| Badges | This Week | PTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1) |   Michael Sheehy |   3 | -40 | 585 | |
| 2 (2) |  Rutland Gooner |  4 | -5 | 465 | |
| 3 (3) | Wayne Hubbard | 5 | +50 | 460 | |
| 4 (4) | sensisoccerworld | 2 | +50 | 455 | |
| 5 (5) |  Malcs | 1 | -15 | 240 | |
Saturday December 26
Stoke City v Manchester United
12.45pm GMT, Britannia Stadium, Stoke
Stoke were beaten at home by Palace last week to put and end to their recent good run. Only Villa and West Brom have lost more home games than Stoke and only Villa have scored less goals at home. They have won five of their last 10 league games though and have kept clean sheets in seven of those games.
Stoke's defenders and goalkeeper have all done very well for fantasy managers for the last couple of months.
United were beaten at home by Norwich last week and the pressure on Louis van Gaal is really mounting. They have only lost three of their nine away games, but have only won once in their last four on the road. They're without a win in four games and their defence hasn't looked so good in recent weeks despite their nine clean sheets already this season.
United's defenders had being doing well until recently, but it's hard to see which of their players might impress for fantasy managers at the moment.
United need to get something from this game to save van Gaal's skin, but I think Stoke will narrowly get the better of them.
Prediction: 2-1
Aston Villa v West Ham
3pm GMT, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa got a point away to Newcastle last week after going behind, but they need wins and they need them soon. They are the only team not to have won at home yet and they are the lowest scorers at home too. They are without a win in 16 games and have kept only one clean sheet in those 16 games.
I can't see any Villa players who might make a difference for fantasy managers at the moment.
West Ham fought hard to get a scoreless draw at Swansea last week despite missing most of their players who might make a difference for them. They have only lost two of their nine away games and only the top two have scored more away goals. They are without a win in seven games and failed to score in four of them with their last three games finishing in scoreless draws.
West Ham have done very well defensively recently and their defenders and goalkeeper have to be at least considered by fantasy managers.
This is a game both teams need to get something from and I think they will share the spoils.
Prediction: 1-1
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace
3pm GMT, Dean Court, Bournemouth
Bournemouth won again last week when they took all three points from a trip to West Brom. They have only won two of their eight home games with only West Brom and Everton conceding more goals at home. They are unbeaten in five games and have won their last three including victories over both Chelsea and United.
Junior Stanislas has looked good in recent weeks while Adam Smith has done well too, but it would be a big gamble to pick a Bournemouth defender.
Palace got a very good win away to Stoke last week and they're only outside the top four on goal difference. Only the top two have taken more away points than Palace and no other team has conceded less goals on their travels. They have taken 10 points in their last four games and a win in this game could even see them move into the top four.
Yannick Bolasie could be the Palace player to have for fantasy managers while their defenders haven't done too badly recently either.
I think this will be a very close game, but Palace's away form will just give them the edge.
Prediction: 1-2
Chelsea v Watford
3pm GMT, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea won their relegation six pointer at home to Sunderland last week to give themselves some breathing space at the wrong end of the table. They have taken 13 of their 18 points at home, but only two other teams have lost more games at home. That win last week was only their second win in eight league games and they have only managed four clean sheets in their 17 league games.
If Chelsea are going to turn things around their players might just be ones to watch for fantasy managers.
Watford won easily at home to Liverpool last week to move within touching distance of the top four. They have only lost two of their eight away games and have scored more goals on the road than they have done at home. They have won six of their last eight games, their last four in a row and have kept clean sheets in the last three.
Odion Ighalo has become a must have for fantasy managers while Troy Deeney, Huerelho Gomes and all of Watford's defenders are looking pretty good too.
I can't see there being too much in this game and a draw is probably the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Liverpool v Leicester City
3pm GMT, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool were well beaten away to Watford last week and need some good results to get back on track. They have only won three of their eight home games and have conceded more goals than they have scored at home. They have only won three of their last 10 games and have only taken one point from their last three games.
Jordan Henderson and Phillippe Coutinho are the Liverpool players most likely to perform for fantasy managers.
Leicester won 3-2 away to Everton last week to make sure they topped the table at Christmas. They're the only team unbeaten on the road and they're the top scorers away from home too. They have taken 26 points from their last 10 games since their only defeat of the season at home to Arsenal.
Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy are both must haves for fantasy managers as they continue to perform week in and week out.
This is a tough game to call and I have a feeling the spoils might be shared.
Prediction: 2-2
Manchester City v Sunderland
3pm GMT, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City were beaten at Arsenal on Monday night and they're now six points behind Leicester. They have won more home games and scored more home goals than any other team so far. They have only taken seven points from their last six games and have conceded 10 goals in their last five games.
Despite their recent poor form City players like Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Yaya Toure are still good fantasy options while Vincent Kompany has to be considered if he's fit to play again.
Sunderland were beaten away to Chelsea last week and face another daunting prospect in this game. They have lost more away games and conceded more goals on the road than any other team so far. They have lost their last three games and they're five points below the relative safety of seventeenth place.
I can't see any Sunderland players to interest fantasy managers at the moment.
I think City should bounce back and win this game by a few goals.
Prediction: 3-0
Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City
3pm GMT, White Hart Lane, London
Spurs bounced back from their defeat at home to Newcastle by winning away to Southampton last week to move into the top four. They have only lost one of their nine home games and only three other teams have conceded less goals at home. They have only won two of their last six games though and need to win this game to strengthen their place in the top four.
Spurs defenders are doing very well for fantasy managers at the moment while Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane and Bamidele Alli are all doing pretty good too.
Norwich got a very good win away to United last week to move them out of the relegation zone. Only the bottom two have lost more away games than Norwich and only Sunderland have conceded more away goals. That win at United was only their second win in 12 games, but it moved them out of the relegation zone and it will give them real hope of staying up.
None of the Norwich players have excelled for fantasy managers, but Nathan Redmond, Wes Hoolohan and Robbie Brady haven't done too badly.
I think Spurs should be good at home to take the three points and stay in the top four.
Prediction: 2-0
Swansea City v West Bromwich Albion
3pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Swansea got a point at home to West Ham last week, but it wasn't enough to move them out of the bottom three. Only Villa have won less games at home and they're the only team to have scored less goals at home too. They have taken only two points from their last seven games and have failed to score in five of those games.
It's hard to recommend any Swansea players to fantasy managers considering their current form.
West Brom lost at home to Bournemouth last week and had two players sent off in the game. They have only lost two of their eight away games with no other team conceding less goals on the road, but only Newcastle scoring less. That defeat last week was their first one in five games and that run included a win against Arsenal as well as draws with Spurs and Liverpool.
Just like Swansea there are no West Brom players making a real impact for fantasy managers right now.
Like most games at the moment it's difficult to predict the outcome of this game, but I think the points will be shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Newcastle United v Everton
5.30pm GMT, St. James Park, Newcastle
Newcastle drew at home to Villa last week in a game they really should have won. They have only won two of their nine home games, but only four other teams have scored more goals at home. The seven points they have taken in their last three games have seen them climb out of the bottom three, but only with two points to spare.
Georginio Wijnaldum has been the best fantasy performer for Newcastle and he tends to do his best work at home.
Everton were beaten at home by Leicester last week, but they're still only six points off the top four. They have only lost one of their eight away games and only four other teams have scored more goals on the road. They haven't won in their last four games though and have only one clean sheet in their last 11 games.
Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley have been in sparkling form for fantasy managers recently and are more or less must haves.
I think this is a game which could go either way and Everton will probably come out on top.
Prediction: 1-2
Southampton v Arsenal
7.45pm GMT, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton
Southampton were beaten at home by Spurs last week and they're struggling for results at the moment. They have lost four of their nine home games with only Villa and West Brom losing more games at home. They have only taken one point in their last five games and have only scored two goals in those games.
With Southampton struggling to score right now it's hard to see which of their players might interest fantasy managers.
Arsenal managed to hold on to beat City on Monday night to stay two points behind Leicester at the top of the table. They have won six of their nine away games with only Leicester scoring more away goals. They have won their last three games and could go to the top of the table if they win this game and Leicester don't win at Liverpool.
Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud and maybe Theo Walcott see all looking very good for fantasy managers at the moment.
I think Southampton will make a game of it, but Arsenal will win narrowly.
Prediction: 1-2
That's it for this week.
See you next week.
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