| Badges | This Week | PTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (2) |   Michael Sheehy |   2 | +75 | 360 | |
| 2 (3) |   Karl-Yngve Lund | 1 | +95 | 335 | |
| 3 (1) |  Rutland Gooner | 1 | +25 | 315 | |
| 4 (6) | Wayne Hubbard | | +55 | 250 | |
| 5 (5) | goonerdhanesh | | 0 | 215 | |
| |
Friday September 16
Chelsea v Liverpool
7.45pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea could only draw 2-2 away to Swansea last week to put an end to their perfect start to the season. They have only managed one clean sheet in their first four games and they need to improve at the back if they are going to challenge for the league. They're only two points behind the leaders, but this promises to be a tough game for them.
Diego Costa has been the best of the Chelsea players so far for fantasy managers with Eden Hazard not faring too badly either.
Liverpool had a very good 4-1 win at home to Leicester last week. They have looked very good in their games against three of last season's top four, but they somehow managed to lose to Burnley too. Goals might be flowing freely for them, but only four other teams have conceded more goals than Liverpool.
The toughest thing for fantasy managers with Liverpool is knowing which players to pick with Phillippe Coutinho, Roberto Friminio, Sadio Mane and Daniel Sturridge to choose from.
This should be a very close game and it could go either way, but a draw is probably the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 2-2
Saturday September 17
Hull City v Arsenal
3pm BST, KCOM Stadium, Hull
Hull left it late, but got a good point at Burnley last week to continue their impressive start to the season. They have been quite strong in defence and have only conceded three goals in their four games. They won't find it easy against last season's runners up, but their recent performances suggest they will have a chance in this game.
Robert Snodgrass has been impressive so far for Hull and Eldin Jakupovic has done well for fantasy managers too.
Arsenal just about managed to beat Southampton last week, but they were more than fortunate to do so. They still haven't found any real rhythm yet this season and they need to improve quickly. A trip to one of the newly promoted clubs at least offers them the chance to get back to back league wins.
Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are the Arsenal players most likely to succeed for fantasy managers, but Santi Cazorla has started this season well too.
I think Hull will make life difficult for Arsenal, but Arsenal should get another narrow victory.
Prediction: 1-2
Leicester City v Burnley
3pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester haven't exactly started in the style that won them the league last season with only four points from their first four games. All of those points have come at home though and their defence has looked a lot stronger at home too. A home game against a newly promoted team gives them the ideal opportunity to begin to climb the table.
Jamie Vardy has done reasonably well so far for fantasy managers with Riyad Mahrez failing to make the impression he did last season, but that could easily change for him.
Burnley looked to have done enough at home to Hull last week to sneak three points, but they were pegged back right at the death. All of their points so far have come at home and they haven't scored away from home either. I still think they will struggle this season and they are one of the favourites to go down.
I can't see any Burnley players making a difference for fantasy managers on a permanent basis.
I think Leicester should have more than enough at home to win this game.
Prediction: 2-0
Manchester City v Bournemouth
3pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City won away to United last week and are now the only team with a 100% league record. They're scoring plenty of goals as you would expect from any Pep Guardiola team, but there's still room for improvement at the back. They're the top scorers in the league and have won all seven of their games in all competitions so far.
With Sergio Aguero still suspended the City players to have for fantasy managers could be Raheem Sterling, Kevin de Bruyne and Nolito.
Bournemouth got their all important first win of the season last week at home to West Brom. They have struggled to score goals so far with only Stoke and West Brom scoring less. They still haven't played to the level they reached last season and they will be hard pushed to get anything from this game.
Callum Wilson got his first goal of the season last week, but he will need to score a lot more often if he is going to interest fantasy managers.
I can't see anything other than a comprehensive City win in this game.
Prediction: 4-1
West Bromwich Albion v West Ham United
3pm BST, The Hawthorns, Birmingham
West Brom lost away to Bournemouth last week and they're struggling to score goals yet again this season. No other team has scored less goals than them so far, but only two other teams have conceded less goals. They will fancy their chances against a West Ham team who are finding it difficult to match their performances of last season.
West Brom's defenders aren't the worst choices for fantasy managers with Ben Foster and Gareth McAuley probably the best of the bunch.
West Ham looked to be heading for a win at home to Watford last week when they led 2-0, but they ended up losing 4-2. Only Stoke have conceded more goals than West Ham with only Liverpool and Leicester conceding more goals on the road. They have lost both of their away games so far, but they must have a chance away to goal shy West Brom.
Michail Antonio has been the best performer in the West Ham team so far for fantasy managers, but Dimitri Payet did well in his first full match last week.
I think this will be a close game which both teams need to win, but a draw is the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Everton v Middlesbrough
5.30pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton have had a great start to the season with 10 points from four games and they're third in the table. Not only have they won three of their first four games, but no other team has conceded less goals than them. It's been their best start to a season in a long time and they have every chance of continuing it in this game.
Romelu Lukaku finally came good for Everton on Monday night while Ross Barkley, Kevin Mirallas and their defenders are doing quite well too.
Boro have started the season quite well and I still think they're the most likely of the promoted teams to beat the drop. They are unbeaten away from home, but they have struggled for goals at home and away. A trip to in form Everton is a tough task for them and they will be the toughest opponents they have faced so far.
Alvaro Negredo has been the best of the Boro players so far, but he hasn't done much for fantasy managers in the last two games.
I think Everton will continue their great start to the season with a narrow victory.
Prediction: 2-1
Sunday September 18
Watford v Manchester United
12pm BST, Vicarage Road, Watford
Watford have lost both of their home games so far, but those games were against Chelsea and Arsenal. They haven't kept a clean sheet yet, but they have also scored in every game so far. They look like they could be a handful for any team and they might just give United a real fright.
Etienne Capoue is performing excellently for fantasy managers at the moment while Roberto Pereyra, Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo are all doing quite well too.
United lost their 100% record at home to City last week and then last away to Feynoord in the Europa Lesgue on Thursday night. They have kept two clean sheets in their four games, but they could do with scoring a few more goals. They need to get back to winning ways, but they won't find it easy in this game.
While Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been the outstanding United player for fantasy managers their defenders haven't done too badly either.
I think Watford have shown enough so far to suggest they might take a point off United.
Prediction: 2-2
Crystal Palace v Stoke City
2.15pm BST, Selhurst Park, London
Palace got their first win of the season away to Boro last week and showed a lot more attacking intent than in their previous three games. They haven't won a home game yet and and they have only scored three goals in their four games. The addition of Christian Benteke looks like it might just be what they needed to improve on last season.
Benteke might not be the worst choice for fantasy managers while any more performances like last week's will have them queueing up to buy Wilfried Zaha.
Stoke have only taken one point so far and they have lost their last two games without conceding a goal. No other team has scored less goals than Stoke and they have conceded more goals than any other team too. They need to change things quickly or they could find themselves in a spot of bother.
There are no Stoke players making an impact for fantasy managers right now.
I think Palace will be good enough to get their second win in a row and keep Stoke at the foot of the table.
Prediction: 1-0
Southampton v Swansea City
2.15pm BST, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton
Southampton haven't played too badly so far, but they're yet to win a game. They have drawn their two home games, but they need to get that first win under their belts. They had a very good home record last season and they should improve if they can rediscover some of that form.
Dusan Tadic might be dropping in price, but I still think he will end up doing a good job for fantasy managers.
Swansea got a very good point at home to Chelsea last week. They have won one of their two away games and came close to getting something away to Leicester in the other one. It's hard to know how their season will go and they could as easily end up in mid table as struggling at the wrong end of the league.
Leroy Fer has been very good so far for fantasy managers and is still available at a very good price.
I think Swansea will make a game of it, but Southampton will take the three points.
Prediction: 2-1
Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland
4pm BST, White Hart Lane, London
Spurs ended up strolling to a 4-0 win away to Stoke last week, but they lost at home to Monaco in the Champions League in midweek. They're one of four teams unbeaten in the league so far and no other team has conceded less goals than Spurs. A win in this game could see them climb further up the table with some of the team's above them facing tougher tasks this week.
Eric Lamela still looks like the best Spurs player for fantasy managers to me while Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and their defenders can all be pretty good too.
Sunderland have only taken one point in their four games so far and it looks like they will yet again struggle this season. They have performed better away from home with a narrow defeat against City and a draw at Southampton. That might give them some hope for this game, but they will do very well to get anything out of it.
Jermain Defoe is probably the only Sunderland player who might interest fantasy managers although Patrick van Aanholt can be a reasonable choice too.
I can't see anything other than a Spurs win in this game.
Prediction: 3-0
That's it for this week.
See you next week.
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