Thursday 19 April 2018

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 35

It’s that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I didn’t do too well again last week with only four correct predictions and 10 incorrect as my demise in my predictions league continued. Here’s a look at how the top five in that league stands.

NAMETHIS WEEKPOINTS
 1 (1) Dr_AFHMK
7

+25
2485
 2 (3) immycader 
Imran Cader
6
2315
 3 (2) betojohn 
ioannis papanikos
8

+55
2285
 4 (4) Rutland Gooner
3

+75
2105
 5 (7) ArssenaL14
5
2085






Saturday April 21

West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool 

4.30pm BST, The Hawthorns, Birmingham

West Brom shocked everybody by winning 1-0 away to United last week and handing the title to City, but they’re still certain to be relegated. They have won less games and taken less points at home than any other team, but they have scored in their last seven home games. They have taken four points from two games since the departure of Alan Pardew, but even maximum points from their last four games probably won’t be enough to keep them up and no other team has scored less goals.

Both Jay Rodriguez and Salomon Rondon have done well for fantasy managers in recent weeks, but this might not be the game to choose them.

Liverpool won fairly comfortably at home to Bournemouth last week and they look almost certain to finish in the top four. They have only won once in their last three away games, but only City have scored more goals on the road. They have taken 23 points from their last 10 games and only City have scored more goals.

With a huge game on Tuesday night Liverpool could be tempted to rest some of their players, but Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino are very good options if they play.

Despite Liverpool probably resting some players I still think they will manage a narrow victory.

Prediction: 1-2

Watford v Crystal Palace

3pm BST, Vicarage Road, Watford

Watford lost 1-0 to a late goal at Huddersfield last week, but they’re safe from relegation with not too much left to play for. They have only taken one point in their last two home games and no other team has conceded more goals at home, but they have scored in their last 12 games on their own patch. They have only taken one point in their last five games and they failed to score in three of those games with only Stoke conceding more goals.

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

Palace won 3-2 at home to Brighton last week to move themselves six points clear of the bottom three. They have taken four points in their last two away games and they have scored in their last nine games on the road. They have taken seven points from their last four games and surely they will be safe for another season if they win this game.

I tipped Luka Milivojevic and Wilfried Zaha to do well for fantasy managers last week and they duly obliged and they’re the Palace players most like to make a difference this week too.

This is a game Palace need to get something from in the fight to stay clear of the bottom three and I think they will manage a point.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunday April 22

Arsenal v West Ham United

1.30pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London

Arsenal led at Newcastle last week, but they ended up losing 2-1 and Burnley are closing in behind them in the race for sixth place. They have won their last three home games and scored nine goals in the process with only City scoring more goals and taking more points at home. They have lost six of their last 11 games and have conceded a lot more goals than the rest of the top six.

With the first leg of their Europa League semi final on Thursday night Arsenal might rest some of their players, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will play as he is ineligible in Europe and he’s the Arsenal player to have for fantasy managers.

West Ham left it late on Monday night, but their last minute equaliser against Stoke might just have been enough to keep them up. They have only taken one point in their last four away games and they conceded 12 goals in those games with no other team conceding more goals away from home. They are unbeaten in their last three games and any points they can get from this game would be a huge boost, but only Stoke and Watford have conceded more goals.

Marco Arnautovic is the West Ham player to have for fantasy managers and he might just do well against a dodgy Arsenal defence.

Despite the distraction of their big game on Thursday night and West Ham’s urgent need for points I still think Arsenal will just about manage a win in this game.

Prediction: 2-1

Stoke City v Burnley 

1.30pm BST, bet365 Stadium, Stoke

Stoke looked to have managed a badly needed win on Monday night, but a last minute West Ham goal denied them and relegation now looks almost a certainty. They have only taken two points from their last five home games with only Watford and Bournemouth conceding more goals at home. They haven’t won in 10 games and they failed go score in four of those games with no other team conceding more goals.

Xherdan Shaqiri is still the Stoke player to have for fantasy managers as they continue in vain to avoid the drop.

Burnley won 2-1 at home to Leicester last week, but their midweek defeat at home to Chelsea meant they didn’t move above Arsenal into sixth place. Only the top five have taken more points away from home with only City conceding less goals on their travels and they have won their last three away games. They had won five in a row before the defeat against Chelsea, but only five teams have scored less goals and only the top two have conceded less.

Chris Wood has been in very good form for fantasy managers recently and is certainly worth considering.

I think Burnley will get a narrow win to move Stoke one step closer to the Championship.

Prediction: 0-1

Manchester City v Swansea City

4.30pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester

City won 3-1 away to Spurs last week and United’s defeat the next day saw them crowned Premier League champions. They lost their last home game after winning the previous 14 and they’re the top scorers at home, but three other teams have conceded less goals at home. They have won six of their last seven games and they have won more games and scored more goals than any other team.

I assume City will play their strongest team as they chase so many Premier League records which should make David Silva, Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, Kevin de Bruyne and Leroy Sane great options for fantasy managers.

Swansea came from behind to get a 1-1 draw at home to Everton last week and that point moved them five points clear of the bottom three with five games to play. They haven’t won in six away games, but they did draw four of those games with only Brighton and West Brom scoring less goals away from home. They haven’t won in four games and they failed to score in two of those games with no other team scoring less goals.

With Jordan Ayew back from suspension he could do well for fantasy managers, buy maybe not in this game.

I can’t see anything other than a comprehensive City victory in this game.

Prediction: 3-0

Monday April 23

Everton v Newcastle United

8pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool

Everton led at Swansea last week, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw and eighth place will be the best they can do this season. Only the big six teams have more home points and goals, but they have only taken one point from their last two home games. They haven’t won in their last three games and they have conceded more goals than any other team in the top half of the table.

Cenk Tosun is still the Everton player most likely to succeed for fantasy managers despite not scoring in the last few games.

Newcastle came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Arsenal last week and they will be in the Premier League again next season. They have only lost twice in their last seven away games and only seven teams have taken more points away from home. They have won their last four games and have three clean sheets in their last seven games as they have found scoring goals a little easier over the last few months.

Both Ayoze Perez and Kenedy are looking good for fantasy managers at the moment and are certainly worth considering.

I think this will be a very close game with a draw probably the most likely outcome.

Prediction: 1-1

That’s it for this week.

See you next week.

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