| NAME | THIS WEEK | POINTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (11) |  |  |  | mbbeth Malcolm Beth | 455 | ||||||
| 2 (14) | |  |  | ArssenaL14 | 410 | ||||||
| 3 (2) | |  | | Rutland Gooner | 380 | ||||||
| 4 (17) | |  | | HeliusM | 375 | ||||||
| 4 (1) | | |  | Janet1952 | 375 | ||||||
Saturday September 1
Leicester City v Liverpool
12.30pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester came from behind to win 2-1 at Southampton last week for their second win in a row. They lost almost as many games as they won at home last season, but they did win their only home game so far this season. If they’re going to make a real impression this season this is the sort of game they need to do well in, but it won’t be easy for them.
Despite all the goals they concede Ricardo Pereira and Harry Maguire still look like good options for fantasy managers while Demarai Gray and James Maddison might be worth considering too.
Liverpool weren’t exactly at their best last week, but they were still good value for their 1-0 win at home to Brighton to move to the top of the table. Four teams took more points away from home last season, but only City scored more goals on the road. They look like the team most likely to challenge City this season and a win in this game would surely add to their belief.
There are so many Liverpool players to choose from for fantasy managers with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane probably the best of them while all of their defenders and goalkeeper are very good choices too.
I think Liverpool will continue their winning start to the season with a narrow victory in this game.
Prediction: 0-2
Brighton And Hove Albion v Fulham
3pm BST, AMEX Stadium, Brighton
Brighton lost 1-0 away to Liverpool last week and they’ll be glad to play at home considering their away record. Only seven teams took more points at home last season and they beat United in their only home game so far this season. If they’re going to stay up again their home form will be crucial and three points in this game would be very welcome.
Pascal Gross is probably the only Brighton player for fantasy managers to consider.
Fulham won 4-2 at home to Burnley last week to get their first points of the season. They lost their only away game so far at Spurs, but this shouldn’t be as tough a task for them. They showed they can attack last week, but only Huddersfield and West Ham have conceded more goals so far.
Both Aleksandar Mitrovic and Jean Michael Seri did very well for fantasy managers last week and they might just be worth a punt.
I think this will be a very close game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end in a draw.
Prediction: 2-2
Chelsea v Bournemouth
3pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea scraped a 2-1 win at Newcastle last week to maintain their 100% record after three games. If they had done better at home last season they would have finished in the top four and they will hope to build upon their win in their only home game so far against Arsenal. They struggled for goals a little last season, but only City have scored more goals so far this season.
Marcus Alonso is almost a must have for fantasy managers at the moment while Eden Hazard and Pedro are looking pretty good too.
Bournemouth came from 2-0 down at home to Everton last week to get a 2-2 draw to keep their unbeaten start to the season going. Only seven teams scored more away goals than Bournemouth last season and they won their opening away game this season against West Ham. They have proven to be a hard team to beat already this season, but they will do well to get anything out of this game.
Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser, Steve Cook and Nathan Ake have all started the season very well for fantasy managers and they’re all available at pretty good prices too.
I can’t see Bournemouth repeating their 3-0 win from last season and I think Chelsea should win by a couple of goals.
Prediction: 3-1
Crystal Palace v Southampton
3pm BST, Selhurst Park, London
Palace lost 2-1 at Watford last week and they have lost their last two games in a row. They ended up winning as many home games as they lost last season despite a very bad start to the season. The defeat to Liverpool was expected, but the loss against Watford was a blow and they will hope to improve over their next few games which are all quite winnable.
Any of the Palace defenders look like they can add attacking points for fantasy managers while Wilfried Zaha seems to be the best attacking option in their team.
Southampton led at home to Leicester last week, but they ended up losing 2-1 and they have only one point from their first three games. They drew more away games than any other team last season and they took almost as many points away from home as they did at home. They only avoided relegation by three points last season and their start to this season has been far from encouraging.
Danny Ings is available at a very good price for fantasy managers, but it’s not easy to pick a Southampton player at the moment.
I think this will be a close game with Palace probably getting the better of Southampton.
Prediction: 2-1
Everton v Huddersfield Town
3pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton led 2-0 at Bournemouth last week, but they were pegged back and had to settle for a 2-2 draw. Only the top six had a better home record than Everton last season and they won their opening home game this season too. They are unbeaten so far, but they drew two games they were winning and need to strengthen in defence to turn those wins into draws.
With Richarlison suspended for three games it looks like Theo Walcott or Cenk Tosun could be the Everton players to watch for fantasy managers.
Huddersfield drew 0-0 at home to Cardiff last week for their first point of the season. They only won three of their 19 away games last season and they only scored 12 goals in those games. They kept a clean sheet in their last game, but no other team has conceded more goals so far this season.
I can’t see any Huddersfield players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.
I think Everton should be too strong for Huddersfield and should win by at least a couple of goals.
Prediction: 3-1
West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
3pm BST, London Stadium, London
West Ham led away to Arsenal last week, but they lost 3-1 and they’re now the only team without a point. They had an average home record last season and they started poorly at home this season with a defeat against Bournemouth. They’re bottom of the league and no other team has conceded more goals so far, but they might still fancy their chances against a newly promoted team.
Marco Arnautovic looks like the only West Ham player worth considering for fantasy managers, but he could miss this game through injury.
Wolves got a very good point at home to City last week, but they’re still looking for their first win. They were a little unlucky to lose their opening away game at Leicester and they will want to make amends in this game. They have been impressive without winning in their first three games and they will want to get that first win as soon as possible.
Ruben Neves and Raul Jiminez are both available at a very good price and are definitely worth considering for fantasy managers.
This is a game which could go either way, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Wolves take the three points.
Prediction: 1-2
Manchester City v Newcastle United
5.30pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City came from behind to get a 1-1 draw at Wolves last week and they dropped back to fifth place as a result. They took more points and scored more goals than any other team at home last season and they already scored six goals in their opening home game. They will find it hard to match all of the records they set last season, but they are clear favourites to retain their title.
With City’s constant rotation it looks like Sergio Aguero, Benjamin Mendy and Ederson could be the City players to make an impression for fantasy managers.
Newcastle nearly got a point at home to Chelsea last week, but they lost 2-1 and they’re still without a win. Only three other teams lost more away games last season, but they took their only point so far this season in a 0-0 draw at Cardiff. They didn’t strengthen much in the transfer window and it could be a long hard season for them if they don’t get some points soon, but it’s a huge task for them to get anything from this game.
I can’t see any Newcastle players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.
I can’t see anything other than a City win in this game.
Prediction: 3-0
Sunday September 2
Cardiff City v Arsenal
1.30pm BST, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Cardiff got a point in a 0-0 draw at Huddersfield last week, but they’re the only team who haven’t scored a goal yet. Like the other promoted teams they need to take as many points as possible at home, but it won’t be easy for them in this game. They might not have scored yet, but they have two clean sheets in their first three games and they aren’t easy to beat.
Neil Etheridge has had a very good start in goal for Cardiff and he is certainly worth considering for fantasy managers.
Arsenal came from behind to win 3-1 at home to West Ham last week and get their first points of the season. They had an awful away record last season and that has to improve vastly this season if they’re going to challenge for a top four place. After two tough opening games they have a run of games which could see them make some inroads on that top four if they can put a run together.
Despite drawing a blank so far I still think Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the best Arsenal player for fantasy managers while Nacho Monreal could be a good bet too.
I think Arsenal should have enough in attack to take the three points in this game.
Prediction: 1-2
Burnley v Manchester United
4pm BST, Turf Moor, Burnley
Burnley lost 4-2 away to Fulham last week and it seems their defensive feats of last season might be a thing of the past. It was their away form in particular that saw them finish seventh last season and they have already lost their first home game this season. Their defensive strength saw them through very often last season, but they have already conceded seven goals in their first three games as their attempts to qualify for the Europa League have taken a toll.
James Tarkowski has done well for fantasy managers in their first three games despite Burnley not being so strong in defence.
United lost 3-0 at home to Spurs last week and they find themselves in the bottom half of the table. Only City took more away points and conceded less away goals last season, but they were far from good in their only away game so far when they lost 3-2 at Brighton. They have lost two of their first three games and conceded seven goals in the process and all does not seem well at Old Trafford.
With United’s defence struggling and goals in short supply it looks like Paul Pogba could be the best option in the United team for fantasy managers.
This is a hard game to call, but I think United will bounce back and take the three points.
Prediction: 1-2
Watford v Tottenham Hotspur
4pm BST, Vicarage Road, Watford
Watford won 2-1 at home to Palace last week to continue their impressive start to the season. They conceded more home goals than any other team last season, but they have started very well at home this season. Like Spurs they have won all three of their games so far and something has to give in this game.
Jose Holebas and Roberto Pereyra have started the season really well for fantasy managers and they look like very good value at the moment.
Spurs were very impressive in their 3-0 win at United last week and they’re one of four teams who have won their first three games. Only City took more points away from home last season and they will be confident of making this their third away win of this season. Despite their excellent start to the season it’s hard to see them keeping pace with City and Liverpool, but we might get a better idea of their chances after their next game when they play Liverpool.
Harry Kane, Lucas Moura, Dele Alli and their defenders and keeper all look like very good choices for fantasy managers.
Despite Watford’s great start to the season I think Spurs will get the better of them in this game.
Prediction: 1-3
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
nice prediction but am doubting win against cadiff
ReplyDeleteI’ve being doing these predictions for years now and I always predict an Arsenal win regardless of who they are playing.
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