Friday 1 May 2015

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 35

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I didn't do well last week with no perfect scorelines, four correct outcomes and eight incorrect. It means I have slipped to third in my predictions league and my chances of winning it are now very slim as you can see from the table below.


PositionPlayer NamePTSTWBB
NC 1 (1)Rutland Gooner1830+400
Up 2 (3)sodobo1700+9020
Down 3 (2)Michael Sheehy1665-300
NC 4 (4)goonerdhanesh1450-400
NC 5 (5)Wayne Hubbard1415-300


Saturday May 2

Leicester City v Newcastle United

12.45pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester

Leicester got a very important win in their relegation six pointer away to Burnley last week and climbed out of the bottom three, but they did lose to Chelsea on Wednesday. They had won their previous four games before that defeat to Chelsea and still look one of the most likely teams to avoid the drop. They have only won four of their 16 home games, but have won two of their last three at home and have three of their last four games on their own patch.

Jamie Vardy, Esteban Cambiasso and Casper Schmeichel are all doing well for fantasy managers at the moment.

Newcastle were beaten at home to Seansea last week and continue to slide towards the drop zone with only five points separating them from the bottom three. They have lost their last seven games and could lose their last four if they continue with their current form. They have only won three of their 17 away games with only Leicester and QPR conceding more goals on the road.

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

I think Leicester will continue to move away from the drop zone by taking all three points in this game.

Prediction: 3-1

Aston Villa v Everton

3pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham 

Villa were narrowly beaten away to City last week and they're still far from secure in the relegation fight. They have only won once in their last five league games with only two places and two points separating them from the relegation zone. They have taken less points at home than any other team and no other team has scored less goals at home either.

Christian Benteke looks like he's the best fantasy option in the Villa team.

Everton had a very good win and performance in beating United last week to move into the top half of the table. They have taken 16 points in their last six games and kept clean sheets in four of them. They have only won four of their 17 away games though and have lost more away games than any other team in the top half of the table.

All of Everton's defenders are looking good for fantasy managers at the moment.

Despite their recent improvement I'm still not convinced by Villa and I think they could lose this game.

Prediction: 1-2

Liverpool v Queens Park Rangers

3pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool

Liverpool could only take one point from their two games last week and they failed to score in both games. They have only taken four points from their last five games and their top four hopes are all but over with a seven point gap to make up and four games to play. They have only won nine of their 17 home games and are the lowest scorers at home in the top seven.

Liverpool's defenders haven't done too badly recently while Raheem Sterling, Phillippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson should all be strong possibilities in this game for fantasy managers.

QPR could only draw at home to West Ham last week and their chances of staying up are fading quickly. They have only won once in their last nine games and they're four points from safety with four games to play. They have lost 13 of their 16 away games and have lost more games and conceded more goals away from home than any other team. 

Matt Phillips is the QPR player to have at the moment with Charlie Austin a possibility too.

Neither of these teams are in good form at the moment, but surely Liverpool will win this game.

Prediction: 2-0

Sunderland v Southampton 

3pm BST, Stadium of Light, Sunderland

Sunderland got a good point away to Stoke last week, but it wasn't enough to stop them dropping into the relegation zone. They have only won once in their last 10 games and they failed to score in five of those games. They have only won three of their 17 home games and no other team has scored less or conceded more at home.

I still can't see any Sunderland players who might make a difference for fantasy managers although Conor Wickham has scored in his last two games and he was their saviour last season.

Southampton led twice against Spurs last week, but could only draw 2-2 and missed out on the chance to go fifth. They have only won three of their last 10 games, but the form of Liverpool and Spurs still gives them a very good chance of finishing as high as fifth. They have won seven and drawn seven of their 16 away games and have the best defensive record away from home.

Southampton's defenders have done very well for fantasy managers this season and are well worth considering and Graziano Pelle has rediscovered some form in recent weeks too. 

I think Southampton have enough about them to take the three points no matter how badly Sunderland need them.

Prediction: 0-1

Swansea City v Stoke City

3pm BST, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea got a good win away to Newcastle last week to stay eighth and are on course for their best ever finish in the Premier League. They have taken 10 points from their last five games and a win in this game would go a long way towards guaranteeing eighth place. They have won eight of their 17 home games, but no other team in the top half of the table has scored less goals at home.

Ki Sung Yueng and Jonjo Shelvey have looked good in recent weeks and Gylfi Sigurdsson bounced back in some style for fantasy managers last week.

Stoke could only draw at home to struggling Sunderland last week, but they're still on course for a top half finish and only three points behind Swansea. Despite their good position they have only taken five points in their last six games and have failed to keep a clean sheet in those games. They have only won five of their 17 away games and no other team in the top half of the table has scored less goals away from home.

Charlie Adam has been the most impressive of the Stoke players in recent weeks.

I think this will be a very close game and it might just go in Swansea's favour.

Prediction: 2-1

West Ham United v Burnley

3pm BST, Upton Park, London

West Ham got a draw away to struggling QPR last week, but their terrible run continues. They have only won twice in their last 17 games and they have failed to score in seven of those games. They have won eight of their 17 home games and most of their points in their bad run have come at home with only two defeats in their last seven games at home.

I can't see any West Ham players to write home about for fantasy managers at the moment.

Burnley were beaten at home by Leicester last week and their chances of staying up are now very slim. They have only taken one point in their last five games and failed to score in all of those games too. They have only won once in their 16 away games with only West Brom scoring less goals away from home.

I can't see any Burnley players fantasy managers should be interested in either.

I think West Ham might just put a stop to their poor sequence of results for the moment with a narrow win.

Prediction: 1-0

Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion

5.30pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester

United were well beaten by Everton last week, but other results mean they are odds on to finish in the top four. They have lost their last two games after winning the previous six, but those games were away from home. They have won 14 of their 17 home games and have taken more points and scored more goals at home than any other team.

Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Ashley Young had all been doing well until recently for fantasy managers and could all do well again in the last few weeks of the season.

West Brom got a good point at home to Liverpool last week and the chances are they will just about stay clear of the relegation fight. They have taken four points in their last two games to move away from the bottom three after losing four of the previous five. They have only won three of their 16 away games and they're the lowest scorers away from home, but they do have the best defensive record on the road in the bottom half of the table.

I still can't see any West Brom players making an impression for fantasy managers.

United have a chance to go second before City and Arsenal play and I think they will take it by winning by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 2-0

Sunday May 3

Chelsea v Crystal Palace

1.30pm BST, Stanford Bridge, London

Chelsea got a hard fought draw at Arsenal and then won away to Leicester on Wednesday night to leave them within three points of winning the league. They are unbeaten in their last 14 games and have taken 34 points from those games as well as keeping seven clean sheets in them. They are the only unbeaten team at home in the league and have the best defensive record at home too.

All of Chelsea's defenders are good choices for fantasy managers along with both Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas.

Palace were beaten at home by Hull last week, but at least they don't have to worry about relegation. They lost their last two games but those games were at home and they have won five of their last six away from home. Only five teams have more away points than Palace and only four teams have more away goals than them.

Glenn Murray and Yannick Bolasie had done well for fantasy managers until a couple of weeks ago, but they might be better off avoided at the moment.

I think Chelsea should be too strong at home for Palace and will lift the title trophy after winning by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 3-1

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City

4pm BST, White Hart Lane, London

Spurs fought hard to get a draw away to Southampton last week and give themselves every chance of finishing as high as fifth. They have only won four of their last 10 games and only managed a clean sheet in one of those games. They have won nine of their 17 home games and have conceded more goals at home than any other team in the top half of the table.

Harry Kane still looks like the only Spurs player to consider for fantasy managers.

City just about won at home to Villa last week, but they will have to finish strongly if they want to have a chance of second place. City have won their last two games but they were at home and they have lost their last four games away from home. They have only won eight of their 17 away games, but only Chelsea have scored more goals away from home.

Sergio Aguero still looks like the best fantasy choice in the City team with David Silva worth considering too.

This is a game both teams need to win, but I think it will end in a draw.

Prediction: 2-2

Monday May 4

Hull City v Arsenal

8pm BST, KC Stadium, Hull

Hull played twice last week and won away to Palace as well as at home to Liverpool to move four points away from the relegation zone. They had taken only two points from their previous six games though and still need a few points to guarantee their safety. They have only won five of their 16 home games and have some very tough games to come before the season ends.

Arsenal needed to win at home to Chelsea last week to keep their slim chances of winning the league alive, but they could only draw 0-0. That draw ended a run of eight consecutive wins and they must be favourites to finish second. Only Chelsea have taken more away points than Arsenal with only Chelsea and City scoring more goals on the road.

Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud have all been good in recent weeks and fantasy managers should consider them along with Hector Bellerin and David Ospina too.

Hull won't make things easy for Arsenal, but I think Arsenal might just manage a narrow victory.

Prediction: 0-1

That's it for this week.

See you next week.  

No comments:

Post a Comment