Friday, 20 February 2015

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 26

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I got five correct outcomes last week and five incorrect which is about average, but I increased my lead in my predictions league with those closest to me faring worse as you can see from the table below.

When choosing your fantasy team this week you need to take next week's Capital One Cup final into consideration with no game for Chelsea, Spurs, QPR and Leicester. Those teams will all have a double Gameweek at some stage, but players with too many players from those clubs will struggle next week. The QPR v Spurs game is scheduled for Gameweek 28, but it looks like Leicester v Chelsea won't be played until Gameweek 34.


NC 1 (1)Michael Sheehy1255+9510
Up 2 (5)Rutland Gooner1160+15515
Up 3 (4)Wayne Hubbard1110+10015
Down 4 (2)sodobo1095-250
Down 5 (3)goonerdhanesh1085+150


Saturday February 21

Aston Villa v Stoke City

3pm GMT, Villa Park, Birmingham 

Villa lost their last game away to Hull and swapped places with them, to move into the relegation zone which eventually cost Paul Lambert his job. They haven't won in their last 10 league games and have failed to score in eight of them. No other team in the bottom half of the table has a better defensive record at home than Villa, but they are the lowest scores both home and away.

I can't see any Villa players who might make an impression for fantasy managers unless Tim Sherwood can turn things around.

Stoke were well beaten at home to City in their last league game, but they made a game of it for quite a while. It was only their second defeat in their last eight league games, but they were soundly beaten away to Championship side Blacknburn in the cup last week. They haven't done too badly on their travels with only five defeats in their 13 games and will fancy their chances away to struggling Villa.

Despite Stoke doing well none of their players look likely to make a difference for fantasy managers.

I think this will be a very close game with a Villa team trying to impress their new manager just about managing to get a point.

Prediction: 1-1

Chelsea v Burnley

3pm GMT, Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea have taken 13 points from five games since they shipped five goals away to Spurs and now have a seven point lead at the top of the table. They have won 11 of their 12 home games and have the best defensive record at home with only Arsenal and United scoring more home goals. They don't play in the league next week because of the Capital One Cup final and have to make sure they maintain their seven point gap at the top of the table before that game. 

With Diego Costa back from suspension there are plenty of Chelsea players to choose for fantasy managers with him, Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and all of their defenders worth considering.

Burnley played well in their last game away to United, but ended up losing and dropping back into the relegation zone too. They have only won once in their 12 away games and only QPR have less points and have conceded more goals away from home. They have only taken one point from their last four games and face six of the top seven in their next seven games including this one.

Danny Ings has been the Burnley player to have for fantasy managers with George Boyd doing quite well too.

I can't see anything other than a Chelsea win in this game although Burnley will give their all to make a game of it.

Prediction: 3-1

Crystal Palace v Arsenal

3pm GMT, Selhurst Park, London

Palace have had a revival since Alan Pardew took the reins and have only lost once in their last seven league games. They have taken 10 points in their last five games which has seen them move five points clear of the relegation zone. They have only won three of their 12 home games though and have lost six and won't find it easy against a team chasing a top four spot.

With Mile Jedinak back from international duty he could be the Palace player to have for fantasy managers.

Arsenal just about beat bottom club Leicester in their last league game to climb to fifth. They have only won five of their 13 away games and have only won twice in the last six on the road. Only the top two have scored more away goals than Arsenal, but Spurs and Swansea are the only teams in the top half of the table who have conceded more on the road.

Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez are all very good options for fantasy managers right now.

I think Palace will give Arsenal a tough time, but Arsenal will just about take the three points.

Prediction: 1-2

Hull City v Queens Park Rangers

3pm GMT, KC Stadium, Hull

Hull got a precious win at home to Villa in their last game and that win moved them out of the relegation zone. It was their first win in five games and they have really struggled to score goals with 11 blanks in their last 17 games. They have only won three of their 12 home games, but no other team in the bottom half of the table has conceded less goals at home. 

I still can't see any Hull players worth considering for fantasy managers.

QPR finally got their first away points of the season when they won at Sunderland in their last game and it was enough to move them out of the relegation zone. It was their first win in eight games and they're only outside the relegation zone on goal difference, but they are outside it. They have taken less points and conceded more goals away from home than any other team, but that win last week has given them real hope.

The injury to Leroy Fer is a big blow to QPR and with him gone the only QPR player to consider for fantasy managers is Charlie Austin if he's passed fit to play.

This is a real relegation six pointer and could go either way, but I think a draw might just be the most likely outcome.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion

3pm GMT, Stadium of Light, Sunderland 

Sunderland had a chance to move well clear of the relegation zone in their last game, but they lost at home to one of the teams who were below them in the table. They have only won once in their last eight league games and are now only two points above the bottom three. No other team has won less games at home than Sunderland and only Villa have scored less goals at home.

Costel Pantilimon continues to do well for fantasy managers despite Sunderland struggling at the wrong end of the table.

West Brom won at home to Swansea in their last league game to move four points clear of the bottom three. They have only lost once in their last six league games and seem to have found some goal scoring form at last. They have only won two of their 12 away games with only Villa scoring less goals on the road, but only three other teams have a better defensive record away from home.

Brown Ideye has come into his own in recent weeks and is worth considering for fantasy managers,

This is another relegation six pointer and again it could go either way, but I have a feeling West Brom might just edge it.

Prediction: 1-2

Swansea City v Manchester United

3pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea lost away to West Brom in their last game and have only won once in their last seven games. They have only lost three of their 13 home games, but Stoke are the only team in the top half of the table who have scored less goals at home. It's hard to know what you will get with Swansea sometimes, but they are capable of getting a result from this game. 

With Gylfi Sigurdsson back from suspension he could be a good fantasy choice after a fairly impressive season so far.

United were again far from impressive in beating Burnley in their last league game, but the three points moved them back up to third in the table. They have only lost once in their last 15 league games, but they have only won three of their 12 away games. They need to do well in their next three games because they have a tough run coming up in the five games after that. 

There are no United players excelling for fantasy managers despite the huge range of attacking talent they have, but I still think Angel Di Maria will come good.

Swansea can be a hard team to beat at home and will want to do the double over United, but I think it will end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Manchester City v Newcastle United

5.30pm GMT, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City struggled for much of their last game away to Stoke, but they found their goalscoring touch in the second half to win 4-1. That was City's first win in five league games and they have only won once in their last four home league games too. City are normally so good at home, but they have struggled for goals at home this season with four other teams scoring more than them.

Sergio Aguero looks to have found his form again and is a must have for fantasy managers while David Silva and the returning Yaya Toure are well worth having too.

Newcastle are unbeaten in their last three games and they did well to get a point away to Palace in their last game. They have only won three of their 13 away games though and only three other teams have conceded more goals away from home. John Carver seems to have them playing well, but they will be up against it in this game and could be in for a tough afternoon.

It's not easy to see any Newcasle players to recommend to fantasy managers although Papiss Cisse has his moments, but not on a consistent basis.

I think the return of Toure should be the boost City need and they will win by a few goals.

Prediction: 3-0

Sunday February 22

Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United

12.00pm GMT, White Hart Lane, London

Spurs were beaten away to Liverpool in their last game and dropped back to sixth place as a result. They have lost four of their 13 home league games and Stoke are the only team in the top half of the table to have lost more home games and conceded more goals at home. They are unbeaten in their last seven home league games though and are only three points outside the top four.

Harry Kane continues to impress and has made himself a must have for fantasy managers while Christian Eriksen has been pretty good too.

West Ham got a good draw away to Southampton in their last league game, but they were soundly thrashed by West Brom in the cup last week. They have only won three of their 12 away games and have only won once in their last eight league games. They're dropping off the pace of the top seven and it looks like a Europa League place for next season might be a step too far for them.

Stewart Downing has been the best of the bunch for fantasy managers in the West Ham team while Diafra Sakho might not do too badly with less competition up front after Andy Carroll's latest injury.

I think this will be a very close game with West Ham giving Spurs some real problems and it might just end in a draw.

Prediction: 2-2

Everton v Leicester City

2.05pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool

Everton were a little unlucky to lose to Chelsea in their last game and the goal they conceded ended a run of three clean sheets in a row. They have only won three of their 12 home games and no other team has drawn more home games than Everton. Despite their recent defensive improvement they have still failed to score in six of their last nine games.

With Everton seemingly defending a lot better it could be time to consider some of the Everton defenders for fantasy managers.

Leicester have performed well recently with very little reward and that was the case when they lost their last league game 2-1 away to Arsenal. They have lost their last four league games and have only won twice in their last 20. They're five points from safety and only QPR have lost more away games with only QPR again and Burnley conceding more goals on the road.

I can't see any Leicester players who might make a difference for fantasy managers right now, but Andrej Kramaric and Riyad Mahrez could be worth considering if Leicester can change their fortunes.

Everton should be favourites to win this game at home, but Leicester must surely get something for their very good performances at some stage and I think they might just manage a point.

Prediction: 1-1

Southampton v Liverpool

4.15pm GMT, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton 

Southampton could only draw at home to West Ham in their last game, but they're still in the top four. They have won their last four away games, but only one of their last four at home. Only United and Arsenal have scored more goals at home than Southampton and only Chelsea have a better defensive record at home.

Southampton's defenders are again performing well for fantasy managers and are well worth considering.

Liverpool got a very important win at home to Sours in their last game to keep in touch with the top four. They are unbeaten in their last nine league games and have won six of them while keeping clean sheets in five of them. Only three teams have won more away games than Liverpool and only four teams have a better defensive record on the road.

Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge look like the Liverpool players most likely to make a difference for fantasy managers.

I think this will be a very close affair and a draw is the most likely outcome.

Prediction: 0-0

That's it for this week.

See you next week.

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