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 worst week last week with one perfect prediction, four correct outcomes and five incorrect outcomes which saw me remain in eighth 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
1. Sam 28 96 84 15 223
2. Murray1886 35 94.5 78 15 222.5
3. SeniorBurger 30 102 75 15 222
4. Gooners 35 88.5 81 13 217.5
5. andy 31 103.5 69 13 216.5
I had a reasonably good week with my fantasy team this week, but I slipped ever so slightly in the overall rankings. That slip was mainly due to taking a four point hit to bring in Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez as the players who I replaced actually returned more points. I think those transfers will pay off over the next few weeks though and I hope to start climbing up the rankings again.
Bruno Fernandes did very well as my captain and I think he will be my captain again as United are away to struggling West Ham this week. The other options would be Erling Haaland or Joao Pedro, but I’m also tempted to go for one of my Arsenal players as they play twice this week. I have my team set up for that double Gameweek for Arsenal so I think I will keep my free transfer until next week.
Tuesday February 10
Chelsea v Leeds United
7.30pm GMT, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea won 3-1 away to Wolves on Saturday and they’re still only one point off fourth place. They have only lost once in their last seven home games and their next three games on their own ground are all against teams in the bottom half of the table. They have won their last four games and they scored 11 goals in those games with only three other teams scoring more goals.
Cole Palmer looks like he might just be back for fantasy managers with Joao Pedro, Enzo Fernandez and the Chelsea defenders and keeper good choices too.
Leeds won 3-1 at home to Forest on Friday and that win kept them six points clear of the bottom three. They have only taken four points from their last nine away games with only the bottom two taking less points on the road. They have taken 18 points from their last 12 games and they have a very tough run of games coming up.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the best of Leeds players for fantasy managers.
I think Chelsea will continue their pursuit of a top four finish with another three points in this game.
Prediction: 3-1
Everton v Bournemouth
7.30pm GMT, Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
Everton came from behind to win 2-1 away to Fulham on Saturday and that win moved them up to eighth place. They have only taken two points from their last four home games with only four other teams scoring less goals on their own patch. They are unbeaten in five games, but they drew three of them with only the top three conceding less goals.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and James Garner can do very well for fantasy managers with James Tarkowski and Jordan Pickford worth considering too.
Bournemouth drew 1-1 at home to Villa at the weekend and they’re only outside the top half of the table on goal difference. They have only lost one of their last five away games, but they drew three of them and no other team has conceded more goals on their travels. They have taken 11 points and scored 10 goals in their last five games with only the bottom three conceding more goals.
Junior Kroupi is a very good choice for fantasy managers with new boy Rayan Vitor worth a shout too.
This isn’t an easy game to predict, but I think the points will be shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United
7.30pm GMT, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Spurs lost 2-0 away to United on Saturday after playing most of the game with 10 men and they’re now only three places and six points above the relegation zone. They have only won once in their last 11 home games with only Wolves taking less points on their own ground. They haven’t won in seven games and they’re in the middle of a tough run of fixtures.
I’m not sure there are any Spurs players doing enough at the moment to interest fantasy managers.
Newcastle lost 3-2 at home to Brentford at the weekend after initially taking the lead and that defeat saw them drop to 12th place, but they’re only one point off the top half of the table. They have only won two of their 12 away games with only three other teams taking less points on the road and only two other teams scoring less goals. They have lost their last three games and they conceded 9 goals in those games, but four of their next five games are against big six teams.
Now that he has recovered from injury Bruno Guimaraes is the Newcastle player who can make a difference for fantasy managers.
This is a game which could go either way and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
West Ham United v Manchester United
8.15pm GMT, London Stadium, London
West Ham won 2-0 away to Burnley on Saturday and that win moved within three points of safety. They have only won once in their last six home games with only Wolves taking less points and conceding more goals on their own patch. They have won three of their last four games and they scored nine goals in those games, but only Burnley have conceded more goals.
Jarrod Bowen is the best of the West Ham players for fantasy managers.
United won 2-0 at home to Spurs at the weekend and that win meant they stayed in the top four. They have only lost once in their last nine away games with only Chelsea and City scoring more goals on their travels. They have won their last four games and they scored 10 goals in those games with only the top two scoring more goals.
Bruno Fernandes is almost a must have for fantasy managers at the moment with Bryan Mbuemo and Matheus Cunha good options too.
I think West Ham will give United a real test, but United will win narrowly.
Prediction: 1-2
Wednesday February 11
Aston Villa v Brighton And Hove Albion
7.30pm GMT, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa drew 1-1 away to Bournemouth on Saturday after taking the lead and they’re still in third place, but they’re now nine points off the pace. They have lost their last two home games without scoring after winning the previous eight with only the two teams above them conceding less goals on their own ground. They have only won two of their last seven games and they failed to score in three of those games with only the top two conceding less goals.
Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins are still the best of the Villa players for fantasy managers.
Brighton lost 1-0 at home to Palace on Sunday and that defeat saw them fall to 14th place, but they’re only three points off the top half of the table. They have only taken two points from their last five away games and their next two games on the road are against teams in the top seven. They have only won once in their last 12 games, but they drew six of them with no other team drawing more games.
I don’t think there are any Brighton players doing enough for fantasy managers to consider them at the moment.
I think Villa will get the better of Brighton in a very close game.
Prediction: 2-1
Crystal Palace v Burnley
7.30 GMT, Selhurst Park, London
Palace won 1-0 away to Brighton on Sunday and that win moved them up to 13th place and within two points of the top half of the table. They haven’t won in their last seven home games with no other team scoring less goals on their own patch. The win against Brighton was their first win in 10 games, but they play the bottom two in their next two games beginning with this one.
Ismaila Sarr looks like he could be the Palace player to do well for fantasy managers since his return from injury and the AFCON.
Burnley lost 2-0 at home to West Ham on Saturday and they’re now 11 points from safety with games running out quickly. They have only taken two points in their last seven away games with no other team losing more games or conceding more goals on their travels. They haven’t won in 16 games with only Wolves scoring less goals and no other team conceding more.
I can’t see any Burnley players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.
I think Palace will make it two wins in a row with a couple of goals to spare in this game.
Prediction: 2-0
Manchester City v Fulham
7.30pm GMT, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City came from behind to win 2-1 away to Liverpool on Sunday to stay in second place with six points to make up on the leaders. They are unbeaten in their last 11 home games, but they drew the last two with only Arsenal scoring more goals on their own ground and no other team conceding less. They have only won two of their last seven games, but no other team has scored more goals and only Arsenal have scored less.
Erling Haaland showed against Liverpool why he still has to be included by fantasy managers with Marc Guehi, Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki worth a shout too.
Fulham lost 2-1 at home to Everton on Saturday after scoring first, but they held on to their place in the top half of the table on goal difference. They have lost their last two away games after taking 10 points from the previous four and they have some very tough games on the road left to play. They have lost three of their last four games with no other team in the top half of the table conceding more goals.
Harry Wilson and Raul Jiminez are the Fulham players most likely to return points for fantasy managers at the moment.
I think City will put some pressure on Arsenal by taking the three points in this game.
Prediction: 3-1
Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers
7.30pm GMT, City Ground, Nottingham
Forest lost 3-1 away to Leeds on Friday and they’re now only three points above the relegation zone. They have only taken two points from their last four home games with only three other teams taking less points on their own patch. The defeat against Leeds was their first one in five games with only Wolves scoring less goals and three of their next six games are against big six teams.
Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson are the Forest players to own for fantasy managers.
Wolves lost 3-1 at home to Chelsea on Saturday to leave themselves rooted to the foot of the table and awaiting their inevitable relegation. They’re the only team without an away win with no other team scoring less goals on their travels. They have lost their last three games and they only scored two goals in their last five with no other team scoring less goals and only Burnley conceding more.
Wolves play twice this week, but it’s still difficult for fantasy managers to choose any of their players with Mateus Mane the possible exception.
I think Forest will get a very welcome three points in this game.
Prediction: 2-0
Sunderland v Liverpool
8.15pm GMT, Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Sunderland lost 3-0 away to Arsenal on Saturday and they’re still in the top half of the table. They are the only team still unbeaten at home with only the top two conceding less goals on their own ground. They have only won twice in their last nine games with only four other teams scoring less goals.
Brian Brobbey and Enzo Le Fee can do well for fantasy managers as can the Sunderland defenders and keeper in home games.
Liverpool conceded two late goals to lost 2-1 at home to City on Sunday and they’re now five points off the top four. They haven’t won in their last three away games with only one other team in the top half of the table conceding more goals on the road. They have only won once in their last seven games, but they only play one of the other big six teams in their next nine games.
Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike are probably the best of the bunch in the Liverpool team for fantasy managers.
I think Sunderland will continue their unbeaten run at home, but they will have to settle for a draw in this game.
Prediction: 1-1
Thursday February 12
Brentford v Arsenal
8pm GMT, Gtech Community Stadium, London
Brentford came back from 1-0 down to win 3-2 away to Newcastle on Saturday and they’re only behind sixth placed Liverpool on goal difference. They lost their last home game after taking 17 points in the previous seven and this is by far their most difficult game left on their own patch. They have taken 19 points and scored 17 goals in their last nine games and they have a very good run of games after this one.
Igor Thiago is the Brentford player to have for fantasy managers.
Arsenal won 3-0 at home to Sunderland at the weekend to maintain their six point lead at the top of the table. They have taken 10 points from their last four away games with no other team taking more points or conceding less goals on their travels. They have taken 23 points from their last 10 games with no other team conceding less goals and only City scoring more.
Arsenal’s defenders and keeper are great choices for fantasy managers along with Declan Rice while Viktor Gyokeres has looked good recently too.
I think Brentford will give Arsenal a real run for their money, but the away team will nick a win.
Prediction: 1-2
Wednesday February 18
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal
8pm GMT, Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Wolves play their second game of the Gameweek and it’s probably one of their most difficult games of the season. They have lost their last two home games after taking four points in the previous two while no other team has lost more games, scored less or conceded more goals on their own ground. It’s just a matter of time before they’re relegated and this game will probably bring that outcome a little closer.
As I mentioned previously Mane is the only Wolves player for fantasy managers to really consider and that’s because of his price and the two games this week.
Arsenal play their second away game of the Gameweek and they will be looking to take maximum points from them so they can put a gap between them and City. They have the best away record in the league and they should improve that record in this game. Playing in four competitions at this stage of the season is difficult though and their chances could depend on their ability to cope with those demands.
With two games this week Arsenal players are at a premium for fantasy managers and they could do very well despite both of their games being away from home.
I think Arsenal will be too strong for Wolves and will win by at least a couple of goals.
Prediction: 0-2
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
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