| POS | Player Name | Badges | This Week | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1) |   Rutland Gooner |   3 | +155 | 365 | |
| 2 (2) |  goonerdhanesh | 1 | +80 | 220 | |
| 3 (3) |  Michael Sheehy | | +70 | 205 | |
| 4 (5) | Wayne Hubbard | 1 | +65 | 185 | |
| 5 (4) | sensisoccerworld | 1 | +35 | 165 | |
| |
Saturday September 19
Chelsea v Arsenal
12.45pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea were beaten yet again last week and have made the worst start to the defense of the trophy of any Premier League winner. They have conceded more goals than any other team in the first five games and have only taken one point from their two home games. Jose Mourinho has a very good record against Arsene Wenger and he will want to keep that record going and he needs to win this game.
I still think Chelsea will come good with Pedro the player most likely to do well for fantasy managers, but it's a matter of when they come good.
Arsenal moved into the top four with a 2-0 win over Stoke last week. They're still struggling to score goals, but they are creating plenty of chances and have kept clean sheets in their last three games. They have won both of their away games and will feel they have every chance of continuing Chelsea's bad run despite their poor show in Europe on Wednesday night.
All of Arsenal's defenders have done well recently while Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are all good options for fantasy managers too.
I think this will be a very close game and Arsenal might just manage to nick a win.
Prediction: 1-2
Aston Villa v West Bromwich Albion
3pm BST, Villa Park, London
Villa were 2-0 up away to Leicester last week, but ended up losing 3-2. They won their opening game, but they have only taken one point in four games since then. A local derby is always a big game and they will want to get something from this game after the disappointment of last week.
I can't see any Villa players setting the world alight for fantasy managers at the moment.
West Brom drew 0-0 at home to Southampton last week and they're finding goals hard to come by. They look strong defensively, but they are short of creativity and will struggle unless they improve in the attacking third. Their only win was away from home to nine man Stoke, but they haven't conceded away from home yet.
Boaz Myhill has started very well for fantasy managers and is well worth considering.
I can see this being a very close low scoring affair with the spoils probably shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Bournemouth v Sunderland
3pm BST, Dean Court, Bournemouth
Bournemouth were well beaten by Norwich last week and didn't play as well as they had done in previous games. They haven't kept a clean sheet yet in their five games and are still looking for their first home win in the top flight. They will feel they have every chance of getting that win at home to a struggling team like Sunderland.
Calum Wilson still looks like he could get plenty of points for fantasy managers.
Sunderland were beaten at home by Spurs last week and only find themselves off the bottom of the table on goals scored. They haven't won a game yet and only Chelsea have conceded more goals. If they're going to stay up this season they have to improve in defence, but they are at least scoring some goals.
Jeremain Lens and Jermain Defoe still look capable of getting points for fantasy managers.
This is a game which could go either way, but I think Bournemouth might use home advantage to take the three points.
Prediction: 2-1
Newcastle United v Watford
3pm BST, St. James's Park, Newcastle
Newcastle were beaten at West Ham on Monday night and they are now bottom of the table. They haven't scored in their last four league games and patience with Steve McLaren will run out soon if they continue in their current mode. A home win against a newly promoted team must surely give them the opportunity to get that first win they so badly need.
I can't see any Newcastle players to recommend to fantasy managers on current form.
Watford got their first league win of the season last week and it was something they needed badly. They also scored their first goal since the opening day and they need to improve their goalscoring rate. Only Newcastle have scored less goals than Watford and this game doesn't promise too much in terms of goal action.
Watford's defenders have done very well recently, with Huerelho Gomes in particular doing well, and are worth considering for fantasy managers.
This could be a very close game and I have a feeling Newcastle might just overturn their recent form and get a win.
Prediction: 1-0
Stoke City v Leicester City
3pm BST, Britannia Stadium, Stoke
Stoke were beaten by Arsenal last week and have failed to win any of their first five games. Only Newcastle have scored less goals than Stoke and they have lost both of their home games without scoring too. They won't find it easy at home to second placed Leicester, but they are usually a tough team to get anything out of on their home patch.
It's hard to see any Stoke players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment, but Xherdan Shaqiri still looks like a good long term bet.
Leicester did really well to come from two down and beat Villa last week to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. They are still second in the table and are the joint top scorers along with City and West Ham. It's never easy to go to Stoke, but on current form Leicester will feel they have every chance of getting something from this game.
Riyad Mahrez has been the stand out player so far in the Leicester team with Marc Albrighton and Jamie Vardy not doing too badly either.
Stoke need to get something from this game, but I think the most they can manage is a point.
Prediction: 1-1
Swansea City v Everton
3pm BST, Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Swansea were disappointing in their defeat at Watford last week after such a good start to their season. They have won both of their home games so far including beating United three weeks ago. They can be very good at their best, but too often they drop points against teams below them in the table.
Andre Ayew and Bafetimbi Gomis still look like good fantasy options even if they didn't do so well last week.
Everton had a great win at home to Chelsea last week and it should really boost their confidence. They haven't conceded a goal away from home yet and are capable of causing problems to any team on the break. They have started better than they did last season and will hope to continue that with no European football to distract them.
Ross Barkley continues to impress for fantasy managers while Steven Naismith could be considered after his heroics of last week if he can get a game.
This isn't an easy game to call, but I have a feeling it will end in a score draw.
Prediction: 2-2
Manchester City v West Ham United
5.30pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City got a very late winner at Palace last week to make it five wins out of five so far this season. They haven't conceded a goal in any of those games either and it's going to take a lot to stop them at the moment. They did lose at home in the Champions League in midweek though which shows they can be beaten.
All of City's defenders are great choices for fantasy managers at the moment while David Silva looks so good too and Sergio Aguero must surely start scoring goals soon.
West Ham won at home to Newcastle on Monday night to move up to fifth in the table. They have won both of their away games so far without conceding a goal and those games were at Arsenal and Liverpool. They will give City a tough test with their counter attacking, but they will do very well to get anything out of this game.
Dimitri Payet has had a very good start to the season and is well worth having for fantasy managers.
It's going to take a lot to stop City in the league and I think they will win this game by a couple of goals.
Prediction: 3-1
Sunday September 20
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace
1.30pm BST, White Hart Lane, London
Spurs won their first league game of the season away to Sunderland last week, but only just. They have drawn their two home games so far, but they did win at home in the Europa League on Thursday night. They will have to play a lot better than they have done so far to get the better of Palace.
None of the Spurs players have impressed so far for fantasy managers and they won't get any better until some of those players step up.
Palace have had a very good start to their season with their only defeats coming in very close games against Arsenal and City. They have won both of their away games so far and have a great away record since the turn of the year. They will feel they have every chance of getting something from a Spurs team who have failed to impress so far.
Bakary Sako has looked good since coming into the Palace team and could be a good choice for fantasy managers.
I think Palace will give Spurs a real run for their money and could easily take at least a point from this game.
Prediction: 1-1
Liverpool v Norwich City
4pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool have only taken one point from their last three games and were far from impressive against United last week. After keeping clean sheets in their first three games they have conceded six in their last two. They need a win to get back on track and will be strong favourites to win at home to a newly promoted team.
None of the Liverpool players have set the fantasy world alight so far, but surely they will have a few candidates soon.
Norwich got their second win of the season at home to Bournemouth last week and they were impressive in doing so. They have been the best of the promoted sides so far and look more than capable of staying up. They won't find it easy away to Liverpool, but on current form they have a chance of getting something from this game.
Nathan Redmond and Wes Hoolihan have been impressive for fantasy managers and are available at a good price too.
I think Norwich will have a go, but Liverpool will just about manage to win.
Prediction: 2-1
Southampton v Manchester United
4pm BST, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton
Southampton started the season slowly, but they have taken four points from their last two games and kept clean sheets in their last three. They were hard to beat at home last season and they will be looking to make their stadium a fortress again. They will have to be at their very best to get anything from United, but the task is not beyond them.
Cedric Soares still looks like a good fantasy buy to me and Dusan Tadic might be worth considering too.
United got the better of Liverpool last week to move up to third in the table. They have been far from impressive so far and were beaten in the Champions League on Tuesday night. The loss of Luke Shaw is a big blow, but United have kept clean sheets in three of their first five games and will hope to build on that.
With Shaw out for the rest of the season the other United defenders still look like good fantasy bets and Juan Mata hasn't done too badly either.
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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