Thursday 21 April 2016

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 35

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 two perfect results, five correct outcomes and eight incorrect. Those predictions leave me still on top of my predictions league as the end of the season draws ever closer as you can see from the table below.

BadgesThis WeekPTS
 1 (1)  Michael Sheehy 4+901260
 2 (2)  Wayne Hubbard 5+751030
 3 (3) sensisoccerworld 3+120975
 4 (5)  Rutland Gooner 6+120880
 5 (4)  Malcs 4+5785


 
Saturday April 23

Manchester City v Stoke City

12.45pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City won easily at Chelsea last weekend, but they could only draw at Newcastle in midweek and they're in a real fight to finish in the top four. No other team has won more home games than City and they're the top scorers at home too. They have taken 10 points from their last four games and have kept clean sheets in four of their last seven.

If City play their strongest team Sergio Aguero is a must have for fantasy managers while Kevin de Bruyne has to be considered too, but they could be tempted to rest them with a Champions League semi final on Tuesday.

Stoke were well beaten at home by Spurs on Monday night and they look less likely to reach their highest ever Premier League position. They have only lost six of their 17 away games, but no other team in the top 12 has conceded more away goals. They have lost three of their last five games and have only one clean sheet in their last 12.

Marco Arnautovic has been the best fantasy performer in the Stoke team this season.

I think City should just have enough to win this game despite possibly having their minds elsewhere.

Prediction: 2-0

Aston Villa v Southampton 

3pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham 

Villa will be a Championship team next season after the relegation was confirmed following the defeat at United last week. They have only won two of their 17 home games and no other team has scored less or conceded more goals at home. They have lost their last nine games and they failed to score in six of those games too.

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

Southampton could only draw away to Everton last week and that result could leave them struggling to make the Europa League places. They have only won five of their away games, but only Spurs and City have conceded less goals on the road. They have only lost one of their last six games, but they haven't kept a clean sheet in eight. 

Graziano Pelle, Sadio Mane and Shane Long have all impressed recently for fantasy managers.

I think Southampton should be more than good enough to win this game by a few goals.

Prediction: 0-2

Bournemouth v Chelsea

3pm BST, Dean Court, Bournemouth 

Bournemouth lost at home to an understrength Liverpool team last week, but their Premier League position is safe for another season. Only Villa and Palace have lost more home games with only Villa conceding more goals on their own patch. They have lost three of their last four games and haven't kept a clean sheet in six games.

Joshua King has done quite well for fantasy managers recently and could be worth considering.

Chelsea were well beaten at home by City last week and they're only just in the top half of the table. They have won more away games than home games and taken as many points on their travels as they have at home. They have lost their last two games without scoring after a run of 15 unbeaten games. 

Chelsea's players haven't exactly set the world alight for fantasy managers recently and it's probably best to avoid them.

Despite some of Bournemouth's performances against some of the better teams this season I think Chelsea will just about win this game.

Prediction: 1-2

Liverpool v Newcastle United

3pm BST, Anfield, Liveroool

Liverpool have had a very good week with two wins to their name and they're closing in on the top four quite quickly. They have only won seven of their 16 home games, but they have being scoring freely at home recently. They have won their last three games and scored 10 goals in the process, but their clean sheet against Everton was their first one in six games.

It's not easy to know what Liverpool team will play from game to game, but Phillippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Frimino are all looking good at the moment.

Newcastle have had a good week too with four points from two home games giving them a chance of avoiding the drop. They have lost 14 of their 17 away games and no other team has conceded more or scored less goals away from home. Their win against Swansea was their only one in their last nine games and that was their only clean sheet in those games too.

Andros Townsend has done well for fantasy managers in recent weeks and could be the player to have in their team if they are going to have a chance of staying up.

Liverpool might have their Europa League quarter final on their minds, but I still think they should be far too good for Newcastle.

Prediction: 3-0

Sunday April 24

Sunderland v Arsenal

2.05pm BST, Stadium of Light, Sunderland 

Sunderland got a very important win away to Norwich last week and they're now only one point behind them with a game in hand. Only Villa have won less home games than Sunderland, but they have the best defensive record at home in the bottom six. They have only won twice in their last 12 games, but they do have two clean sheets in their last three games.

Jermain Defoe has been the best of the bunch in the Sunderland team for fantasy managers.

Arsenal drew with Palace on Sunday and beat West Brom in midweek to stay third, but second place now looks beyond them. Only the top two have won more away games than Arsenal and they're the top scorers away from home too. They are unbeaten in six games and have scored 16 goals in those games, but the three draws among them have ruled them out of running for the title.

Akexis Sanchez is the Arsenal player to have for fantasy managers at the moment.

This looks like it will be a very close game and I think Arsenal will win it by the odd goal.

Prediction: 1-2

Leicester City v Swansea City

4.15pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester 

Leicester just about managed to get a point at home to West Ham last week and their lead at the top was cut to five points with four games to play. They have only lost one of their 17 home games, but they have actually taken more points and scored more goals away from home. They have won six and drawn two of their last eight games and kept clean sheets in each of those six wins too. 

With Jamie Vardy suspended the Leicester defenders are probably the best bet for fantasy managers as Riyad Mahrez hasn't done much in the last few games.

Swansea were well beaten away to Newcastle last week and they don't have much to play for between now and the end of the season. Only the bottom two have won less away games than Swansea and only the bottom four have lost more on the road. They have won four of their last seven games and kept clean sheets in three of the last six, but those clean sheets were all at home.

Gylfi Sigurdsson has been by far the outstanding fantasy performer in the Swansea team for the last few months.

Leicester need to win this game and it won't be easy without Vardy, but I think they will take the three points.

Prediction: 1-0

Monday April 25

Tottenham Hotspur v West Bromwich Albion

8pm BST, White Hart Lane, London

Spurs took Stoke apart last week to close the gap on Leicester at the top of the table to five points. Only the two Manchester teams have won more home games than Spurs and only City have scored more goals at home. They have taken 13 points from their last five games and kept clean sheets in four of them too.

Harry Kane and Dele Alli have been great for fantasy managers recently while Christian Eriksen and all of the Spurs defenders are worth considering too.

West Brom lost at home to Watford last weekend and away to Arsenal in midweek and they won't fancy a trip to in form Spurs. They have only won four of their 17 away games with only the bottom two scoring less goals away from home. They have only taken one point from their last five games and failed to score in four of those games. 

I can't see any West Brom players to interest fantasy managers for the rest of the season.

I can't see Spurs slipping up in this game and I think they will win by a few goals.

Prediction: 3-0

That's it for this week.

See you next week.

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