Friday 16 October 2015

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek Nine

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I did pretty well last week with one perfect score, six correct outcomes and three incorrect. It means I moved up to second in my predictions league as you can see from the table below and who knows maybe I might even have a chance of topping it at some stage. It's still not too late to join in and the details of how to do so can be found at the end of this post.

POSPlayer NameBadgesThis WeekPTS
 1 (2)  Wayne Hubbard 4+70325
 2 (3)  Michael Sheehy 1+100295
 3 (1)  Rutland Gooner 3-40255
 4 (4) sensisoccerworld 1+30220
 5 (5) goonerdhanesh 1-30100


 
Saturday October 17

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool

12.45pm BST, White Hart Lane

Spurs came from behind twice to get a draw at Swansea in their last game and they're still unbeaten since their opening game. They're still unbeaten at home too and no other team has conceded less goals than Spurs. If they're going to challenge for a top four spot this is exactly the type of game they need to win.

Christian Eriksen hasn't done too badly for fantasy managers considering he missed three games and is definitely worth considering.

Liverpool drew away to Everton in their last game and parted ways with Brendan Rogers after the game. Jurgen Klopp has come in and already he has an injury crisis to deal with, but he will look to bring his own brand of football to the team. They have only won once in their last six league games and have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five.

Daniel Sturridge has to be a real consideration for fantasy managers now that he's eventually back from injury and Phillippe Coutinho could be considered too.  

This is a game both teams need to win, but a draw is probably the most likely outcome.

Prediction: 1-1

Chelsea v Aston Villa

3pm BST, Stanford Bridge, London

Chelsea were beaten yet again in their last game despite going ahead at home to Southampton. They have only won once in their four home games and only Sunderland have conceded more goals. They need to find some form quickly and surely a home game against a team in the relegation zone is the ideal opportunity to at least get a win.

Chelsea players haven't exactly set the fantasy world alight yet, but surely the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Pedro will do well for fantasy managers before too long.

Villa have taken only one point in their last seven games and have to be considered as real relegation contenders. Their only win so far has come away from home and they have scored six of their eight goals on the road. Their chances of getting anything from this game are slim, but they will feel they have a chance considering Chelsea's problems.

I can't see any Villa players who might make a difference for fantasy managers at the moment.

Despite all their recent problems Chelsea have to be good enough to beat Villa at home.

Prediction: 2-0

Crystal Palace v West Ham United

3pm BST, Selhurst Park, London

Palace beat West Brom 2-0 in their last game to move up to third in the table. They have taken more points on the road than at home, but they are a tough team to beat at any venue. They have kept clean sheets in their last two games, but West Ham will give them a tougher game than either of those teams.

Yohan Cabaye started a little slowly, but his recent form has made him a real possibility for fantasy managers while Wayne Hennessey is a very reasonably priced choice in goal.

West Ham came from behind to get a point away to Sunderland in their last game. They have taken 11 points from their last five games and have scored more goals away from home than any other team. They won't have it all their own way against Palace, but they have every chance of getting something from this game.

Dimitri Payet has been great for fantasy managers and has made himself almost a must have player.

I think this will be a very close game and a score draw is on the cards. 

Prediction: 2-2

Everton v Manchester United

3pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool

Everton did well to come from behind and get a point in their last game at home to Liverpool. They have only won once in their four home games so far, but they're just two points off the top four. They will relish the chance of playing United at home and have every chance of getting something from this game.

Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku have done very well for fantasy managers so far and have to be seriously considered.

United were well beaten away to Arsenal in their last game and were knocked off top spot as a result. They have lost two of their four away games so far and have conceded more goals away from home than any other team in the top half of the table. They won't find the trip to Everton easy, but they need to get something from this game to stay among the pacesetters.

Juan Mata has been the best fantasy performer in the United team while Anthony Martial looks quite good too.

This game could go either way, but I think the spoils will be shared.

Prediction: 1-1

Manchester City v Bournemouth 

3pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City put six past Newcastle in their last game to return to the top of the table. They have won three of their four home games and have scored more goals at home than any other team. The injuries Sergio Aguero and David Silva picked up on international duty could be a tough blow for City, but they will still be expected to win at home to a newly promoted team.

With Aguero and Silva injured Kevin de Bruyne looks the best bet in the City team for fantasy managers.

Bournemouth could only draw at home to Watford in their last game, but they should have won with a few goals to spare. They have lost three of their four away games with only three teams conceding more goals away from home, but only four teams have scored more goals away from home. They have looked good so far, but will do well to get anything from their next three games.

Matt Richie has looked good in recent weeks and could be worth a punt for fantasy managers.

Bournemouth will give City a run for their money, but I still think City will take the three points.

Prediction: 3-1

Southampton v Leicester City

3pm BST, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton 

Southampton got a great win away to Chelsea in their last game and are looking better with each game. They have lost two of their four home games so far with only Leicester and West Brom conceding more goals at home, but only City and Leicester have scored more goals at home. They look good going forward at the moment and this promises to be a very good game.

Graziano Pelle, Sadio Mane and Dusan Tadic are all looking good for fantasy managers at the moment.

Leicester got a good win away to Norwich in their last game to bounce back from their first defeat of the season. They are one of only three teams still unbeaten away from home with only Arsenal scoring more goals on the road. They have scored and conceded in every game they have played and I would be surprised if this game was any different.

Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy are doing so well that they have become must haves for fantasy managers.

I think this will be another very close game, but Southampton should be good enough to take the three points.

Prediction: 3-2

West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland 

3pm BST, The Hawthorns, Birmingham 

West Brom were beaten by Palace in their last game and have lost every game in which they have conceded. They have only taken one point from their four home games and only Leicester have conceded more goals at home. They're only one place above the relegation zone, but a home game against one of the team's below them gives them every chance of increasing the gap.

Boaz Myhill has done well for fantasy managers so far and is well worth considering as a cheap alternative in goal. 

Sunderland led 2-0 at home to West Ham in their last game and looked on their way to their first win, but ended up drawing 2-2. They parted ways with Dick Advocat after the game and Sam Allardyce is the latest manager to try to save their season. They will have to improve in defence if they are going to have any hope of avoiding the drop and Allardyce could be the man to get them to do just that.

With Jermaine Lens suspended I can't see any Sunderland players to recommend to fantasy managers this week at least. 

I think this will be a very close game and the chances are West Brom will get a narrow victory.

Prediction: 1-0

Watford v Arsenal

5.30pm BST, Vicarage Road, Watford

Watford got a good point in their last game away to Bournemouth after being second best for so long. They have only scored one goal in their four home games, but they have only conceded one goal too. Their style of football might well be effective against Arsenal, but they will have to be at their best defensively to have any chance in this game.

Odion Ighalo has been by far the best fantasy performer in the Watford team so far and is still available at a very good price too while Huerelho Gomes has done well too.

Arsenal played really well in beating United in their last game to move up to second in the table. They have won three of their four away games and have won every league game in which they have scored as well as being the highest scorers away from home. A win could possibly take them top of the table and they will be favourites to take the three points.

Alexis Sanchez is a must have for fantasy managers at the moment with Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil and all of Arsenal's defenders all doing well too.

Watford won't make it easy for them, but I think Arsenal will manage a victory.

Prediction: 1-2

Sunday October 18

Newcastle United v Norwich City

4pm BST, St. James's Park, Newcastle 

Newcastle looked to have turned a corner after drawing with Chelsea, but their second half performance at City in their last game was their worst yet. That 6-1 defeat put them at the foot of the table and they're one of the two teams still without a victory. If things don't change soon Steve McLaren will have to be under pressure, but they must have some chance of winning at home to a newly promoted team.

There are no Newcastle players making any sort of impression for fantasy managers at the moment.

Norwich were beaten at home by Leicester in their last game, but they very nearly got something from the game. They haven't kept a clean sheet in their first eight games, but they have also managed to score in all but one of those games. They will fancy their chances against a team that have really struggled so far.

Wes Hoolohan has been the best fantasy performer for Norwich so far with Nathan Redmond looking good too.

This is a game Newcastle need to win, but I think Norwich might just get the better of them.

Prediction: 1-2

Monday October 19

Swansea City v Stoke City

8pm BST, Liberty Stadium, Swansea.

Swansea led twice against Spurs in their last game, but finished up drawing 2-2. They haven't won in their last four games, but at least the signs against Spurs were more encouraging. They are unbeaten at home though and will fancy themselves against a Stoke team who don't travel well.

Andre Ayew has been by far the best fantasy performer in the Swansea team and has to be a real consideration for fantasy managers.

Stoke won their last two games to get over their slow start to the season. The clean sheet they kept against Villa in the last game was their first of the season, but they have looked better in defence recently. A trip to Swansea is never easy, but those back to back wins will surely have given Stoke some confidence.

Despite their recent improvement it's still not easy to see which Stoke players might make a real difference for fantasy managers, but Marko Arnautovic has looked good in recent weeks.

I think there won't be too much between these two, but Swansea will just edge it.

Prediction: 2-1

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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