 1 (1) | Michael Sheehy | 1095 | +95 | 0 | |
| 2 (2) | goonerdhanesh | 995 | +10 | 0 |  |
| 3 (3) | Wayne Hubbard | 890 | -45 | 0 | |
 4 (3) | sodobo | 840 | -95 | 0 | |
| 5 (5) | Rutland Gooner | 765 | -10 | 0 | |
Saturday January 10
Sunderland v Liverpool
12.45pm GMT, Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Sunderland came close to getting a result away to City in their last game, but they have only won once in their last 10 games. They have only won once in 10 home games too with only Villa and Burnley scoring less goals at home. They have only lost as many games as fourth placed Southampton, but 11 draws in 20 games sees them just three points above the relegation zone.
Costel Pantilimon has been very good for fantasy managers since getting his place in the Sunderland team and is well worth having and Adam Johnson has done well in recent weeks too.
Liverpool blew a two goal lead at home to the bottom club Leicester in their last game and ended up drawing the game. They have only lost once in their last eight games and are still only seven points off the top four. They have lost five of their nine away games though and have conceded more goals than they have scored on the road.
Raheem Sterling is still the best fantasy bet in the Liverpool team and Steven Gerrard has been in good form in the last few games.
I think this will be a very close game and could end in yet another draw for Sunderland.
Prediction: 1-1
Burnley v Queens Park Rangers
3pm GMT, Turf Moor, Burnley
Burnley have shown reselience and a never say die attitude to come from behind and get draws away to Newcastle and City in their last two games. They have only won two of their 10 home games though and no other team has scored less goals at home. Despite being more or less written off as relegation certainties before the season started Burnley are only a point from safety and have every chance of staying up.
Danny Ings is still the Burnley player most likely to make an impression for fantasy managers.
QPR have lost all nine of their away games so far and have only scored four goals in those nine games. They have the worst defensive record away from home and overall too, but they are still two points above the relegation zone. They have played two more games at home than they have away from home and that could play a big part in their final points tally and whether they survive in the Premier League or not.
Charlie Austin has been QPR's outstanding fantasy performer although he has gone off the boil in recent games and Leroy Fer has looked like he might not be a bad choice.
Despite QPR's awful away form I think they will finally get their first away point of the season in this relegation six pointer.
Prediction: 2-2
Chelsea v Newcastle United
3pm GMT, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea conceded five goals away to Spurs in their last game and are only on top of the league in alphabetical order. They have won all of their nine home games so far and have the best defensive record at home too. They're still the favourites to win the league, but their odds are lengthening by the week.
It's a case of take your pick of Chelsea's players for fantasy managers with Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and John Terry probably the very best of them.
Newcastle were pegged back three times at home to Burnley in their last game and ended up drawing 3-3. They have allowed Alan Pardew to leave for Crystal Palace and need to appoint his successor as soon as possible. They have only won two of their 10 away games and only four other teams have conceded more goals away from home.
It's not easy to see any Newcastle players making a lasting impression for fantasy managers right now.
Newcastle beat Chelsea last month in the reverse fixture, but I can't see anything other than a home win in this game.
Prediction: 3-0
Everton v Manchester City
3pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton lost again for the fourth game in a row in their last league game and they failed to score in three of those games. They have only won three of their nine home games and only West Brom have conceded more goals at home. For a team who hoped to challenge for a top four spot Everton are a long way off and an awful lot closer to the relegation zone.
Everton players haven't performed well for fantasy managers for a while and they might be best avoided at the moment.
City have joined Chelsea at the top of the table, but they're missing both Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure now. They have won seven of their 10 away games and they're the highest scorers away from home. Aguero could be back from injury very soon and City's chances of winning the league could depend on him staying fit.
David Silva is the stand out fantasy performer in the City team at the moment, but James Milner might not be a bad choice if he continues to be played in an advanced role.
Despite Everton's poor recent form I think they will give City a run for their money, but might just lose by the odd goal.
Prediction: 1-2
Leicester City v Aston Villa
3pm GMT, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester have taken four points from their last two games after a run of only two points from 13 games. They have only won once at home and no other team has taken less points at home. Despite their awful run they are only four points from safety and recent performances suggest they are capable of staying up,
I can't see any Leicester players to write home about for fantasy managers right now.
Villa have done well to take 11 points from their 10 away games as they have only scored four goals in those games. They have only lost two of their last 10 games, but they have failed to score in four of their last five. They're the lowest scorers in the league and could find it hard to stay out of the relegation fight if they continue to struggle in front of goal.
Both Brad Guzan and Alan Hutton have done well for Villa in recent weeks and are available at a good price too.
If Leicester are going to build on their recent improvement this is a game they need to win, but I think it will end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Swansea City v West Ham United
3pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Swansea have won six of their 10 home games and only Chelsea have a better defensive record at home. They're ninth in the table level on points with Liverpool and that's probably the best they can hope for this season. A win in this game would put them level on points with West Ham and closing in on the chance of European football next season.
Gylfi Sigurdsson remains the best fantasy choice in the Swansea team and their defenders have done quite well too.
West Ham didn't have the best festive programme with only one point from three games. They have only lost three of their nine away games though and have had no problems scoring goals away from home. They're still only four points outside the top four and have every chance of finishing in the Euopean places too.
Stewart Dowing has been the most consistent fantasy performer in the West Ham team by a long way.
I think West Ham have a good chance of getting something from this game and they might just get a point.
Prediction: 1-1
West Bromwich Albion v Hull City
3pm GMT, The Hawthorns, Birmingham
West Brom have only won two of their home games and they have the worst defensive record at home too. They have only taken one point in their last four games and they're only one point above the bottom three. They had a big win in the cup last week and it might just give them the confidence they need to climb the league now that Tony Pulis has taken the reins.
If Saido Berahino has found his scoring touch again he could be a good purchase for fantasy managers.
Hull have won two of their last three games to end a run of 10 games without a win. They are only two points above the relegation zone, but that's an awful lot better than where they were three games ago. They have only won two of their 10 away games, but they have conceded less away goals than the league leaders.
There are still no Hull players making an impression for fantasy managers right now.
This is a big game at the wrong end of the table and it could go either way, but I think a draw is the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur
5.30pm GMT, Selhurst Park, London
Palace have a new manager in Alan Pardew and he will have his work cut out trying to keep them up. They have only won two of their nine home games while only Villa and Burnley have scored less goals at home. They haven't won in their last eight league games and they have failed to score in five of those games.
With Mile Jedinak on international duty it's not easy to see any Palace players to recommend to fantasy managers.
Spurs got a great win at home to Chelsea last time out and moved above Arsenal into fifth place. They have only lost two of their nine away games despite conceding more goals than they have scored away from home. They have won four of their last five league games, but they have a very busy schedule ahead of them with an FA Cup replay and a two-legged Capital One Cup semi final.
Harry Kane, Nacer Chadli and Christian Eriksen are all very good fantasy options right now.
I think Spurs should have enough firepower to win this game.
Prediction: 1-3
Sunday Janurary 11
Arsenal v Stoke City
1.30pm GMT, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal dropped to sixth in the table after they lost their last game away to Southampton. They have only lost one of their nine home games and only three other teams have scored more goals at home. They're only three points off the top four with a lot of players to come back from injury and a top four finish is well within their reach.
Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla are in fine form for fantasy managers and they could be joined by Olivier Giroud now that his suspension is over.
Stoke have taken 11 points from their last six games with the only defeat in those games against Chelsea. They won at home to Arsenal only a few weeks ago and will feel they have a chance of doing the double over them this season. They have only lost four of their 10 away games which is pretty good for a team who haven't travelled well since their promotion to the Premier League.
Stoke are still dividing their fantasy points among their players quite evenly and it's not easy to see which of them might make a difference.
I think Stoke will give Arsenal a rough ride, but the home team should prevail.
Prediction: 3-1
Manchester United v Southampton
4pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester
United have been impressive at home since their opening day defeat to Swansea. Only Chelsea have taken more points at home and only Southampton have scored more goals at home. They're unbeaten in 11 league games, but they have drawn three of their last four.
With so many attacking options it's not easy to know which United players fantasy managers should pick out of Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Radamel Falcao, Juan Mata and Angel Di Maria, but I think Di Maria might be the best option now that he had returned from injury.
Southampton got a very good win at home to Arsenal in their last league game to move back into the top four. They have taken 10 points in their last four games with only Chelsea preventing them from making it 12 points. They have won four and lost four of their nine away games and they have the best defensive record away from home.
Southampton's defensive players continue to impress for fantasy managers while Graziano Pelle has dropped off a little in recent weeks.
I think this will be a very tight game and Southampton have every chance of getting a result, but United will probably just shade it.
Prediction: 2-1
That's it for this week.
See you tomorrow.
Don't be surprised Arsenal draw or lose to Stoke. Wenger's predictable style can be nullified .
ReplyDeleteIf he doesn't shore up the defence and thinks he knows best and the gunners finish outside the top 4,he shd leave. Enough is enough,18years for any anyone is too long especially if he can't compete.