 1 (1) | Michael Sheehy | 1160 | +65 | 5 | |
 2 (3) | sodobo | 1120 | +130 | 10 |  |
 3 (2) | goonerdhanesh | 1070 | +15 | 0 | |
| 4 (4) | Wayne Hubbard | 1010 | +25 | 10 | |
| 5 (5) | Rutland Gooner | 1005 | +25 | 10 | |
Saturday February 7
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
12.45pm GMT, White Hart Lane, London
Spurs had a good win away to West Brom last week and are on a very good run at the moment. They have taken 19 points from their last eight games and are unbeaten in their last six games at home.They have lost four of their 12 home games though and no other team in the top half of the table has lost as many games or conceded as many goals at home.
Christian Eriksen has made himself a must have player for fantasy managers in recent weeks while Harry Kane has being performing very well too.
Arsenal have won their last five games in all competitions and are only one point outside the too four. They have also taken 19 points from their last eight league games and only the top two have scored more goals than Arsenal away from home. They have only won five of their 12 away games though, but they have scored as many goals away from home as Spurs have at home.
If Alexis Sanchez is fit he's a must for fantasy managers while both David Osoina and Hector Bellerin are very good bargains and Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil have all looked very good in recent weeks too.
I think this will be a close game, but Arsenal's attacking options will swing it in their favour.
Prediction:1-2
Aston Villa v Chelsea
3pm GMT, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa set a new club record last week by failing to score for the sixth league game in a row. They have only won two of their 11 home games, but they have the best defensive record at home in the bottom half of the table. They haven't scored in 14 of their 23 league games and are only three points above the relegation zone which isn't a good combination for a team playing the league leaders.
With Villa doing so badly at the moment their players are best avoided for fantasy managers.
Chelsea will be happy with the point they took at home to City last week which kept them five points clear at the top of the table. Only City have won more away games than Chelsea and they're the leading scorers away from home. The fixture list has been pretty kind to them for the next few weeks and they will look to push home their advantage at the top of the table in those games.
With Diego Costa suspended and Cesc Fabregas still possibly injured the best fantasy option in the Chelsea team has to be Eden Hazard while all of their defenders are worth having too once they play.
I can't see anything other than a Chelsea win in this game.
Prediction: 0-2
Leicester City v Crystal Palace
3pm GMT, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester were beaten again last week and they're still firmly rooted to the foot of the table. Only Hull have taken less points at home than Leicester and only West Brom have conceded more goals at home than them. They have some tough fixtures over the next few weeks and really need to get something out of this game or they could find themselves adrift at the bottom of the league.
It's not easy to see any Leicester players to recommend to fantasy managers right now.
Palace lost for the first time under Tony Pulis last week when they went down to a very early goal at home to Everton. It was their first defeat in five league games and leaves them four points above the relegation zone. They have only lost four of their 12 away games, but they have drawn six of them and have scored more than the other struggling teams away from home.
I think Jason Puncheon has looked good under Pardew can be a good bet for fantasy managers.
This is a big game for both clubs and one Leicester really need to win, but I think it will end with the spoils shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Manchester City v Hull City
3pm GMT, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City could only draw away to Chelsea in a game they could have won and they have to make up five points on Chelsea at the top of the table. They have only won once in their last five league games and their home form just isn't what it has been for the last few seasons. If they're going to catch Chelsea they will have to improve that home form and they also have to be aware that the team's behind them are closing in quickly.
Both David Silva and Sergio Aguero are the City players fantasy managers should be looking to at the moment.
Hull lost again last week and they're still in the relegation zone with the pressure mounting on them by the week. They have only won two of their last 16 league games and have failed to score in seven of their last nine games. They have taken more points away from home than at home, but they won't fancy a trip to the current league champions.
I can't see any Hull players to interest fantasy managers at the moment.
This is a game City have to win and they could easily do so by a handsome margin.
Prediction: 3-0
Queens Park Rangers v Southampton
3pm GMT, Loftus Road, London
QPR have lost every single one of their away games so far and their home form is the only thing giving them any hope of staying up. They haven't won any of their last six games at home or away and they have some very tough games coming up at home. With the departure of Harry Redknapp this week they will hope a new manager will give them the boost they need or they will be on their way back to the Championship if they'll have them back.
Charlie Austin has been the best of the bunch for fantasy managers in the QPR team, with Leroy Fer doing well on occasions too.
Southampton are feeling the effects of a few injuries at the moment and were beaten at home by Swansea last week. That ended a run of 16 points from six games and saw them drop back to fourth in the table. Only City have won more away games than Southampton and they have the best defensive record away from home even if they have found goals hard to come by on the road.
Southampton are struggling for players at the moment, but their defenders are still a good bet for fantasy managers.
This isn't an easy game to predict and it could go either way, but I have a feeling it might just end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Swansea City v Sunderland
3pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Swansea halted a bad run of results with a good win away to Southampton last week. It was their first win in five league games and they had conceded 11 goals in the previous four games too. They have won half of their 12 home games, but their good defensive record at home was ruined when Chelsea put five past them a few weeks ago.
With Gylfi Sigurdsson still suspended it's not easy to see any Swansea players to recommend to fantasy managers, but their defenders might not do too badly in this game.
Sunderland have being finding goals hard to come by this season, but they managed a couple and a very important win at home to Burnley last week. They needed that win after taking only one point in their previous five games and it moved them up the table with none of the other struggling teams managing to win except for Everton. They have drawn a lot of games this season, but only four teams have lost less games than them away from home.
Costel Pantillimon continues to be the best fantasy option in the Sunderland team.
This game has a draw written all over it for me.
Prediction: 1-1
Everton v Liverpool
5.30pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton managed their first win in seven league games away to Palace last week and it gave them some breathing space at the wrong end of the table. Théy needed that win with Chelsea and Arsenal coming up quickly after this game. They have only won three of their 11 home games and only West Brom have conceded more goals at home.
It's still not easy to pick Everton players for fantasy managers at the moment, but Leighton Baines, Romelu Lukaku and maybe Seamus Coleman could all be worth having if their form improves.
Liverpool are on a bit of a roll and the return of Daniel Sturridge was a huge boost to them last week when he came off the bench and scored. They have taken 16 points in their last six games and kept clean sheets in four of them too. Only City have won more away games than Liverpool, but no other team in the top half of the table has lost more away games either.
Raheem Sterling is the best fantasy option in the Liverpool and the return of Sturridge should add his name to the list too.
Local derbies are never easy to predict, but I think Liverpool will have enough to take the three points in this game.
Prediction: 1-2
Sunday February 8
Burnley v West Bromwich Albion
12.00pm GMT, Turf Moor, Burnley
Burnley are still just outside the relegation zone and they have the opportunity to give themselves some breathing space in this game. They have only won once in their last seven games, but that has been enough to keep them out of the bottom three. They have only won three of their 12 home games and only Villa and Hull have scored less goals at home.
Danny Ings has been the best of the bunch for fantasy managers in the Burnley team with Tom Heaton doing well in home games too.
West Brom have only won twice in their last 13 league games and are only three points above the relegation zone. They have only won two of their 11 away games and only Villa have scored less goals away from home. Despite their lack of goals they have a good defensive record away from home with only Ćity and Southampton conceding less goals on the road.
I can't see any West Brom players who might make a real difference for fantasy managers, but if I had to choose one Saido Berahino would be the man.
This is a real relegation six pointer and it could go either way, but I think it will end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Newcastle United v Stoke City
2.05pm GMT, St. James Park, Newcastle
Newcastle got their first win under John Carver last week when they won 3-0 away to Hull. It was only their second win in eight games, but they're still safely in mid table. They have only lost three of their 11 home games and will fancy their chances at home to Stoke.
He might not have done too much so far, but I like the look of Remy Cabella and I think he could be a good fantasy buy.
Stoke continue to make progress up the table and have taken 13 points from their last six games. They have kept clean sheets in three of those games too and have found some of their defensive strength from previous seasons. They have only won four of their 12 away games and have only managed to score 11 goals in those games.Jonathan Walters did very well for fantasy managers last week, but it's a big risk to pick any player based on one good performance.
I think Newcastle will continue their winning ways under Carver and win this game narrowly.
Prediction: 2-1
West Ham United v Manchester United
4.15pm GMT, Upton Park, London
West Ham have only won once in their last six games and they have a couple of tough games coming up after this one too. Only Chelsea and United have won more home games than West Ham and only three teams have a better defensive record at home. They played well in their defeats against Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool and will have a chance in this game if they play that well again.
Stewart Downing is still the best fantasy choice int the West Ham team while Andy Carroll or Diafra Sakho might be worth considering too.
United won their last two games to get back on track, but those games were against the bottom two clubs. They have only won three of their 11 away games and have only scored 14 goals in those games. They won't find it easy against a good West Ham side, but they have the players to get the win.
Robin van Persie and Angel di Maria are possibly the best fantasy bets in the United team with Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao to be considered too.
I think West Ham will give United a really good fight and might just take a point off them.
Prediction: 2-2
That's it for this week.
See you next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment