| Name | Badges | This Week | PTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1) |   Michael Sheehy |   3 | +35 | 625 | |
| 2 (2) |  Rutland Gooner |  4 | 0 | 470 | |
| 3 (3) | Wayne Hubbard | 4 | +20 | 410 | |
| 4 (4) | sensisoccerworld | 1 | +40 | 405 | |
| 5 (5) |  Malcs | 1 | -35 | 255 | |
Saturday December 18
Chelsea v Sunderland
3pm GMT, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea were beaten yet again on Monday night when they lost to Leicester and that defeat finally cost Jose Mourinho his job. They have only won three of their eight home games and have conceded more goals than they have scored at home. They have lost five of their last seven games and are only one point above the relegation zone.
Until Chelsea sort themselves out there are none of their players to recommend to fantasy managers.
Sunderland lost narrowly at home to Watford last week and are still in the relegation zone. They have lost six of their eight away games and no other team has conceded more goals away from home. They have lost their last two games and have a very tough schedule over the holiday season.
I can't see any Sunderland players to recommend to fantasy managers either.
Who would have thought Chelsea would be involved in a relegation six pointer, but they are and I think they will ease their worries by winning this game.
Prediction: 2-1
Everton v Leicester City
3pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton led away to struggling Norwich last week, but ended up drawing for the third game in a row. They have only won three of their eight home games, but only City have scored more goals at home. They are unbeaten in six games, but they have drawn four of them and they need to turn some of those draws into wins if they are going make more progress.
Romelu Lukaku has become a must have player for fantasy managers with Ross Barkley and Gerard Delafeou not too far behind.
Leicester won again on Monday night when they beat Chelsea to go back to the top of the table. They're the only team unbeaten away from home and no other team has scored more goals on the road although their defensive record is pretty poor. They have won six of their last seven games and have kept clean sheets in three of them despite their emphasis on attacking football.
Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy are absolute must haves for fantasy managers right now.
This promises to be a very good and tight game and I think it will end in a draw.
Prediction: 2-2
Manchester United v Norwich City
3pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester
United were beaten away to Premier League new boys Bournemouth last week and lost ground on the three teams above them. They're the only team unbeaten at home and have only conceded one goal in their seven home games. They have only won two of their last seven games even though they have kept clean sheets in four of them.
It's tough to see any United players excelling for fantasy managers at the moment, but their defenders and Juan Mata are certainly worth considering.
Norwich came from behind to get a very good point at home to Everton last week. They have only won once in their eight away games with only Sunderland and Newcastle conceding more goals on the road. They have only won once in their last 11 games and have only scored twice in their last four games.
None of the Norwich players have really set the fantasy world alight, but players like Wes Hoolohan and Robbie Brady haven't done too badly.
Despite their recent failings I still think United should win this game by a couple of goals.
Prediction: 2-0
Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur
3pm GMT, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton
Southampton were narrowly beaten away to Palace last week and probably should have got something from the game. They have only won three of their eight home games, but only three other teams have scored more goals at home. After a promising run they have only taken one point from their last four games to drop into the bottom half of the table.
Southampton players haven't exactly done the business for fantasy managers recently.
Spurs looked to be heading for fourth spot when they led at home to Newcastle last week, but they somehow managed to lose 2-1. They have only lost one of their seven away games, but they have drawn four while only City and Palace have conceded less away goals. They have only won once in their last five games and have one only clean sheet in their last seven.
Spurs defenders have done well for fantasy managers while Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane haven't done too badly either.
I don't think there will be too much between these teams and a draw is the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Stoke City v Crystal Palace
3pm GMT, Britannia Stadium, Stoke
Stoke got a good point away to West Ham last week to maintain their mid table spot. They have lost as many games as they have won at home while only two teams have scored less goals and only three teams have conceded less goals at home. They have won six of their last 10 games and kept clean sheets in seven of those games.
Stoke's defenders and goalkeeper have been excellent for fantasy managers for a while now.
Palace just about got the better of Southampton last week in a very close game. They have won four of their seven away games and no other team has conceded less goals on their travels. They have taken 10 points from their last five games to move within three points of the top four.
Yannick Bolasie has done well in recent weeks while Yohan Cabaye, Scott Dann and Joel Ward haven't done too badly for fantasy managers either.
With Palace's away record it's tough to call this game, but I think it might just end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
West Bromwich Albion v Bournemouth
3pm GMT, The Hawthorns, Birmingham
West Brom got a very good point away to Liverpool last week and very nearly snatched all three. They have lost four of their eight home games and no other team has conceded more goals at home. They're unbeaten in their last four games and that includes games against Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool.
None of the West Brom players have done particularly well for fantasy managers in recent weeks.
Bournemouth had another great win last week when they followed up their win at Chelsea by winning at home to United. They have lost five of their eight away games with only Newcastle and Sunderland conceding more away goals. They struggled after the injury to Callum Wilson, but they are unbeaten in their last four games and have moved out of the bottom three as a result.
Junior Stanislas looks like a real bargain for fantasy managers at the moment.
This game will be a real contrast of styles and I think West Brom's more airborne approach might just get the better of Bournemouth.
Prediction: 2-1
Newcastle United v Aston Villa
5.30pm GMT, St. James's Park, Newcastle
Newcastle came from behind to get a very good and important win away to Spurs last week. They have only won two of their eight home games with only three other teams conceding more goals at home. They have beaten Liverpool and Spurs in their last two games to move out of the bottom three and will fancy their chances at home to the bottom club.
Georginio Wijnaldum has been the best of the Newcastle players for fantasy managers and he has done well at home in particular.
Villa were beaten at home by Arsenal last week and their prospects of staying up are looking bleak already. They have lost six of their eight away games with only Sunderland and Newcastle conceding more goals on the road. They haven't won in their last 15 games which is the worst run in their very long history.
I can't see any Villa players to interest fantasy managers at the moment.
This is a game Villa have to get something from, but I think Newcastle will get their third win in a row.
Prediction: 2-0
Sunday December 20
Watford v Liverpool
1.30pm GMT, Vicarage Road, Watford
Watford won yet again last week when they just about managed to hold on to take the three points away to Sunderland. They have won as many games as they have lost at home with only Villa scoring less goals on their own patch and only United and Arsenal conceding less. They have won five of their last seven games and kept clean sheets in four of those games too.
Odion Ighalo has made himself a must have for fantasy managers while Troy Deeney and Huerelho Gones look good too as do the Watford defenders.
Liverpool left it until very late to grab a point at home to West Brom last week. They have taken as many points on the road as they have at home and they have conceded less goals away from home. The points dropped to Newcastle and West Brom in their last two games have been costly and they have only kept one clean sheet in their last seven games.
With Jordan Henderson back in the team he has to be a serious consideration for fantasy managers along with Phillippe Coutinho.
Liverpool have struggled against teams who don't push too many men forward and they could do again in this game, but I think they will get a point from it.
Prediction: 1-1
Swansea City v West Ham United
4pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Swansea played very well away to City last week, but were beaten by a very late deflection. They have only won two of their eight home games with only West Brom and Bournemouth conceding more goals at home. They have taken only one point from their last six games and have failed to score in four of those games.
Andre Ayew had done very well until recent weeks for fantasy managers, but it's hard to pick Swansea players considering their current form.
West Ham drew 0-0 at home to Stoke last week and have struggled to win games recently. They have won half of their eight away games and only the top two have scored more goals on their travels. They haven't won in their last six games and have only scored three goals in those games.
With others injured Mauro Zayate looks like he could be the best fantasy option in the West Ham team.
Neither team has won in a while, but West Ham still look good enough to me to take the three points.
Prediction: 1-2
Monday December 21
Arsenal v Manchester City
8pm GMT, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal won away to Villa last week to stay two points behind Leicester and one ahead of City. They have won four of their seven home games and only United have conceded less goals at home. They had a slight blip recently, but they have won seven and only lost one of their last 10 league games.
Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud all look like very good fantasy purchases at the moment along with the Arsenal defenders and Petr Cech.
City scraped a very late win at home to Swansea last week to stay with the pace setters at the top of the league. They have won three of their seven away games with no other team conceding less away goals, but only three other teams scoring less goals on the road. Their form has been up and down with only three wins and two clean sheets in their last seven games.
David Silva and Sergio Aguero are always very good fantasy options, but their season's have been interrupted by injuries while Kevin de Bruyne has done well in their absence.
This has the makings of a really good game and I think Arsenal will just edge it.
Prediction: 2-1
That's it for this week.
See you next week.
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