Friday 17 October 2014

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek Eight

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I didn't do too well last time out but I was helped by two perfect scorelines and managed to stay on top of my predictions league. It's not too late to join that league and you can do so here with the code FD20D-AVD after you have made your predictionsHere's a look at how my predictions league stands.


PositionPlayer NamePTSTWBB
NC 1 (1)Michael Sheehy335+755
NC 2 (2)goonerdhanesh280+805
Up 3 (6)sodobo230+1305
Up 4 (8)PHILIP RUTHERFORD220+1500
Down 4 (3)Daytona220+305



Saturday October 18

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur 

12.45pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City have only won once in their three home games and have only scored four goals in those three games. Their home form won them the league last season and surely that form is going to improve very soon. They are the second highest scorers after Chelsea though and the chances are they will put a few past Spurs.

David Silva and Sergio Aguero are the City players to have for fantasy managers at the moment.

Spurs haven't been beaten away from home yet and only Southampton have conceded less goals than them in the opening seven games. They suffered badly against the top teams last season though and the ease with which Liverpool won away to them suggests that could be the same this season. If they're going to try to challenge for a top four spot this is the type of game they need to get something from or at least put up a good show in.

Nacer Chadli continues to excel for Spurs and has to be a serious consideration for fantasy managers.

I think City will beat Spurs with their usual few goals to spare over them.

Prediction: 3-0

Arsenal v Hull City

3pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London

Arsenal lost for the first time in the league against Chelsea in their last game, but they have only won twice in their first seven games. Their injury problems are mounting almost daily and they need to put a good run together to try to get somewhere near the pacesetters. Their next few games are all very winnable, but they need to put teams away when they are on top or they will continue to draw too many games this season.

Danny Welbeck and Akexis Sanchez look like the best fantasy choices in the Arsenal team with so many others out injured.

Hull have found goals easier to come by this season, but they have also conceded more than they did last season. They ran Arsenal ever so close in the FA Cup final only to lose out in extra time and could see this as a chance for some pay back. Their attacking options are certainly better than last season, but that defence could have a tough time in this game.

Mohamed Diame and Nikica Jelavic are the two Hull players looking good for fantasy managers at the moment.

If Arsenal are to make a move up the table this is a game they have to win and I think they will do so.

Prediction: 3-1

Burnley v West Ham

3pm BST, Turf Moor, Burnley

Burnley managed to climb off the bottom of the table on goal difference, but they still haven't won a game. At least they managed to score for the first time in six games in their last game and they're not an easy team to beat at home. They have kept clean sheets in their last two home games but have failed to score in both of them too and they're the lowest scorers in the league.

Burnley's defenders did well in their early games and aren't a bad bet for a cheap alternative for fantasy managers.

West Ham struggled to score goals last season but they have managed 12 in their first seven games this season with only four other teams scoring more. Their three wins have seen them move up to seventh place and a win in this game would see them climb even higher. They have to be favourites to win and will feel they can do just that against a team struggling to find it's feet at this level.

Stewart Downing has been the outstanding fantasy choice in the West Ham team so far with Diafra Sakho doing very well in recent weeks too.

I think West Ham will be able to break through the Burnley defence and that should be enough to get them the three points.

Prediction: 0-2

Crystal Palace v Chelsea

3pm BST, Selhurst Park, London

Palace were beaten by Hull in their last game and it was their first defeat since Neil Warnock returned to take the reins. They say you should never go back to a club to manage them for a second time, but Warnock will disprove that theory if Palace stay up. They weren't an easy team to beat at home last season, but they will have to be at their very best to get anything out of this game.For me Jason Puncheon is the best fantasy choice in the Palace team with Mile Jedinak possibly worth considering too.

Chelsea have won six of their opening seven games and drawn the other one and it seems the title is theirs for the taking. They have a very strong squad with strength in depth in every position and they're by far the top scorers so far. A trip across London to Palace should be a game in which they're more than capable of continuing their winning ways.

Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas are still the Chelsea players to have for fantasy managers with Eden Hazard and all of their defenders ably supporting them.

I think Chelsea will be too strong for Palace and will win by a couple of goals at least.

Prediction: 0-2

Everton v Aston Villa

3pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool

Everton have only won once in their first seven games and find themselves only one place above the relegation zone. They haven't won at home yet and have the worst defensive record at home and overall too. With midweek European football to contend with they need to put some wins under their belt before their season ends prematurely.

Steven Naismith has been the best fantasy performer for Everton so far, but Leighton Baines and Romelu Lukaku are better long term prospects.

Villa have had a tough run of games recently after a very good start to their season. They won't be thrilled to be paying a visit to Everton but it shouldn't be as difficult as their last four games. Their biggest problem so far has been scoring goals with only Burnley scoring less than them.

Villa's defenders started the season well and might not be a bad bet again after this week.

I think this will be a very close game, but Everton might just edge it by the odd goal.

Prediction: 2-1

Newcastle United v Leicester City

3pm BST, St. Jame's Park, Newcastle 

Newcastle are still looking for their first win, but at least the return of Papiss Cisse from injury has seen them manage a few goals in their last few games. They're still on an awful run since the turn of the year and St. James Park is not the fortress it used to be. If they're going to beat the drop they will need to take an awful lot more points at home.

If he's fully fit Cisse looks like he might have regained the form he showed when he first joined Newcastle.

Leicester did so well in their early games against some of the best teams in the league, but looked a lot less impressive in their last two games against supposed lesser teams. They have struggled a little in defence with only four other teams conceding more goals so far. They need to find the spirit that stood them so well against teams like United, Arsenal and Chelsea to get back on track.

Leonardo Ulloa scored five goals in his first five games and is the best fantasy choice in the Leicester team even though he hasn't scored in the last two. 

I have a feeling Newcastle might just get their first win of the season in this game.

Prediction: 2-1

Southampton v Sunderland 

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

Southampton have had a great start to the season and aren't missing the players who departed for supposedly greener pastures. The capture of Graziano Pelle seems to have been a master stroke from Ronald Koeman. They did lose in their last game away to Spurs, but they will expect to bounce back in this game.

Pelle looks like the Southampton player to have as he bangs in the goals on an almost weekly basis.

Sunderland got their first win in their last game after drawing five of their first six games. They haven't won away from home yet, but they are proving hard to beat. If they can score a few more goals they should be able to climb to mid table safety.

For me Vito Mannone is the best long term bet in the Sunderland team.

I think Southampton will be good enough at home to win this game.

Prediction: 2-1

Sunday October 19

Queens Park Rangers v Liverpool

1.30pm BST, Loftus Road, London 

QPR are rooted to the foot of the table and look destined to return to the championship to me. They have taken all of their points at home so far though and that might just give them some hope in this match. Only Burnley have scored less goals than them and only Everton have conceded more.

QPR players are better off avoided for fantasy managers if at all possible.

Liverpool haven't had the best start to their season, but they have a chance to take three precious points away to the bottom club. They have lost two of their three away games so far and have found the rigours of Champions League football difficult to cope with. They need to win this game before the daunting task of facing Real Madrid in midweek. 

Raheem Sterling still looks like the best fantasy bet in the Liverpool team with Steven Gerrard running him a close second.

Despite being far from the side they were last season Liverpool should still be more than good enough to win this game.

Prediction: 0-2

Stoke City v Swansea City

4pm BST, Britannia Stadium, Stoke

Stoke have lost two of their three home games and have only scored one goal at home so far. As usual they are finding goals hard to come by despite bringing in new attacking options in the summer. They should be good enough to stay up, but they won't finish higher than last season if they can't score more goals.

It's hard to pick any Stoke players for fantasy managers although Ryan Shawcross is probably the best of them as usual.

Swansea had a very good start to the season, but they haven't won in their last four games. They're always a hard team to beat and will give Stoke a lot of problems in this game. Their only away win so far was the impressive opening day victory away to United.

Gylfi Sigurdsson has been the outstanding player for Swansea so far with Nathan Dyer doing pretty well too.

This should be a very close game and a draw is the most likely scenario.

Prediction: 1-1

Monday October 20

West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United

8pm BST, The Hawthorns, Birmingham 

West Brom had a slow start to their season but successive wins against Spurs and Burnley were a big boost. They lost narrowly away to Liverpool in their last game and look to have found some confidence. They will have to be at their very best to get something from this game, but will feel they have a real chance of doing so. 

Saido Berahino blows hot and cold, but he's still the best fantasy bet in the West Brom team.

United still look far from an accomplished side in defence in particular, but they're up to fourth in the table. The fixture list has been kind to them so far, but their only convincing display was at home to the bottom club. United haven't won away from home yet and have some tough games coming up very soon after this game.

Angel Di Maria looks to be a must have player for fantasy managers with both Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao worth considering too while Wayne Rooney is suspended.

I think West Brom will make a real game of this and might just get a draw.

Prediction: 2-2

That's it for today.

See you next week.

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