeko now that Sergio Aguero is injured again.

Chelsea will try to do to City what West Ham did to them on Wednesday night. They have already drawn 0-0 away to Arsenal and United and would be more than happy to be the first team to take a home point off City this season. They have only won five of their away league games though, but they have got the best defensive record away from home.

Eden Hazard and John Terry have been the best fantasy performers for Chelsea, but they might not get many points from this game.

I think City are good enough to get past the bus Chelsea will park and win by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 3-1

That's it for this week.

See you next week.