Tuesday 11 February 2014

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 26

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I didn't have a good weekend and only managed one perfect scoreline, one correct outcome and eight incorrect outcomes. It means I drop to sixth in my predictions league, but I wasn't the only one who had a bad week. Here's a look at how the top 10 in my predictions league stands.


NC 1 (1)  MickTheGooner1610+1520
NC 2 (2)  Wayne Hubbard1515-500
NC 3 (3)  Karl-Yngve Lund1465-300
Up 4 (7)  KildareGunner1450+355
NC 5 (5)  Abu K1405-300
Down 6 (5)  Michael Sheehy1385-500
Down 7 (4)  Paul Kingston1355-1000
NC 8 (8)  goonerdhanesh1180-400
NC 9 (9)  Sulabh1100-800
NC 10 (10)  Gaurav Ahuja88500

Tuesday February 11

Cardiff City v Aston Villa

7.45pm GMT, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff

Cardiff have lost seven of their last nine league games and they're only one point off the bottom of the table. They have won four of their 12 home games and only Norwich have scored less goals at home. It looks like sacking Malky MacKay might not have been the best idea and it could cost them their Premier League status.

Maybe Wilfred Zaha could be the player to perform well enough for Cardiff to give them a chance of staying up.

Villa just can't seem to get a run of results and every time they seem to have turned the corner they lose another game which they shouldn't. They have won more away games than any other team in the bottom half of the table and have actually taken more points away from home than at home. They're only four points off the bottom three and need a win to give them some breathing space after losing their last two games.

It's hard to know which Villa players to choose for fantasy managers, but Christian Benteke must still be the best of them.

I think Villa's counter attacking game could be ideal for this game and they might just win it.

Prediction: 1-2

Hull City v Southampton 

7.45pm GMT, KC Stadium, Hull

Hull got a very important win away to Sunderland at the weekend and it moved them five points clear of the relegation zone. They have only lost three of their 12 home games and only Arsenal have a better defensive record at home. They're a tough team to beat at home but they won't have it all their own way against Southampton.

Shane Long has done well since joining Hull in January and their defenders are a good bet at home too.

Southampton have only lost four of their 12 away games and only Chelsea have a better defensive record away from home. They are unbeaten in their last five league games and are only one point behind eighth placed Newcastle. They will fancy their chances against a Hull team who have found goals hard to come by in recent weeks.

Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez are still the Southampton players most likely to succeed for fantasy managers.

This looks like it will be a very tight game to me and I think it will end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

West Ham United v Norwich City

7.45pm GMT, Upton Park, London

West Ham have taken 10 points from their last five games and have kept clean sheets in four of them. They have only won three of their 12 home games though and have actually taken more points away from home. If they can continue their current form they should find themselves in a relatively comfortable league position quite soon.

Kevin Nolan is banging the goals in at the moment and might be a good purchase for fantasy managers if he can keep it up and Adrian is raking up the points in goal at the moment too.

Norwich have only won two of their 12 away games and are only two points above the relegation zone. They have kept clean sheets in three of their last four games and got a very good 0-0 draw at home to City on Saturday. They have found goals hard to come by though and only Palace have scored less goals than Norwich.

With three clean sheets in his last four games John Ruddy is probably the best fantasy choice in the Norwich team.

A win for either team in this game would be a very good result and I think West Ham will manage to take the three points. 

Prediction: 1-0

West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea

8pm GMT, The Hawthorns, Birmingham 

West Brom have only won once in their last 15 league games and have slipped into the relegation zone as a result. They have only won four of their 25 league games so far this season and that's a statistic they have to change if they're going to stay up. They have only lost four of their 12 home games though and got a very good point away to Chelsea earlier in the season.

West Brom still don't have any players making a real impression for fantasy managers.

Chelsea have taken 26 points from their last 10 games and they have kept seven clean sheets in those games. They're top of the league with the best defensive record away from home, but they have only won six of their 12 away games. They have to be clear favourites to win this game and possibly increase their lead with second placed Arsenal playing United.

Eden Hazard is the stand out Chelsea player for fantasy managers with Branislav Ivanovic worth considering too now that John Terry is out.

I think Chelsea should have more than enough to keep their lead at the top of the table by winning this game.

Prediction: 0-2

Wednesday February 12

Arsenal v Manchester United

7.45pm GMT, The Emirates Stadium, London

Arsenal may have been beaten 5-1 by Liverpool on Saturday but they're still second in the league and only one point behind Chelsea. They have the best defensive record at home in the league and have only conceded one goal in their last eight home league games. They need to bounce back from the defeat to Liverpool and a win over the reigning champions could be just the tonic they need.

Arsenal defenders had looked very good until Liverpool put five past them last week, but they're still very good fantasy choices.

United have only taken seven points from their last six games and are now nine points off fourth place with 13 games to go. They have won six of their 12 away games and have found goals easier to come by away from home. They have no hope of retaining the title and they need to turn things around quickly or a top four place will be beyond them too.

Robin van Persie and Juan Mata are the United players scoring well for fantasy managers at the moment and Wayne Rooney has to be considered too.

I think Arsenal will get back to winning ways in a very close and hard fought game.

Prediction: 2-1

Everton v Crystal Palace

7.45pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool 

Everton were a little unlucky to lose to Spurs on Sunday and are now five points off the pace in the race for a top four place. They have only lost one of their 12 home games though and they have a good defensive record with only Chelsea conceding less goals than them. If they're going to keep pace with the teams above them this is a game they have to win.

Kevin Mirallas and Seamus Coleman look like the best fantasy choices in the Everton team at the moment.

Palace have lost 10 of their 12 away games and are the lowest scorerers away from home and overall. They have won three of their last four league games, but all of those games were at home and that home form could be what keeps them in the Premier League. They looked certainties for relegation earlier in the season, but they're now three points clear of the drop zone.

Jason Puncheon and Tom Ince might not be bad fantasy choices and Palace defenders are worth having at home in particular.

I think Everton should be too good at home for Palace and should win.

Prediction: 2-0

Manchester City v Sunderland 

7.45pm GMT, Etihad Stadium, Manchester

City have only taken one point and scored no goals in their last two games which has seen them drop to third in the table. They had won eight in a row before that and were scoring goals for fun and I'm sure that goal scoring form will return. They have won 11 of their 12 home games and they're the highest scorers at home too.

Yaya Toure, David Silva, Alvaro Negredo, Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta are all very good fantasy choices despite City's recent dip in form.

Sunderland are unbeaten in their last six away games and they have kept clean sheets in four of those games. They spent a long time in the relegation zone but they are out of it now even if they only have a point to spare. Despite their recent good form away from home they will do very well to get anything out of this game.

Vito Mannone and Adam Johnson are the Sunderland players most likely to succeed at the moment.

I think City will get back to winning ways with a few goals to spare.

Prediction: 3-0

Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur 

7.45pm GMT, St. Jame's Park, Newcastle 

Newcastle have only taken four points in their last seven games and have failed to score in six of them. The sale of Yohan Cabaye seems to have affected the team badly and the three game suspension for Loric Remy has only made it worse. They have only won five of their 12 home games and have taken more points away from home. 

With Loric Remy still suspended it's tough to see any Newcastle players to recommend to fantasy managers.

Spurs have taken 26 points in their last 12 games and still have a good chance of finishing in the top four. They have won eight of their 12 away games and only Chelsea have a better defensive record away from home. Despite some very bad results they have managed to stay in the race for a Champions League place and will feel they can take all three points in this game.

Emmanuel Adebayor looks like the Spurs player who could make a difference for fantasy managers at the moment.

I think Spurs might just have enough to take all three points from this game.

Prediction: 0-2

Stoke City v Swansea City

7.45pm GMT, Britannia Stadium, Stoke

Stoke took four points from their last two tough games against United and Southampton and it ended a run of one point from six games. They have only lost two of their 12 home games and have taken some notable scalps at home. They're three points clear of the relegation zone and a win in this game would be a huge boost to their chances of staying up.

Charlie Adam is doing quite well for Stoke at the moment and would seem to be the best fantasy option in their team.

Swansea have won two of their last three games to move up to the top half of the table, but they're still only four points above the relegation zone. They have lost seven of their 12 away games and have struggled to score goals away from home. Staying clear of the relegation zone is all they have left to play for with the exception of the Europa League which gets going again very soon.

Wilfried Bony managed a goal at the weekend and he's still probably the best of a bad bunch for fantasy managers in the Swansea team.

This could be a very close game but I think Stoke might just win it.

Prediction: 2-1

Fulham v Liverpool

8pm GMT, Craven Cottage, London

Fulham got a very good point away to United on Sunday, but they're still at the bottom of the league. They have only taken 10 points in their last 16 games and have the worst defensive record in the league both home and away. For many years their home form has kept them in the Premier League and they need to improve it if they are to have any chance of staying up.

It's still not easy to see any Fulham players worth considering for fantasy managers.

Liverpool had a great 5-1 win at home to Arsenal on Saturday and they're scoring goals for fun at the moment. Despite only winning four of their 12 away games only Arsenal and City have scored more goals on the road. They're only six points off the league leaders with both Chelsea and City still to play at Anfield and there's a chance they can get back into the title hunt.

Daniel Sturridge is in even better form than Luis Suarez at the moment and they're both excellent fantasy choices along with Steven Gerrard.

I don't think Fulham's defence will be able to stop Liverpool and they should win by a few goals.

Prediction: 1-3

That's it for this week.

See you next week.


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