Monday 25 December 2017

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 20

It’s that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I had a bad week last week with only one perfect prediction, one correct outcome and eight incorrect, but I managed to maintain my position in my predictions league. I'm still nowhere near the top of that league and here's a look at how the top five in it stands.

NAMETHIS WEEKPOINTS
 1 (1) Dr_AFHMK
6

+45
1535
 2 (2) Midotamimi
4

0
1315
 3 (7) betojohn 
ioannis papanikos
5

+85
1275
 3 (5) lukaszbee
1

+40
1275
 5 (3) JediKnut
4

-50
1245






Tuesday December 26

Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton 

12.30pm GMT, Wembley Stadium, London

Spurs won 3-0 at Burnley on Saturday to move ahead of them and Arsenal into fifth place. They have taken 16 points from their last six home games with only United and Liverpool conceding less goals at home. They have only won three of their last eight games with only three teams scoring more goals and only four teams conceding less.

Harry Kane proved against Burnley that it’s almost impossible for fantasy managers to ignore him while Christian Eriksen and Heung-Min Son are in very good form too.

Southampton could only draw 1-1 at home to Huddersfield on Saturday and they’re now only three points above the bottom three. They have only won once in eight away games with only Palace scoring less goals away from home. They have only won once in their last 10 games and they didn’t keep a clean sheet in any of those games.

With Charlie Austin out for at least a few games I can’t see any Southampton players to interest fantasy managers.

Southampton have made it hard for some of the better teams recently, but I think Spurs will get the better of them.

Prediction: 2-1

Bournemouth v West Ham United 

3pm GMT, Dean Court, Bournemouth 

Bournemouth lost 4-0 at City on Saturday and that defeat saw them drop into the relegation zone. Only Swansea have lost more home games with only Swansea and Burnley scoring less goals at home. They haven’t won in seven games and haven’t scored in their last three with only the two teams below them scoring less goals.

I can’t see any Bournemouth players who might make a difference for fantasy managers at the moment.

West Ham suffered a big blow to their hopes of moving clear of the bottom three when they lost 3-2 at home to Newcastle on Saturday. No other team has lost more away games or conceded more goals away from home, but they did win their last away game at Stoke. The defeat against Newcastle was their first in four games and only Stoke have conceded more goals.

Marco Arnautovic has looked good in the last few games for West Ham and their defenders had looked good before Saturday, but it’s always a risk for fantasy managers to pick their players.

This is a very big game for two teams at the wrong end of the table and I think it will end with the spoils  shared.

Prediction: 1-1

Chelsea v Brighton And Hove Albion

3pm GMT, Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea could only draw 0-0 at Everton on Saturday despite completely dominating that game and they’re now 16 points behind City. They have won their last five home games with clean sheets in three of them. They have won eight of their last 11 games and kept clean sheets in six of those games with only City conceding less goals.

With Alvaro Morata back from suspension he should be considered by fantasy managers along with Eden Hazard, but Chelsea’s defenders are looking like the best bets in their team at the moment.

Brighton got a very important 1-0 win at home to Watford on Saturday to move five points clear of the bottom three. No other team has lost more away games with only Palace scoring less goals on their travels and they have lost their last three away games without scoring a goal. The win against Watford was their first win in eight games and they failed to score in five of those games too with only the bottom two clubs scoring less goals.

Despite Pascal Gross scoring again at the weekend I still can’t see any Brighton players who might interest fantasy managers in this game in particular.

I think Chelsea should run out fairly comfortable winners in this game.

Prediction: 3-0

Huddersfield Town v Stoke City

3pm GMT, John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield 

Huddersfield came back to earn a 1-1 draw at Southampton on Saturday and kept themselves safely in mid-table. They have only lost three of their nine home games with only Swansea and Burnley scoring less goals at home. They have taken seven points from their last four games with only Stoke and West Ham conceding more goals.

Like so many other teams I can’t see any Huddersfield players who might make a difference for fantasy managers at the moment.

Stoke got a very important 3-1 win at home to West Brom on Saturday to move out of the relegation zone. No other team has taken less points or conceded more goals away from home. They have conceded more goals than any other team and haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last nine games.

Xherdan Shaqiri had being doing well until recently for fantasy managers while Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has his moments too.

I think Huddersfield’s home form could be crucial in this game and they should just about manage a narrow victory.

Prediction: 2-1

Manchester United v Burnley 

3pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester

United were pegged back at the very end of their game at Leicester on Saturday night and had to settle for a 2-2 draw which saw them fall 13 points behind City at the top of the table. They have won eight of their nine home games and kept clean sheets in seven of them with no other team conceding less goals at home and only City and Arsenal scoring more. They have taken 19 points from their last eight games with only City scoring more and conceding less goals, but it’s not enough to close the gap on their local rivals.

David de Gea is still the best option in the United team for fantasy managers while Jesse Lingard has impressed in recent weeks and their defenders are quite reliable too.

Burnley lost 3-0 at home to Spurs on Saturday, but they’re still only three points off the top four. They have only lost two of their nine away games with only City and Chelsea conceding less goals on the road. They have lost three of their last seven games with only the top three conceding less goals, but they are the only team in the top half of the table to have scored less than a goal a game.

Burnley’s defenders and goalkeeper have being doing very well for fantasy managers, but they’re on a tough run of games at the moment.

Despite Burnley’s good defensive record I think United should win this game by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 2-0

Watford v Leicester City

3pm GMT, Vicarage Road, Watford 

Watford lost 1-0 at Brighton on Saturday and they’re now only six points above the bottom three despite being in the top half of the table. They have only won two of their nine home games and no other team has conceded more goals at home. They have only taken one point from their last six games and they conceded 13 goals in those games with only Stoke and West Ham conceding more goals.

Richarlison has been the best fantasy option in the Watford team, but his return has dipped in recent games and Abdoulaye Doucoure should be considered too now that he’s back from suspension.

Leicester came from behind to get a 2-2 draw at home to United on Saturday night and they can still be hopeful of catching up on sixth place. They are unbeaten in their last seven away games with only five teams scoring more goals away from home. They have only lost twice in their last 13 games, but they have only kept one clean sheet in their last nine.

I still think Riyad Mahrez is the best fantasy choice in the Leicester team, but Harry Maguire hasn’t done too badly either.

Given Watford’s currrnt form I think Leicester should just about manage to take all three points in this game.

Prediction: 1-2

West Bromwich Albion v Everton 

3pm GMT, Vicarage Stadium, Watford 

West Brom lost 3-1 at Stoke on Saturday and they now have only Swansea below them, but they’re still only three points from the relative safety of 17th place. No other team has taken less points at home with only Swansea and Burnley scoring less goals at home and they haven’t won in their last eight games at home. They haven’t won in 17 games with only Swansea scoring less goals, but no other team has drawn more games.

I can’t see any West Brom players to recommend to fantasy managers.

Everton held on for a creditable 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea on Saturday and like Leicester they will be hoping to close in on the top six. They have only won once in nine away games, but that was their last away game at Newcastle. They have taken 14 points from their last six games and kept clean sheets in four of them, but only four teams have conceded more goals.

If he’s well enough to play then Wayne Rooney is by far the best fantasy option in the Everton team with their defenders and goalkeeper doing well in recent weeks too.

I think this will be a very close game and the chances are it will finish all square.

Prediction: 1-1

Liverpool v Swansea 

5.30pm GMT, Anfield, Liverpool 

Liverpool let a two goal lead slip at Arsenal on Friday night and had to come from behind to grab a 3-3 draw which just about kept them in fourth place. They’re one of only two teams unbeaten at home, but no other team has drawn more home games or conceded less goals at home. They are unbeaten in 10 games, but they did draw four of those games and only City have scored more goals.

Mohamed Salah is an absolute must have for fantasy managers and he’s closely followed by Phillippe Coutinho with Roberto Firmino doing quite well in recent weeks too.

Swansea came from behind to get a 1-1 draw at home to Palace on Saturday, but they’re still propping up the rest of the table. They haven’t won in their last seven away games with only Palace scoring less away goals. They have only won once in their last 11 games and they lost eight of those games as well as being the lowest scorers in the league.

Lukasz Fabianski is still by far the best choice in the Swansea team for fantasy managers.

I think Liverpool should win this game with at least a few goals to spare.

Prediction: 3-0

Wednesday December 27

Newcastle United v Manchester City

7.45pm GMT, St. Janes’ Park, Newcastle 

Newcastle came from behind to win 3-2 at West Ham on Saturday and those three points moved them out of the relegation zone. Only Swansea have lost more home games and they have lost their last four at home while failing to score in theee of those games. That win at West Ham was their first win in 10 games and they lost eight of those games.

I can’t see any Newcastle players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.

City strolled to yet another victory at home to Bournemouth on Saturday to increase their lead at the top of the table to 13 points at the halfway point in the season. They have won all nine of their away games and they’re the top scorers on the road as well as conceding less goals than any other team. They are setting records with each game and they have now won 17 games in a row as well as being the top scorers and having conceded the least goals too.

There are so many options in the City team for fantasy managers with Raheem Sterling currently leading the way closely followed by Kevin de Bruyne, Leroy Sane, David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi.

I can’t see anything other than a comfortable City win in this game.

Prediction: 0-3

Thursday December 28

Crystal Palace v Arsenal 

8pm GMT, Selhurst Park, London 

Palace led at Swansea on Saturday, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw and they’re still only two points above the bottom three. They are unbeaten in six games at home, but they haven’t kept a clean sheet at home yet this season. They are unbeaten in eight games, but only four teams have scored less goals than Palace.

Wilfried Zaha is the best option in the Palace team for fantasy fantasy while Ruben Loftus-Cheek has done well in recent weeks and he’s available at a very good price.

Arsenal somehow managed to get a 3-3 draw at home to Liverpool on Friday night despite being outplayed for almost the whole game. They have only won two of their nine away games and eight teams have taken more points away from home than Arsenal. They are unbeaten in four games, but they drew three of them and they have actually only won once in their last five games.

Mesut Ozil seems to be the in form Arsenal player for fantasy managers at the moment.

I think this will be a very close game and Arsenal should just about manage to take the three points.

Prediction: 1-2

That’s it for this week.

See you next week.

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