Tuesday 30 August 2022

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek Five

It’s that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I did reasonably well with my weekend predictions with one perfect prediction, five correct outcomes and four incorrect outcomes which saw me drop to second place in my predictions league. Here’s a look at how the top five in that league stands.

RankPlayerResClsExaSlmPts
1
2
Sam
3279544.0
2
1
JamrockRover
22118344.0
3
2
Richard Landsberg
 
516.515339.5
4
-
Rutland Gooner
316.515337.5
5
2
RobbieZ
41812337.0

My choice of Mohamed Salah as my captain really didn’t work out last week as he failed to contribute anything despite Liverpool scoring nine goals. I’m going to have to really think hard about what I do this week and I might have to use my wildcard to bring Erling Haaland in. For a team which did so well last week it was disappointing not to get a return from any of my attacking players.

Tuesday August 30

Crystal Palace v Brentford 

7.30pm BST, Selhurst Park, London 

Palace led 2-0 away to City on Saturday, but they couldn’t hold on and lost 4-2. They only lost four home games last season, but no other team drew more games on their own patch. They have had a very tough start to their season, but the fixture list is kinder to them for the next few weeks.

If he’s fit to return Wilfried Zaha is the Palace player who can make a difference for fantasy managers while  Eberechi Eze isn’t the worst choice either.

Brentford drew 1-1 at home to Everton at the weekend to leave themselves on five points from their first four games. They took almost as many points away from home as they did at home last season and they will feel they have a chance of getting something from this game. They have a good run of games coming up and they will hope to get themselves in a comfortable mid-table position.

Ivan Toney is still the Brentford player to have for fantasy managers with Bryan Mbeumo and Josh Dasilva worth considering too.

I think this will be a close game with Palace probably making their home advantage pay.

Prediction: 2-1

Fulham v Brighton And Hove Albion 

7.30pm BST, Craven Cottage, London 

Fulham led 1-0 away to Arsenal at the weekend, but they ended up losing 2-1 to suffer their first defeat of the season. They have taken four points from their first two home games, but it won’t be easy for them to get something from this game. They have a tough run of games coming up, but they have shown they can make a game of it against any team since their promotion.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is the Fulham player who can can make a difference for fantasy managers.

Brighton won 1-0 at home to Leeds to remain unbeaten and only two points off the top of the table. They have won both of their away games so far and they play two newly promoted teams in their next two away games. They have only conceded one goal in their four games and their next four games are pretty good ones.

Pascal Gross, Leandro Trossard and Danny Welbeck are the attacking players in the Brighton team to interest fantasy managers while all of their defenders and keeper are good choices too.

I think Brighton will continue their impressive start to the season with a narrow victory in this game.

Prediction: 0-1

Southampton v Chelsea 

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

Southampton lost 1-0 at home to United on Saturday and they face another tough home fixture in this game. Their home form kept them up last season, but they will only have one point from three home games if they lose this game. Only Bournemouth and Leicester have conceded more goals and they conceded far too many goals last season too.

James Ward-Prowse is the Southampton player most likely to return points for fantasy managers on a consistent basis.

Chelsea won 2-1 at home to Leicester on Saturday despite playing most of the game with 10 men to bounce back from their defeat to Leeds the previous week. They took more points away from home than they did at home last season and they will fancy their chances in this game too. They only play one of the other big six teams in their next eight games which could give them a real chance to push towards the top of the table.

Chelsea players aren’t exactly setting the world alight for fantasy managers at the moment with the exception of Reece James.

I think Chelsea should be just strong enough to inflict another defeat on Southampton in this game.

Prediction: 1-2

Leeds United v Everton 

8pm BST, Elland Road, Leeds 

Leeds lost 1-0 away to Brighton on Saturday to suffer their first defeat of the season. They have won both of their home games so far and they will be favourites to make it three out of three in this game. They have done well so far for a team which sold their best two players, but that might still catch up with them.

Despite failing to score on Saturday Rodrigo still looks like a very good option for fantasy managers with Jack Harrison a possibility too.

Everton drew 1-1 away to Brentford on Saturday to get their second point of the season, but they’re still in the bottom three. No other team took less points away from home last season and they will need to improve their away record if they’re going to avoid the drop. They’re one of three teams without a win so far and with Liverpool and Arsenal to come after this game that might not change very soon.

I’m not sure there are any Everton players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.

I think Leeds should be good enough to get the better of Everton with a couple of goals to spare.

Prediction: 3-1

Wednesday August 31

Arsenal v Aston Villa 

7.30pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London 

Arsenal came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Wolves on Saturday which kept them on top of the table with four wins out of four. Only the top two took more points at home last season and they will need to do as well at home this season if they’re going to finish in the top four. Only Liverpool and City have scored more goals so far and only Brighton have conceded less.

Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard are all doing very well for fantasy managers at the moment with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes pretty good options too.

Villa lost 1-0 at home to West Ham on Sunday to make it three defeats in their first four games. They’re one of four teams without a point away from home so far and they will struggle to get anything from this game too. They have a tough run of games coming up and they could find themselves in the bottom three very soon.

Ollie Watkins could be of interest to fantasy managers, but maybe not considering their upcoming fixtures.

I think Arsenal will keep their 100% record intact in this game and pile more pressure on Steven Gerrard.

Prediction: 3-1

Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers 

7.30pm BST, Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth 

Bournemouth were absolutely slaughtered on Saturday when Liverpool equalled the Premier League record with a 9-0 win against them. Their only points so far came at home when they beat Villa, but it’s difficult to see them get anything from this game after that result on Saturday. They have lost their last three games and they conceded 16 goals in those games with no other team conceding more goals and only West Ham scoring less.

I can’t see any Bournemouth players to interest fantasy managers at the moment.

Wolves conceded a late goal to draw 1-1 at home to Newcastle on Sunday to leave them without a win and one place off the foot of the table. They took more points away from home than they did at home last season, but they have lost both of their away games so far. Their next two games offer great chances to win, but they play both Liverpool and City after those games.

I don’t think there are any Wolves players doing enough to interest fantasy managers at the moment.

I think Wolves will get their first win of the season by at least a couple of goals.

Prediction: 0-2

Manchester City v Nottingham Forest 

7.30pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City came back from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at home to Palace on Saturday and they’re still in second place two points behind Arsenal. They won 15 of their 19 home games last season and they have won their first two already and they scored eight goals in those two wins. They will fancy their chances of adding to that tally at home to a newly promoted team.

Erling Haaland is almost a must have for fantasy managers as long as he can escape Pep Guardiola’s rotation with Kevin de Bruyne and all of City’s defenders and keeper good choices too.

Forest lost 2-0 at home to Spurs on Sunday and they face an even tougher task in this game. Their home form is going to be very important if they’re going to stay up, but away games like this one could be very hard for them. Despite taking four points from their first four games only West Ham have scored less goals and they could need some time for all of their new players to settle in.

I’m still not sure if there are any Forest players who might make a real impact for fantasy managers.

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

Prediction: 3-0

West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur 

7.45pm BST, London Stadium, London 

West Ham won 1-0 away to Villa on Sunday to get their first points and their first goal of the season. They have lost both of their home games so far without scoring and this will be another tough task for them on their own ground. The win against Villa took them out of the bottom three, but they could slide back into it if they lose this game.

Until they can start scoring more goals I can’t see any West Ham players to interest fantasy managers.

Spurs won 2-0 away to Forest on Sunday and they’re only two points and two places behind Arsenal at the top of the table. The only points they have dropped so far were away to Chelsea, but their next away game after this is against City. They have kept clean sheets in their last two games with only Brighton conceding less goals.

Harry Kane, Dejan Kulusevski and Ivan Perisic are all looking very good for fantasy managers at the moment.

I think this is going to be a close game, but the chances are the points will be shared.

Prediction: 1-1

Liverpool v Newcastle United 

8pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool 

Liverpool destroyed Bournemouth 9-0 on Saturday to get their first win of the season and they will be looking to build on that in this game. No other team has scored more goals at home thanks to that win on Saturday and no other team took more points at home last season. If they’re going to make up the ground they have lost to City they cannot afford to drop too many more points.

Despite not managing any return last week Mohamed Salah is still a very good choice for fantasy managers along with Luis Diaz and all of the Liverpool defenders and keeper.

Newcastle got a last minute goal to draw 1-1 away to Wolves on Sunday, but this game will be a very tough test for them. They have drawn their two away games so far and they would be very happy to make it three draws out of three in this game. They are still unbeaten, but they have drawn three of their four games and they will do very well to get anything from this game.

Allan Saint-Maximin is looking pretty good for fantasy managers at the moment and the Newcastle defenders and keeper could be good options after this game too.

I think Liverpool will make it back to back wins with a couple of goals to spare in this game.

Prediction: 3-1

Thursday September 1

Leicester City v Manchester United 

8pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester 

Leicester lost 2-1 away to 10 man Chelsea on Saturday and that defeat saw them drop to the foot of the table. Only four other teams won more home games last season, but they have conceded four goals in their first two home games. Their problems aren’t with scoring goals, but only Bournemouth have conceded more so far.

If he’s fit to play James Maddison is the Leicester player to have for fantasy managers.

United won 1-0 away to Southampton on Saturday to continue their recovery with their second win in a row. The win at Southampton was their first away win in a long time, but they will be looking to make it two in a row in this game. It’s difficult to know which way their season will go, but three points in this game would definitely put them back on track.

I’m still not sure which United players are the best options for fantasy managers, but we should get a better idea over the next few weeks.

I think United will continue their winning streak and pile even more pressure on Brendan Rogers.

Prediction: 1-2
 
That’s it for this week.

See you next week.

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