| POS | Player Name | Badges | This Week | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1) |   Rutland Gooner |   1 | +50 | 210 | |
| 2 (4) | goonerdhanesh | 1 | +60 | 140 | |
| 3 (3) |  Michael Sheehy | | +30 | 135 | |
| 4 (6) | sensisoccerworld | 1 | +115 | 130 | |
| 5 (1) | Wayne Hubbard | 1 | -40 | 120 | |
Saturday September 12
Everton v Chelsea
12.45pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton have had a fairly average start to their season, with five points from their four games so far. They have only taken one of those points at home though and they need to get their first home win under their belts. It won't be easy for them at home to the champions, but they will feel they have a chance after Chelsea's poor start to the season.
Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku have been the best of the bunch so far for fantasy managers in the Everton team with Arouna Kone, Seamus Coleman and Tim Howard all doing well too.
Chelsea have lost two of their first four games and are already eight points behind the leaders. They have conceded nine goals in those four games with only Sunderland conceding more goals so far. They need to turn things around quickly, but they won't have it all their own way in this game.
Pedro has been the only Chelsea to impress for fantasy managers so far, but Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and all of their defenders must surely come good.
I think this is going to be a very close game with both teams needing a win and it will probably end with the spoils shared.
Prediction: 2-2
Arsenal v Stoke City
3pm BST, The Emirates, London
Arsenal haven't exactly improved too much since losing their first game, but they have taken seven points in their last three games. They haven't won at home yet and haven't managed a home goal either. If they're going to put in a serious title challenge they need to sort their home form out starting with this game.
Petr Cech has done well recently along with all of Arsenal's defenders and surely players like Alexis Sanchez, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla will turn on the style very soon.
Stoke haven't had a good start to their season and they're in the bottom three without a win to their names. They have drawn both of their away games so far and all of their goals have come on their travels too. They have a very poor record away to Arsenal and will do very well to get anything out of this game.
Mame Biram Diouf has been the best of the Stoke players so far for fantasy managers, but he's a doubt for this game.
I think Arsenal should be good enough to get their first home win of the season.
Prediction: 3-1
Crystal Palace v Manchester City
3pm BST, Selhurst Park, London
Palace have had a very good start to their season with three wins in their first four games. They're second in the table with an away record to scare any team so far this year. They haven't done quite so well at home though and they will have their work cut out against the league leaders.
Bakary Sako has been great in the last two Palace games, but can he maintain that form while Yohan Cabaye could be the best bet for the long term for fantasy managers.
City have had a perfect start to their season with four wins out of four and they're top of the table. They haven't conceded a goal yet and they're the top scorers too. They will feel they have every chance of continuing their perfect start, but Palace certainly won't make it easy for them.
With four clean sheets all of City's defenders and goalkeeper have been great for fantasy managers while David Silva, Yaya Toure and Raheem Sterling are in great form too with Sergio Aguero a certainty to start scoring loads of points very soon.
I think this is going to be a very close game, but City will probably just sneak a win.
Prediction: 1-2
Norwich City v Bournemouth
3pm BST, Carrow Road, Norwich
Norwich had done better than I expected in their first three games, but they were well beaten by Southampton in their last game. They haven't won at home yet with only Sunderland and Chelsea conceding more goals. A home game against a team who were promoted with them must give them a chance of getting that first home win.
Nathan Redmond didn't do so well in his first season in the Premier League two years ago, but he seems to have hit the ground running this time and is well worth having for fantasy managers.
Bournemouth started slowly, but they have looked a lot more like the team that won the Championship last season in their last two games. They haven't managed a clean sheet yet in their four games, but they have at least got their first win under their belts. They will think they can get their second win away to a team who finished below them in the Championship last season.
Callum Wilson took a couple of games to find his feet, but he looks like a must have for fantasy managers at the moment.
I think this will be another very close game and it will probably end with the spoils shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Watford v Swansea City
3pm BST, Vicarage Road, Watford
Watford haven't managed a goal since the opening game, but they did at least manage to draw their first three games. They have drawn their two home games by the same 0-0 scoreline and they need to get their first win as soon as possible. It won't be easy against a Swansea team who have had a great start to the season.
Huerelho Gomes has been the best of the Watford players so far for fantasy managers.
Swansea have started the season really well and came from behind to win at home to United in their last game. They have won both of their home games, but have yet to get their first win on the road. A trip to a newly promoted team who are struggling to find the net offers them a great chance to get that first away win.
Bafetimbi Gômis has had a great start to the season along with Andre Ayew and they both look like great fantasy purchases at the moment.
I think Swansea will continue their good start by taking all three points in this game.
Prediction: 0-2
West Bromwich Albion v Southampton
3pm BST, The Hawthorns, Birmingham
West Brom just about managed to win away to nine man Stoke in their last game to get their first win of the season. They have lost their two home games so far, but they were against last season's top two. If they're going to steer clear of the relegation zone this season they will have to improve on their performances so far.
Boaz Myhill has been the best of the West Brom players so far for fantasy managers.
Southampton got their first win of the season at home to Norwich in their last game and they needed it badly. They have drawn their two away games so far and still have a long way to go to reach the heights of last season. If they can win this game they will be well on the way to that improvement and they have every chance of doing so.
Cedric Soares still looks like a good reasonably priced fantasy option while both Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tasic did well in their last game and are more than capable of scoring plenty of points.
It's not easy to know how this game is going to go, but a draw is probably the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Manchester United v Liverpool
5.30pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester
United seemed to be going so well until they lost to Swansea in their last game. They have only managed three goals in their four games so far and the signing of Anthony Martial could be what they need to change their fortunes in front of goal. They should be up for this game, but they won't find it easy against a Liverpool team who can't afford to lose.
United's defenders have done well for fantasy managers so far and maybe Martial might be the attacking player to score points for them.
Liverpool looked to be going so well too until they lost their last game 3-0 at home to West Ham. They were the first goals they conceded and they still haven't conceded a goal away from home. It's not going to be easy away to their fierce rivals, but they will feel they have a chance of getting something from this game.
Liverpool's defenders have done well for fantasy managers too, but there has been little on show from their attacking players.
Neither of these teams have set the world alight this season or scored a lot of goals either and I have a feeling this game could end scoreless.
Prediction: 0-0
Sunday September 13
Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur
1.30pm BST, Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Sunderland haven't won a game yet and they're bottom of the table with two points from their first four games. They have conceded more goals than any other team, but they have at least managed to score six goals in those games. They only just managed to avoid the drop last season and they might find it even harder to do so this season.
Jeremain Lens has started well for fantasy managers and Jermain Defoe isn't doing too badly either.
Spurs haven't won any of their opening four games and they desperately need to get their first win under their belts. They have drawn their last three games though and they had a good record away from home last season. A trip to the bottom club must surely offer them the opportunity to get that first win.
None of the Spurs players have exactly set the fantasy world alight yet, but players like Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen can't be too far away from performing while Nacer Chadli has done well so far.
I think Sunderland will give a Spurs a test, but Spurs might just manage their first win of the season.
Prediction: 1-2
Leicester City v Aston Villa
4pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester have had a great start to their season and they're still unbeaten with eight points from their first four games. Only City and West Ham have scored more goals so far, but Leicester haven't managed a clean sheet either. They have to be favourites at home to a Villa team who look destined to struggle again this season.
Riyad Mahrez has had a great start to the season for fantasy managers while Marc Albrighton and Jamie Vardy are both worth considering too.
Villa have taken four points from their first four games, but only one of those was in the last three games. They should have won at home to bottom placed Sunderland in their last game, but they could only manage a 2-2 draw. They won't find it easy against a good Leicester team and will do very well to get anything out of this game.
I can't see any Villa players to recommend to fantasy managers even if Scott Sinclair did score twice in their last game.
I think Leicester will be good enough at home to take the three points.
Prediction: 2-1
Monday September 14
West Ham United v Newcastle United
8pm BST, Upton Park, London
West Ham have lost both of their home games so far, but they won away to both Arsenal and Liverpool. Slaven Bilic is still trying to get the team to play his way, but it appears they are better on the road at the moment at least. A home game against a struggling team offers them the chance to get their first home points of the season.
Cheikhou Kouyate has done very well so far for fantasy managers and Dimitri Payet hasn't done too badly either.
Newcastle are in the bottom three with only two points from their first four games and haven't scored in the last three. The Steve McLaren era hasn't started too well and like a few other clubs they need to get their first win as soon as possible. They have defended well in their last two games though and more of the same could get them something from this game.
Tim Krul is getting plenty of chances to score points for fantasy managers at the moment
West Ham have to be favourites to win this game, but I think Newcastle might just get a point.
Prediction: 1-1
As usual this season my fantasy league is up and running again and it's open to all comers with a €50 prize (out of my pocket) to the winner. You can join up by using the league code 48497-14043 after you have set your team up here and good luck to all who play. There were over 1,000 teams in my league last season and there's already more than that signed up for this season.
I'm also running my Predictions League again this season and it's very enjoyable even if there's no cash prize for the winner. The code for my league is FD757-ARR after you have signed up here and of course both games are completely free to play.
That's it for this week.
See you next week.
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