Friday 18 April 2014

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 35

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I did fairly well last week with one perfect scoreline, six correct outcomes and four incorrect outcomes to remain in seventh place in my predictions league. Here's a look at how the top 10 in my predictions league stands.


PositionPlayer NamePTSTWBB
NC 1 (1)  Karl-Yngve Lund2220+250
NC 2 (2)  Wayne Hubbard2095+50
Up 3 (4)  Abu K2060+7520
Down 4 (3)  MickTheGooner2025+100
Up 5 (6)  Paul Kingston1950+12020
Down 6 (5)  KildareGunner1945+700
NC 7 (7)  Michael Sheehy1725+450
NC 8 (8)  goonerdhanesh1540+300
NC 9 (9)  Sulabh1190-200
NC 10 (10)  Gaurav Ahuja88500Saturday April 19

Saturday April 19

Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham 

12.45pm BST, White Hart Lane, London

Spurs have only taken seven points from their last six games and it now looks like sixth place is the best they can do. They have only won nine of their 17 home games and have taken as many points away as they have at home. They have four winnable games to finish the season and will finish on 72 points if they win all four which is a very good haul.

Christian Eriksen is in very good form for fantasy managers at the moment with four goals and three assists in his last four games.

Fulham have won their last two games in a row to move to within two points of safety. They have a relatively easier run in compared to Norwich and they might just need one win in their last four games to save themselves. They have lost 11 of their 17 away games though and no other team has conceded more goals away from home.

Steve Sidwell has been the most consistent performer for Fulham this season and Hugo Rodallega has done well in recent weeks.

I think Spurs should be too good for Fulham and win by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 3-1

Aston Villa v Southampton 

3pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham 

Villa have lost their last four games in a row and could find themselves in a tight spot if they don't get a positive result very soon. They have lost 10 of their 17 home games and goals are hard to come by with Christian Benteke out injured. They have some tough fixtures in their remaining five games and a win in this game would give them some breathing space.

I can't see any Villa players to recommend to fantasy managers for the rest of the season despite Villa having a game in hand.

Southampton have lost their last two games and if they're not careful Stoke could pip them for eighth place. They have only won six of their 17 away games, but they're not an easy team to beat at home or away. 

With Jay Rodriguez out it looks like Southampton's attacking options could be limited but surely Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert are still good fantasy choices.

Villa need at least a point from this game but I think Southampton will take all three. 

Prediction: 1-2

Cardiff City v Stoke City

3pm BST, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff

Cardiff got a very good win away to Southampton last week to breathe new life into their bid to avoid relegation. They're still three points from safety though with only four games left and they need something from this game to keep their hopes alive. They have only won five of their 17 home games and only Fulham have conceded more goals at home.

Jordan Mutch and Steven Caulker have been the Cardiff players most likely to succeed for fantasy managers with Andy Marshall performing well too.

Stoke have been on a very good run recently and they're closing in on Newcastle in ninth place. They have won five of their last seven games and kept clean sheets in three of them. They have only won two of their 17 away games though and only Fulham and Norwich have conceded more goals away from home.

Despite their recent good run it's still not easy to see any Stoke players worth betting on for the last few weeks for fantasy managers.

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

Prediction: 1-1

Newcastle United v Swansea City

3pm BST, St. James' Park, Newcastle 

Newcastle can't get to the end of the season quickly enough and they're lucky the first half of the season went so well for them. They have lost their last four games without scoring and have actually failed to score in 12 of their last 16 games. They have only won seven of their 17 home games and only three teams have conceded more goals at home.

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

Swansea have had a poor season by their standards and they have almost been sucked back into a relegation battle. They have only taken six points in their last nine games, but they have got relatively easier games left than some of the other struggling teams. They have only won three of their 17 away games and haven't won away since beating Fulham in November.

Wilfried Bony has been the best of the Swansea players for fantasy managers this season.

This isn't an easy one to predict but I think Swansea might just sneak a victory.

Prediction: 1-2

West Ham United v Crystal Palace

3pm BST, Upton Park, London

West Ham have lost five of their last seven games, but they won the other two to keep them seven points clear of the relegation zone. They have struggled with injuries all season long and have only won six of their 17 home games. They're probably safe from relegation, but one more win would get them to the magical 40 point mark.

I can't really see any West Ham players vital for fantasy managers to have at the moment.

Palace have won their last four games in a row to ensure their Premier League survival. They have lost 11 of their 17 away games, but they have won the last two and scored six goals in those games. They looked dead and buried when Tony Pulis took the job and he has done a very good job keeping them up.

Jason Puncheon has been in fine form recently for Palace and is a good addition to any fantasy team along with any of their defenders when they are at home in particular.

I think this will be another very close game and it might just end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Chelsea v Sunderland 

5.30pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea are the only unbeaten team at home in the league and they have the best defensive record at home too. They have four games left in the league and will be champions if they win them all, but one of those games is away to Liverpool. They also have the two legs of their Champions League semi final either side of that trip to Liverpool in what will be a huge week for them.

With Eden Hazard possibly out injured Mohamed Salah could be the Chelsea player to have along with any of their defenders.

Sunderland got a very good point away to City on Wednesday night, but it was only their second point in nine games. They're six points away from safety with five games left and their chances of avoiding the drop are minimal at best. They have only won three of their 17 away games, but they have taken more points away from home than at home.

Adam Johnson still looks like he will be the player to do well for fantasy managers if Sunderland can put a few good performances together.

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

Prediction: 2-0

Sunday April 20

Norwich City v Liverpool

12pm BST, Carrow Road, Norwich

Norwich have lost four of their last five games and failed to score in their last three. They have only lost five of their 17 home games though with only Chelsea, City and Arsenal conceding less goals at home. Their problems have come at the other end where they're the lowest scorers in the league and only Sunderland have scored less goals at home. 

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

Liverpool have won their last 10 league games in a row and scored 35 goals in the process. They have won nine of their 17 away games and they're the highest scorers away from home too. If they win their last four games they will be champions, but it could all come down to their game with Chelsea next week.

Luis Suarez is an absolute must have as fantasy captain this week and Steven Gerrard is in great form too.

I can't see anything other than a Liverpool victory in this game.

Prediction: 1-3

Hull City v Arsenal

2.05pm BST, KC Stadium, Hull

Hull have won their last two home games and kept clean sheets in both of them. They're six points above the relegation zone with five games to play and probably need one more win to confirm their Premier League place for next season. They have only lost six of their 17 home games and have a pretty good defensive record at home too.

I don't see too many Hull players setting the world alight for fantasy managers for the rest of the season.

Arsenal won their first league game in five against West Ham on Tuesday night and it moved them back into the top four ahead of Everton. They have won nine of their 17 away games, but they have only won once in their last six on the road. Their top four fate is back in their own hands and a win in this game would be a huge boost to those chances.

With cup final places to play for I think Lukas Posolski and Aaron Ramsey could be the Arsenal players to have for fantasy managers.

This is a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup final and I think Arsenal will win it by the odd goal.

Prediction: 1-2

Everton v Manchester United 

4.10pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool

Everton lost at home to Palace on Wednesday night to end a run of seven wins in a row. Their top four fate is no longer in their own hands as a result and they have some tough games coming up too. They have only lost two of their 17 home games, but will have to get results at home to both Manchester clubs if they are to have any chance of a top four finish.

Seamus Coleman has been the most consistent fantasy performer in the Everton team, but Romelu Lukaku, Kevin Mirallas, Ross Barkley, Steven Naismith, Leighton Baines and Tim Howard should all be considered too for fantasy managers.

United have the best away record in the Premier League win 10 wins in their 17 games and only Liverpool have scored more away from home. They have won their last four away games and scored 11 goals in those games without conceding any. They have a very slight chance of finishing fifth, but they will have to win this game to keep that chance alive.

Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney could be the United players to have for their last five games.

I think this game could go either way, but it will probably end with the spoils shared.

Prediction: 2-2

Monday April 21

Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion

8pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City gave had a really bad week with a defeat at Liverpool and a draw at home to the bottom club in the league. They have to win their last five games to have any chance of winning the league and hope for some help from other teams. They have won 15 of their 17 home games though and no other team has scored more goals at home.

With Yaya Toure injured David Silva is the City player to have, but he's possibly injured too. If Sergio Aguero is fit he could be the player to have along with Samir Nasri.

Albion have taken five points in their last three games, but they're still only three points above the drop zone. Three of their lat five games are at home and they will hope to take enough points in those games to secure their safety for another season. They have only won three of their 16 away games, but two of those wins have come in their last three away games.

Morgan Amalfitano has done well in recent weeks and could be a good choice for fantasy managers for the rest of the season.

I think City will bounce back and win this game by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 3-1

That's it for this week.

See you next week.


2 comments:

  1. One result I would disagree with though the Everton v Manchester United match, I think Man United will win that.

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    Replies
    1. This is one of the rare occasions on which I hope United win and i really hope you are right.

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