Saturday 18 July 2020

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 37

It’s that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I did quite well last week with three perfect predictions, three correct outcomes and four incorrect outcomes which moved me up a little in my predictions league. Here’s a look at how the top five in that league stands with me a few places back and unlikely to make an impact on those places at this stage.

POSITIONPLAYER NAMETHIS WEEKPOINTS
 1 (1)GoonerLaw2225
 2 (2)Feel1945
 3 (3)Invader 671930
 4 (4)Mystical 1885
 5 (6)Samoz1690

Saturday July 18

Norwich City v Burnley 

5.30pm BST, Carrow Road, Burnley 

Norwich lost 1-0 away to Chelsea last week and it’s just a matter of how few points they end up with at this stage. They have lost their last four home games without scoring and no other team has taken less points or conceded more goals at home. They have lost their last eight games and they only scored one goal in those games with no other team scoring less or conceding more goals.

I can’t see any Norwich players who might interest fantasy managers in their last two games.

Burnley drew 1-1 at home to Wolves last week and they will almost certainly finish in the top half of the table. They have only lost once in their last seven away games even if they have struggled to score goals on their travels. They have only lost once in their last 14 games and they kept clean sheets in seven of those games.

Nick Pope is the Burnley player to have for fantasy managers and all of their defenders could do well in their last two games.

I think this will be a close game with Burnley more than likely taking the three points.

Prediction: 0-1

Sunday July 19

Bournemouth v Southampton 

2pm BST, Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth 

Bournemouth lost 2-1 away to City last week and they need a minimum of four points from their last two games or they will be relegated. They have taken four points from their last two home games and they need all three points in this game. They have only won once in their last 11 games with only Norwich and Villa conceding more goals.

I don’t think there are any Bournemouth players who could make a difference for fantasy managers.

Southampton drew 1-1 at home to Brighton last week, but their chances of finishing in the top half of the table are almost gone. They have won six of their last 10 away games with only three other teams taking more points on the road. They’re unbeaten in five games, but only four other teams have conceded more goals.

Danny Ings has been in fine form for fantasy managers while Stuart Armstrong and Nathan Redmond haven’t done too badly either.

I think Southampton’s away record suggests they will take the three points and seal Bournemouth’s fate.

Prediction: 1-2

Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City 

4pm BST, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London 

Spurs won 3-1 away to Newcastle last week and they’re within one point of sixth place. They have won their last three home games and only three other teams have taken more points at home. They have taken 10 points from their last four games and six points from their last two games should see them qualify for the Europa League.

Heung-min Son is the Spurs player most likely to do well for fantasy managers while Harry Kane’s double against Newcastle suggests he could be back on form too.

Leicester won 2-0 at home to Sheffield United last week to hold on to their place in the top four on goal difference. They haven’t won in seven away games, but only three other teams have conceded less goals away from home. They have only won three of their last 12 games, but only the top two have scored more goals.

Jamie Vardy is still the Leicester player most likely to return points for fantasy managers.

I can see this being a very close game with both teams desperate for a win, but they’ll probably have to settle for a share of the spoils.

Prediction: 1-1

Monday July 20

Brighton And Hove Albion v Newcastle United 

6pm BST, AMEX Stadium, Brighton 

Brighton drew 1-1 away to Southampton last week and the chances of them being relegated are very slim at this stage. They have only won once in their last eight home games with only two other teams taking less points on their own ground. They have only won once in their six games, but that win away to Norwich could be the result that keeps them up.

I can’t see any Brighton players to interest fantasy managers for the last two games.

Newcastle lost 3-1 at home to Spurs last week and they will finish safely just below the middle of the table. The defeat against Spurs was their first home defeat in seven games with only Palace and Southampton scoring less goals at home. They have lost their last three games and they conceded 10 goals in those games and they still have to play at home to Liverpool next week.

I’m not so sure there are any Newcastle players playing consistently enough to do well for fantasy managers.

I don’t think we’ll see too many goals in this game and a draw is probably the most likely outcome.

Prediction: 1-1

Sheffield United v Everton 

6pm BST, Bramall Lane, Sheffield 

United lost 2-0 away to Leicester last week, but they’re still within two points of sixth place. They have won their last four home games and they only conceded one goal in those games with only two other teams conceding less goals at home. Six points from their last two games might just be enough to qualify them for the Europa League and it’s well within their reach.

United’s defenders and keeper have done so well for fantasy managers this season and they can do well in their last two games too.

Everton drew 1-1 at home to Villa last week, but it’s highly unlikely that they will finish in the top half of the table. They have lost four of their last five away games and only four other teams have taken less points on the road. They have only won two of their last 10 games and they haven’t kept a clean sheet in five games.

Richarlison could be the Everton player to do well for fantasy managers for the rest of the season.

I think this will be a low scoring and close affair with United probably just winning it.

Prediction: 1-0 

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace 

8.15pm BST, Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton 

Wolves drew 1-1 away to Burnley last week and they’re in sixth place with only two games left to play. They have only lost one of their last six home games and they kept clean sheets in five of those games. They have only one once in their last four games and they might need a result away to Chelsea next week to qualify for the Europa League.

Both Raul Jiminez and Matt Doherty returned points for fantasy managers again last week and they are the Wolves players most likely to make an impact.

Palace lost 2-0 at home to United last week and it seems the end of the season can’t come quickly enough for them. They have lost their last three away games and they conceded nine goals in those games. They have lost their last six games and they failed to score in five of those games with only Norwich scoring less goals.

I can’t see any Palace players to recommend to fantasy managers for the rest of the season.

I think Wolves should close in on a Europa League spot by taking the three points in this game.

Prediction: 2-0

Tuesday July 21

Watford v Manchester City

6pm BST, Vicarage Road, Watford 

Watford lost 3-1 away to West Ham last week and they’re only three points above the relegation zone with two games left to play. They have taken 10 points from their last five home games, but they will do well to get anything from this game. They might have to hope their current points are enough to keep them up as they have two very tough games to finish their season.

With the games they have left to play I can’t see any Watford players who might make a difference for fantasy managers.

City won 2-1 at home to Bournemouth last week despite resting a lot of players for their FA Cup semi final. They had lost three away games in a row before winning away to Brighton in their last away game, but no other team has scored more goals on their travels. They have won six of their last eight games and they scored 24 goals in those games while keeping five clean sheets.

If I knew which City players would play I could suggest the best ones to pick for fantasy managers, but it looks like David Silva could be a good bet as he looks to end his time at City on a high.

I think City will be too strong for Watford and should win by at least a couple of goals.

Prediction: 1-3

Aston Villa v Arsenal 

8.15pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham 

Villa drew 1-1 away to Everton last week, but they will need a minimum of four points from their last two games to have a chance of staying up. They won their last home game, but it was their first home win in six games and only two other teams have taken less points at home. They have only won once in their last 12 games with only Norwich conceding more goals.

I still can’t see any Villa players who might make a difference for fantasy managers in their last two games.

Arsenal won 2-1 at home to Liverpool last week to keep their faint hopes of a top six finish alive. They have won two of their last three away games, but only Sheffield United have drawn more away games. They have taken 13 points from their last six games, but they will need six points from their last two games to have any hope of qualifying for the Europa League next season through the league at least.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has two games left to try to win the golden boot which could make him a very interesting choice for fantasy managers.

Villa have to get something from this game, but I think they will fail despite their best efforts.

Prediction: 1-2

Wednesday July 22

Manchester United v West Ham United 

6pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester 

United won 2-0 away to Palace last week and they’re only outside the top four on goal difference. They have taken 13 points from their last five home games and they scored 15 goals in those games. They’re unbeaten in 12 games and they kept clean sheets in eight of those games. 

Anthony Martial and Bruno Fernandes have done incredibly well for fantasy managers recently and they have been ably supported by Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and all of their defenders and keeper.

West Ham won 3-1 at home to Watford last week and the chances of them being relegated are now virtually non existent. They have taken four points from their last two away games after losing their previous seven on the road. They have taken 10 points from their last five games and they scored 12 goals in those games with no other team in the bottom half of the table scoring more goals.

Michail Antonio has been the West Ham player to have for fantasy managers recently.

I think United should give their Champions League hopes a real boost by winning this game.

Prediction: 3-1

Liverpool v Chelsea 

8.15pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool 

Liverpool somehow managed to lose 2-1 away to Arsenal last week and they can no longer beat the record for the most points in one season. They drew their last home game against Burnley, but they are the only points they have dropped at home and no other team has conceded less goals at home. They have stumbled a little since wrapping up the title with only three wins in seven games, but surely they will want to celebrate in style on the day they receive the trophy.

The fall off from Liverpool’s players for fantasy managers recently has been far from good, but surely Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane should still do well for their last two games.

Chelsea won 1-0 at home to already relegated Norwich last week as they just about managed to hold their nerve in the fight for a top four finish. They have lost two of their last three away games and they conceded eight goals in those games, but only the top two have taken more away points and only City have scored more away goals. They have won six of their last eight games, but no other team in the top half of the table has conceded more goals.

Willian had been the Chelsea player to have for fantasy managers, but Christian Pulisic and Caesar Azpilicueta have done better recently with Olivier Giroud possibly worth considering too.

I think this will be a very close game with Liverpool probably winning narrowly.

Prediction: 2-1

That’s it for this week.

See you next week.

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