It’s that time of the week when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I did reasonably well last week with no perfect predictions, five correct outcomes and five incorrect outcomes which saw me move up to third 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 5 12 9 2 28
- Gunnerdapper 8 9 6 2 25
- JamrockRover 7 12 3 3 25
- Derek 5 9 9 1 24
- poirot 5 9 9 1 24
I had another poor week with my fantasy team and this season has gotten off to a very bad start after my fantastic performance last season. Trevoh Chalobah, Joao Pedro and Ilian Ndiaye were the only players to do anything for me and some major squad reshaping might be in order. With that in mind I will probably use my wildcard this week with a view to using my bench boost next week to hopefully move me in the right direction.
I will be keeping Mohamed Salah, Chalobah, Joao Pedro, Ndiaye, Antoine Semenyo, Martin Dubravka and Tijjani Reijnders, but the rest of the squad will go. There’s a lot of work to be done deciding which players to bring in, but I will definitely change most of my defenders and strikers with my midfield not needing quite so many adjustments.
Saturday September 13
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest
12.30pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal lost 1-0 to Liverpool last time out to put and end to their 100% record and drop to third in the table. They won their opening home game 5-0 against Leeds and they need to win this game after losing their table topping game against Liverpool. No other team has conceded less goals so far with only Liverpool and Chelsea scoring more.
The Arsenal defenders and keeper are very good choices for fantasy managers with Viktor Gyokeres worth considering too.
Forest lost 3-0 at home to West Ham last week and they parted ways with their manager this week after his relationship with the owner deteriorated. They drew their first away game at Palace, but they will find Arsenal a much tougher proposition. They play two of the promoted teams in their next two games after this one, but only three other teams have conceded more goals.
Chris Woods is the Forest player to have for fantasy managers with Dan Ndoye a possibility too.
I think Arsenal should make home advantage count to take the three points in this game even with Forest’s new manager bounce.
Prediction: 3-1
Bournemouth v Brighton And Hove Albion
3pm BST, Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
Bournemouth won 1-0 away to Spurs in their last game to make it two wins from their first three games. They won their first home game and three of their next four games are on their own ground. Since losing their opening game 4-2 to Liverpool they have won their next two games without conceding a goal and they have a good run of fixtures coming up.
Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson are the Bournemouth players to look at for fantasy managers with their defenders and keeper looking good too.
Brighton came from behind to win 2-1 at home to City last week to record their first win of the season. They lost their first away game against Everton and this will be a difficult game for them too. They haven’t kept a clean sheet so far and they have a tough run of games coming up.
Kaoru Mitoma is probably the best of the Brighton players for fantasy managers.
I think Bournemouth will more than likely get the better of a tight game to take the three points.
Prediction: 2-1
Crystal Palace v Sunderland
3pm BST, Selhurst Park, London
Palace won 3-0 away to Villa last time out and they’re one of three teams still unbeaten. They drew their first home game 1-1 against Forest and they will be confident of getting their first home win in this game. They have only conceded one goal in their first three games and they have some good fixtures coming up.
Ismaila Sarr (if he’s fit to play) and Jean-Philippe Mateta are good choices for fantasy managers with the Palace defenders and keeper good options too.
Sunderland scored two late goals to win 2-1 at home to Brentford in their last game which saw them move up to fifth in the table. They lost their opening away game 2-0 at Burnley and this will be a harder game for them. They have done the best of the three promoted teams so far with two wins from three games, but those wins were both at home.
I’m not sure which Sunderland players to recommend to fantasy managers just yet, but Reinildo Mandava is worth considering as a budget priced defender.
I think Palace will continue their unbeaten start to the season with a win in this game.
Prediction: 2-0
Everton v Aston Villa
3pm BST, Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
Everton won 3-2 away to Wolves last time out to make it two wins from their first three games. They won their first home game 2-0 against Brighton and they will fancy their chances against a struggling Villa side. They will want to take all three points ahead of a huge game for them against bitter rivals Liverpool next week.
Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish are the Everton players to have for fantasy managers with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall a possibility too.
Villa lost 3-0 at home to Palace in their last game to leave them one place off the foot of the table. They lost their opening away game against Brentford and they really need to get something from this game. They are the only team without a goal in their first three games, but they do have a good run of fixtures coming up.
I can’t see any Villa players doing enough to interest fantasy managers at the moment, but that could change over the next few weeks.
I think Everton will make it three wins in a row in this game by a narrow margin.
Prediction: 2-1
Fulham v Leeds United
3pm BST, Craven Cottage, London
Fulham lost 2-0 away to Chelsea in their last game to leave themselves without a win in their first three games. They drew their opening home game against United and their next two games are at home to teams they have every chance of beating. Only two other teams have scored less goals in their first three games, but they will be hopeful of adding to their tally in this game.
Josh King is available at a very good price for fantasy managers even if it’s just to sit on the bench.
Leeds drew 0-0 at home to Newcastle last time out to leave themselves on four points from three games. They lost their first away game 5-0 against Arsenal with only Burnley conceding more goals on their travels. They have kept clean sheets in two of their three games, but both of those games were at home.
The Leeds defenders and keeper could be worth keeping an eye on for fantasy managers when they’re at home at least.
I think Fulham will get their first win of the season with a couple of goals to spare in this game.
Prediction: 2-0
Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
3pm BST, St. James’s Park, Newcastle
Newcastle drew 0-0 away to Leeds in their last game to leave them on two points from their first three games. They lost their only home game 3-2 against Liverpool, but Wolves are nowhere near the level of the champions. They have failed to score in two of their three games, but they should find scoring a little easier in this game.
Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa might prove to be good purchases for fantasy managers in the weeks to come, but it’s the Newcastle defenders and keeper who should be interesting fantasy managers at the moment.
Wolves lost 3-2 at home to Everton last time out to stay rooted to the foot of the table with no points from their first three games. They lost their opening away game against Bournemouth and they will find it difficult to get anything from this game too. They’re the only team without a point and no other team have conceded more goals, but they have a good run of games after this one.
I’m not sure there are any Wolves players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.
I think Newcastle will get their first win of the season with a few goals to spare in this game.
Prediction: 3-0
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur
5.30pm BST, London Stadium, London
West Ham won 3-0 away to Forest in their last game to record their first win of the season and get themselves off the foot of the table. They lost their first home game 5-1 against Chelsea and Spurs will be another tough task for them. No other team has conceded more goals so far, but the result against Forest suggests things might be improving for them.
Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen and El Hadji Malick Diouf could all do quite well for fantasy managers.
Spurs lost 1-0 at home to Bournemouth last time out to put an end to their perfect start to the season. They won their opening away game against City and they have a fairly good run of away games coming up. No other team has conceded less goals so far and they don’t play any of the other big six teams in their next six games.
Mohammed Kudus, Brennan Johnson and Richarlison have been the Spurs players to impress for fantasy managers so far along with their defenders and keeper, but Johnson and Richarlison might get limited game time quite soon.
This game could go either way and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the spoils shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Brentford v Chelsea
8pm BST, Gtech Community Stadium, London
Brentford lost 2-1 away to Sunderland last time out despite going ahead and they have lost two of their first three games. The only game they won so far was at home though and they won’t make it easy for Chelsea in this game. They have a tough run of games coming up and they could find things difficult with all the changes in their squad and management.
Dango Ouattara and Igor Thiago are the Brentford players to look at for fantasy managers.
Chelsea won 2-0 at home to Fulham in their last game after some very controversial decisions went in their favour and that win moved them up to second place. They won their first away game 5-1 against West Ham with no other team scoring more goals on the road. They’re one of three teams still unbeaten and they have a good run of games coming up.
Joao Pedro, Enzo Fernandez and the Chelsea defenders and keeper are all doing very well for fantasy managers at the moment.
I think Chelsea will keep their momentum going with a narrow victory in this game.
Prediction: 1-2
Sunday September 14
Burnley v Liverpool
2pm BST, Turf Moor, Burnley
Burnley conceded a very late goal to lose 3-2 away to United in their last game. They won their opening home game against Sunderland, but the reigning champions will prove to be a much tougher prospect. The three points they got against Sunderland could be the only ones they get for a while as they have some difficult games coming up.
Josh Cullen and Jaidon Anthony have both started the season well for fantasy managers, but it’s a risk to own Burnley players.
Liverpool won 1-0 at home to Arsenal last time out to maintain their 100% record and move to the top of the table. They left it late to win their first away game against Newcastle, but they will be confident of closing this game out with a lot more ease. They’re the only team left with a 100% record and no other team has scored more goals.
Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike have been the Liverpool players to have so far for fantasy managers, but that could change with the arrival of Alexander Isak.
I can’t see anything other than a comfortable Liverpool win in this game.
Prediction: 0-3
Manchester City v Manchester United
4.30pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City lost 2-1 away to Brighton in their last game after leading 1-0 and they have lost two of their first three games. They lost their first home game against Spurs and they really need to win this game. They looked so good in their opening game, but they have lost their last two games and they play Arsenal next week.
Erling Haaland is still the outstanding City player for fantasy managers with Tijjani Reijnders a possibility too.
United scored very late on to get their first win of the season in a 3-2 victory at home to Burnley last time out. They drew their first away game against Fulham and they have a very tough run of games on the road starting with this one. With only the Premier League to contend with between now and the end of the year they should be in good stead, but they have a tough run of games at the moment.
Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and maybe Benjamin Sesko could all do well for fantasy managers.
I think home advantage should be enough for City to take the three points in this game.
Prediction: 3-1
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
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