Friday 26 September 2014

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek Six

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 with three correct outcomes and six incorrect. It wasn't the greatest week I've ever had, but most others fared worse than me and I moved up to first place in my predictions league. It's not too late to join my predictions league and you can do so here with the code FD20D-AVD after you have made your predictions. Here's a look at how that league stands at the moment.


PositionPlayer NamePTSTWBB
Up 1 (2)Michael Sheehy15500
Down 2 (1)goonerdhanesh145-900
NC 3 (3)sensisoccerworld12500
Down 4 (3)Daytona95-300
Up 5 (7)PHILIP RUTHERFORD45-200


Saturday September 27

Liverpool v Everton

12.45pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool

Liverpool haven't had the best start to their season and have lost three of their first five league games. They're missing Luis Suarez badly (and who wouldn't) and the injury to Daniel Sturridge hasn't helped, but their defence has been the real problem. If they're going to keep up with the pace setters they will have to sort out a defence which has seen only four other clubs concede more goals so far.

Raheem Sterling is the Liverpool player doing the business for fantasy managers at the moment.

Everton have only won once in their opening five games and they have the worst defensive record in the league so far. Mind you they have been scoring plenty of goals too with only Chelsea scoring more in those opening five games. If they're going to get anywhere near the heights of last season they will have to sort out their defensive issues just like Liverpool.

Romelu Lukaku and Leighton Baines are probably the Everton players most likely to succeed at the moment for fantasy managers.

This is a game neither team can afford to lose and I have a feeling it might just end in a draw. 

Prediction: 2-2

Chelsea v Aston Villa

3pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea are still unbeaten but they lost their 100% record when they drew away to City last week. They are the highest scorers so far with 16 goals, but they haven't been as strong defensively as they were last season. They have only ever lost one home league game under Jose Mourinho and it's a record they will be looking to extend in this game.

Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard are the Chelsea players fantasy managers need to have in their team at the moment.

Villa were beaten for the first time at home to Arsenal last week, but they're still third in the table. They have won both of their away games by the same 1-0 margin so far, but this will be a much tougher task for them. They're in the middle of a very tough run and this is probably the toughest of all the games in that run.

Villa defenders have done well up to now, but are probably best avoided for the next couple of weeks.

I can't see anything other than a Chelsea win in this game despite how well Villa have started this season.

Prediction: 2-0

Crystal Palace v Leicester City

3pm BST, Selhurst Park, London

Palace came from behind to win away to Everton last week and move themselves out of the relegation zone in the process. They're letting in a lot of goals though and only three other teams have conceded more goals than Palace. They have scored a few goals too, but most of them have been away from home and they need to start finding the net at home too.

Jason Puncheon still looks like the Palace player most likely to succeed for fantasy managers to me.

Leicester had a magnificent victory at home to United last week after trailing 3-1 and they have looked very good since their promotion. Their only defeat came away to the leaders Chelsea and only three teams have scored more goals than them so far. They look to have done very well to bring in Leonardo Ulloa with his five goals in five games making him the second highest scorer in the league so far.

Ulloa looks like the outstanding Leicester player to have for fantasy managers and he's available at a very good price too.

This could be a close game, but Leicester's performances so far make me think they will edge it.

Prediction: 1-2

Hull City v Manchester City

3pm BST, KC Stadium, Hull

Hull haven't won since the opening day, but they have only lost one of their five league games. They are letting in more goals than they did last season but they also look a more potent force going forward with a stronger squad. This will be a very tough task for them, but they are capable of getting something from it.

Nikica Jelavic has done well so far and is worth checking out for fantasy managers.

City have only taken two points in their last three games and are five points behind the leaders at this early stage. They did well to get a late point at home to Chelsea last week and put seven past Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup in midweek. There's a strong possibility of some squad rotation with a few of their best players carrying knocks and a Champions League game coming up in midweek.

Sergio Aguero and David Silva are the best fantasy choices in the City once they are fit enough to play.

Even with a few injury doubts and their upcoming Champions League game I still think City will have enough to win this game.

Prediction: 1-3

Manchester United v West Ham United

3pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester

United looked to have turned a corner last week when they led 3-1 at Leicester, but they crumbled to a 5-3 defeat. They have had what was considered a relatively easy start to the season, but have only managed five points and one win in five games. With no midweek League Cup or European distractions they have plenty of opportunities to get things right on the training ground.

Angel di Maria looks like a must have for fantasy managers and most of United's attacking players look like good bets too.

West Ham had a very good win over Liverpool last week and are unbeaten away from home so far. They seem to have more attacking flair than last season, but they aren't as solid at the back either. They will have their work cut out in this game, but they will get chances and will believe they have a chance of getting something from the game.

Stewart Downing continues to impress for West Ham and might not be the worst player for fantasy managers to have.

I think United will have too much firepower at home in particular and will take the three points.

Prediction: 3-1

Southampton v Queens Park Rangers

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

Southampton are in very good form at the moment and have the best defensive record in the league so far. They are second in the table and haven't conceded a goal at home so far. Despite selling so many players in the summer they look like a better team and will be confident of winning this game.

Nathaniel Clyne and Graziano Pelle look like very good fantasy choices in a team full of good fantasy options.

QPR got a late point at home to Stoke last week, but they have failed miserably away from home so far. They have lost both of their away games by the same 4-0 scoreline and performed terribly in both games too. They will have to offer an awful lot more if they want to get anything out of this game.

I can't see any QPR players worth recommending to fantasy managers.

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

Prediction: 3-0

Sunderland v Swansea City

3pm BST, Stadium of Light, Sunderland 

Sunderland haven't won a league game yet, but they have drawn four out of five. They need to turn a few of those draws into wins if they're going to climb the table. It won't be easy for them against a Swansea team who play good football and are nobody's mugs.

Seb Larsson has been the best of the Sunderland players up to now for fantasy managers.

Swansea had a very good start to the season winning their first three games, but they have lost their last two games. Those two defeats did come against the current top two and they played very well in both games too. They're more than capable of getting something from this game and will make things very hard for Sunderland.

Gylfi Sigurdsson has been the best of the Swansea players so far with Nathan Dyer looking good too along with the Swansea defenders.

This looks like it could be a very close game and it could see draw specialists Sunderland getting yet another point.

Prediction:  1-1

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur 

5.30pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London 

Arsenal were the big winners last weekend when they won 3-0 away to Villa and none of the other top sides could manage a victory. They're still unbeaten in the league and haven't lost at home in the league since the opening day of last season. They beat Spurs three times out of three last season and will want to get the upper hand on their fiercest rivals again.

Danny Welbeck looks like a very good fantasy purchase to me with Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sanchez worth considering too.

Spurs were beaten at home by West Brom last week to slip back to ninth in the table two points behind Arsennal. They have only taken one point in their last three games after a good start to the season and can't afford to lose this game too. They will have to be at their very best to get anything out of this game though.

Nacer Chadli and Emmanuel Adebayor have been the best performers for fantasy managers while Christian Eriksen still looks like the best long term fantasy choice to me.

I think Arsenal should be good enough on their own turf to win by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 2-0

Sunday September 28

West Bromwich Albion v Burnley

4pm BST, The Hawthorns, Birmingham 

West Brom got their first win of the season last week away to Spurs and it moved them out of the bottom three. They followed that up with a win in the league cup in midweek and things are looking a little better for them. They have only scored three league goals so far though and have failed to score in three of their five games.

There are still no West Brom players setting the world of fantasy football alight.

Burnley have drawn their last three games 0-0 and only Southampton have a better defensive record than them. They haven't scored since the first half of their opening game though and will have to find some goals from somewhere or their season will be over very soon. 

Burnley defenders are looking very good at the moment with Tom Heaton and Michael Duff possibly the best of them.

I can see this game ending in yet another 0-0 draw for Burnley.

Prediction: 0-0

Monday September 29

Stoke City v Newcastle United

8pm BST, Britannia Stadium, Stoke

Stoke were pegged back late on away to QPR last week and have yet to take a point at home this season. They have previously been very good at home and surely it's only a matter of time before they get that form back. Their only win and clean sheet was away to the champions City and they haven't looked as good defensively this season. 

As usual Ryan Shawcross seems to be the best performing of the Stoke players for fantasy managers.

Newcastle came back from 2-0 down to get a point at home to Hull last week, but they're still propping up the table. They managed to win away to Crystal Palace in the league cup in midweek and that might just be the turning point which keeps Alan Pardew in his job. They haven't scored an away goal in the league yet and have had an appalling record in the league since the turn of the year.

I still can't see any Newcastle players worth recommending to fantasy managers.

I think Stoke should be good enough to get their first home points of the season with a narrow victory.

Prediction: 1-0

That's it for this week.

See you next week.


2 comments:

  1. MC were beaten by Stoke.Everton were hit by CP.Spurs were derailed by Albion.Saints beat
    Arsenal. These teams play a passing game which needs time and space.When these teams are harassed and chased by apossee ,their normal game will be disrupted ,especially Arseenal who don't have plan b..
    I have a feeling Spurs will put Arsenal under pressure with a high tempo pressing game. It's up to Wenger to show what he can do.

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    1. Saints beat a second string Arsenal & Stoke parked the bus v City. Palace beat Everton because Everton cannot defend and WBA beat Spurs because Spurs are Spurs. If they play a pressing game it could well work, but it could also leave space behind their defence for Arsenal to capitalise on.

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