| Badges | This Week | PTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (2) |   Michael Sheehy |   2 | +120 | 415 | |
| 2 (1) |  Wayne Hubbard | 4 | +70 | 395 | |
| 3 (3) | Rutland Gooner |  3 | +100 | 355 | |
| 4 (4) | sensisoccerworld | 1 | +40 | 260 | |
| 5 (6) |  Malcs | 1 | +140 | 185 | |
Saturday October 24
Aston Villa v Swansea City
3pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa were beaten yet again last week and their plight is worsening by the week. They have only taken one point from their last eight games and have taken less points at home than any other team so far. If they don't turn things around quickly Tim Sherwood will be out of a job and they might just have a chance against an out of form Swansea.
I can't see any Villa players who would remotely interest fantasy managers at the moment.
Swansea were beaten at home by Stoke on Monday night and have slipped badly after starting the season so well. They have only taken two points in their last five games and haven't won away from home yet. They will fancy their chances away to a team who are in even worse form at the moment.
Andre Ayew still looks like he can do a job for fantasy managers.
I think Swansea are the more likely to put their bad form behind them and take the three points.
Prediction: 0-2
Leicester City v Crystal Palace
3pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester came from behind yet again last week to get a 2-2 draw away to Southampton. Their only defeat came at home to Arsenal and they have scored and conceded in each of their games so far. They won't find it easy against a team who travel so well, but they certainly won't give up as they have shown so often already this season.
Jamie Vardy is a must have for fantasy managers at the moment while Riyad Mahrez is in great form too once he gets on the pitch.
Palace were beaten at home by West Ham last week after going down to 10 men in the first half. They have won three of their four away games so far with only Everton and West Brom conceding less goals on the road. Their away form has been excellent since Alan Pardew took the reins in January and they will fancy their chances away to any team.
Yohan Cabaye has come good in recent weeks and is a real possibility for fantasy mangers and available at a good price too.
This game could go either way and I have a feeling it will end in a draw.
Prediction: 2-2
Norwich City v West Bromwich Albion
3pm BST, Carrow Road, Norwich
Norwich conceded six goals away to Newcastle in their last game and are only one place above the drop zone. They started the season well but haven't won in their last four games and have only won once in four home games. They need to steady the ship by taking something from this game and have every chance of doing so against a West Brom team who have been fairly unimpressive so far.
Nathan Redmond and Wes Hoolahan have done well so far for fantasy managers and are worth considering.
West Brom just about managed to win at home to Sunderland last week to move clear of the bottom three. They have taken seven points in their four away games so far and no other team has conceded less goals on the road. A win in this game would put them comfortably in mid table, but it won't be easy for a team who have scored only seven goals in nine games.
Boaz Myhill has been the best of the West Brom players for fantasy managers and has more points than any other goalkeeper so far while Saido Berahino has three goals in his last four games.
This game could go either way, but I think a draw is probably the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Stoke City v Watford
3pm BST, Britannia Stadium, Stoke
Stoke won their third league game in a row when they got the only goal away to Swansea on Monday night. They have only won once in their four home games though with only Watford and Villa scoring less goals at home. They will fancy their chances at home to a newly promoted team who are sliding down the table at the moment.
Marko Arnautovic and Jack Butland have both done well for fantasy managers in recent weeks.
Watford were well beaten at home by Arsenal last week and now find themselves only just above the relegation zone. They have only taken one point in their last three games, but they have only lost one game on the toad so far. They are the lowest scorers in the league and they will have to be at their best to get anything from this game.
Huerelho Gomes has done well for fantasy managers so far and he's still available at a good price too while Odion Ighalo has looked good too.
I don't think there will be too many goals in this game, but the chances are Stoke will continue their winning ways.
Prediction: 1-0
West Ham United v Chelsea
3pm BST, Upton Park, London
West Ham won away to Palace last week to move into the top four after a great start to their season. They have only won once in their four home games though and they have scored in every game they have played. On current form they have every chance of getting something from this game and they will give Chelsea a real run for their money.
Dimitri Payet has been the outstanding performer in the West Ham team and is almost a must have for fantasy managers.
Chelsea got a much needed win in their last game at home to Villa, but they were still far from convincing. They have only won three of their nine league games and only three teams have conceded more goals than them. If they're going to start making up ground on the top four this is exactly the type of game they need to win.
Willian has done well in recent games for fantasy managers and surely some of the other Chelsea players have to start performing soon.
If Chelsea perform at their best they can get something from this game, but they have rarely done so this season and I think they will get a point at best from this game.
Prediction: 2-2
Arsenal v Everton
5.30pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal won their third game in a row away to Watford last week to keep on the heels of City at the top of the table. They have the joint best defensive record in the league, but they have only scored five goals in their four home games. A win in this game would put them on top of the table before the two Manchester teams play each other.
Alexis Sanchez is a must have for fantasy managers while Mesut Ozil and all of Arsenal's defenders are looking pretty good too.
Everton were well beaten at home by United last week and it was their first defeat in six games. They are unbeaten away from home though and no other team has conceded less goals away from home. They will have to be at their very best to get anything out of this game, but they have done well against Arsenal in recent seasons.
Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku have done well for fantasy managers and are both worth considering.
I think Everton will make a game of it, but Arsenal will take the three points.
Prediction: 2-1
Sunday October 24
Sunderland v Newcastle United
12pm GMT, Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Sunderland lost away to West Brom last week to slip back to the foot of the table. They are the only team without a win so far and they have failed to score in four of their last five games. They need to get that first win very soon and a home game against Newcastle would be the ideal way to do it.
I can't see any Sunderland players to even remotely interest fantasy managers at the moment.
Newcastle got their first win of the season last week when they put six goals past Norwich. That win moved them off the foot of the table and showed they might actually have the wherewithal to do something this season. They have only one point and one goal away from home and their away form this year has been nothing short of disastrous.
Georginio Wijnaldum did brilliantly for fantasy managers last week and he could offer more of the same if Newcastle can attack like they did last week.
Local derbies are always hard to call and this one is no different, but I think a draw is the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur
2.05pm GMT, Dean Court, Bournemouth
Bournemouth were well beaten by City last week and their good start to the season is now fading quickly. They're only two points abovet the relegation zone and the injuries they have suffered will make their task of staying up even tougher. Any points they can get from this game would be most welcome, but it will be far from easy for them.
Glenn Murray has done well since coming in for the injured Calum Wilson and is worth considering for fantasy managers.
Spurs drew 0-0 at home to Liverpool last week and that was their fifth draw already this season. They haven't lost since their opening game and no other team has conceded less goals than Spurs. They need to turn some of their draws into wins and this game should give them the opportunity to do just that.
I think Spurs will be good enough to come out of this game with all three points.
Prediction: 0-2
Manchester United v Manchester City
2.05pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester
United got a very good win away to Everton last week and could go to the top of the table if they win this game. They have taken 10 points from their four home games and no other team has conceded less goals at home. If they win this game they will move ahead of City and they have every chance of doing just that.
Juan Mata has been the best performer for fantasy managers in the United team so far while United's defenders have done well too and so has Anthony Martial.
City bounced back from consecutive defeats by winning their last two games and scoring 11 goals in the process. They have won three of their four away games and are the top scorers with 24 goals in their nine games. If they're at their best they have every chance of getting the better of their local rivals in this game.
Kevin de Bruyne is probably the City player most likely to succeed for fantasy managers with others injured at the moment and Wilfried Bony might not be a bad choice either.
I think this will be a very close game and we will probably see the spoils shared.
Prediction: 2-2
Liverpool v Southampton
4.15pm GMT, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool could only manage a scoreless draw away to Spurs in Jurgen Klopp's first game in charge last week. They have only won three of their nine games and have only scored eight goals in those games. They need to get some positive results and the fitness of Daniel Sturridge could be crucial for them.
If he's fit Sturridge is a good option for fantasy managers, but the rest of the Liverpool players have done little to impress so far.
Southampton were 2-0 up at home to Leicester last week, but they only got one point from the game. They are unbeaten away from home with only Everton and West Brom conceding less goals on the road. They have drawn three of their away games though and will have to be at their best to get something from this game.
Sadio Mane, Grazziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic have all done well so far for fantasy managers and it's probably a good idea to have at least one of them in your team.
I think this will be another very close game and it could easily end in a draw too.
Prediction: 1-1
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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