Friday 28 March 2014

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 32

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. It's down to the business end of the season now and almost every team needs to fight for every single point available to them at both ends of the table. 

I got one perfect scoreline last week, seven correct outcomes and seven incorrect to stay seventh in my predictions league. At this stage winning the league is beyond me but I can still hope to finish a little higher. Here's a look at how the top 10 in my predictions league stands.


PositionPlayer NamePTSTWBB
Up 1 (3)  Karl-Yngve Lund2005+21520
Down 2 (1)  Wayne Hubbard1980+7520
Down 3 (2)  MickTheGooner1915+6020
NC 4 (4)  Abu K1800+12020
Up 5 (6)  KildareGunner1745+1400
Down 6 (5)  Paul Kingston1640+2520
NC 7 (7)  Michael Sheehy1565+7020
NC 8 (8)  goonerdhanesh1435+8010
NC 9 (9)  Sulabh121000
NC 10 (10)  Gaurav Ahuja88500

Saturday March 29

Manchester United v Aston Villa

12.45pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester

United were well beaten at home by City during the week and only have a slim chance of making next season's Europa League. They have lost six of their 15 home games and only scored 18 goals in the process which is a pretty tame way to defend a title. With a Champions League quarter final coming up on Tuesday their minds might well be elsewhere.

Wayne Rooney looks the safest bet for fantasy managers in the United team. 

Villa have taken more points away from home than at home and only Chelsea have a better defensive record on the road. They're nine points clear of the relegation zone with seven games left and that should be enough to see them safe for another season. With such a big game coming up for United they might feel they have a chance to nick something in this game.

Christian Benteke still looks like the best bet for fantasy managers in the Villa team.

I think Villa will give United a run for their money but might just lose narrowly. 

Prediction: 2-1

Crystal Palace v Chelsea

3pm GMT, Selhurst Park, London

Palace have only taken two points in their last five games and only scored one goal in the process. They're only three points above the relegation zone but they have done well at home with six wins in their 15 games. Their problem has been their lack of goals though and no other team has scored less goals at home or away than Palace.

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

Chelsea are still top of the league after hammering Arsenal last week, but Liverpool and City have closed the gap and City have games in hand too. They have the best defensive record away from home, but they have only won seven of their 15 away games. The loss to Villa a couple of weeks ago was their only loss in their last 16 league games, but they do have a Champions League quarter final coming up in midweek. 

Eden Hazard and John Terry look like the best fantasy choices in the Chelsea team with all of their defenders worth considering too.

I think Chelsea will be strong enough to take the three points.

Prediction: 0-2

Southampton v Newcastle United

3pm GMT, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton 

Southampton are ninth in the table with seven games to go and a good run could see them finish as high as seventh. They looked to be on the way at Spurs last week when they led 2-0, but they ended up losing. They have only lost four of their 15 home games though and should be strong favourites to win this game. 

Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez are the best fantasy choices in the Southampton team.

Newcastle have lost eight of their last 13 league games and failed to score in nine of them. In that run of games they have won each game that they managed to score, but scoring is difficult for them with Loric Remy injured. They done quite well away from home this season with seven wins in their 15 games which is as many as Chelsea have.

When Remy is fit he's worth considering, but otherwise Newcastle players should be avoided.

I think Southampton should be good enough to win by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 2-0

Stoke City v Hull City

3pm GMT, Britannia Stadium, Stoke

Stoke are in pretty good form at the moment and have moved into the top half of the table. They must be safe from relegation worries, but have no real chance of catching the teams ahead of them. They have only lost twice in their 15 home games and have taken 10 points in their last four games home and away.

Peter Crouch has done well in recent weeks and so has Peter Odemwinige and both of them are potentially worth considering for fantasy managers.

Hull were beaten away to West Ham on Wednesday night when they were down to 10 men, but they won their previous two away games. They're eight points clear of the relegation zone after winning three of their last seven games. If they can win this game or the one next week they should be safe from relegation before their FA Cup semi final in two weeks time.

Nikica Jelavic has been a good addition to the Hull team and might not be the worst choice for fantasy managers.

I think Stoke's home form should see them take the three points.

Prediction: 2-1

Swansea City v Norwich City

3pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea got a very good point away to Arsenal on Tuesday night, but they're still only five points clear of the relegation zone. They've only won four of their 15 home games, but only three top five have scored more goals at home than Swansea. They have only taken three points in their last six games and conceded 13 goals in those games.

Wilfried Bony has banged in the goals on a regular basis all season long and is worth considering for fantasy managers.

Norwich have moved seven points clear of the relegation zone thanks to their home form, but they have lost their last five away games. No other team has lost more away games than Norwich and only Fulham have conceded more away goals. They need to take something from their next three games because they finish the season with four very tough fixtures.

Norwich defenders are a good bet in home games but they're better off avoided away from home.

I think Swansea will get the win they need to edge even closer to Premier League survival.

Prediction: 3-1

West Bromwich Albion v Cardiff City

3pm GMT, The Hawthorns, Birmingham 

West Brom can do themselves a huge favour by winning against one of the teams below them. They have only won once in their last 10 games though and they're only three points clear of the bottom three. They have won less games than any other team, but their 13 draws have kept them out of the relegation zone.

I can't see any West Brom players to write home about.

Cardiff are looking very likely to be relegated, but a win in this game would be a real lifeline for them. They have lost 11 of their last 15 games though and have only won once in their 15 away games. They have taken less points away from home than any other team and only Palace have scored less away goals than them.

I can't see any Cardiff players to recommend at the moment either.

I think West Brom might just edge a very close relegation six pointer.

Prediction: 2-1

Arsenal v Manchester City

5.30pm GMT, Emirates Stadium, London

Arsenal are out of the title race and need to steady the ship or the teams behind them will put them under pressure to finish fourth. They haven't lost at home since the opening day though and they have the joint best defensive record at home too. It won't be easy for them against a very good City side but a win could be just what they need to finish the season strongly. 

With so many attacking players injured it's hard to see which Arsenal players to choose, but Olivier Giroud has been consistent if not spectacular.

City blew United away on Tuesday night and the league looks theirs to win, but they do have some tricky games left. A few weeks ago they might have viewed this game with trepidation but they will feel a lot more confident about their chances after Arsenal's recent results. City have won their last four games and haven't conceded in their last five with only Liverpool scoring more away goals than them.

I'm Arsenal through and through and I always predict a win for them, but I'd love to know how they will manage it in this game even though I'm still going for them.

Prediction: 1-0

Sunday March 30

Fulham v Everton

1.30pm BST, Craven Cottage, Lon

Fulham are in a desperate position with seven games to go, but a win in this game would greatly improve their outlook. They have only taken five points in their last 11 games, but they won their last home game against Newcastle. Anything Fulham can get from this game would be a bonus with games against a lot of the other struggling teams to come before the season ends.

I can't see any Fulham players to recommend to fantasy managers.

Everton are on a very good run at the moment and they're quickly  closing in on fourth placed Arsenal. They have won their last four games in a row but three of them were at home and they have only won five of their 15 away games. If they can win this game fourth place is a real possibility with Arsenal to come next and a game in hand too.

Romelu Lukaku and Seamus Coleman still look like the best fantasy choices in the Everton team with Ross Barkley, Leighton Baines and Kevin Mirallas to be considered too. 

I think Everton will be too good for Fulham and get their fifth win in a row.

Prediction: 1-2

Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur 

4pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool

Liverpool are unbeaten in 12 league games and have won their last seven to move within one point of the leaders Chelsea. They have won 13 of their 15 home games and only City have scored more goals at home than them. They have to play at home to both City and Chelsea in their next two home games and those games could decide where they finish this season.

Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard are the must have Liverpool players this season.

Spurs did very well to come from two goals down to beat Southampton last week and keep their slim hopes of a top four finish alive. They will need to win this game to continue with those hopes but it won't be easy for them despite winning nine of their 15 away games. The chances are they will be more likely to find themselves in a fight for sixth place with United than fourth place with Arsenal and Everton.

Christian Eriksen was the star of the show against Southampton and it might just have been the performance he needed to show what he can do for Spurs.

I think Liverpool's attacking flair will be too much for Spurs and they will win by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 3-1

Monday March 31

Sunderland v West Ham United

8pm BST, Stadium of Light, Sunderland

Sunderland have only taken one point in their last five games and they're three points away from the relative safety of seventeenth place. They have won less home games than any other team and no other team has scored less goals at home too. They have a couple of games in hand on most of the teams above them, but have some very tough games to come before the season ends.

Vito Mannone has done very well in goal for Sunderland while Adam Johnson has gone off the boil a little recently, but might be a good bet with games in hand.

West Ham have won five of their last eight games to move nine points clear of the relegation zone. They play four of the top six in their last seven games, but they might well have enough points to stay up already. They have only won three of their 15 away games, but only three teams have conceded less goals away from home.

At a push Andy Carroll or Kevin Nolan might do well for fantasy managers, but West Ham have some tough games coming up.

I think Sunderland might just manage a win in a very tight game.

Prediction: 1-0

That's it for this week.

See you next week.


1 comment:

  1. If Wenger doesn't play anti soccer,and tries to attack with passing frenzy,they will be ripe for the swift counter. That could turn into a flood unless Wenger swallows his ego and try to line up a more defensive formation to sneak a draw.A win could be possible ie 1-0 .

    ReplyDelete