Thursday 16 April 2015

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 33

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I did very well last week with three perfect scorelines, four correct outcomes and three incorrect. However, the leader in my predictions league did even better and increased his lead over me as you can see from the table below.

There are only seven games this week thanks to the FA Cup semi finals and some fantasy managers will be hard pushed to put out a full side. I tried to prepare in advance and I think I should be able to have 11 players available to play without using more than the usual amount of subs. After this week there will be six teams left with a game in hand and four of them will play that game next week with the other two not playing until gameweek 37.


Player NamePTSTWBB
NC 1 (1)Rutland Gooner1805+15520
NC 2 (2)Michael Sheehy1730+14010
Up 3 (4)sodobo1510+16020
Up 4 (5)goonerdhanesh1470+2305
Down 5 (3)Wayne Hubbard1440+550


Saturday April 18

Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion

3pm BST, Selhurst Park, London

Palace won easily away to Sunderland last week to continue their progress towards the top half of the table. They have won their last four games and have taken 25 points from their last 12 games while scoring in 10 of them. Only QPR and West Brom have lost more home games than Palace and they have taken six points more on the road than they have at home.

As I said last week Palace players are doing very well for fantasy managers at the moment with Glenn Murray and Yannick Bolasie probably the pick of them and Wilfried Zaha worth considering too.

West Brom were beaten by a last gasp goal at home to Leicester last week and are still need a few points to confirm their Premier League survival for another season. They had looked strong in defence when Tony Pulis took the reins, but they have lost their last three games and conceded 10 goals in the process. They have only won two of their 15 away games and they're the lowest scorers on the road, but only three teams have conceded less goals away from home.

I can't see any West Brom players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.

I think Palace will continue their excellent run by taking the three points with a couple of goals to spare.

Prediction: 3-1

Everton v Burnley

3pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool 

Everton got a good point away to Swansea last week, but they don't have much to play for before the season ends. They have taken 10 points in their last four games though and only conceded two goals in those games. They have only won five of their 15 home games, but they are unbeaten in six at home and have kept clean sheets in four of them.

Everton defenders have done well recently with Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka and Seamus Coleman all possibilities for fantasy managers.

Burnley fought hard at home to Arsenal last week, but ended up losing 1-0 and they're still two points from safety. They have only won once in their last 11 games and only scored one goal in their last six. They have only won once in their 15 away games and only QPR and Leicester have conceded more away goals.

I can't see any Burnley players making a difference for fantasy managers between now and the end of the season.

Everton should be good enough at home to beat goal shy Burnley.

Prediction: 2-0

Leicester City v Swansea City

3pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester

Leicester had a great last minute win away to West Brom last week to give them real hope of staying up. They have won their last two games which is the first time they have won two games in a row since September and they have scored eight goals in their last three games. No other team has won less games at home though, but they do have the best defensive record at home in the bottom half of the table.

Esteban Cambiasso has been the pick of the Leicester players for fantasy managers this season while Jamie Vardy has done well in recent weeks. Don't forget Leicester play twice next week along with Chelsea, Liverpool and Hull which makes all of those teams players slightly more appealing.

Swansea drew at home to Everton last week and have a good record against the teams at the wrong end of the table. They have taken 13 points from their last seven games and are unbeaten against teams in the bottom six. They have lost seven of their 15 away games and no other team in the top half of the table has lost more away games or scored less goals away from home.

It's not easy to see which Swansea players to choose for fantasy managers at the moment with the points getting shared out quite evenly. 

I think Leicester have a real chance of staying up, but they will only get a point out of this game.

Prediction: 2-2

Stoke City v Southampton 

3pm BST, Britannia Stadium, Stoke

Stoke got a last gasp point away to West Ham last week to stop their downward spiral of recent weeks. It was their first point in four games, but they're still just about in the top half of the table. They have lost six of their 15 home games and they're the lowest scorers at home in the top half of the table.

I can't see any Stoke players to write home about for fantasy managers with the possible exception of Victor Moses.

Southampton won at home to Hull last week to move up to sixth and within five points of the top four. They have taken 10 points from their last five games and they kept clean sheets in three of those games. They have won seven of their 15 away games and have the best defensive record away from home, but no other team in the top half of the table has scored less goals on the road.

Southampton's defenders are still a very good option for fantasy managers with Kelvin Davis very good value in goal too.

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

Prediction: 1-1

Chelsea v Manchester United

5.30pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea just about scraped a late winner away to QPR last week to keep their seven point lead at the top of the table with a game in hand too. They have taken 27 points from their last 11 games and kept clean sheets in five of those games. They're the only unbeaten team at home in the league with 12 wins in their 15 games and the best the defensive record at home too, but they have only won two of their last five at home.

Eden Hazard has been the pick of the Chelsea players for fantasy managers recently while Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa (if he's fit) and all of their defenders have to be considered too.

United won the Manchester derby at home to City last week to move eight points clear of fifth place. They have won their last six games with clean sheets in three of them and they know they have to get something out of this game. They have only won five of their 15 away games, but only Southampton have a better defensive record on the road.

Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young have all been impressive recently for fantasy managers.

I think this will be a very close game, but Chelsea will get the point they need to keep their comfortable lead at the top with the season almost over. 

Prediction: 1-1

Sunday April 19

Manchester City v West Ham United

1.30pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City were well beaten away to United last week and are in real danger of missing out on a top four finish if they can't reverse their current form. They have lost three of their last four games and their chances of retaining the title are over. They have won their last three home league games though and scored 10 goals in the process.

Despite City's problems Sergio Aguero found some form again last week and has to be considered by fantasy managers along with David Silva.

West Ham looked to have gotten a rare win last week, but Stoke pegged them back right at the end. They have only won twice in their last 15 games and look to be headed for a bottom half finish after doing so well in the first half of the season. They have only won three of their 15 away games and have the worst defensive record away from home in the top half of the table.

There are no West Ham players excelling for fantasy managers at the moment.

I think City will get back on track and win by a couple of goals at least.

Prediction: 3-1

Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur 

4pm BST, St. James's Gate, Newcastle 

Newcastle were yet again beaten away to Liverpool on Monday night and they're lucky their slide didn't start a few weeks earlier. They have lost their last five games and failed to score in four of them, but the nine cup cushion they have should see them avoid relegation. No other team in the bottom half of the table has taken more points at home, but they have only won two of their last eight at home.

I can't see any Newcastle players to remotely interest fantasy managers at the moment.

Spurs lost at home to Villa last week to as good as end their top four hopes and drop them back to seventh. Since beating Arsenal they have only taken 11 points from eight games and failed to score in their last two. They have won seven of their 15 away games and only four teams have scored more goals away from home.

Harry Kane has been very impressive for Spurs this season, but like the other Spurs players he hasn't done well in the last two games.

This is a tough game to call, but I have a feeling it will end all even

Prediction: 1-1

That's it for this week.


See you next week.

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