Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 36

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I got four perfect scorelines last week, two correct outcomes and four incorrect outcomes. Despite my good week I remained seventh in my predictions league and it looks like I'll finish there. Here's a look at how the top 10 in my predictions league stands.

Position	Player Name	PTS	TW	BB
1 (1)	Karl-Yngve Lund	2310	+90	0
2 (2)	Wayne Hubbard	2115	+20	0
3 (4)	MickTheGooner	2105	+80	0
4 (3)	Abu K	2080	+20	0
5 (5)	Paul Kingston	2025	+75	20
6 (6)	KildareGunner	1980	+35	0
7 (7)	Michael Sheehy	1835	+110	0
8 (8)	goonerdhanesh	1605	+65	0
9 (9)	Sulabh	1225	+35	0
10 (10)	Gaurav Ahuja	885	0	0

Saturday April 26

Southampton v Everton

12.45pm BST, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton 

Southampton have only taken one point in their last three games and only scored one goal in the process. They have only lost five of their 17 home games and only five teams have scored more goals at home than Southampton. They have struggled to score goals since Jay Rodriguez's season was prematurely ended by injury, but they are still a tough team to beat.

With Rodriguez out the best fantasy choices are Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert.

Everton have won eight of their last nine games and their last four away games. They're only a point behind fourth placed Arsenal with three games to go and still have a chance of making next season's Champions League. Despite Everton only winning seven of their 17 away games only Chelsea have conceded less goals away from home.

Leighton Baines, Seamus Coleman, Tim Howard and Steven Naismith are all very good fantasy choices, but Kevin Mirallas is out injured.

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

Prediction: 1-1

Fulham v Hull City

3pm BST, Craven Cottage, London

Fulham are three points from safety with three games to go, but two of those games are at home. They have won two of their last three games and six points from their three remaining games might just be enough to keep them up. They have lost more home games and conceded more home goals than any other team though. 

Steve Sidwell has been Fulham's most consistent fantasy performer this season with Hugo Rodallega doing well in recent weeks.

Hull have lost five of their last seven games and only scored five goals in those games. They're six points clear of the relegation zone with four games to play and probably need another few points to guarantee safety. They have lost 11 of their 17 away games and only Fulham and Norwich have lost more games on the road.

Hull players haven't done too well for fantasy managers in recent weeks, but they do have an extra game next week.

I think Fulham's need for points might just be enough to drive them to a narrow victory.

Prediction: 2-1

Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur

3pm BST, Britannia Stadium, Stoke

Stoke have only lost two of their 17 home games and only three teams have a better defensive record at home. They have only lost one of their last eight games and have taken 16 points in their last six home games. If they can take enough points in their last three games they should be able to pass Newcastle and finish ninth. 

Marko Arnoutovic and Asmir Begovic have done well for fantasy managers in recent weeks.

Spurs have taken seven points in their last three games to stay ahead of United in the race for the final Europa League place. They have won nine of their 17 away games, but have only taken one point from their last four away games. They need at least a point from this game or United might just pip them for sixth place.

Christian Eriksen is by far the best fantasy performer in the Spurs team at the moment with Harry Kane doing well in the last few weeks too.

I think Stoke's home form could be enough to see them take the three points.

Prediction: 1-0

Swansea City v Aston Villa

3pm BST, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea got a very important win away to Newcastle last week to move six points clear of the relegation zone with three games to go. They have only won five of their 17 home games, but only the top five teams have scored more goals at home. A win in this game should guarantee their safety and even a point might be enough.

Wilfried Bony has been by far the best fantasy performer in the Swansea team this season.

Villa have only taken one point and scored three goals in their last five games. They're five points clear of the bottom three with four games to go, but they will need something from this game or their next one with two tough games to finish their season. It's possible they could stay up with the 35 points they have, but it will be very close if they do.

I can't see any Villa players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment even though they play twice next week.

I think Swansea should be good enough to win against a Villa team who have hit a bad patch at exactly the wrong time.

Prediction: 2-1

West Bromwich Albion v West Ham United

3pm BST, The Hawthorns, Birmingham 

West Brom have taken eight points from their last five games to stay three points ahead of the drop zone with four games left for them to play. They have only won three of their 17 home games though and have drawn far too many for their own good. Their season defining game could be their midweek game against Sunderland next week.

Morgan Amalfitano might not be a bad choice for fantasy managers with West Brom playing twice next week.

West Ham are seven points clear of the relegation zone and have eight teams below them. They must be safe for another season but they have lost their last three games and have only won four of their 17 away games. Despite not winning many away from home their defence had held up with only four teams conceding less goals on the road. 

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

I can see this being a very close game and probably ending in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Manchester United v Norwich City

5.30pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester 

United can still finish sixth if they win their last four games and Spurs lose one of their last three. They have only won seven of their 16 home games which is a very poor return for reigning champions and interim manager Ryan Giggs will want to put that right with three home games left to play. If the players can give him the effort they found it so hard to give to David Moyes they should be far too good for Norwich.

With an extra game to play next week both Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata look like very good fantasy choices.

Norwich have lost their last four games and have three really tough games to finish their season. They're only two points above the relegation zone and will probably be relegated if they lose their last three games. They have lost more away games than any other team and only Fulham have conceded more goals on the road.

I can't see any Norwich players to recommend to fantasy msnagers for the rest of the season.

This should be a comfortable home win as long as the United players put the effort in.

Prediction: 3-0

Sunday April 27

Sunderland v Cardiff City

12pm BST, Stadium of Light, Sunderland 

Sunderland looked dead and buried until they drew away to City and won away to Chelsea last week. They're three points away from safety with four games left and this is a real relegation six pointer for them. Sunderland have only won three of their 16 home games though and are the lowest scorers at home in the league.

Vito Mannone and Adam Johnson have done well for fantasy managers and Conor Wickham has come into his own in the last week. With an extra game next week Sunderland players are a good option.

Cardiff have only won two of their 17 away games with only Norwich scoring less goals away from home. They have taken four points in their last two games and only conceded one goal in those games. They need to take points from this and their next game as their final game is against Chelsea. 

Steven Caulker and David Marshall could be the Cardiff players to benefit for fantasy managers if they are to win the fight to stay up.

This is a huge game for both teams chances of staying up and I think Sunderland will edge a tight game.

Prediction: 2-1

Liverpool v Chelsea

2.05pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool

Liverpool have stormed towards the Premier League title with 11 wins in a row and will be champions if they take seven points from their last three games no matter what else happens. They have taken 46 out of 51 points at home with only City scoring more goals at home than Liverpool. They will be favourites to win this game but it will be far from easy.

Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling are all in fine form for fantasy managers at the moment.

Chelsea lost at home to Sunderland last week and it was their third defeat in their last six league games. If they are to have any chance of winning the league they have to win this game, but it appears the Champions League is more important to Jose Mourinho. Chelsea have only won eight of their 17 away games, but they have the best defensive record away from home.

With a few players out injured it's hard to see which Chelsea players might impress for fantasy managers.

I think this will be a very close game even if Chelsea rest a few players and it will end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Crystal Palace v Manchester City

4.10pm BST, Selhurst Park, London

Palace have won their last five games and kept clean sheets in four of them. They have won eight of their 17 home games, but only Sunderland have scored less goals at home. As well as playing City in this game they have Liverpool to come to Selhurst Park and beat Chelsea there a couple of weeks ago. They could have an awful lot to say in the title race.

Jason Puncheon, Julian Speroni and Joel Ward have done very well for fantasy managers recently and all of Palace's defensive players have been impressive.

City have four games left and will win the title if they win them all and Liverpool lose one of their three games. They have only won eight of their 17 away games, but only Liverpool have scored more goals away from home. They have looked a lot less convincing since Yaya Toure picked up an injury and could find this game a real struggle if David Silva misses out too.

If Toure and Silva are both out then Sergio Aguero could be the best fantasy choice in the City team.

The outcome of the game could depend on how the Liverpool games finishes, but I think City might just sneak a win.

Prediction: 1-2

Monday April 28

Arsenal v Newcastle United

8pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London 

Arsenal have only lost once in their 17 home games, but their five draws have been too many compared to the teams above them. It's no coincidence that the return of Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil has seen their attacking play improve and they have won their last two league games. No other team has conceded less goals at home and that should help them to stay ahead of Everton in the race for fourth place with two of their last three games at home.

Lukas Podolski is in very good form at the moment along with Ramsey and they're both very good choices for fantasy managers.

Newcastle have lost their last five games scoring only one goal and lost 12 of their last 17 while drawing a blank in 12 of those games. It would seem the season can't end quickly enough for them and it's not easy to see where they will end that run. The fans are very unhappy and it could cost Alan Pardew his job once the season ends.

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

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

Prediction: 3-0

That's it for this week.

See you next week.