It’s that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I didn’t have the best week last week with one perfect prediction, four correct outcomes and five incorrect outcomes which kept me in fifth place in my predictions league. Here’s a look at how the top five in that league stands.
Pos: Player: Res: Cls: Exa: Slm: Pts:
- Always a Gooner 4 9 6 2 21
- Gunnerdapper 7 6 3 2 18
- Derek 5 6 6 1 18
- Faroukh 5 10.5 0 2 17.5
- JamrockRover 5 7.5 3 2 17.5
I didn’t have a great week with my fantasy team either as my last minute decision to use my free hit didn’t pay off. I would actually have fared better if I had stuck to my guns and gone with the same team that did average at best for me the previous week. I will be back to that team this week and I will have to think carefully about the one free transfer I have available.
Ollie Watkins, Cole Palmer and Florian Wirtz all cost too much to be underperforming for me and I think I will have to move them all on very soon. The chances are I will bring Antoine Semenyo in and maybe Chris Wood too if I decide to take a four point hit. At the moment I’ll probably opt for Mohamed Salah as my captain with Joao Pedro being an option too.
Saturday August 30
Chelsea v Fulham
12.30pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea came from behind to win 5-1 away to West Ham last week and that win leaves them in fourth place after two games. They drew their opening home game 0-0 against Palace, but after beating West Ham last week they will be more confident of winning this game. They’re in the middle of a good run of games which should see them keep that place near the top of the table.
If Cole Palmer is still injured then Joao Pedro is the best bet for fantasy managers in the Chelsea team with their defenders and keeper worth considering too.
Fulham came from behind to draw 1-1 at home to United last week to make two draws in their first two games. They scored very late to draw their first away game at Brighton and they will find it difficult to get anything from this game. They have shown great resilience to come from behind in both of their games and they have a couple of good games after this one.
I’m not sure which Fulham players will perform best for fantasy managers this season, but we might get a better idea over the next few weeks.
I think Fulham will make things difficult for Chelsea, but the home team should take the three points.
Prediction: 2-1
Manchester United v Burnley
3pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester
United led 1-0 away to Fulham last week, but they couldn’t hold to get their first win of the season and they had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Their home record was far from impressive last season and this game gives them the ideal chance to get their first home win of the season. They have two very difficult games after this one which means nothing less than three points will suffice.
Burnley got their first win of the season last week with a 2-0 victory at home to Sunderland. Their away games to start the season are far from easy and they will need to take points at home to make up for it. Like all the other promoted teams survival in the top flight is their main objective and that will probably be determined by their results against the so called lesser teams.
Burnley’s defenders and keeper can all be had at very god prices for fantasy managers and their fixtures improve in a few weeks.
I think United will get their much needed first win of the season in this game with a couple of goals to spare.
Prediction: 2-0
Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth
3pm BST, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Spurs had a very impressive 2-0 win away to City last week to maintain their 100% start to the season. They won their opening home game 3-0 against Burnley and they will be confident of winning this game too. They’re one of three teams to win their first two games and one of only two teams yet to concede a goal.
Brennan Johnson, Richarlison and Mohammed Kudus are looking good for fantasy managers at the moment with the Spurs defenders and keeper impressing too.
Bournemouth got their first points of the season last week with a 1-0 win at home to Wolves after losing their opening game at Liverpool. They have had a couple of tough games to get their away schedule going and they will do well to get anything out of this game. They have a reasonably good run of games after this one and any points from this game would be a welcome bonus.
Antoine Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier are the Bournemouth players to have at the moment for fantasy managers with Evanilson and the returning Justin Kluivert possibilities too.
I think Spurs will continue their impressive start to the season with a narrow victory in this game.
Prediction: 2-1
Sunderland v Brentford
3pm BST, Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Sunderland lost 2-0 away to Burnley last week, but at least they won their opening game. They won their opening home game against West Ham and they have a very good chance of getting something from this game too. They have a fairly good run of games coming up, but no games are easy for newly promoted teams.
Some of Sunderland’s defenders are available at a good price and Eliezer Mayenda is worth a look too.
Brentford won 1-0 at home to Villa last week after being well beaten in their opening game away to Forest. They have a far better chance of getting something from this game though. They have a very tough run of games coming up so they probably need to get something from this game.
Dango Ouattara and Igor Thiago might be worth considering for fantasy managers.
I think this will be a close game with a draw being the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton
3pm BST, Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Wolves lost 1-0 away to Bournemouth last week to leave them pointless and goalless after their first two games. They lost their opening home game 4-0 against City, but Everton should not prove as difficult an opponent. They’re only one place off the foot of the table and they’re one of two teams yet to score.
Jorgen Strand Larsen is the best of the Wolves players for fantasy managers, but they might not be able to hold on to him.
Everton got life in their new stadium off to a great start with a 2-0 win at home to Brighton last week. That put the disappointment of the defeat against Leeds in their opening away game behind them. They have a fairly good run of games coming up and they will feel they have a good chance of getting something from this game.
Iliman Ndiaye is the Everton player most likely to perform for fantasy managers while Jack Grealish, James Tarkowski and Jordan Pickford could do well too.
I think Wolves poor start to the season will continue as Everton win a close game.
Prediction: 1-2
Leeds United v Newcastle United
5.30pm BST, Elland Road, Leeds
Leeds lost 5-0 away to Arsenal last week, but they at least managed to win their opening game. They will be hoping for the home crowd to get behind them like they did in their opening home game against Everton as that home form will be crucial in their efforts to stay up. They only play one of the big six in their next 10 games and they need to make that run of games count.
I’m still not sure which Leeds players to recommend to fantasy managers.
Newcastle conceded very late to lose 3-2 at home to Liverpool last week to leave themselves with only one point from their first two games. They drew their first away game 0-0 against Villa and they will be hoping to get their first away win in this game. They have a good run of games coming up, but they need to find a striker as soon as possible to try to keep pace with the leaders.
With Anthony Gordon suspended and Alexander Isak wanting a transfer it’s probably a good idea for fantasy managers to hold off on Newcastle players for a few weeks.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the spoils shared in this game.
Prediction: 1-1
Sunday August 31
Brighton And Hove Albion v Manchester City
2pm BST, AMEX Stadium, Brighton
Brighton lost 2-0 away to Everton last week, but they had plenty of chances to get something from the game and they also missed a penalty. They drew their opening home game against Fulham after conceding a very late goal and this will be a difficult home game for them. They play three of the big six in their next four games starting with this one which is a very tough run of games.
Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter are the Brighton players to consider for fantasy managers, but maybe not for the next few weeks.
City lost 2-0 at home to Spurs last week to put their impressive opening win against Wolves in a different light. They won that away game 4-0 against Wolves, but they showed their deficiencies last week. If they’re going to challenge for the title this season they need to show more consistency and they play United and Arsenal in their next two games after this one.
Tijjani Reijnders and Erling Haaland are the City players to own for fantasy managers at the moment.
I think this will be a close game, but City should have the firepower to take the three points.
Prediction: 1-2
Nottingham Forest v West Ham United
2pm BST, City Ground, Nottingham
Forest came from behind to draw 1-1 away to Palace last week to make it four points from their first two games. They won their first home game 3-1 against Brentford and they will be expected to make it two home wins out of two in this game. They have a good run of games to start the season with the exception of their trip to Arsenal in their next game.
Chris Wood looks like the Forest player to have again for fantasy managers with Dan Ndoye a possibility too.
West Ham led at home to Chelsea last week, but they ended up losing 5-1 which left at the foot of the table. They lost their opening away game 3-0 against newly promoted Sunderland and they will struggle to get anything from this game. They have conceded eight goals in their first two games and they need to tighten up at the back or it will be a long hard season for them.
Despite their awful start to the season Jarrod Bowen should still come good for fantasy managers.
I think Forest will continue their impressive start to the season with a victory in this game.
Prediction: 3-1
Liverpool v Arsenal
4.30pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool led 2-0 away to Newcastle last week, but they needed a last gasp goal to win 3-2 and make it six points from their first two games. They won their first home game 4-2 against Bournemouth with two late goals and it was their home form which won them the title last season. They are the highest scorers already, but only three other teams have conceded more goals and that’s an issue they have to resolve.
Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo are all looking very good for fantasy managers at the moment.
Arsenal won 5-0 at home to Leeds last week to put themselves on top of the table after their first two games. They won their first away game 1-0 against United, but this will be a much tougher task. Only Liverpool have scored more goals so far and they’re one of two teams still to concede, but that could change in this game.
Arsenal’s defenders and keeper are very good options for fantasy managers, but maybe not in this game while Declan Rice and Viktor Gyokeres are worth having too.
This is a game which could go either way, but a draw is probably the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 2-2
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
7pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa lost 1-0 away to Brentford last week to leave themselves with only one point and no goals from their first two games. They drew their opening game 0-0 at home to Villa and had a man sent off too, but they created very little in that game. They have really struggled to create chances so far, but they are in the middle of a very good run of games.
If Villa can get their form together then Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins can do well for fantasy managers.
Palace led at home to Forest last week, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw to make it two points from their first two games. They drew their first away game 0-0 at Chelsea and they will fancy their chances in this game too. They have a mixed bag of games at the moment, but they will feel confident of getting something from any game after winning two trophies.
With Eberechi Eze now an Arsenal player Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ismaila Sarr and Daniel Munoz are the Palace players to have for fantasy managers.
This is a difficult game to call, but I have a feeling Palace might just edge it.
Prediction: 1-2
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
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