Friday 22 August 2014

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek Two

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 result last week with five correct outcomes and four incorrect. As I'm away at the moment I won't update my predictions league table until next week, but I can't see me topping it this week.

Saturday August 23

Aston Villa v Newcastle United

12.45pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham 

Villa got a good win away to Stoke in their opening game in what was a dour affair. If they can take the three points from this game it will be seen as a very good start to their season. They struggled to put back to back wins together last season and their home form was far from impressive too.

Ron Vlaar looks like a good fantasy bet in the Villa team at the moment.

Newcastle got the expected result when they lost their opening game at home to City on Sunday. They will hope not to continue on where they left off last season, but all the signs are that they will. If they can't find some good form soon then Alan Pardew could find himself out of a job.

I can't see any Newcastle players to recommend to fantasy managers, but it's still early and that could change.

I think Villa will have just enough at home to take the three points.

Prediction: 2-1

Chelsea v Leicester City

3pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea were impressive in their win away to Burnley on Monday night and face another newly promoted team in this game. The critics all seem to think the league is theirs to win, but they will be judged by their tougher games surely. I can see them running in a few goals in this game to stay on top of the table.

Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa look like good fantasy buys along with Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry and Eden Hazard.

Leicester got a good point at home to Everton in their opening game, but this will be a much tougher test for them. A trip to the title favourites so early in the season will be a backs against the wall job and they will be happy not to get a hiding. If they are going to survive in the Premier League it will be from their results against the other teams who will be battling against relegation.

I still think Marc Albrighton could do well for Leicester this season once he gets a run in the team.

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

Prediction: 3-0

Crystal Palace v West Ham United

3pm BST, Selhurst Park, London

Palace almost had a new manager and they very nearly got a point at Arsenal last week. They need to bring in a few more players, but they have a chance of staying up if whoever eventually gets the job can keep them strong at the back. After losing that first game they need to take at least a point from this game though.

It's hard to know if Palace will be as good defensively under their new manager, but if they are then their defenders are still a good fantasy option.

West Ham had a great chance to win their opening game at home to Spurs last week, but a missed penalty and a late sucker punch left them pointless. They looked strong defensively but very blunt in attack with Andy Carroll injured yet again. Like Palace they need something from this game or the natives will start to become restless.

West Ham defenders are their best fantasy bet with their inability to score goals.

I can see this game ending in a draw and maybe even a scoreless one at that.

Prediction: 0-0

Southampton v West Bromwich Albion 

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

Southampton played well away to Liverpool on Sunday and could easily have taken a point off them. Despite all of the changes this summer they still look capable of having a go against any team. If they are to be as comfortable as last season this is a game they must take three points from.

When he's back from injury Jay Rodriguez is the Southampton player I think will do best for fantasy managers this season.

West Brom at least took a point in their opening game, but they conceded a late goal like they did far too often last season. If they're going to avoid another relegation dogfight they need to stop throwing leads away. They will have a tough task getting anything from a ground where a lot of teams struggled last season.

At the moment it's tough to see any West Brom players who might set the fantasy world alight.

I think Southampton should win this game by at least one goal.

Prediction: 2-1

Swansea City v Burnley 

3pm BST, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea got their season off to a great start with a win away to United and have an ideal chance to make it two wins out of two at home to a newly promoted team. Their manager had changed a couple of times in the last two years but they continue to play the same good football. Without European distractions they will hope to be a lot more secure in a mid table position this season.

Gylfi Siggurdsen is the Swansea player most likely to succeed closely followed by Wilfried Bony.

Burnley played well against Chelsea on Monday night but were well beaten in the end. They have a long hard season ahead of them and need to take as many home points as possible. Despite being well organised in defence they will probably ship a fair few goals away from home in particular.

At the moment it's hard to see which Burnley players might make a difference for fantasy managers.

I think Swansea will continue their good start with a win by a couple if goals at least.

Prediction: 2-0

Everton v Arsenal 

5.30pm BST, Goodison Park, Everton

Everton got their season up and running with a point away to Leicester. They had a very good record at home last season and easily beat Arsenal 3-0 towards the end of the season. Their team doesn't look quite as strong this time around though and this could be a more difficult game for them.

In the absence Ross Barkley it would seem Romelu Lukaku and Leighton Baines could be good fantasy options along with Seamus Coleman if he's fit to play.

Arsenal just about got off to a winning start on Saturday at home to Crystal Palace. They had to travel to Turkey on Tuesday night and injuries are already starting to build up for them. Their squad will be stretched up until the break at the end of the month and they won't find it easy to take anything off Everton. 

Aaron Ramsey is already living up to his pre season hype and Alexis Sanchez is looking pretty good too.

I can see this being a very close game and I think Arsenal will just shade it.

Prediction: 1-2

Sunday August 24

Hull City v Stoke City

1.30pm BST, KC Stadium, Hull

Hull got three valuable points on the opening day away to QPR and they will hope to build on that in this game. They had a good home record last season and didn't conceded too many goals at home either. With Europa League games to play it's important for Hull to start the league well and the three points on offer in this game could be very valuable for them.

Allan McGregor was impressive for Hull last season and he's a good fantasy option along with any of their defenders who are playing with James Chester possibly the best of them.

Stoke will be very disappointed to have lost at home to Villa on Saturday considering they usually take most of their points at home. They don't travel too well and their biggest problem still seems to be their inability to score goals. They will think they have a chance in this game and they need to put in a performance to back that up.

It's not easy to see which Stoke players might prosper for fantasy managers, but their defenders are usually the best bet although that is generally when they play at home.

Despite their poor start I think Stoke will do enough to take a point.

Prediction: 1-1

Tottenham Hotspur v Queens Park Rangers

1.30pm BST, White Hart Lane, London

Spurs got a good win at West Ham last week and they looked solid in defence too. They will feel they have every chance of making it two wins out of two with a home game against a newly promoted club. If they are to push the top four this season this is exactly the type of game they have to win and win well.

Spurs defenders did well last season against the lesser teams and that could be the case again this season while Christian Eriksen looks the best of their attacking players.

QPR were beaten at home in their opening game and this will be a much tougher test for them. Despite all of the finances available to them their team looks no better than the one which was relegated two seasons ago. Harry Redknapp will be keen to take something off his old club, but lack of firepower could be their undoing.

I can't see any QPR players to write home about for fantasy managers.

I think Spurs should be good enough to win this game by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 2-0

Sunderland v Manchester United

4pm BST, Stadium of Light, Sunderland 

Sunderland got a point away to West  Brom in their opening game, but this will be a tougher test for them. They struggled at home for much of last season and found goals hard to come by. If they can put enough pressure on United they will see them as vulnerable after their poor performance in their own opening game.

Conor Wickham and Stephen Fletcher could benefit from United's defensive problems and Vito Mannone is always likely to amass points in goal for Sunderland.

United were beaten at home in their opening game which has put them under pressure already. They fared very well away from home last season though and might feel they have a better chance in this game with less possibly expected of them. If they are going to contend for the top four they have to keep pace early on and need something from this game.


I still think Wayne Rooney looks like a decent fantasy bet and Juan Mata will come good for United too with Robin van Persie worth considering too when he returns to the team.

This could be a very close game and I think it might just end in a narrow win for the away team.

Prediction: 1-2

Monday August 25

Manchester City v Liverpool

8pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester

City got their title defence off to an ideal start by winning away to Newcastle on Sunday. This will be a tougher task for them but they will have a distinct advantage at home. It should be a fascinating encounter between last season's top two so early in this season.

David Silva looks like a very good fantasy bet as always along with Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero as do most of the City defenders.

Liverpool stuttered in their opening game, but just about managed to beat Southampton. This will be a much harder game for them though and a much tougher test if a suspect defence. With their attacking flair they have a chance of getting something from this game, but they would have to ride their luck at the back again.

Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling look like good fantasy choices as do Steven Gerrard and possibly Jordan Henderson too.

I think City will have too much firepower for a Liverpool defence which still looks dodgy despite the new arrivals.

Prediction: 3-1

That's it for today.

See you next week.


3 comments:

  1. I agree with most of your predictions but I completely disagree with the Villa - Newcastle game. It seems like you didn't watch the game? Newcastle didn't have a bad game and could with a bit of luck taken a point from it. The 2-0 scoring came a couple of minutes before the ref blew the whistle. As Pardew said, the were positives to see. Villa on the other hand is not a good home side, because they don't like to have possesion and is a counter attacking

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    1. ...team. And without Benteke they lose a lot of fire power up front. And at the back, the rarely keep a clean sheet. So I see a good reason to use Newcastle players in Fantasy this week. De Jong, Cabbela or Riviere are good options. Keeper and the defenders are also good options, so I would go for Krul and De Jong. Keeping a clean sheet and getting goals or assist. 2-0 to Newcastle. And no, I don't support Newcastle. I'm a gooner. I also think Southampton will win, but with a clean sheet.

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  2. I predict a closely fought 2-1 victory for Arsenal. I hope the team finally gels together.

    http://highburytoashburton.blogspot.in/2014/08/stop-whining-about-striker-everton.html

    ReplyDelete