Thursday 4 May 2017

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 36

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I think I had my worst week ever with my predictions last week with only two correct outcomes and eight incorrect. All of this means I'm firmly stuck in fourth place in my predictions league as you can see from the table below.

BadgesThis WeekPTS
 1 (1)  Karl-Yngve Lund 4-452255
 2 (2)  Rutland Gooner 5-551990
 3 (3)  Wayne Hubbard 2-501900
 4 (4)  Michael Sheehy 7-751855


 
Friday May 5

West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur

8pm BST, London Stadium, London

West Ham managed a scoreless draw at Stoke last week and they must surely be safe with seven points to spare over the bottom three and only three games to go. Only four teams have lost more home games than West Ham and only two teams have conceded more goals at home, but they have kept clean sheets in their last two home games. They have only won once in their last 11 games and have drawn their last two games by the same 0-0 score with only three teams conceding more goals.

I can't see any West Ham players who might make a difference for fantasy managers from here on in.

Spurs won fairly comfortably at home to Arsenal last week to keep up their pursuit of Chelsea, but they're running out of games. They have only won seven of their 16 away games, but they have won their last three on the road and only United have a better defensive record on their travels. They have won their last nine games and kept clean sheets in the last four with only Chelsea scoring more goals and no other team conceding less.

There are so many Spurs players to choose from for fantasy managers with Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen the best of them along with their defenders and keeper of course.

I can't see anything other than a comprehensive Spurs win in this game.

Prediction: 0-3

Saturday May 6

Manchester City v Crystal Palace

12.30pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City could only draw at Boro last week, but they're still in the top four with the two teams directly below them playing each other this week. Only Spurs have lost less games at home, but only United have drawn more games at home and they have drawn three of the last four on their own patch. They have only won twice in their last eight games, but only the top three teams have scored more goals.

With Sergio Aguero possibly injured Gabriel Fernando de Jesus could be the City player to have for fantasy managers.

Palace lost at home to Burnley last week and they're still not completely safe with a six point gap over the bottom three and three games left to play. They have won three of their last four away games and have taken more points on the road than they have at home with only five other teams scoring more goals away from home. They have lost their last two games without scoring, but 19 points from the previous eight games has left them very close to keeping their Premier League place for another season.

Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke had done well recently for fantasy managers, but their last couple of games were a real disappointment.

I think Palace will make a real game of this, but City might just get the better of them.

Prediction: 2-1

Bournemouth v Stoke City

3pm BST, Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth 

Bournemouth won 1-0 at Sunderland last week to as good as guarantee their survival for another season. They have won as many home games as City and only five other teams have scored more goals at home, but only three other teams have conceded more goals at home. They have won their last two games without conceding a goal and only the top seven teams have scored more goals.

Josh King is in fantastic form for fantasy managers at the moment and is a must have even if he only plays once next week.

Stoke drew 0-0 at home to West Ham last week and they're not quiet mathematically safe from relegation yet, but there's no chance of them going down. They have only won three of their 17 away games and have only taken one point from their last six games on the road with no goals scored in those six games. They have only won once in their last eight games and they failed to score in five of those games with only four teams scoring less goals so far.

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

I think Bournemouth might just have enough firepower to get the better of a Stoke team who can't seem to wait for the season to end.

Prediction: 2-1

Burnley v West Bromwich Albion

3pm BST, Turf Moor, Burnley

Burnley got their first away win of the season at Palace last week and those three points more or less banished all thoughts of relegation. Only five teams have won more home games than Burnley, but they have only won once in their last four games at home. Only the bottom two have scored less goals, but they have every chance of getting something from each of their last three games.

Burnley defenders have done well for fantasy managers when they have played at home in particular and that could be the case in this game.

West Brom lost at home to Leicester last week and it appears the end of the season can't cone quickly enough for them. They have only won three of their 16 away games and only three teams have scored less goals away from home. They have only taken four points in their last eight games and they failed to score in seven of those games too.

I can't see any West Brom players to recommend to fantasy managers even if they do play twice next week.

I can't see there being too many goals in this game, but I think Burnley should just about take the three points.

Prediction: 1-0

Hull City v Sunderland 

3pm BST, KCOM Stadium, Hull

Hull got a very good point at Southampton last week and they're still two points above the bottom three with two games to play. They have only lost five of their 17 home games and have taken 20 points from their last eight games at home. They haven't conceded in their last two games, but this a game they have to win with two tough games to finish their season.

Hull's defenders could do well in this game and Eldin Jakupovic was their hero last week.

Sunderland lost away to Boro last week to confirm their relegation after five years of just about managing to beat the drop. Only Hull have lost more away games and scored less away goals and they have lost their last four games on the road without scoring a goal. They have only taken two points in their last 10 games and they failed to score in nine of those games and no other team has scored less goals.

I can't see any Sunderland players who might be of any interest to fantasy managers.

With Hull needing three points to help them in their fight to stay up I think they should win this game with a few goals to spare.

Prediction: 3-0

Leicester City v Watford 

3pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester 

Leicester won 1-0 at West Brom last week to finally put an end to their relegation worries and they play three of their last four games at home. They have only lost four of their 16 home games and have won their last four games at home in which they scored 10 goals and only scored two. They have won six of their last nine games and they're very close to securing a finish in the top half of the table.

Jamie Vardy has been in good form recently for fantasy managers with seven goals and three assists in his last nine games.

Watford lost at home to Liverpool on Monday night, but they're as good as safe from relegation which is just as good for them considering the teams they have left to play. They have only won three of their 16 away games and they have lost their last four on the road without scoring a goal. They have lost three of their last four games and failed to score in each of those games.

Even with two games to play next week I can't see any Watford players to interest fantasy managers considering their remaining fixtures.

I think Leicester will have too much for Watford and should continue their strong finish to the season by taking all three points.

Prediction: 2-0

Swansea City v Everton

5.30pm BST, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea got a point at United last week and probably should have taken all three, but games are running out for them to save their Premier League status. Only two teams have lost more games at home than Swansea and they have conceded more goals than any other team, but they have taken 13 points from their last six home games. They have only taken five points from their last eight games and they failed to score in four of those games with no other team conceding more goals.

If Swansea are going to stay up Gylfi Sigurdsson is the man to have for fantasy managers and their last two games could wield him a few points.

Everton lost 3-0 at home to Chelsea last week and it looks like they are going to finish seventh. They have only won four of their 17 away games and they haven't won in six games on the road. They failed to score in their last two games and have only won two of their last seven six.

Romelu Lukaku has been the outstanding Everton player for fantasy managers, but mainly in their home games and two of their last three games are away from home.

I think Swansea might just about manage to take the three pointe considering how badly they need them in their quest to stay up.

Prediction: 2-1

Sunday May 7

Liverpool v Southampton 

1.30pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool

Liverpool got a very important 1-0 win at Watford on Monday night and they're getting closer to that all important top four finish. Only three teams have won more home games with only Spurs and Chelsea scoring more goals at home, but they only took one point from their last two home games and haven't kept a clean sheet in five games on their own patch. They have taken 20 points from their last nine games with only Chelsea scoring more goals and seven points from their last three games will guarantee them a top four spot.

If Phillippe Coutinho is fit to play he's the Liverpool player to have for fantasy managers along with Roberto Frimino.

Southampton drew 0-0 at home to Hull last week, but they still have hopes of catching eighth placed West Brom as they have two games in hand on them. They have lost nine of their 17 away games, but they have won three of their last five on the road and they have scored more goals away from home than at home. They have only taken one point in their last three games and only six teams have scored less goals.

With two extra games to play Southampton players look like very good bets for fantasy managers with Manolo Gabbiadini, Nathan Redmond plus their defenders and goalkeeper certainly worth considering.

I think this will be a very close game and Southampton might just manage to take a point off Liverpool.

Prediction: 1-1

Arsenal v Manchester United

4pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London

Arsenal lost 2-0 at Spurs last week and their chances of finishing in the top four are hanging by a thread. Only three teams have won more home games than Arsenal and they have taken 10 points from their last four home games with clean sheets in three of them. Despite their poor form they have won three of their last five games and only the top four have scored more goals.

With two extra games to play Arsenal players are at a premium for fantasy managers with Alexis Sanchez the best bet among them and possibly Mesut Ozil too.

United only drew at home to Swansea last week and their chances of a top four finish are fading, but they can still qualify for the Champions League if they win the Europa League. They have only lost two of their 16 away games and no other team has conceded less goals away from home. They are unbeaten in 25 league games and only Spurs have conceded less goals, but they still look unlikely to finish in the top four.

With so many games to play at the moment it's not easy to know which United players to choose for fantasy managers, but their defenders and goalkeeper have been very good in recent weeks.

I think this will be a very close game, but Arsenal might just have the advantage due to United's schedule.

Prediction: 2–1

Monday May 8

Chelsea v Middlesbrough 

8pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea won 3-0 at Everton last week and will be champions if they win three of their last four games no matter what Spurs do. They have won 14 of their 16 home games with only Spurs scoring more goals at home. They have won more games and scored more goals than any other team and they couldn't ask for an easier end to the season.

Eden Hazard is looking very good for fantasy managers at the moment and he has some potentially good games coming up as well as playing twice next week.

Boro twice led at home to City last week and they could be relegated if they lose this game. They have drawn more away games than any other team, but they have only taken two points in their last 10 away games and they failed to score in eight of those games too with only Hull scoring less goals on the road. They have only won once in their last 18 games and even three wins in their last three games probably won't be enough to keep them up.

I can't see any Boro players who might make a difference for fantasy managers.

I can't see anything other than a routine win for Chelsea in this game as they edge closer to the title.

Prediction: 3-0

Wednesday May 10

Southampton v Arsenal

7.45pm BST, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton 

Southampton missed a last minute penalty at home to Hull last week which would have secured them all three points. They have only won six of their 16 home games with only Sunderland and Boro scoring less goals at home and they have failed to score in three of their last four games at home. They could still finish as high as eighth, but with Liverpool, Arsenal and United left to play in their final five games that won't be easy.

As I said above Southampton play twice this week and twice next week too and players like Gabbiadini and Redmond could do well for fantasy managers as could their defenders.

Arsenal lost at Spurs last week and if they haven't beaten United on Sunday this game won't be of too much significance for them. They have lost five of their last six away games with 15 goals conceded in those games, but only City have more goals on their travels. They need to win their last five games to have any hope of finishing in the top four, but their away form is going to make that almost impossible.

If Alexis and Ozil are good fantasy choices then the Arsenal defenders could be too with extra games this week and next week.

I think this will be a very close game which could go either way, but Arsenal might just take advantage of Southampton's problems at home.

Prediction: 1-2

That's it for this week.

See you next week.

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