Friday 2 May 2014

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 37

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 scoreline last week, four correct outcomes and five incorrect which meant I yet again stayed in seventh place in my predictions league. It looks like Karl-Yngve Lund has the league and the prize money tied up unless there's a huge swing in the last two weeks. Here's a look at how the top 10 in my predictions league stands.


PositionPlayer NamePTSTWBB
NC 1 (1)  Karl-Yngve Lund2400+905
NC 2 (2)  Wayne Hubbard2200+855
NC 3 (3)  MickTheGooner2185+805
NC 4 (4)  Abu K2130+500
Up 5 (6)  KildareGunner2125+1450
Down 6 (5)  Paul Kingston2075+5020
NC 7 (7)  Michael Sheehy1890+555
NC 8 (8)  goonerdhanesh1650+455
NC 9 (9)  Sulabh1250+250
NC 10 (10)  Gaurav Ahuja88500

With only two weeks to go there's still a lot to play for at both ends of the table and that can have a big influence on the results. Six teams play their extra game this week and fantasy managers would do well to fill their teams with players from those teams if possible. The best choices for fantasy captain this week are probably Wayne Rooney and Yaya Toure.

Saturday May 3

West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur

12.45pm BST, Upton Park, London

West Ham are five points clear of the relegation zone with two games to go and must surely be safe for another season. They have lost their last four games though and have lost half of their 18 home games. Another point would guarantee their Premier League survival, but I can't see them getting relegated at this stage.

West Ham haven't turned it on recently and I can't see any of their players to recommend to fantasy managers. 

Spurs have taken 10 points in their last four games and need four points from their last two games to guarantee qualification for next season's Europa League. Only Liverpool have taken more points away from home than Spurs and they have won 10 of their 18 away games. With their last game at home to Villa they might only need a draw from this game.

Christian Eriksen is the Spurs player to have for fantasy managers with Harry Kane doing well in recent weeks too.

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

Prediction: 1-1

Aston Villa v Hull City

3pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham 

Villa have only taken one point in their last six games and they have dropped back to only three points above the relegation zone. They have only won five of their 18 home games and only the bottom two teams have conceded more goals at home. Their goal difference is probably worth another point to them and they have a game in hand too, but their last two games are away to City and Spurs.

I can't see any Villa players to recommend to fantasy managers despite the fact they have two games this week.

Hull are five points clear of the relegation zone and will be safe if they get one more point because of their superior goal difference. They have an extra game this week but both games are away from home and they have only won three of their 17 away games. They probably need to take the one point they need from this game with United and Everton to come in their next two games ahead of their FA Cup final appearance.

With two games this week Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic could do well for fantasy managers, but both of the games are away from home.

Both teams need a point to secure another season in the Premier League and I think they will both manage it in this game.

Prediction: 1-1

Manchester United v Sunderland 

3pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester 

United have won three of their last four games and scored 12 goals in the process. They haven't been at their best at home this season but they have two home games this week and still have a chance of catching Spurs to finish sixth. If they can finish sixth they will qualify for next season's Europa League which is hardly ideal, but it's better than nothing.

Both Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata look like very good buys for fantasy managers with two games this week.

Sunderland have taken seven points in their last three games to climb out of the relegation zone. They have only won four of their 18 away games, but they have two home games left after this game to keep them up. They won away to Chelsea and drew at City in their last two away games and will give United a real run for their money.

With Sunderland playing twice Conor Wickham, Vito Mannone, Adam Johnson and maybe even Fabio Borini are worth considering for fantasy managers.

Sunderland need something from this keep to keep them out of the bottom three, but I think United will edge a close game.

Prediction: 2-1

Newcastle United v Cardiff City

3pm BST, St. James' Park, Newcastle 

Newcastle have lost their last six games in a row and have only scored one goal in those games. They have lost seven of their last nine home games and the season can't end quickly enough for them. They have struggled badly since selling Yohan Cabaye in January and only the bottom two clubs have conceded more goals at home.

I can't see any Newcastle players to recommend to fantasy managers for their last two games. 

Cardiff have only won two of their 18 away games and only Fulham and Norwich have conceded more goals away from home. Their defeat to Sunderland last week was a huge blow and they have to win this game with a trip to Chelsea in their final game. Their chances of staying up are very slim and I think they will probably go down even if they win this game.

I can't see any Cardiff players to do anything for fantasy managers in the last two games.

If Cardiff are going to have any hope of staying up they have to win this game and I think might just win it.

Prediction: 1-2

Stoke City v Fulham

3pm BST, Brittania Stadium, Stoke

Stoke lost to Spurs last week but it was only their second defeat in their last nine games. A win in this game could see them move ahead of Newcastle into ninth place and they have only lost three of their 18 home games. They have a good defensive record at home too with only City, Chelsea and Arsenal conceding less goals at home.

Marko Arnautovic has gone well in recent weeks for Stoke and Asmir Begovic isn't a bad choice for fantasy managers either. 

Fulham only took one point after leading Hull 2-0 last week and that result could be the one which sees them getting relegated. They're only a point away from safety but their inferior goal difference could make things very tricky for them. They have lost 12 of their 18 away games and only Norwich have conceded more goals away from home.

Hugo Rodallega has done well in recent weeks and will need to keep that up if Fulham are to somehow avoid the drop.

Fulham have to take at least a point from this game, but I think Stoke's home form will see them through.

Prediction: 2-1

Swansea City v Southampton 

3pm BST, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea won their last two games to guarantee their Premier League status for another season. They have only won six of their 18 home games, but only the top five have scored more goals at home. They have a chance to finish their season on a high with good prospects of winning their last two games.

Wilfried Bony has been the Swansea player to have for fantasy managers with Jonjo Shelvey doing well on occasions too.

Southampton are eighth in the table with two games left and won't be finishing any higher or lower. They have had a good season by their standards and have only lost seven of their 18 away games. It's never easy for players to motivate themselves when there's not much to play for but Southampton have managed it well enough in the last couple of games.

Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert have done very well for fantasy managers this season and their defenders have done well in recent weeks too.

This has the making of a very good game and I think it will end in a draw.

Prediction: 2-2

Everton v Manchester City

5.30pm BST, Goodison Park, London

Everton have lost two of their last three games and look like they have lost out in the fight for the last Champions League place. They have only lost two of their 18 home games, but they will not be able to finish above Arsenal if they lose this game. It looks like they will be playing in the lesser of the two European competitions next season. 

Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines are the best fantasy choices in the Everton team, but this might not be a good week to have them .

City have their fate in their own hands and will be champions if they win their last three games. They have only won half of their 18 away games though with only Liverpool scoring more goals away from home. With two home games to come they will surely win the league if they can win this game. 

With two games this week City's players are a very good option for fantasy managers with Yaya Toure probably the best of them. If David Silva is fit he's a great option too along with Pablo Zabaleta, Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri and Eden Dzeko.

This has the makings of a very tight and tense game for both teams and I think City might just sneak a win.

Prediction: 1-2

Sunday May 4

Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion

1.30pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London

Arsenal might well have fourth place tied up before this game if Everton lose to City, but if not they will be guaranteed to finish fourth if they win this game. They haven't been beaten at home since the opening day of the season and no other team has conceded less goals at home. They have won their last three games in a row scoring nine goals in the process and only conceding one.

Lukas Podolski, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud could all do well for fantasy managers in their last two games along with Arsenal's defenders.

West Brom are four points above the relegation zone and they have three games left to play. They have taken eight points in their last five games and need two points in those last three games to guarantee their survival. They have only won three of their 17 away games though and their two games this week are both away from home.

Morgan Amalfitano has been the West Brom player impressing the most for fantasy managers recently and he plays twice this week.

I think Arsenal should have more than enough to see their fans off with a good win in their final home game of the season.

Prediction: 3-0

Chelsea v Norwich City

4pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea blew the title race wide open by winning away to Liverpool last week and were then beaten in the semi final of the Champions League on Wednesday night. They have to win their last two games and hope both City and Liverpool lose a game if they're going to win the league though. They have taken more points at home than any other team and no other team has conceded less goals at home.

Eden Hazard and Willian could be the Chelsea players to have for fantasy managers along with their defenders of course.

Norwich have lost their last five games and failed to score in four of them. They have only won two of their 18 away games and lost 14 of them with the worst defensive record away from home too. Their only hope of staying up could be if Arsenal have already secured fourth place before they visit Norwich next week, but it could be all over for Norwich before then.

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

I think Chelsea should win this game by a few goals at least.

Prediction: 3-0

Monday May 5

Crystal Palace v Liverpool

8pm BST, Selhurst Park, London 

Palace lost at home to City last week to end a run of five wins in a row. They have done really well since Tony Pulis took the reins and could still finish as high as ninth place if they do well in their last two games. They have won eight and lost eight of their 18 home games and have proved a very hard team to beat since Pulis took over.

Jason Puncheon and all of Palace's defenders have done very well in recent weeks, but those defenders might not be such a good bet in this game.

Liverpool had won 11 games in a row before losing at home to Chelsea last week and their title fate is no longer in their own hands as a result. They could be as low as third coming into this game, but if City haven't beaten Everton they will be favourites to win the league again. They have won 10 of their 18 away games as well as taking more points and scoring more goals away from home than any other team.

Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard are probably the best fantasy choices in the Liverpool team at the moment with Daniel Sturridge to be considered too. 

Despite Palace's good recent form I think Liverpool will have enough firepower to win this game.

Prediction: 1-3

Tuesday May 6

Manchester United v Hull City

7.45pm BST, Old Trafford, London

United play at home for the second time in a week and will want to finish the season as strongly as possible. They have a lot of work to do this summer to get back among the title challengers for next season and will want to see their fans off with a win. 

As well as Rooney and Mata the United defenders might not be a bad shout for fantasy managers this week.

Hull will hope to be secure in their Premier League status before this game is played and realistically they should be. With an FA Cup final coming up in two weeks a few players could have a point to prove to the manager, but it won't be easy away to United.

With two away fames and Hull's away record I'm not so sure their players are a good call for fantasy managers.

I think United should have more than enough to come out on top by a few goals.

Prediction: 3-0

Wednesday May 7

Manchester City v Aston Villa

7.45pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City will know how they stand before this game and a win at Everton on Saturday will have them in pole position with their last two games at home. They have won 15 of their 17 home games and have scored more goals at home than any other team. With their fate in their own hands surely they won't let it slip between their fingers.

As I said above Toure is the best fantasy choice in the City team and a good choice for captain this week too.

Villa will be hoping to come into this game with their relegation fears behind them because they have very little chance of getting anything away to City. They have only lost eight of their 17 away games though, but they have only won four.

As I said already Villa players are probably best avoided this week despite having two games.

I think City will win this game with a few goals to spare.

Prediction: 4-0

Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion

7.45pm BST, Stadium of Light, Sunderland 

Sunderland have a tough game away to United on Saturday, but a win in this game could well be enough to keep them up regardless of how they do at United. They have only won four of their 17 home games though with only Palace and Norwich scoring less goals at home. With two home games to finish their season they have to be favourites to beat the drop despite their poor home form this season.

Wickham's five goals in Sunderland's last three games have been a revelation for them as their strikers have struggled to score goals all season.

West Brom could also be safe coming into this game if they have taken any points at Arsenal or if the teams below them have slipped up. They won't want to go into their last game of the season needing something and the chances are they won't.

As I said above Amalfitano might not be the worst choice for fantasy managers this season.

I think Sunderland will continue their recent good run by winning this game and keeping themselves in the Premier League for another season.

Prediction: 2-1

That's it for this week.

See you next week.

1 comment:

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