Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 26

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I did reasonably well last week with one perfect scoreline, five correct outcomes and four incorrect. I'm still on top of my predictions league with a third of the season to go as you can see from the table below and who knows I might even have a chance of winning it.

Badges	This Week	PTS
1 (1)	Michael Sheehy	3	+40	800
2 (2)	sensisoccerworld	2	+80	715
3 (3)	Wayne Hubbard	5	+10	585
4 (5)	Malcs	3	+55	565
5 (4)	Rutland Gooner	4	-50	500

Saturday February 13

Sunderland v Manchester United 

12.45pm GMT, Stadium of Light, Sunderland 

Sunderland fought back to earn a very good point away to Liverpool last week. They have lost half of their 12 home games, but no other team in the bottom half of the table has conceded less goals at home. They have only taken two points from their last four games and haven't kept a clean sheet in their last 11.

If Sunderland are to have any chance of staying up Jermain Defoe might not do too badly for fantasy managers.

United should have won away to Chelsea last week, but they were pegged back by a very late goal. They have only won five of their 13 away games and have conceded more away goals than any other team in the top eight. They have taken 11 points from their last six games though and look like they might finally be playing well.

United's defenders have done well for fantasy managers at home in particular while Wayne Rioney has done well in recent weeks.

I think Sunderland will give their all and cause United a few problems and they might just get a point from the game.

Prediction: 1-1

Bournemouth v Stoke City 

3pm GMT, Dean Court, Bournemouth 

Bournemouth lost at home to Arsenal last week and never really looked like getting anything from the game. They have only won three of their 12 home games with only Everton and Chelsea conceding more goals at home. Before losing to Arsenal they had taken seven points from three games and more of that will keep them in the Premier League for another season.

Benik Afobe has started well since joining Bournemouth in January and could be a possibility for fantasy managers along with Charlie Daniels.

Stoke were well beaten at home by Everton last week and are sliding quickly down the table. They have only lost five of their 13 away games, but only four other teams have scored less goals on the road. They have lost each of their last three games by the same 3-0 scoreline and have failed to score in their last four.

Stoke defenders had been good until recently for fantasy managers, but it might be better to avoid them until they turn things around.

If Bournemouth can win this game it would give them some breathing space at the wrong end of the table and I think they might just do it.

Prediction: 2-1

Crystal Palace v Watford 

3pm GMT, Selhurst Park, London

Palace came from 1-0 down to get a point away to Swansea last week to finally put an end to an awful run. They have lost more home games than any other team and have lost their last three at home. They haven't won in eight games and they failed to score in five of those games.

Despite their poor form Scott Dann continues to impress for fantasy managers thanks to his goalscoring exploits.

Watford fought well away to Spurs last week, but were beaten 1-0. They have only won four of their 13 away games and have scored more goals away from home than at home. They have only won once in their last eight games and have failed to score in four of their last five.

Odion Ighalo has been the stand out Watford player for fantasy managers, but his return has fallen off recently as their results have faltered.

I think this will be a very close game and a draw is the most likely outcome.

Prediction: 1-1

Everton v West Bromwich Albion 

3pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool 

Everton got a very good 3-0 win at Stoke last week to continue their improvement since their Capital One Cup semi final defeat. They have only won four of their 13 home games and no other team has conceded more goals at home, but only City have scored more home goals. They have won their last two games by the same 3-0 scoreline after only winning one of the previous 10.

Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku might still have something to offer fantasy managers while Everton's defenders have been good in recent weeks too.

West Brom lost away to Newcastle last week and they're only six points above the bottom three. They have only won three of their 12 away games with only Newcastle scoring less goals on the road. They have only taken three points from their last five games and failed to score in three of those games.

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

I think Everton will continue on their winning ways with a narrow victory.

Prediction: 2-1

Norwich City v West Ham United 

3pm GMT, Carrow Road, Norwich 

Norwich lost away to Villa last week and dropped into the relegation zone as a result. They have only lost five of their 12 home games, but only Everton and Chelsea have conceded more goals at home. They have lost their last five games and conceded 16 goals in the process. 

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

West Ham were beaten away to Southampton last week, but they put Liverpool out of the FA Cup on Tuesdsy night. They have only lost four of their 13 away games with only the top three scoring more away goals. They have only lost two of their last 12 games, but those defeats both came in the last two away games.

Michail Antonio and Enner Valencia look like the West Ham players most likely to succeed for fantasy managers right now while Dimitri Payet must surely return to form soon.

Norwich need something from this game, but I think West Ham might just get a narrow victory.

Prediction: 1-2

Swansea City v Southampton 

3pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea led at home to Palace last week, but they had to settle for a point and they're gradually moving away from the bottom three. They have only won four of their 13 home games with only Villa scoring less goals at home. They have taken eight points from their last four games to move four points clear of the relegation zone.

Gylfi Siggurdson is looking good for Swansea at the moment while Andre Ayew is still their best season long fantasy performer.

Southampton won at home to West Ham last week to move within four points of fifth place. They have only lost four of their 12 away games with only Spurs conceding less goals on their travels. They have taken 13 points from their last five games and kept a clean sheet in each of those games too.

Southampton's defenders look like must haves for fantasy managers right now with Fraser Forester still to concede a goal in his five league games since returning from injury.

This looks like it will be a close game, but I think Southampton will get the better of Swansea.

Prediction: 0-1

Chelsea v Newcastle United

5.30pm GMT, Stamford Bridge, London 

Chelsea needed a late goal to snatch a somewhat fortunate 1-1 draw at home to United last week. They have only won four of their 13 home games with only Everton conceding more goals at home. They are unbeaten in their last nine games and have kept clean sheets in four of them, but they have drawn six of those games.

Diego Costa still looks like the Chelsea player to have for fantasy managers at the moment.

Newcastle got a precious win at home to West Brom last week to climb out of the bottom three. No other team has lost more games or scored less goals away from home. They have won two of their last four games and the clean sheet they kept last week was their first one in 10 games.

Georginio Wijnaldum is the best of the bunch for fantasy managers in the Newcastle team, but only when they play at home.

I think Newcastle will make a game of it, but Chelsea will take the three points.

Prediction: 2-0

Sunday February 14

Arsenal v Leicester City

12pm GMT, Emirates Stadium, London

Arsenal got a much needed win at Bournemouth last week to move up to third place. Only City have won more home games than Arsenal and only United have conceded less goals at home. That win last week was their first in five games, but they have kept clean sheets in five of their last seven games since Southampton put four past them.

Mesut Ozil still looks like the Arsenal player to have for fantasy managers with their defenders doing well too.

Leicester got a great 3-1 win at City last week to go five points clear at the top of the table. They have won more away games and scored more away goals than any other team. They have taken 15 points from their last seven games and have only conceded two goals in those games.

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are still the Leicester players to have for fantasy managers with their defenders performing admirably in recent weeks too.

I think this will be a very close game which could go either way, but I think Arsenal will edge it.

Prediction:  2-1

Aston Villa v Liverpool

2.05pm GMT, Villa Park, Birmingham 

Villa got a very important win at home to Norwich last week, but they're still eight points away from the safety of 17th place. They have won less home games and scored less home goals than any other team. They have taken eight points from their last five games to keep their slim hopes of staying up alive though and they have kept clean sheets in three of those games.

Villa's defenders and goalkeeper have done well in recent weeks, but it's a big risk for fantasy managers to pick Villa players.

Liverpool led 2-0 at home to lowly Sunderland last week, but ended up drawing 2-2. They have only won four of their 12 home games and have conceded more goals than they have scored at home. They have only won once in their last six games and they conceded 12 goals in those games.

Roberto Frimino has been the must have player in the Liverpool team recently for fantasy managers.

I think Villa will make a game of it, but surely Liverpool will be good enough to beat them.

Prediction: 1-2

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur 

4.15pm GMT, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City were well beaten at home by Leicester last week and dropped to fourth when a win would have seen them go top of the table. They have won more home games and scored more home goals than any other team, but they have lost three games at home too. That defeat last week was their first one in eight games and they kept clean sheets in four of those games, but they still haven't won back to back league games since mid October.

Sergio Aguero is still a great bet for fantasy managers even with City so inconsistent.

Spurs won 1-0 at home to Watford last week and moved up to second in the table. They have only lost one of their 12 away games and no other team has conceded less goals away from home with only Leicester and Arsenal scoring more on the road. They have taken 22 points from their last nine games and kept clean sheets in four of those games.

Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen are all doing very well for fantasy managers and the Spurs defenders aren't doing too badly either.

This is a game both teams want to win and neither can afford to lose, but I think it will end in a draw.

Prediction: 2-2

That's it for this week.

See you next week.