| Name | Badges | This Week | PTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1) |   Michael Sheehy |   3 | -10 | 670 | |
| 2 (2) | sensisoccerworld | 2 | +15 | 575 | |
| 3 (3) |  Rutland Gooner |  4 | +5 | 560 | |
| 4 (4) | Wayne Hubbard | 5 | +5 | 515 | |
| 5 (5) |  Malcs | 2 | +40 | 380 | |
| |
Tuesday February 2
Arsenal v Southampton
7.45pm GMT, Emirstes Stadium, London
Arsenal lost at home to Chelsea in their last game and dropped from first to third as a result. Only City have won more home games than Arsenal and only United have conceded less goals at home, but they have struggled to score goals on their own patch. They have only taken two points from their last three games and failed to score in their last two.
Arsenal players haven't done too well for fantasy managers in the last few games, but Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are the most likely to come good.
Southampton got a very good win away to United in their last game to move safely into a mid table position. They have only won three of their 11 away games, but only Spurs have conceded less goals away from home. After a poor run they have recovered to win their last three games without conceding a goal.
Southampton's defenders and goalkeeper have done well for fantasy managers recently and could be worth considering.
I think Southampton will make a real game of this, but Arsenal will manage a narrow victory.
Prediction: 2-1
Leicster City v Liverpool
7.45pm GMT, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester won 3-0 at home to Stoke in their last game to move back to the top of the table. They have lost less home games than any other team although they do have more points and goals away from home. They have taken nine points in their last five games and only conceded one goal in those games.
Jamie Vardy and Rijad Mahrez have been the best fantasy performers for Leicester this season and if they're going to continue to challenge they're the two players to have although their defenders have performed well in recent games too.
Liverpool won 5-4 at Norwich in their last game in a game which swung in both directions. Only Leicester and Arsenal have won more away games than Liverpool, but only the bottom five clubs have conceded more goals away from home. That win at Norwich was their first win in four games and they conceded 10 goals in those four games.
If Liverpool are going to make a move towards the top four Riberto Friminio could be the player to have for fantasy managers.
This game could go either way, but I have a feeling it might just end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Norwich City v Tottenham Hotspur
7.45pm GMT, Carrow Road, Norwich
Norwich lost a nine goal thriller at home to Liverpool in their last game, but they probably should have taken a point from the game. They have only lost four of their 11 home games and have scored more goals than they have conceded at home. They have lost their last three games and they conceded 11 goals in those three games.
Stephen Naismith could be the Norwich player to impress for fantasy managers for the rest of the season.
Spurs came from behind to win 3-1 at Palace last time out and closed in on two of the teams above them in top four. Only Leicester and Arsenal have taken more points away from home and no other team has conceded less goals on the road. They have taken 16 points from their last seven games, but they haven't kept a clean sheet in their last five.
Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and the Spurs defenders are all looking good for fantasy managers at the moment.
I think Norwich will give Spurs a run for their money, but Spurs will edge a close game.
Prediction: 1-2
Sunderland v Manchester City
7.45pm GMT, Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Sunderland came from behind to draw at home to Bournemouth in their last game, but they really needed three points from a game against one of the teams they're trying to overtake at the wrong end of the table. Only Villa and Palace have lost more games at home, but no other team in the bottom half of the table has conceded less goals at home. They have taken seven points in their last four games to give them some hope, but they haven't kept a clean sheet in their last nine games.
Jermain Defoe is still the Sunderland player most likely to perform for fantasy managers although Patrick van Arnholt has done well in recent weeks.
City got a late goal to salvage a point in their last game away to West Ham and they're still very difficult to predict. They have only won four of their 11 away games, but only Spurs have conceded less goals away from home. They have taken 12 points from their last six games and kept clean sheets in three of them, but they still haven't won back to back league games since mid October.
Sergio Aguero looks to be firing on all cylinders and is a must have for fantasy managers with David Silva and maybe Yaya Toure possibilities too.
I think City will be too strong for Sunderland and will take the three points.
Prediction: 1-3
West Ham United v Aston Villa
7.45pm GMT, Upton Park, London
West Ham almost held on for a win at home to City in their last game, but they had to settle for a 2-2 draw in the end. They have only lost two of their 11 home games, but they have taken more points away from home. They have only lost one of their last 10 games, but they did draw six of those games.
Dimitri Payet still looks like the West Ham player most likely to perform for fantasy managers with Michail Antonio and Enner Valencia performing well at the moment too.
Villa got a good point away to West Brom last week, but draws aren't much use in their plight and their need wins. They have only won once in 12 away games and haven't won in their last 11 on the road. They have taken five points and kept two clean sheets in their last three games, but they still have 10 points to make up on the team in 17th place.
I can't see any Villa players to interest fantasy managers.
I think West Ham should be good enough to win this game with a couple of goals to spare.
Prediction: 2-0
Crystal Palace v Bournemouth
8pm GMT, Selhurst Park, London
Palace played well in their last game at home to Spurs, but ended up losing 3-1. No other team has lost more home games than Palace, but their away form is keeping them in the middle of the table. They have lost their last four games, but at least they scored a goal in their last game for the first time in six games.
The way Palace's results have gone recently I can't see any of their players who might make a difference for fantasy managers right now.
Bournemouth got an important point away to Sunderland in their last game to stay four points clear of the bottom three. They have taken 12 points from their 12 away games which is almost as many as they have taken at home. They have only lost twice in their last 11 games and they kept four clean sheets in those games.
Brink Afobe might not be the worst Bournemouth player to have for fantasy managers at the moment and Charlie Daniels is doing quite well too.
I think this will be another very close game and a draw is probably the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Manchester United v Stoke City
8pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester
United lost their last game at home to Southampton and they're now five points outside the top four and 10 off the top of the table. They have only lost two of their 11 home games though and have the best defensive record at home. They have only won two of their last 10 games, but only Spurs have conceded less goals so far.
United's defenders have been their best performers for fantasy managers and in home games in particular.
Stoke were well beaten away to Leicester in their last game and have gone out of two cups since that game. They have only lost four of their 12 away games and have only taken one point less on their travels than they have at home. They have only won once in their last four games and have failed to score in their last two.
Stoke's defenders and goalkeeper have all done well for fantasy managers and they're certainly worth considering.
Despite their current problems I think United will just about manage a narrow win in this game.
Prediction: 2-1
West Bromwich Albion v Swansea City
8pm GMT, The Hawthorns, Birmingham
West Brom could only draw 0-0 at home to basement boys Aston Villa in their last game and that moved them seven points above the bottom three. Only Palace and Villa have lost more home games and only three other teams have conceded more goals at home. They have only won two of their last 10 games, but they have drawn five of those games.
I can't see any West Brom players to currently interest fantasy managers.
Swansea won 2-1 away to Everton in their last game and gave themselves some breathing space in the relegation fight. They have only won two of their 11 away games and only two other teams have scored less goals on the road. They have won their last two games after only winning one of the previous 11.
Andre Ayew has been the outstanding Swansea player for fantasy managers this season and he has come good again in the last few games after a barren spell.
It's not easy to see which way this game will go and I wouldn't be surprised if it ended in a scoreless draw.
Prediction: 0-0
Wednesday February 3
Everton v Newcastle United
7.45pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton lost at home to Swansea in their last game and followed that by losing their Capital One Cup semi final against City. Only Villa have won less games at home and no other team has conceded more goals on their patch. They have only won once in their last 10 games and they only kept two clean sheets in those games.
Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley have been the outstanding Everton players for fantasy managers, but neither of them have done much in the last few games.
Newcastle lost away to Watford in their last game and they're still two points from safety. Only Sunderland have lost more away games and no other team has scored less goals away from home. They have only won once in their last seven games and haven't kept a clean sheet in their last eight.
Georginio Wijnaldum has been the outstanding fantasy performer in the Newcastle team, but he has done his best work in home games.
Everton have found it hard to win home games, but surely they can win at home to Newcastle.
Prediction: 2-1
Watford v Chelsea
7.45pm GMT, Vicarage Road, Watford
Watford put an end to a bad run of results in their last game when they won 2-1 at home to Newcastle. Only Palace and Villa have lost more games at home, but only the top four and Southampton have won more games at home. That win over Newcastle came on the back of four consecutive defeats and they haven't kept a clean sheet in their last six games.
Odion Ighalo continues to impress for fantasy managers while Troy Deeney has done quite well too.
Chelsea won 1-0 away to Arsenal in their last game and have moved a lot closer to the relative safety of the middle of the table. They have only won three of their 11 away games, but they have taken seven points and concrded no goals from their last three on the road. They have taken 13 points from their last seven games and have kept clean sheets in three of those games.
Diego Costa has impressed in recent weeks for Chelsea and could be a good buy for fantasy managers.
This looks like it will be a very close game and the chances are the spoils will be shared.
Prediction: 1-1
That's it for this week.
See you next week.
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