| Badges | This Week | PTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1) |   Michael Sheehy |   4 | +5 | 1265 | |
| 2 (2) |  Wayne Hubbard | 5 | +5 | 1035 | |
| 3 (3) | sensisoccerworld | 3 | +50 | 1025 | |
| 4 (4) | Rutland Gooner |  6 | -5 | 875 | |
| 5 (5) |  Malcs | 4 | +15 | 800 | |
| |
Saturday April 30
Everton v Bournemouth
3pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton are on a terrible run in the league and things got even worse last week when they lost their FA Cup semi final against United. They have only won four of their 17 home games with only Villa and Bournemouth conceding more goals at home. They haven't won in their last seven games and have only one clean sheet in their last nine.
Everton players haven't done much to impress for fantasy managers recently and they are better off being avoided even if they do play twice next week.
Bournemouth were well beaten at home to Chelsea last week and it looks like the end of the season can't come quickly enough for them. They have only lost seven of their 17 away games and have taken more points on the road than they have at home. They have lost four of their last five games, but they are secure in the Premier League for another season and few would have believed that possible before the season started.
I don't think there are any Bournemouth players to interest fantasy managers right now.
Despite their current form and poor home record I still think Everton will take the three points.
Prediction: 2-1
Newcastle United v Crystal Palace
3pm BST, St. James' Park, Newcastle
Newcastle came from behind to get a very good point at Liverpool last week, but they're still in the bottom three with three games left to play. They have taken more home points and scored more home goals than the other teams struggling to beat the drop. They have taken five points from their last three games after failing to win any of their previous seven.
Newcastle players haven't exactly set the fantasy world alight and it's probably best to avoid them.
Palace have been on an awful league run since the turn of the year, but they reached their first FA Cup final in over 20 years by beating Watford in the semi final last week. They have only lost six of their 17 away games and have taken more points on their travels than they have at home. They have only won once in their last 19 games though and they are lucky they did so well in the first half of the season.
I don't think there are any Palace players to interest fantasy managers for the rest of the season.
Newcastle have to win this game and I think they should just about take the three points.
Prediction: 2-1
Stoke City v Sunderland
3pm BST, Britannia Stadium, Stoke
Stoke were well beaten yet again last week and their season is petering out with little chance of their best ever Premier League finish. They have lost as many games as they have won at home and they're the only team in the top 12 to have conceded more than they have scored at home. They have lost their last three games and conceded 12 goals in the process and it looks like the season can't end quickly enough for them.
I can't see any Stoke players to recommend to fantasy managers for the rest of the season.
Sunderland fought hard to get a point at home to Arsenal last week and that point took them out of the relegation zone for the moment at least. They have only won three of their 17 away games with only Newcastle conceding more goals away from home. They have only won once in their last seven games, but they have only lost once too and they have kept clean sheets in three of their last four games.
Sunderland defenders have done well for fantasy managers recently and they play twice next week too.
Stoke have little to play for and Sunderland desperately need points which leads me to believe they will win this game.
Prediction: 1-2
Watford v Aston Villa
3pm BST, Vicarage Road, Watford
Watford lost their FA Cup semi final to Palace last week and the second half of their season has been very poor. They have only won five of their 17 home games with only Villa scoring less goals at home. They have only won once in their last eight games and have failed to score in four of those games too.
I can't see any Watford players to make a difference for fantasy managers even if they do play twice next week.
Villa lost at home to Southampton last week, but they at least managed more than one goal in a game for only the sixth time this season. They have only won once in 17 away games and that was on the opening day and no other team has scored less then them on the road. They have lost their last 10 games and they failed to score in six of those games too.
I can't see any reason why fantasy managers would even consider choosing Villa players.
As bad as Villa have been this season I have a feeling they might just get a point out of this game.
Prediction: 1-1
West Bromwich Albion v West Ham United
3pm BST, The Hawthorns, Birmingham
West Brom did really well to come from behind and get a point at Spurs on Monday night and effectively end Spurs title hopes. They have lost as many games at home as they have away from home and only Villa have scored less goals than West Brom. They have only taken two points from their last six games and they failed to score in four of those games.
Like so many other teams at the moment it's hard to see any West Brom players for fantasy managers to choose.
West Ham didn't play in the league last week and they have had to wait two weeks since taking a point at Leicester in their last game. They have only lost four of their 17 away games with only four other teams scoring more away goals. They are unbeaten in their last nine games, but they could only win four of those games.
Dimitri Payet is the West Ham player to have at the moment for fantasy managers with Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini looking pretty good too and they play twice next week.
West Brom aren't an easy team to beat, but I have a feeling West Ham will get the better of them.
Prediction: 1-2
Arsenal v Norwich City
5.30pm BST, Emirates Stadium, Arsenal
Arsenal could only draw away to Sunderland last week and they are by no means certain of finishing in the top four. Only United have conceded less goals at home than Arsenal, but eight other teams have scored more home goals and even second from bottom Newcastle have as many goals at home. They are unbeaten in their last seven games and have kept clean sheets in four of those games, but five wins in their last 15 games ruled them out of the challenge for the title.
Alexis Sanchez has been the Arsenal player to have for fantasy managers recently with their defenders doing quite well too.
Norwich didn't play last week and they dropped into the bottom three on goal difference after Sunderland drew with Arsenal. They have lost 12 of their 17 away games and only the two teams below them have scored less goals on the road. They have lost their last two games without scoring and face a tough struggle in their last four games to avoid the drop.
Norwich play twice next week and have a lot to play for, but I still can't see any of their players to recommend to fantasy managers.
Norwich need something from this game, but I think they will come up short as Arsenal win by a couple of goals.
Prediction: 2-0
Sunday May 1
Swansea City v Liverpool
12pm BST, Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Swansea were well beaten away to Leicester last week and they have little left to play for this season. They have won more home games than any other team in the bottom half of the table, but only Villa and Watford have scored less goals at home. They have conceded seven goals while losing their last two games and could finish the season with no more points considering their upcoming opponents.
Gylfi Sigurdsson has done really well for fantasy managers since the turn of the year and is certainly worth considering.
Liverpool looked to be closing in on the top four when they led Newcastle 2-0 last week, but they could only draw 2-2 and the top four looks beyond them now. They have won more away games than home games with only three other teams scoring more goals on their travels. They have taken 20 points from their last nine games and they scored 26 goals in the process.
Daniel Sturridge is the Liverpool player most likely to succeed for fantasy managers at the moment and they play twice next week, but it's not easy to know which players will play in each game with their busy schedule.
Despite having played in Spain on Thursday night I still think Liverpool will have enough to win this game.
Prediction: 1-3
Manchester United v Leicester City
2.05pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester
United beat Everton in their FA Cup semi final last week and they're only five points off the top four with a game in hand. Only City have won more home games than United and no other team has conceded less goals at home. They have won six of their last eight games and kept clean sheets in five of those games too.
United's defenders look pretty good for fantasy managers at the moment and they play twice next week too.
Leicester won 4-0 at home to Swansea last week and they will be champions if they take three points from their last three games regardless of what Spurs do. They have only lost two of their 17 away games and only Arsenal have scored more goals on their travels. They are unbeaten in their last night games with seven wins in those games and clean sheets in each of those games that they won.
Leicester's defenders look like very good options for fantasy managers while Riyad Mahrez might do well while Jamie Vardy is suspended.
Leicester will be champions if they win this game, but I think they might have to settle for a point and wait a little longer for the title.
Prediction: 1-1
Southampton v Manchester City
4.30pm BST, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton
Southampton won 4-2 away to Villa last week to keep their hopes of Europa League football for next season alive. They have won nine of their 17 home games and only the top three have scored more goals at home. They have only lost one of their last seven games, but they haven't kept a clean sheet in their last nine.
Fantasy managers could probably pick any one of Shane Long, Dussn Tadic, Sadio Mane and Geazianno Pelle and do quite well with them.
City won 4-0 at home to Stoke last week to move ahead of Arsenal into third place on goal difference. They have only won seven of their 17 away games, but only Spurs have conceded less goals away from home. They have taken 13 points from their last five games and have kept clean sheets in five of their last eight.
Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne are looking good for fantasy managers while City's defenders have done well recently too.
This looks like it could be a very close game and the chances are it will end in s draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Monday May 2
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur
8pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea won easily away to Bournemouth last week, but the chances of finishing any higher than their current ninth place are very slim. They have only won five of their 17 home games and have conceded more goals at home than any other team in the top half of the table. They have only lost two of their last 18 games, but those defeats came in their last three games.
Chelsea players haven't done too well for fantasy managers this season, but they have an extra game next week and could do reasonably well for the rest of the season.
Spurs could only draw at home to West Brom on Monday night and their chances of winning the league as good as ended with that result. Only Leicester have taken more away points than Spurs and only Arsenal have scored more away goals than them, but no other team has a better defensive record on the road. They're unbeaten in their last seven games, but they haven't been able to keep up the fantastic pace Leicester have set ahead of them.
With Dele Alli suspended it looks like Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and all of the Spurs defenders are the ones to have for fantasy managers.
This has the makings of a very close game and the chances are it will end with the points shared.
Prediction: 2-2
That's it for this week.
See you next week.
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