| Position | Player Name | PTS | TW | BB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1 (1) | Michael Sheehy | 790 | -40 | 0 | |
| 2 (2) | goonerdhanesh | 730 | -15 | 0 |  |
| 3 (3) | Wayne Hubbard | 720 | +90 | 0 | |
| 4 (4) | sodobo | 570 | -10 | 0 | |
| 5 (5) | Rutland Gooner | 540 | +20 | 0 | |
Saturday December 13
Burnley v Southampton
3pm GMT, Turf Moor, Burnley
Burnley's recent good run came to an end at QPR last week and the defeat dropped them back into the bottom three as a result. They have only won once in their eight home games and no other team has scored less goals at home. They're in a much better situation than they were a few weeks ago, but it will be a long hard struggle if they are to have any chance of staying up.
Danny Ings has done well in recent weeks and is worth considering as a cheap alternative for fantasy managers.
Southampton have taken only one point from their last four games and lost the last three. Those defeats were all against some of the leagues best sides and they will be relieved to have come through those games. They have done well to take 10 points from their seven away games and have the best defensive record away from home.
Graziano Pelle could be a good fantasy option now that he has broken his bad run and the Southampton defenders could be worth considering again too.
Despite their recent improvement I think Burnley will struggle in this game and Southampton will win by a couple of goals.
Prediction: 0-2
Chelsea v Hull City
3pm GMT, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea lost away to Newcastle last week to end the premature "invincible" talk. They have won all seven of their home games though and have the best defensive record at home as well as being the joint top scorers at home. They're still the favourites to win the league and will be looking to bounce back against one of the bottom three.
Eden Hazard looks like the best fantasy bet in the Chelsea team right now while Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas and all of their defenders are very good options too although Fabregas is suspended this week.
Hull have only taken four points in their last eight games and haven't won any of them. That run has seen them drop into the relegation zone and a trip to the league leaders is a daunting task for them. They have only won once in their eight away games, but they have at least managed to draw four of those games.
I can't see any Hull players who might interest fantasy managers right now.
I think this should be a fairly comfortable home win for Chelsea.
Prediction: 3-0
Crystal Palace v Stoke City
3pm GMT, Selhurst Park, London
Palace have only won once in their last nine games and have failed to score in four of them. They have only won two of their eight home games and only three other teams have scored less goals at home. They're only one point above the relegation zone and need to start winning games very soon.
Mile Jedinak has been the best fantasy performer in the Palace team so far and is certainly worth consideration for fantasy managers.
Stoke had a very good win at home to Arsenal last week to end a run of three defeats in a row. Stoke have only won two of their eight away games and have only managed to score eight goals in those games. The confidence from the victory over Arsenal might be just what they need to move up the table.
Bojan Krkic has been in good form recently and might not be a bad choice for fantasy managers.
I think this will be a close game and a draw is probably the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Leicester City v Manchester City
3pm GMT, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester were beaten yet again last week and are firmly rooted to the foot of the table. They still haven't won a game since putting five past United 10 games ago. They have only taken two points in those 10 games and have only won once in their seven home games.
Despite a recent upturn in his form it would still be a brave choice to pick Leonardo Ulloa.
City are on a very good run at the moment and have closed Chelsea's lead at the top of the table to only three points. They will be without Sergio Aguero for the next month though and he has been far and away their most important player this season. City have won their last four league games and have taken more points and scored more goals away from home than any other team.
If David Silva is fully fit he's always a good fantasy option while Yaya Toure seems to be finally finding his shooting boots.
Despite Aguero's absence I can't see anything other than a City victory in this game.
Prediction: 0-2
Sunderland v West Ham United
3pm GMT, Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Sunderland haven't won in their last five games and they have failed to score in three of them. They have drawn five of their eight home games with only City and Arsenal winning away to them so far. They're only two points above the relegation zone and need to turn some of those home draws into victories.
Costel Pantilimon has done well since getting his chance in goal for Sunderland and is a good choice for fantasy managers at a good price.
West Ham are up to fourth in the table after coming from behind to beat Swansea last week. They have only lost two of their seven away games and only the top two have scored more goals away from home. They have won their last three league games and are making themselves a very hard team to beat at the moment.
Stewart Downing has been the most consistent fantasy performer in the West Ham team so far, but both Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho are pretty good choices too.
This game could go either way, but I think a draw is probably the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa
3pm GMT, The Hawthorns, Birmingham
West Brom got a point away to Hull last week and it was their first point in five games. They have failed to score in four of those games and are only one point above the bottom three. They have only won once in their eight home games and no other team have conceded more goals at home.
There are no West Brom players worth considering for fantasy managers at the moment.
Villa came from behind to beat Leicester last week and continue their climb up the table. They have taken 11 points from their eight away games despite only scoring four goals in those games. Villa are unbeaten in their last five games and have put their run of six defeats prior to that firmly behind them.
Brad Guzan has probably been the Villa player most likely to deliver for fantasy managers.
Local derbies are usually very close and this will be no different, but I think Villa might just sneak it.
Prediction: 1-2
Arsenal v Newcastle United
5.30pm GMT, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal were awful in the first half at Stoke last week and undid so much of their recent good work. They have lost three of their last five league games, but they are still only four points outside the top four. They have only lost once in their last 25 home league games, but they won't find it easy against this Newcastle side.
Alexis Sanchez is the Arsenal player to have for fantasy managers while Aaron Ramsey looks like he might have found some form at last.
Newcastle did the whole league a favour last week by beating Chelsea and look like a very good side. They are strong defensively and have plenty of pace and power on the break which are a very good combination. They have only lost once in their last nine games and have kept clean sheets in four of those games.
Papiss Cisse has done well for Newcastle in recent weeks and some of their defenders are worth considering at a very good price too.
This game looks like it could go either way, but my loyalties always make me opt for Arsenal.
Prediction: 2-1
Sunday December 14
Manchester United v Liverpool
1.30pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester
United are up to third after winning their last five games in a row, but they have rarely impressed in those victories. Only Chelsea have taken more points and scored more goals at home than United. This is a huge game for them and they have to be favourites with the form of both clubs currently so different.
Robin van Persie is in a rich vein of form at the moment while both Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata are pretty good fantasy choices too.
Liverpool are out of the Champions League and have the knockout stages of the Europa League to look forward to. Only QPR and Leicester have lost more away games than Liverpool and only those two clubs have conceded more away goals too. They have been unable to replace the goals of the departed Luis Suarez and the injured Daniel Sturridge and are struggling as a result.
Maybe Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard might be worth a shot for fantasy managers, but they're a risk with the way Liverpool are playing.
I think this will be a close game, but United's superior goal power will make the difference.
Prediction: 2-1
Swansea City v Tottenham Hotspur
4pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Swansea are unbeaten in their last five home games, but have made a habit of losing after taking the lead away from home. They have won five of their eight home games and only Chelsea have conceded less goals at home. They're only a point ahead of Spurs and have to avoid defeat to stay ahead of them.
Wilfred Bony has become the Swansea player to have for fantasy managers while Gylfi Siggurdsen is still a pretty good option too.
Spurs have taken more points away from home than at home despite having played more home games. They will be glad to be finished with the Europa League for a few months to give themselves a chance to build some momentum in the league. They have had problems scoring goals and need to improve on the 18 they have in 15 league games.
Spurs players are hardly excelling for fantasy managers, but Christian Eriksen, Nacer Chadli and Harry Kane are still worth considering.
This could be a very tight game and I have a feeling it will end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Monday December 15
Everton v Queens Park Rangers
8pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton are struggling to keep pace with the top four and need to put a few wins together to get their season going again. They have only won once in their last six games and have only won two of their seven home games. They have the worst defensive record at home too and need to improve their home form if they are to move up the table.
Leighton Baines is still the Everton player most likely to succeed for fantasy managers with Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas impressing recently too.
QPR are out of the bottom three thanks to their home form, but they have lost all of their away games. They have only scored two goals away from home and conceded 17 which are highs and lows respectively for any team so far. They won't stay up solely on their home form and must start taking points away from home at some stage.
With Charlie Austin suspended I can't see any QPR players to recommend to fantasy managers.
I think Everton should be good enough at home to take all three points.
Prediction: 3-1
That's it for this week.
See you next week.
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