Monday 11 January 2016

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 21

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I did quite well last week with two perfect scorelines, three correct outcomes and five incorrect. As a result I increased my lead at the top of my predictions league as you can see from the table below.

BadgesThis WeekPTS
 1 (1)  Michael Sheehy 3+65725
 2 (3)  Rutland Gooner 4+80600
 2 (2) sensisoccerworld 2+5600
 4 (3)  Wayne Hubbard 5+45565
 5 (5)  Malcs 1+55370


 
Tuesday January 12

Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

7.45pm GMT, Villa Park, Birmingham 

Villa were beaten away to Sunderland last week and must surely be doomed to relegation already. They're the only team without a home win this season and no other team has scored less goals at home. They are going through the worst run in their very long history and are without a win in 19 league games.

I can't see any Villa players to interest fantasy managers.

Palace were well beaten at home to Chelsea last week to put an end to a very good run. They have won five of their nine away games and no other team has conceded less goals away from home.That defeat last week was their first one in seven games and they have kept clean sheets in three of their last five games.

Palace defenders had been doing well until last week and could still be worth considering for fantasy managers.

I think Palace's away form should see them take the three points in this game.

Prediction: 0-2

Bournemouth v West Ham United 

7.45pm GMT, Dean Court, Bournemouth 

Bournemouth got a good point away to Leicester last week to move them four points above the drop zone. They have only won two of their nine home games with only Villa and Swansea scoring less goals on their own patch. They have only lost one of their last eight league games, but they have failed to score in their last three.

Bournemouth players haven't exactly set the fantasy football world alight in recent weeks. 

West Ham had a very good 2-0 win at home to Liverpool last week and they look like they are back on track. They have only lost two of their 10 away games and only three other teams have scored more away goals. They're unbeaten in their last seven games, but won their last two after drawing the previous five.

Dimitri Payet is the West Ham player most likely to make a difference for fantasy managers right now.

I think this will be a close game, but West Ham will probably just edge it.

Prediction: 1-2

Newcastle United v Manchester United

7.45pm GMT, St. James's Park, Newcastle 

Newcastle played very well last week, but ended up losing 1-0 away to Arsenal. They have only won two of their 10 home games with only Everton conceding more goals on their own patch. They have lost their last three games by the same 1-0 scoreline and they're two points from safety.

Georginio Wijnaldum has done well for fantasy managers this season with his best work coming at home.

United got a much needed win at home to Swansea last week to move within three points of the top four. They have lost four of their 10 away games and have conceded more goals than they have scored away from home. That win last week was their first one in seven league games and they have only kept one clean sheet in their last five games.

United players haven't done well for fantasy managers recently, but their defenders are still worth considering.

I think this will be another very close game and it might just end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Wednesday January 13

Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion

7.45pm GMT, Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea got a very good 3-0 win away to Palace last week and maybe they have finally turned the corner. They have only won four of their 10 home games which is a very poor return for defending champions. They are on their best run of the season as they are unbeaten in four games and they have kept clean sheets in the last two.

Diego Costa looks like he could just be the Chelsea player to have at the moment with their defenders and Willian doing well too.

West Brom emerged with three previous points after a hard fought game at home to Stoke last week. They have only lost three of their nine away games with only Palace conceding less goals away from home. They have won their last two games to move into a comfortable mid table position, but they haven't won away from home since October.

I still can't see any West Brom players to interest fantasy managers at the moment.

This is a game Chelsea have to win and I think they will do just that.

Prediction: 2-1

Manchester City v Everton

7.45pm GMT, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City came from behind late on to get three vital points away to Watford last week. They have won eight of their 10 home games and scored more goals at home than any other team. They have taken seven points from their last three games, but they haven't won back to back league games since mid October.

Sergio Aguero could just be on his way back while David Silva, Yaya Toure and Kevin de Bruyne should all be of interest to fantasy managers too.

Everton got a good point at home to Spurs last week and then won at home to City in midweek in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi final. They have only lost one of their nine away games and only two other teams have conceded less goals on the road. They have only won once in their last seven league games and they only managed one clean sheet in those games. 

Romelu Lukaku remains the must have Everton player for fantasy managers while Ross Barkley is doing very well too.

I think Everton will make a real game of it, but City will win.

Prediction: 3-2

Southampton v Watford 

7.45pm GMT, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton 

Southampton lost away to Norwich last week and are sliding quickly towards the wrong end of the table. They have won four and lost four of their 10 home games and they could do with a home win to steady the ship. They have lost six of their last eight league games and they failed to score in four of those games.

I can't see any Southampton players to recommend to fantasy managers until they halt their current slide at least.

Watford looked like they were going to beat City last week, but ended up with nothing to show for their efforts. They have only lost two of their nine away games and have scored more away goals than home goals. They only took one point from their last three games and they conceded six goals in those games although they were against some of the best teams in the league.

Odion Ighalo is still a great purchase for fantasy managers while Troy Deeney and Huerelho Gomes are worth considering too.

I think this game could go either way and it might just end with the spoils shared.

Prediction: 1-1

Stoke City v Norwich City

7.45pm GMT, Britannia Stadium, Stoke

Stoke lost away to West Brom last week and sometimes find it easier to play against the league's better teams. They have lost four of their nine home games with only Villa and Swansea scoring less goals at home. Their defeat last week was a blow after beating United and Everton in their previous two games.

Stoke's defenders and goalkeeper still look like good fantasy choices while Marco Arnautovic has done quite well too.

Norwich got a very important 1-0 win at home to Southampton last week to give them some breathing space at the wrong end of the table. They have lost six of their 10 away games and only the bottom two have conceded more away goals. They have won three of their last four league games though to move six points above the drop zone.

Despite their recent upturn in form I can't see any Norwich players making a real difference for fantasy managers.

I think Stoke should be good enough to win this game.

Prediction: 2-0

Swansea City v Sunderland 

7.45pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea 

Swansea lost 2-1 away to United last week, but they very nearly managed to get something from the game. They have only won three of their 10 home games with only Villa scoring less goals on their own patch. That defeat last week was their first in four games, but they have only scored three goals in their last seven games.

Swansea's defenders have done well in recent weeks and they are available at a good price for fantasy managers.

Sunderland won their relegation six pointer at home to Villa last week and moved to within four points of safety. They have lost eight of their 10 away games and no other team has conceded more goals away from home. That win last week halted a run of five consecutive defeats and they need to add some more victories very quickly.

Jermaine Defoe made the difference for Sunderland last week and he could be a good choice for fantasy managers if they are going to improve.

I think this will be a very tight game with the stakes so high and a draw is the most likely outcome.

Prediction: 1-1

Liverpool v Arsenal

8pm GMT, Anfield, Liverpool

Liverpool lost 2-0 away to West Ham last week and they just can't seem to find any consistency. They have only won four of their nine home games and only four other teams have scored less goals at home. Their lack of goals is a real problem with only five other teams scoring less goals so far.

It's difficult to see which Liverpool players might make a good contribution for fantasy managers.

Arsenal were more than a little lucky to win 1-0 at home to Newcastle last week, but that win increased their lead at the top of the table. They have won six of their 10 away games with only Leicester taking more points and scoring more goals on the road. They have won five of their last six league games and they kept clean sheets in three of those games.

Mesut Ozil continues to be the outstanding Arsenal performer for fantasy managers with Olivier Giroud and their defenders and keeper worth considering too.

I think this is a game which could go either way, but Arsenal will just edge it.

Prediction: 1-2

Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City

8pm GMT, White Hart Lane, London

Spurs could only draw away to Everton last week to stay fourth in the league. They have only lost one of their 10 home games with only United and Arsenal conceding less goals at home. They have taken 10 points from their last four games and no other team took more points over the festive period.

Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and all of the Spurs defenders are looking good for fantasy managers at the moment. 

Leicester could only draw at home to Bournemouth last week and they're now two points behind the league leaders. They have won six of their 10 away games as well as taking more points and scoring more goals on the road than any other team so far. They haven't won or scored in their last three games after scoring in each of their first 17.

With Jamie Vardy injured for the moment Riyad Mahrez is the best fantasy option in the Leicester team even if he has drawn a blank in his last three games.

Leicester have faltered in recent weeks and I think Spurs will add to their woes by winning this game.

Prediction: 2-1

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

2 comments:

  1. Pool may have an injury crisis but if they want to fight for top 4 finish
    this is a game they cannot afford to lose.Klopp may come to realise like Wenger
    that possession alone doesn't win games.
    Stats have shown that more possession is not that great.The ability to mix it is what
    sets winners apart.If I were a coach,i would rather play slow ,slow,fast,fast and
    direct. This way defences wont be able to anticipate your next move.
    LVG for all his possession has been goalless for the last ten matches.He has been
    criticized for not replicating rf attacking style.He might lose if he were to do
    this whereas rf had the mo to help him ie give him apenalty,play more than aet,etc.
    Don't believe me. Otherwise why would he leave.Even if he were to comeback in a caretaker role,it aint easy.The football landscape has changed together with the mo. That's why MU are struggling to string a series of wins.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Klopp is happy to play without the ball as he showed in the wins at Chelsea and City and he will be happy if Arsenal push forward so his team can hit them on the break.

      Delete