| Badges | This Week | PTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (3) |   Karl-Yngve Lund |   2 | +125 | 1000 | |
| 2 (2) |   Wayne Hubbard | 1 | +100 | 985 | |
| 3 (1) |  Michael Sheehy |  5 | -5 | 965 | |
| 4 (4) | Rutland Gooner | 3 | +100 | 920 | |
| 5 (5) |  @ iWelloo | 2 | +145 | 680 | |
| |
Monday December 26
Watford v Crystal Palace
12.30pm GMT, Vicarage Road, Watford
Watford lost away to Sunderland last week, but the result could quite easily have gone the other way. They have only won half of their home games, but have only lost one in their last six on their own ground. They have lost three of their last four games, but all of them were away from home and only four other teams have conceded more goals.
I just can't see any Watford players making a real difference for fantasy managers at the moment.
Palace played reasonably well against Chelsea, but they lost yet again and it ultimately cost Alan Pardew his job. They have only lost half of their away which isn't bad for a team so far down the table, but only three other teams have conceded more goals on the road. They have lost eight of the last 10 games with only two teams conceding more goals, but only the top five scoring more.
Wilfried Zaha and James McArthur are the Palace players who might not do too badly for fantasy managers.
I think this will be a very close affair and a draw is probably the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion
3pm GMT, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal led away to City on Sunday, but took nothing from the game for the second time in a week. They are unbeaten at home since the opening day and only three other teams have scored more goals at home, but they have conceded too many on their own patch. They have lost their last two league games after going 14 unbeaten and haven't kept a clean sheet in eight.
Alexis Sanchez is still a must have for fantasy managers with Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil doing pretty well too.
West Brom lost at home to United last week and they never really looked like getting anything from the game. They might have only won two of their eight away games, but only Chelsea and Spurs have conceded less on the road and only three other teams have scored less. Despite losing two of their last three games they have taken 13 points from their last seven to stay in the top half of the table.
Matt Phillips, Solomon Rondon and Gareth McAuley all continue to do well for fantasy managers.
Arsenal need to get back to winning ways and I think they should be strong enough to take the three points in this game.
Prediction: 3-1
Burnley v Middlesbrough
3pm GMT, Turf Moor, Burnley
Burnley led away to Spurs last week after scoring only their second goal on the road, but they ended up losing 2-1. They have won five of their nine home games, but they're sliding down the table because of their away form. Only two other teams have scored less goals than Burnley and they have lost five of their last six games while failing to score in three of them.
I still can't see any Burnley players to interest fantasy managers.
Boro had a very good and much needed 3-0 win at home to Swansea last week. They have only won once in their eight away games, but they have only lost twice and only three other teams have conceded less on the road. They have a pretty steady record, but only two teams have scored less goals and they have the best defensive record in the bottom half of the table.
Boro defenders have done well recently for fantasy managers and Alvaro Negredo seems to have found some form too.
I think Burnley's home form should be good enough to see them just about take the three points.
Prediction: 2-1
Chelsea v Bournemouth
3pm GMT, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea won yet again last week when they got the only goal of the game away to Palace. They have won seven of their eight home games with no other team scoring more or conceding less goals at home. They have won their last 11 league games and kept a clean sheet in nine of them with no other team conceding less goals.
With Diego Costa suspended the Chelsea defenders are the best fantasy choices and Eden Hazard is a pretty good option even if he hasn't done much in the last few games.
Bournemouth looked to be in a good position when they led at home to low scoring Southampton last week, but they ended up losing 3-1. They have lost five of their last eight away games and only three other teams have scored less goals on their travels. They have lost three of their last five games and conceded 12 goals in the process.
Bournemouth defenders continue to do well for fantasy managers despite the amount of goals they concede.
I think the league leaders will be far too strong for Bournemouth even without Costa.
Prediction: 3-0
Leicester City v Everton
3pm GMT, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester looked to be heading for another defeat away to Stoke last week when they were 2-0 behind and down to 10 men, but they cane back to draw 2-2. They have only lost one of their eight home games, but their away form has left them only three points above the relegation zone. They have only won once in their last eight games and haven't kept a clean sheet in their last 10.
Riyad Mahrez is still the Leicester player most likely to perform, but they have all been a huge disappointment so far for fantasy managers.
Everton thought they had managed a 0-0 draw at home to Liverpool on Monday night, but they lost to a goal in added time. They have lost five of their eight away games and have only taken one point from their last six games on the road. After starting the season so well they have only won two of their last 12 games and will drop into the bottom half of the table very soon if they don't reverse that trend.
Everton players haven't set the world alight for fantasy managers, but Romelu Lukaku can be very good when he hits a vein of form.
I think this will be a close game with Leicester just about getting the better of proceedings.
Prediction: 2-1
Manchester United v Sunderland
3pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester
United never looked in trouble in their 2-0 win at West Brom and they're building some momentum. They have only won three of their eight home games with only four other teams scoring less home goals and only three others conceding less goals at home. They have won their last three games in a row and kept clean sheets in two of them, but they have taken more points on their travels than at home.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the United player who can make a difference for fantasy managers and their defenders are performing pretty well too.
Sunderland got a very important 1-0 win at home to Watford last week to climb off the foot of the table. They have lost six of their eight away games with only Burnley scoring less goals away from home. They have won four of their last seven games to move off the foot of the table and they are only one point off the relative safety of 17th place.
Jermain Defoe remains the only real option in the Sunderland team for fantasy managers with Patrick van Aanholt as an outside bet.
I think United should have too much at home and should win with a few goals to spare.
Prediction: 3-0
Swansea City v West Ham United
3pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Swansea lost 3-0 away to Boro last week and they're only off the foot of the table on goal difference. They have only won two of their eight home games and no other team has conceded more goals at home. They have won two and los three of their last five games, scoring nine goals and conceding 15 in the process.
Gylfi Sigurdsson is still by far the best fantasy option in the Swansea team while Fernando Llorente has done well in recent home games.
West Ham were more than a little lucky to win 1-0 at home to Hull last week and that win moved them five points clear of the bottom three. They have only won once in their eight away games, but only six other teams have scored more goals away from home. They have only lost once in their last five games and kept a clean sheet in their last two, but only three other teams have conceded more goals.
Dimitri Payet is the best fantasy option in the West Ham team with Michail Antonio and Winston Reid worth considering too.
This is a game both teams really need to win and I think Swansea might just have the edge because of home advantage.
Prediction: 2-1
Hull City v Manchester City
5.15pm GMT, KCOM Stadium, Hull
Hull were very unlucky to lose away to West Ham last week as the hit the woodwork three teams, but that defeat left them at the foot of the table. They have only won two of their eight home games with only Southampton scoring less goals at home and only Swansea conceding more. They haven't won in their last six games and have failed to score in four of those games with no other team scoring less goals than Hull.
Robert Snodgrass is still the only Hull player fantasy managers should even consider.
City came from behind to win at home to Arsenal last week and moved above them into third place. They have only lost one of their nine away games and have won three of the last four scoring 10 goals in the process. They have won four of their last six games and only Liverpool and Arsenal have scored more goals.
With Sergio Aguero still suspended the best fantasy choice in the City team has to be Kevin de Bruyne.
I think City will be far too strong for Hull and should win with a few goals to spare.
Prediction: 0-3
Tuesday December 27
Liverpool v Stoke City
5.15pm GMT, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool left it late last week, but an added time winner at Everton moved them up to second in the table. They are one of only two teams unbeaten at home and no other team has scored more goals at home. They have won six of their last nine games and kept four clean sheets in those games and they are the top scores in the league.
Sadio Mane looks to be the best fantasy choice in the Liverpool team right now, but he could be off to the ACN soon while Adam Lallana, Roberto Frimino and Divock Origi are all good bets too and the Liverpool defenders have even looked good recently too.
Stoke looked to be cruising to victory when they led 10 man Leicester 2-0 last week, but they had to settle for a draw in the end. They have only lost three of their eight away games, but have struggled for goals with only eight goals in those games. They haven't won in their last three games, but they have three clean sheets in their last five.
Joe Allen is still producing the goods for fantasy managers and the Stoke defenders have been pretty impressive too.
Stoke are no pushovers at the moment, but I think Liverpool will have too much for them.
Prediction: 3-1
Tuesday December 28
Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur
7.45pm GMT, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton
Southampton came from behind to win 3-1 away to Bournemouth last week and moved into seventh place in the league. They have only lost one of their eight home games and only Chelsea have conceded less goals at home. They have only lost once in their last six games and kept clean sheets in four of those games, but only four other teams have scored less goals.
Southampton's defenders have done very well for fantasy managers and they're still available at a fairly reasonable price.
Spurs had to come from behind at home to struggling Burnley last week, but the three points moved them within a point of fourth place. They have only won two of their eight away games, but no other team has a better defensive record on the road. They have won four and lost two of their last six games and scored 16 goals in those six games.
Christian Eriksen looks the best fantasy choice in the Spurs team right now with Harry Kane, Dele Alli and their defenders all worth considering too.
I think Southampton will make things tough for Spurs and might just manage a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
That's it for this week.
See you next week.
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