Thursday 21 January 2016

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 23

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I didn't do too well again last week as the league continued to be as unpredictable as ever this season as I only managed there correct outcomes and seven incorrect. However, not too many others did well either and I managed to maintain my lead at the top of my predictions league as you can see from the table below.

NameBadgesThis WeekPTS
 1 (1)  Michael Sheehy 3-10680
 2 (2) sensisoccerworld 2-40560
 3 (3)  Rutland Gooner 4+20555
 4 (4)  Wayne Hubbard 5-20510
 5 (5)  Malcs 1-5340


 
Saturday January 23

Norwich City v Liverpool 

12.45pm GMT, Carrow Road, Norwich

Norwich were well beaten away to Bournemouth last week to slip back to within two points of the relegation zone. They have only lost three of their 10 home games and only three other teams have a better defensive record at home. They have only won four of their last 15 games, but they are unbeaten at home in their last five games including three wins and three clean sheets.

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

Liverpool lost at home to United last week in a game they probably should have won and they're now eight points behind the top four. They have only won four of their 11 away games and only four other teams have scored less goals on the road. They have only won two of their last eight league games and have failed to score in four of them.

There are still no Liverpool players setting the fantasy world alight right now.

Both teams could badly do with a win in this game and I think Liverpool will take the three points.

Prediction: 1-2

Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur 

3pm GMT, Selhurst Park, London 

Palace were well beaten away to City last week and they're quickly falling down the table. Only Villa have lost more home games than Palace while only Villa and Watford have scored less goals at home. They have lost their last three league games and have failed to score in their last five.

I can't see any Palace players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.

Spurs put four past Sunderland last week to strengthen their place in the top four. They have only lost one of their 10 away games and no other team has conceded less goals on their travels. They have taken 13 points from their last six games and need to keep that form up if they're going to keep that top four spot.

Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen are looking very good for fantasy managers at the moment with the Spurs defenders doing pretty well too.

I think Spurs should be good enough to take the three points considering the current form of both sides.

Prediction: 0-2

Leicester City v Stoke City

3pm GMT, King Power Stadium, Leicester 

Leicester could only draw away to the bottom club Villa last week, but they're still only behind the leaders on goal difference. They have only lost one of their 10 home games, but they have found goals easier to come by away from home. They have only won once in their last five games and have only scored two goals in those games.

Leicester's players haven't exactly set the world alight for fantasy managers recently and it's hard to pick them at the moment. 

Stoke got a good point at home to the leaders Arsenal last week and they're up to seventh in the table. They have only lost three of their 11 away games and have taken almost as many points away from home as they have at home. They have taken 20 points from their last 11 games and they will continue to progress if they can keep that up.

All of Stoke's defenders have done very well for fantasy managers with Jack Butland being the pick of the bunch in goal.

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

Prediction: 1-1

Manchester United v Southampton 

3pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester

United got a very important win away to Liverpool last week to keep up the pressure on the top four. No other team has conceded less goals at home, but only Villa and Watford have scored less goals on their own patch. They are unbeaten in their last four games and still have every chance of finishing in the top four despite their indifferent form.

United players haven't done too well for fantasy managers recently, but their defenders have been the exception and Wayne Rooney looks like he might just have turned a corner.

Southampton won 3-0 at home to Watford last week to move into a much safer mid table position. They have only won two of their 10 away games and only three other teams have scored less away goals. They have won their last two games to put an end to a run of six defeats in eight games.

Shane Long has done well in recent weeks for fantasy managers while Dusan Tadic hasn't done too badly from the bench in recent games either.

Despite their goalscoring problems I think United will win this game.

Prediction: 2-0

Sunderland v Bournemouth 

3pm GMT, Stadium of Light, Sunderland 

Sunderland led at Spurs last week, but ended up losing 4-1 and dropping back to second last in the table. Only the team below them have lost more games at home, but only six other teams have conceded less goals at home. They have won two and lost six of their last eight games, but those two wins were against fellow strugglers like Bournemouth.

If Sunderland are going to avoid the drop Jermain Defoe might just do well for fantasy managers.

Bournemouth got a very important win at home to Norwich last week to stay three points clear of the relegation zone. They have only won three of their 11 away games and only three other teams have conceded more goals on the road. They have only lost two of their last 10 games and they will be anxious to avoid defeat in this game too.

It's a risk for fantasy managers to include Bournemouth defenders in their team, but if you're feeling brave Charlie Daniels has done well in recent weeks.

This is a real relegation six pointer and I think Sunderland will win their third one of them in recent weeks.

Prediction: 2-1

Watford v Newcastle United 

3pm GMT, Vicarage Road, Watford

Watford lost yet again when they went down 1-0 to struggling Swansea on Monday night and are badly in need of a good result. Only Villa have lost more home games and scored less home goals than Watford, but only three other teams have conceded less goals at home. They have lost their last four games and have failed to score in their last two and they need to halt that slide before they get sucked towards the wrong end of the table.

Odion Ighalo, Troy Deeney and Huerelho Gomes have all done well for fantasy managers this season, but not in recent weeks.

Newcastle got a good win at home to West Ham last week, but it wasn't enough to move them out of the bottom three after Swansea beat Watford. They have lost seven of their 10 away games and no other team has scored less goals away from home. They have taken four points from their last two games to put an end to three consecutive 1-0 defeats and give themselves some real hope in the fight to stay up.

Georginio Wijnaldum has done very well for fantasy managers, but all his best work has been done at home.

I think this will be a very close game and I have a feeling Newcastle might sneak it.

Prediction: 1-2

West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa 

3pm GMT, The Hawthorns, Birmingham 

West Brom were well beaten away to Southampton last week, but they're still six points above the bottom three. Only Villa have lost more home games than them and only three other teams have conceded more goals at home. Their home form has been better recently with 10 points from their last five home games.

I can't see any West Brom players to recommend to fantasy managers right now.

Villa came from behind to get a point at home to Leicester last week, but they need wins and plenty of them. They have only won once in their 11 away games and only two other teams have concrded more goals away from home. They have only won two of their 22 league games and will need to win at least half of their remaining 16 games to have any chance of staying up.

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

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

Prediction: 1-1

West Ham United v Manchester City

5.45pm GMT, Upton Park, London 

West Ham were beaten away to Newcastle last week and dropped back to sixth in the table as a result. They have only lost two of their 10 home games, but they have got more points and scored more goals on the road. That defeat at Newcastle was their first in nine games and they need to get another run going if they're going to continue to threaten the top four.

Dimitri Payet is a good choice for fantasy managers and Michail Antonio has looked good recently too.

City won easily at home to Palace last week and they're now only one point behind the league leaders. They have only won four of their 10 away games while no other team has conceded less goals away from home and only four other teams have scored less. They still haven't won back to back league games since mid October, but they have kept clean sheets in three of their last four league games.

Sergio Aguero looks like he could be back to his best which makes him almost a must have for fantasy managers while David Silva, Yaya Toure and Kevin de Bruyne all look pretty good too.

If City are going to win the league they need to win games like this, but I think West Ham will take a point from them.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunday January 24

Everton v Swansea City

1.30pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool 

Everton should have won away to Chelsea last week, but they conceded with the last kick of the game and had to settle for a point. They have only won three of their 11 home games, but only City have scored more goals at home and no other team has conceded more on their own patch. They have only won once in their last nine games and won't make any progress until they turn some of their many draws into wins.

Romelu Lukaku hasn't done much in the last couple of games but he's still a very good fantasy choice along with possibly Ross Barkley and Leighton Baines too.

Swansea got a very important 1-0 win at home to Watford on Monday night to climb out of the bottom three. They have only won once in their 10 away games and only Newcastle have scored less away goals. They have taken eight points from their last five games and need more of the same to keep out of the relegation zone.

Swansea players haven't exactly set the world alight for fantasy managers recently.

I think Everton should be good enough to win this game by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 2-0

Arsenal v Chelsea 

4pm GMT, Emirates Stadium, London 

Arsenal could only draw 0-0 away to Stoke, but they're still top of the table on goal difference from Leicester. Only City have won more home games while only United have conceded less goals at home. They have taken 17 points from their last eight games and have won their last four home league games in a row.

Mesut Ozil is still the Arsenal player to have for fantasy managers while Alexis Sanchez could be a good option too if he's fit to play and Olivier Giround is worth considering as well.

Chelsea grabbed a last minute point at home to Everton last week and they're still only four points above the relegation zone. They have only won two of their 11 away games and they have only managed 11 goals in those games. They are unbeaten in six league games, but they drew four of those games and still look like they have a lot to do to climb the table.

If he's fit to play Diego Costa looks like he could be back in form for fantasy managers at the moment.

I think this will be a very close game, but Arsenal should just have enough to win by the odd goal.

Prediction: 2-1

That's it for this week.

See you next week.

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