| Badges | This Week | PTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1) |   Michael Sheehy |   4 | +75 | 1005 | |
| 2 (4) |  Wayne Hubbard | 5 | +80 | 810 | |
| 3 (2) |  Malcs | 4 | +10 | 755 | |
| 4 (5) | Rutland Gooner |  6 | +60 | 735 | |
| 5 (3) | sensisoccerworld | 3 | -10 | 730 | |
Saturday April 2
Aston Villa v Chelsea
12.45 BST, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa lost to Swansea last time out and they will probably be relegated within the next few weeks barring a miracle. They have won less home games and scored less home goals than any other team with only Everton conceding more goals at home. They have lost their last six games and conceded 18 goals in those games and they failed to score in their last three.
I can't see any Villa players to remotely interest fantasy managers.
Chelsea fought back twice to draw 2-2 in their last game at home to West Ham, but they have nothing left to play for this season. They have only won five of their 14 away games, but they haven't lost away from home since mid December. They're unbeaten in 14 league games since Jose Mourinho left, but they have drawn eight of those games.
Chelsea players haven't set the world alight for fantasy managers this season, but Diego Costa has been just about the best of them (although he is suspended this week) along with Willien.
I can't see anything other than a Chelsea win in this game.
Prediction: 0-2
Arsenal v Watford
3pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal won 2-0 away to Everton in their last game to keep their slim title hopes just about alive. Only United have conceded less goals at home, but Arsenal's lack of home goals has been a real obstacle to their ambitions this season. They have only won three of their last 10 games and nothing short of a win will do in this game.
Danny Welbeck has been the most impressive Arsenal player for fantasy managers recently while Mesut Ozil has been great all season long.
Watford lost at home to Stoke in their last game, but they did win away to Arsenal in the last eight of the FA Cup. They have taken almost as many points away from home as they have at home, but they have lost four of their last five on the road and failed to score in those four games too. They have lost eight of their last 12 league games and failed to score in seven of their last 10.
Watford players haven't done much to impress for fantasy managers in recent weeks.
Arsenal quite simply have to win this game and I think they will do so by a couple of goals.
Prediction: 2-0
Bournemouth v Manchester City
3pm BST, Dean Court, Bournemouth
Bournemouth were well beaten away to Spurs in their last game, but they look safe from relegation already. They have only won five of their 15 home games, but they have won three of their last five at home. They had won three games in a row before that defeat against Spurs and they have played well against some of the best teams in the league.
Charlie Daniels has been the best fantasy performer in the Bournemouth team and is well worth considering even if they do let in quite a few goals.
City lost at home to United in their last game and are in real danger of missing out on a top four finish. They have only won five of their 14 away games with only three other teams scoring less goals on their travels and only two other teams conceding less. They have taken only four points from their last six games and have failed to score in three of their last four.
Sergio Aguero still has to be a very real consideration for fantasy managers even if City aren't performing at the moment.
Bournemouth have shown they can beat just about any team this season and they will fancy their chances against City, but I think City will take the three points.
Prediction: 1-2
Norwich City v Newcastle United
3pm BST, Carrow Road, Norwich
Norwich got a very important win away to West Brom last time out to move out of the bottom three. They have only won four of their 15 home games and they have only taken two points from their last five games on their home patch. They have taken four points and kept two clean sheets in their last two games after taking only one point from their previous nine games.
Despite their recent improvement I still can't see any Norwich players to recommend to fantasy managers.
Newcastle came from behind to get a draw at home Sunderland in their last game, but they're now three points from safety. They have lost 12 of their 15 away games and no other team has scored less goals on their travels with only Sunderland conceding more. They have only taken one point from their last five games and Rafa Benitez will have to work his magic quickly if they're going to stay up.
I can't see any Newcastle players who might make the difference for fantasy managers in the run in.
This is a real relegation six pointer and current form suggests Norwich might just get the better of it.
Prediction: 1-0
Stoke City v Swansea City
3pm BST, Britannia Stadium, Stoke
Stoke got a good win away to Watford in their last game and they're only five points off the top four. Despite winning seven of their 15 home games only four teams have lost more games at home and only four teams have scored less goals at home too. They have taken 13 points from their last six games, but they have only managed one clean sheet in their last eight games.
Marco Arnautovic has been the Stoke player most likely to succeed for fantasy managers this season.
Swansea got a very important win at home to Villa in their last game to move 10 points clear of the bottom three. They have only won three of their 15 away games, but they have taken seven points from their last five games on the road. They have three wins from their last four games and those wins should see them keep their place in the Premier League for next season.
Gylfi Sigurdsson has been in great form for fantasy managers recently and is certainly worth considering.
Stoke will be favourites to win this game, but I think Swansea might just get a draw out of it.
Prediction: 0-0
Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion
3pm BST, Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Sunderland led away to Newcastle in their last game, but they had to settle for a draw and dropped into the relegation zone as a result. Only Villa have won less home games than Sunderland, but they have the best defensive record at home among the teams fighting to avoid the drop. They have only lost two of their last eight games, but they have drawn five of them and they need to turn some of those draws into wins.
Sunderland players haven't exactky set the fantasy world alight, but Jermain Defoe has done well for them when he has played.
West Brom lost at home to Norwich in their last game and they're 13 points clear of the drop zone with eight games to play. They have only lost five of their 14 away games, but only Newcastle have scored less goals away from home. That defeat against Norwich was their first one in five games and they will reach the magical 40 point mark if they don't lose this game.
I can't see any West Brom players to interest fantasy managers right now.
This is a game Sunderland need to win far more than West Brom do and I think they will win a tight game.
Prediction: 2-1
West Ham United v Crystal Palace
3pm BST, Upton Park, London
West Ham led twice in their last game away to Chelsea, but could only draw 2-2 and they're still only one point outside the top four.They are unbeaten in their last 12 home games and only three other teams have a better defensive record at home. They have only lost two of their last 17 league games and have only failed to score once in their last 13 games.
Dimitri Payet and Michail Antonio look like the West Ham players to have for fantasy managers.
Palace lost 1-0 at home to Leicester in their last game and the end of the league campaign can't come quickly enough for them. They have taken more points and conceded less goals away from home than they have at home, but they haven't won away from home since December. They haven't won in 13 league games and haven't kept a clean sheet in their last 11.
I can't see any Palace players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.
I think West Ham should be good enough at home to take the three points against struggling Palace.
Prediction: 2-0
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur
5.30pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool looked to be closing in on the top four when they led 2-0 at Southampton in their last game, but they lost 3-2. They have only won five of their 13 home games, but six of their last nine games are at home. They have won three of their last four games and scored 13 goals in the process, but that defeat against Southampton has made their chances of a top four finish very slight.
With games in hand Liverpool players could be good fantasy choices and Roberto Frimino, Phillippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge are the best of them.
Spurs easily beat Bournemouth 3-0 in their last game to stay five points behind Leicester ar the top of the table. Only Leicester have won more away games than Spurs with only Leicester and Arsenal scoring more goals on the road. They have won eight of their last 10 games and need to keep winning if they're going to have any chance of catching Leicester.
Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen are all looking very good for fantasy managers at the moment.
This is a very hard game to call and I have a feeling it will end with the spoils shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Sunday April 3
Leicester City v Southampton
1.30pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester won away to Palace in their last game to maintain their five point lead at the top of the table. Only City have won more home games than Leicester and they have lost less games at home than any other team. They have won seven of their last nine games and have kept a clean sheet in six of those games.
Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy continue to impress for fantasy managers while the Leicester defenders have been doing really well too.
Southampton came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at home to Liverpool last time out and they're only four points off the top four. They have won as many games as they have lost on the road, but only Spurs and Everton have conceded less goals on their travels. They have won seven of their last 11 games, but they haven't kept a clean sheet in their last five after keeping a clean sheet in each of the previous six games.
Graziano Pelle and Sadio Mane have done well recently for fantasy managers, but they won't find it easy against this Leicester defence.
This looks like it could be another very close game and I think Southampton might just manage to get a point from it.
Prediction: 1-1
Manchester United v Everton
4pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester
United won away to City last time out to move within one point of fourth place. Only three teams have won more home games than United and they have the best defensive record at home. They have won three of their last four games and have kept clean sheets in two of their last three.
Despite their relatively high league position I still can't see any United players making a real difference for fantasy managers.
Everton were poor in their last game when they lost 2-0 at home to Arsenal and they're still in the bottom half of the table. They have only lost one of their 13 away games with only Spurs conceding less goals away from home. They have lost three of their last four games, but have a very good chance of success in the FA Cup.
With games in hand Everton players are quite attractive to fantasy managers at the moment and Romelu Lukaku, Ross Barkley and Aaron Lennon look like the ones to have.
I think Everton will give United a tough game and will probably take a point from it.
Prediction: 1-1
That's it for this week.
See you next week.
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