Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 38

It’s that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I didn’t do too badly last week with one perfect prediction, four correct outcomes and five incorrect outcomes, but I’m still sixth in my predictions league with only one week to go. Here’s a look at how the top five in that league stands.

POSITION				PLAYER NAME				THIS WEEK	POINTS
1 (1)				whitgooner frank merrick				+45	2860
2 (2)				David96				-10	2720
3 (3)				stevew3ok				+10	2695
4 (4)				mbbeth Malcolm Beth				+10	2690
5 (5)				JediKnut				+50	2685

Sunday May 12

All games 3pm BST

Brighton And Hove Albion v Manchester City

AMEX Stadium, Brighton 

Brighton came from behind to get a very good 1-1 draw away to Arsenal last week after their Premier League status was assured for another season when Cardiff lost to Palace. They have only taken one point and scored one goal in their last four home games with only Huddersfield and Palace scoring less goals at home. They haven’t won in eight games and they failed to score in six of those games, but it was still enough to keep them up.

I can’t see any Brighton players to recommend to fantasy managers in this game.

City just about managed to win 1-0 at home to Leicester last week to keep their one point lead at the top of the table with one game to go. They have won their last six away games and they only conceded one goal in those games with only Liverpool taking more away points and no other team scoring more or conceding less goals on their travels. They have win their last 13 games and they kept clean sheets in 10 of those games with no other team scoring more goals or conceding less.

The City defenders are probably the players most likely to do well for fantasy managers in this game.

I think City should just about have enough to get the win they need to retain their Premier League title.

Prediction: 2-0

Burnley v Arsenal 

Turf Moor, Burnley

Burnley lost 2-0 away to Everton last week, but they were already safe from any relegation worries before that game. They have lost three of their last five home games and only three other teams have conceded more goals at home. They haven’t won in their last three games and only the three relegated teams have conceded more goals, but they will fancy their chances against a team on a very poor run of league results.

Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes might be the Burnley players to have for fantasy managers this week.

Arsenal couldn’t manage to win at home to Brighton last week and their Champions League ambitions are as good as over barring a miracle via the league at least. They have lost three of their last four away games and only five other teams have conceded more goals away from home. They have only taken four points in their last six games, but only the top two have scored more goals.

With their top four chances gone and their eggs in the Europa League basket I can’t see any Arsenal players to recommend to fantasy managers.

My heart always goes for Arsenal and it will rule my head yet again in this game.

Prediction: 1-2

Crystal Palace v Bournemouth 

Selhurst Park, London 

Palace won 3-2 away to Cardiff last week to move up to twelfth place, but they can’t make it into the top half of the table. They have only won once in their last six home games with only Huddersfield taking less points and scoring less goals at home. They have taken 10 points from their last five games and Newcastle are the only team in the bottom half of the table to have conceded less goals.

Despite their poor home form I still think Wilfried Zaha could be the Palace player to watch for fantasy managers this week.

Bournemouth got a last minute goal to win 1-0 at home to nine man Spurs last week and they’re only a point behind Palace going into this game. They have taken seven points from their last four away games, but only Fulham and Huddersfield have conceded more goals away from home. They have only won three of their last 13 games and only the three relegated teams have conceded more goals.

Both Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser are possibilities for fantasy managers this week.

I think this will by a close game and Palace might just get a rare home win.

Prediction: 2-1

Fulham v Newcastle United 

Craven Cottage, London

Fulham lost 1-0 away to Wolves last week to put an end to a run of three consecutive wins and that defeat meant they will definitely finish second last in the league. They have won their last two home games without conceding any goals, but only three other teams have taken less points at home and only Cardiff have conceded more goals on their own patch. They have won three of their last four games and they kept clean sheets in each of those victories, but no other team has conceded more goals.

Ryan Babel has been the Fulham player to have for fantasy managers in recent weeks.

Newcastle lost 3-2 at home to Liverpool last week, but they gave Liverpool a very good run for their money. They have only won once in their last 10 away games, but only the top two have conceded less goals away from home. They had taken seven points from three games before losing to Liverpool, but only the bottom three clubs have scored less goals.

Ayoze Perez has been in good form recently for fantasy managers and he could do well in this game.

I think this will be a close game and Fulham might just say goodbye to the Premier League with a narrow win.

Prediction: 1-0

Leicester City v Chelsea 

King Power Stadium, Leicester 

Leicester lost 1-0 away to City last week, but they came very close to handing the league to Liverpool. They have won four of their last five home games and they scored 10 goals in those games, but their home record is only marginally better than their away record. They have taken 16 points from their last eight games and the season has probably ended a little early for them.

Both Jamie Vardy and Youri Tielemans have done very well recently for fantasy managers and they could profit from playing against a tired Chelsea team in this game. 

Chelsea won 3-0 at home to Watford last week to guarantee a place in the top four with a week to spare. They have lost five of their last eight away games and they have conceded more goals than they have scored on the road. They have taken 14 points from their last seven games to cement their top four place and they can rest a few players ahead of their Europa League final later this month.

I’m not sure what Chelsea players will play which makes it difficult to recommend any of them to fantasy managers.

I think Leicester will get the better of a tired Chelsea team to take the three points in this game.

Prediction: 2-0

Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers 

Anfield, Liverpool 

Liverpool left it late away to Newcastle last week, but their 3-2 win kept them one point behind City at the top of the table with just one game left to play. They are the only team unbeaten at home with only City scoring more home goals and no other team conceding less. They have won their last eight games and they kept clean sheets in three of the last four with only City scoring more goals and no other team conceding less.

Both Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are very good choices for fantasy managers along with the Liverpool keeper and defenders as they look to overtake City to win the title on the final day of the season.

Wolves won 1-0 at home to Fulham last week to guarantee they will finish in seventh place. They have only won once in their last six away games, but only the top two have conceded less goals at home. They have taken 10 points from their last four games and only the top four teams have conceded less goals.

I’m not so sure any of the Wolves players will do well for fantasy managers in this game.

I think Liverpool will get the win they need, but it probably won’t be enough to overtake City and they will have to settle for second place.

Prediction: 2-0

Manchester United v Cardiff City

Old Trafford, Manchester 

United could only draw 1-1 away to Huddersfield last week and that point finally ended their top four hopes. They have only won three of their last seven home games and they have conceded considerably more goals at home than the rest of the top six. They haven’t won in four games and they haven’t kept a clean sheet in ten, but they can still catch Arsenal and finish fifth. 

With a home game against one of the worst defences in the league surely Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford can do well for fantasy managers this week.

Cardiff lost 3-2 at home to Palace last week and that defeat was enough to finally relegate them. They have lost four of their last five away games and they failed to score in each of those defeats with no other team scoring less goals away from home. They have lost nine of their last 11 games with only Huddersfield scoring less goals and only Fulham conceding more.

I can’t see any Cardiff players to recommend to fantasy managers.

I can’t see anything other than a comfortable United victory in this game despite their current form.

Prediction: 3-1

Southampton v Huddersfield Town

St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton 

Southampton lost 3-0 away to West Ham last week, but they were already safe from relegation before that game. They have taken 10 points from their last five home games, but no other team has drawn more games on their own ground. They haven’t won in four games and they haven’t kept a clean sheet in six with only four other teams conceding more goals. 

Nathan Redmond and Shane Long have been the best of the Southampton players for fantasy managers in recent weeks and they could do well in this game.

Huddersfield got a very good point with a 1-1 draw at home to United last week, but their relegation was confirmed weeks ago. They have lost their last seven away games and they failed to score in six of those games with no other team scoring less goals on the road and only Fulham conceding more. They had lost eight games in a row before drawing with United and no other team has scored less goals with only Fulham conceding more.

I can’t see any Huddersfield players to recommend to fantasy managers.

I think Southampton will finish their season on a high with a comfortable win in this game.

Prediction: 2-0

Tottenham Hotspur v Everton

London Stadium, London

Spurs lost 1-0 away to Bournemouth last week after having two players sent off, but other results all but guaranteed they will finish in the top four. They have won six of their last eight home games with only three other teams conceding less goals at home. They have only taken 10 points from their last 11 games, but only the top two teams have conceded less goals.

I’m not sure what the Spurs players will have left after their midweek exertions, but if they can get up for it then Christian Eriksen and Lucas Moura could do well for fantasy managers.

Everton won 2-0 at home to Burnley last week, but they have left it too late to try to finish seventh. They have taken 10 points from their last seven away games and they kept clean sheets in four of those games with only the top two conceding less goals away from home. They have taken 16 points from their last seven games and they have kept eight clean sheets in their last 10 games.

Everton’s defenders and keeper have been very good choices for fantasy managers in recent weeks with Lucas Digne probably the pick of them.

I think Everton might just give Spurs a tough time and possibly even edge a tight game.

Prediction: 1-2

Watford v West Ham United

Vicarage Road, Watford 

Watford lost 3-0 away to Chelsea last week, but they still have an FA Cup Final to look forward to. They haven’t won in their last three home games, but they were unbeaten in five home games before that. They have lost six of their last 10 games and they haven’t kept a clean sheet in 11 games.

I’m not sure if Watford will be up for this game with their FA Cup final possibly playing on their minds, but if they are Gerard Deulofeu and Troy Deeney could do well for fantasy managers.

West Ham won 3-0 at home to Southampton last week and they can still possibly finish in the top half of the table if they win this game. They won their last away game at Spurs, but they had only taken one point from their previous eight away games and they failed to score in six of those games. They have won their last two games without conceding a goal after failing to win the previous four and not keeping a clean sheet in 13.

Marco Arnautovic has come good for fantasy managers in the last couple of weeks and he could be the player to have in this game.

I don’t think there will be too much in this game, but Watford will probably take the three points.

Prediction: 2-1

That’s it for this season.

See you next season.

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 didn’t do too well last week with one perfect prediction, three correct outcomes and six incorrect outcomes to leave me still in sixth place in my predictions league. Here’s a look at how the top five in that league stands with me rapidly running out of time to break into it.

Pos.	Player	Week	Total
1 (1)	whitgooner	60	2815
2 (4)	David96	80	2730
3 (3)	stevew3ok	20	2685
4 (2)	mbbeth	-15	2680
5 (5)	JediKnut	-10	2635

Friday May 3

Everton v Burnley 

8pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool 

Everton drew 0-0 away to Palace last week, but they’re now four points off seventh place with only two games to go. They haven’t conceded a goal in their last four home games and they were all against teams in the top six and only the top six have taken more points at home. They have taken 13 points in their last six games and kept seven clean sheets in their last nine games. 

Everton’s defenders and keeper have done very well for fantasy managers in recent weeks while Gylfi Siggurdson hasn’t done too badly either.

Burnley lost 1-0 at home to City last week, but Cardiff’s defeat at Fulham meant their Premier League survival was mathematically assured for another season. They have only lost two of their last eight away games, but they have only kept one clean sheet in their last 11 away games. They have taken 10 points from their last five games, but only four other teams have conceded more goals.

Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes have done well for fantasy managers recently, but they might not fare too well in this game.

I think Burnley will push Everton, but Everton will take the three points to continue their strong finish to the season.

Prediction: 2-0

Saturday May 4

Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur 

12.30pm BST, Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth 

Bournemouth drew 3-3 away to Southampton last week and they will want to finish their home campaign on a high in this game. They haven’t won in their last five home games, but only the top six teams have scored more goals at home. They have only won two of their last 12 games and only the bottom three teams have conceded more goals.

Both Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser could benefit from playing against a Spurs team who might have other things on their minds.

Spurs lost 1-0 at home to West Ham last week, but they only need to win one of their last two games to guarantee a top four finish. They have lost their last five away games, but only the top two have taken more away points and only City have scored more goals on the road. They have only won three of their last 10 games and their squad has been really stretched by their European exploits.

Heung-Min Son and Christian Eriksen could possibly do well for fantasy managers in this game, but they can’t be certain to start with such a big game for them on Wednesday.

I think this will be a close game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end all square.

Prediction: 2-2

West Ham United v Southampton 

3pm BST, London Stadium, London 

West Ham won 1-0 away to Spurs last week, but they will have to win their last two games to have any hope of finishing in the top half of the table. They have only lost one of their last eight home games and only the top six have scored more goals at home. Their win at Spurs was their first win in five games and only their second clean sheet in 14 games.

I still can’t see any West Ham players who have been consistent enough to recommend to fantasy managers.

Southampton drew 3-3 at home to Bournemouth last week and that point was enough to rule them out of the relegation battle. They have only won once in their last six away games, but that win at Brighton was the one which probably had the biggest part in keeping them safe for another season. They have taken 11 points and scored 12 goals in their last seven games and no other team has drawn more games.

Both Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse have been the Southampton players of interest to fantasy managers in recent weeks.

I think this will be another close game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end in a draw too.

Prediction: 1-1

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Fulham 

3pm BST, Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton 

Wolves won 2-1 away to Watford last week and that win makes them firm favourites to finish seventh. They have taken 17 points from their last seven home games and only the top six have taken more points at home. They have taken 10 points in their last five games with only four other teams conceding less goals.

Diogo Jota and Raul Jiminez are the Wolves players who have impressed for fantasy managers recently and they could do well in this game.

Fulham won 1-0 at home to Cardiff last week and they could possibly finish third from bottom of the table if they win their last two games. They have taken less points away from home than any other team and no other team has conceded more away goals, but they did win their last away game at Bournemouth. They have won their last three games without conceding a goal, but no other team has conceded more goals with only three other teams scoring less. 

Ryan Babel and Aleksandar Mitrovic are the Fulham players who have done well recently for fantasy managers and their defenders have done well too, but I still find it difficult to recommend them.

Despite Fulham’s recent good run I think Wolves have to be good enough to win this game.

Prediction: 2-1

Cardiff City v Crystal Palace 

5.30pm BST, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff 

Cardiff lost 1-0 away to Fulham last week and they need to win their last two games to have any hope of staying up. They have lost four of their last five home games and only Huddersfield have lost more home games while no other team has conceded more goals at home. They have lost five of their last six games and only Huddersfield have scored less goals.

I can’t see any Cardiff players to recommend to fantasy managers.

Palace drew 0-0 at home to Everton last week and they have two very winnable games to finish their season. They have won four of their last five away games with only five other teams taking more points away from home and only four teams scoring more away goals. They have only lost four of their last 13 games and they look likely to be the team that finally relegates Cardiff.

Wilfried Zaha and Luka Milivojevic are the Palace players to have for fantasy managers.

I think Palace’s impressive away form should see them win this game despite Cardiff’s desperate need for points.

Prediction: 0-2

Newcastle United v Liverpool 

7.45pm BST, St. James’s Park, Newcastle 

Newcastle drew 1-1 away to Brighton last week, but they will find Liverpool a much tougher task in this game. They have won six of their last seven home games, but only two other teams have lost more home games. They have won half of their last 14 games with only Southampton drawing more games and they avoided relegation with relative ease in the end.

If he’s fit Ayoze Perez is the in-form Newcastle player for fantasy managers with Solomon Rondon doing well too, but this might not be the greatest game for them.

Liverpool won 5-0 at home to Huddersfield last week, but games are running out in their pursuit of City at the top of the table. They have won their last three away games after only winning one of the previous five with no other team taking more points on the road and only City and Spurs scoring more goals.They have won their last seven games and kept clean sheets in their last three with no other team conceding less goals and only City scoring more.

Mohamed Salah seems to be back to his best for fantasy managers while Sadio Mane is doing very well too as are all of the Liverpool defenders and keeper. 

I can’t see anything other than a Liverpool win in this game.

Prediction: 0-2

Sunday May 5

Chelsea v Watford 

2pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London 

Chelsea drew 1-1 away to United last week and they have two points to spare over Arsenal and United in the chase for a top four place with only two games to go. Only Liverpool have lost less games and conceded less goals at home, but only Southampton have drawn more games on their own patch. They have only won six of their last 14 games and they don’t have the easiest finish to the season, but surely they will secure fourth place.

Eden Hazard is the stand out Chelsea player for fantasy managers at the moment, but like the rest of their team he has a lot of games to play.

Watford lost 2-1 at home to Wolves last week and they lost their chance of finishing seventh with that defeat. They have lost three of their last four away games and they conceded 11 goals in those games, but they have taken almost as many points away from home as at home. They have lost four of their last seven games, but they still have the FA Cup Final to look forward to.

Gerard Deulofeu is the Watford player of interest to fantasy managers right now while Troy Deeney might do well too now that he’s back from suspension.

I think Watford will make things hard for a tired Chelsea team and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this game end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Huddersfield Town v Manchester United 

2pm BST, John Smith Stadium, Huddersfield 

Huddersfield lost 5-0 away to Liverpool last week and they will have the second least amount of points in Premier League history if they lose their last two games. They have lost 10 of their last 11 home games with no other team taking less points or scoring less goals at home. They have lost their last eight games and they failed to score in five of those games with no other team scoring less goals and only Fulham conceding more.

I can’t see any Huddersfield players to recommend to fantasy managers.

United drew 1-1 at home to Chelsea last week and it now looks like a top four finish is beyond them despite having two relatively easy games to finish their season. They have lost their last three away games and they conceded eight goals in those games, but only the top three have taken more points on the road. They have lost four of their last seven games and they haven’t kept a clean sheet in nine games.

With two favourable games to go Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford (if he’s fit) could do well for fantasy managers.

I think United will get the win they need to keep their faint top four hopes alive.

Prediction: 1-3

Arsenal v Brighton And Hove Albion 

4.30pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London 

Arsenal lost 3-0 away to Leicester last week and it looks like their top four hopes could have finally ended with that defeat. They had won 10 home games in a row before losing to Palace in their last home game with only the top two taking more points and scoring more goals at home. They have lost their last three games and they conceded nine goals in those games to leave their top four hopes hanging by a thread.

With the games coming think and fast for Arsenal I’m not sure there are any of their players who could do well for fantasy managers.

Brighton drew 1-1 at home to Newcastle last week to move four points clear of the relegation zone with two games to play and they will be safe before this game if Cardiff haven’t beaten Palace. They have only won once in their last 10 away games with only the three teams below them taking less points away from home. They haven’t won in seven games and they only scored one goal in those games with only Huddersfield and Cardiff scoring less goals.

I can’t see any Brighton players to recommend to fantasy managers either.

I think Arsenal will just about keep their top four hopes alive with a narrow victory in this game.

Prediction: 2-1

Monday May 6

Manchester City v Leicester City

8pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City won 1-0 away to Burnley last week to stay one point ahead of Liverpool at the top of the table with only two games left to play. They have won their last eight home games with no other team taking more points or scoring more goals at home and only Liverpool conceding less. They have won their last 12 games and they kept clean sheets in nine of those games with no other team scoring more goals and only Liverpool conceding less.

Sergio Aguero has to be the City player to have for fantasy managers this week while all of their defenders and keeper are worth having too.

Leicester won 3-0 at home to Arsenal last week and they have a tough finish to the season with this game and a home game against Chelsea to come. They have taken seven points from their last three away games with only six other teams taking more points away from home. They have taken 16 points from their last seven games and they still have some hope of finishing as high as seventh.

Youri Tielemans and Jamie Vardy are the Leicester players making waves for fantasy managers at the moment.

I think City will get one win closer to the title by taking the three points in this game.

Prediction: 2-0

That’s it for this week.

See you next week.

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 36

It’s that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I didn’t do too well last week with one perfect prediction, six correct outcomes and seven incorrect outcomes to move up to sixth in my predictions league. Here’s a look at how the top five in that league stands with me desperately trying to make it into that top five as the games run out.

Pos	Player	Week	Total
1 (1)	whitgooner	30	2755
2 (3)	mbbeth	10	2695
3 (4)	stevew3ok	-5	2665
4 (2)	David96	-65	2650
5 (5)	JediKnut	-15	2645

Friday April 26

Liverpool v Huddersfield Town

8pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool 

Liverpool won 2-0 away to Cardiff last week, but they dropped back to second place when City won their game in hand. They’re the only team unbeaten at home with only City taking more points and scoring more goals at home and no other team conceding less goals on their own patch. They have won their last six games and kept clean sheets in their last two with only City scoring more goals and no other team conceding less.

Both Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah could do very well for fantasy managers this week while the Liverpool defenders and keeper look like good choices too.

Huddersfield lost 2-1 at home to Watford last week and they’re going to finish bottom of the league. They have lost their last six away games and they failed to score in five of those games with no other team scoring less goals away from home and only Fulham conceding more. They have lost their last seven games and they failed to score in five of those games with no other team scoring less goals and only Fulham conceding more.

I can’t see any Huddersfield players to recommend to fantasy managers.

I can’t see anything other than a comprehensive Liverpool victory in this game.

Prediction: 4-0

Saturday April 27

Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United 

12.30pm BST, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London 

Spurs followed up their 1-0 defeat at City last weekend with a 1-0 win at home to Brighton on Tuesday night to make themselves clear favourites to finish third. They have won their last three home games without conceding a goal, but they have lost four of their 17 home games. They have won three of their last four games and they kept clean sheets in each of those games, but they failed to win in their previous five games.

Heung-Min Son and Christian Eriksen still look like the Spurs players most likely to perform for fantasy managers once they’re not rested ahead of their Champions League semi final.

West Ham drew 2-2 at home to Leicester last week and they look destined to finish in the bottom half of the table. They have only taken one point from their last eight away games and they failed to score in six of those games. They have only taken one point from their last four games and they have only kept one clean sheet in their last 13 games.

I can’t see any West Ham players doing too well for fantasy managers this week.

I think Spurs should have more than enough to win this game with a couple of goals to spare.

Prediction: 3-1

Crystal Palace v Everton 

3pm BST, Selhurst Park, London 

Palace won 3-2 away to Arsenal last week to finally dispel any lingering fears of relegation. Only Huddersfield have taken less points and scored less goals at home and they have only won once in their last five at home. They have taken 19 points from their last 11 games and they have a fairly good run of games to finish the season.

Wilfried Zaha and Luka Milivojevic continue to impress for fantasy managers and they’re both certainly worth considering.

Everton cruised to a 4-0 win at home to United last week and they’re still in with a good shout of finishing seventh. They have won three of their last six away games and only five other teams have conceded less goals away from home. They have won four of their last five games and they have kept clean sheets in six of their last eight. 

Gylfi Siggurdson has been the Everton player to have recently while their defence and goalkeeper have done well too.

I think this will be a close game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the spoils shared.

Prediction: 1-1

Fulham v Cardiff City

3pm BST, Craven Cottage, London 

Fulham won 1-0 away to Bournemouth last week, but relegation was confirmed for them weeks ago. They won their last home game after losing the previous four, but only Cardiff have conceded more goals at home. They have won their last two games without conceding a goal after losing the previous nine, but no other team has conceded more goals.

With a home game against a team who concede a lot of goals maybe Ryan Babel and Aleksandar Mitrovic might do well for fantasy managers this week.

Cardiff lost 2-0 at home to Liverpool last week and they’re three points from safety with three games to go as well as vastly inferior goal difference. They have won three of their last eight away games, but no other team has scored less goals away from home. They have lost seven of their last nine games with only Huddersfield scoring less goals and they will probably have to win two of their last three to have a chance of staying up.

Victor Camarasa is probably the Cardiff player most likely to make an impression for fantasy managers.

I think Cardiff’s need for a win might just give them the edge in a very close game.

Prediction: 1-2

Southampton v Bournemouth 

3pm BST, St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton 

Southampton lost 3-1 away to Newcastle last week and then drew at Watford on Tuesday night to virtually guarantee their Premier League survival for another season. They have won three of their last four home games, but no other team has drawn more games at home and two of their last three games are at home. They have taken 13 points from their last eight games which has been just about enough to keep them up.

Southampton have a good run of games to finish the season which could make Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse attractive to fantasy managers.

Bournemouth lost 1-0 at home to Fulham last week as their inconsistent end to the season continued. They have lost 10 of their last 12 away games with only Fulham and Huddersfield conceding more goals away from home. They have only won two of their last 11 games, but staying in the Premier League is a real accomplishment for a team with such a small stadium.

Despite their result last week Ryan Fraser and Callum Wilson could still be good choices for fantasy managers.

I think this will be another close game with Southampton probably taking the three points they need to finally confirm their Premier League status for another season.

Prediction: 2-1

Watford v Wolverhampton Wanderers 

3pm BST, Vicarage Road, Watford 

Watford won away to Huddersfield last week and then drew at home to Southampton in midweek to stay hot on the heels of seventh placed Wolves. They have only lost once in their last seven home games, but they have scored more goals away from home than at home. If they’re going to clinch seventh place ahead of their FA Cup Final with City this is a game they will need to win.

Gerard Deulofeu is probably the Watford player most likely to make a difference for fantasy managers.

Wolves drew 0-0 at home to Brighton last week and then won 3-1 at home to Arsenal on Wednesday night to just about keep a hold on seventh place with three games to go. They haven’t won in their last five away games, but only the top two have conceded less goals away from home. Like Watford they will want to finish seventh and avoiding defeat in this game world certainly help that cause.

Diogo Jota and Matt Doherty are the Wolves players to currently interest fantasy managers.

This is s big game for two teams looking to finish seventh and I think it will probably end all square.

Prediction: 2-2

Brighton And Hove Albion v Newcastle United 

5.30pm BST, AMEX Stadium, Brighton 

Brighton drew 0-0 away to Wolves last week and then lost 1-0 to a very late goal at Spurs on Tuesday night to move three points clear of the relegation zone. They have lost their last three home games without scoring with only Huddersfield and Palace scoring less goals at home. They have only taken one point and scored no goals in their last six games with only Huddersfield and Cardiff scoring less goals.

I can’t see any Brighton players to interest fantasy managers for the remaining three games, but their defenders could do well in this game.

Newcastle won 3-1 at home to Southampton last week and those three points guaranteed their place in the Premier League for next season. They have only one once in their last nine away games, but that was their last away game at Leicester while only the top two teams have conceded less goals away from home. They have won their last two games to move away from trouble and only five other teams have conceded less goals. 

Matt Richie has been the most impressive Newcastle player for fantasy managers recently with the exception of Ayoze Perez’s hat trick last week.

I think this game will probably end in a draw and that might be just enough to keep Brighton up for another season.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunday April 28

Leicester City v Arsenal 

12.00pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester 

Leicester drew 2-2 away to West Ham last week and they’re now three points off seventh place with three tough games to finish their season. They lost their last home game after winning the previous three and they have lost more home games than they have won. They have taken 13 points from their last six games, but moving up the table could be beyond them considering the opposition in their last three games.

Jamie Vardy and Youri Tielemans are the Leicester players who could do well for fantasy managers for their last three games.

Arsenal lost 3-2 at home to Palace last week and then 3-1 away to Wolves on Wednesday night to drop back to fifth in the table. They have only won two of their last 11 away games and they have lost more games than they have won on their travels. They have lost three of their last four games to leave their top four hopes in real doubt, but only the top two teams have scored more goals.

Alexandre Lacazette is probably the Arsenal player most likely to do well for fantasy managers from here in.

I think this is a game which could go either way, but Arsenal will just about get the win they desperately need.

Prediction: 1-2

Burnley v Manchester City 

2.05pm BST, Turf Moor, Burnley 

Burnley drew 2-2 away to Chelsea last week and that point has to be enough to insure their survival even if they’re not mathematically safe yet. They have taken 16 points from their last eight home games, but they have lost more home games than they have won. They have taken 10 points from their last four games to save their Premier League place, but only the bottom three clubs have conceded more goals.

Chris Wood is the Burnley player to have at the moment for fantasy managers, but they do have a difficult run of games to finish their season.

City won 1-0 at home to Spurs last week and then 2-0 away to United in midweek to go to the top of the table with only three games to go. They have won their last five away games and they kept clean sheets in four of those games with only Liverpool taking more points on the road and no other team scoring more goals or conceding less. They have won their last 11 games and they kept clean sheets in eight of those games with no other team scoring more goals and only Liverpool conceding less.

Surely City will play their strongest team which should mean Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, the two Silvas and all of their defenders and keeper are well worth having for fantasy managers.

I think City will be too strong and continue their pursuit of retaining their title by at least a couple of goals.

Prediction: 1-3

Manchester United v Chelsea 

4.30pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester 

United lost 4-0 at Everton last week and 2-0 at home to City on Wednesday night to leave themselves in sixth place with their hopes of a top four place fading fast. They have won seven of their last 10 home games, but they have conceded a lot more home goals than the rest of the top six. They have lost four of their last six games and they conceded 12 goals in those games, but three wins in their last three games might just be enough to secure a top four finish.

I’m not sure any of the United players are good choices for fantasy managers at the moment, but they have some favourable games to finish the season which could make Marcus Rashford or Paul Pogba possibilities.

Chelsea could only draw 2-2 at home to Burnley last week, but other results meant they stayed in the top four. They have lost five of their last seven away games and they conceded 18 goals in those games. They have taken 10 points from their last five games and anything other than a defeat in this game will make them favourites to finish in the top four.

Eden Hazard has to be the Chelsea player of choice for fantasy managers.

I think United will put an end to their bad run of results with a narrow victory in this game.

Prediction: 2-1

That’s it for this week.

See you next week.

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 35

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 seven correct predictions and four incorrect which leaves me still in seventh place in my predictions league. Here’s a look at how the top five in that league stands with me running out of time to catch them.

POSITION				PLAYER NAME				THIS WEEK	POINTS
1 (1)				whitgooner frank merrick				+85	2725
2 (1)				David96				+75	2715
3 (3)				mbbeth Malcolm Beth				+80	2685
4 (4)				stevew3ok				+90	2670
5 (5)				JediKnut				+90	2660

Saturday April 20

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur 

12.30pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City won 3-1 away to Palace last week to stay two points behind Liverpool with a game in hand. They have won their last seven home games and they taken more points and scored more goals at home than any other team. They have won their last nine games and they kept clean sheets in six of those games with no other team scoring more goals and only Liverpool conceding less.

With two huge games this week surely rotation will be at a minimum for City which could see Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling doing quite well for fantasy managers.

Spurs cruised to a 4-0 win at home to Huddersfield last week to stay on top of the four teams chasing the final two top four places. They have lost their last four away games, but only the top two have taken more away points and no other team has scored more away goals. They won their last two games after failing to win in the previous five and their remaining fixtures would suggest they are favourites to finish third.

With Harry Kane injured the Spurs players to have this week are Heung-Min Son and Christian Eriksen while Lucas Moura has to be considered too after his hat trick last week.

I think this will be a very close game with City just about getting the three points they desperately need, but who can be sure what will happen after the Champions League thriller between these two teams on Wednesday night.

Prediction: 2-1

Bournemouth v Fulham 

3pm BST, Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth 

Bournemouth crushed Brighton 5-0 away from home last week and their Premier League status has to be secure for another season. They haven’t won in four home games, but only the top six have scored more home goals. They have only won two of their last 10 games and only the bottom three teams have conceded more goals, but they’re still more than likely to win this game.

Ryan Fraser, Callum Wilson and David Brooks all did very well for fantasy managers last week and there’s no reason to believe they won’t do so again this week.

Fulham won 2-0 at home to Everton last week and those three points should be enough to make sure they at least don’t finish last in the league. They have lost their last seven away games and they’re the only team without an away win as well as being the team who have conceded the most goals on the road. The win against Everton last week ended a run of nine consecutive defeats, but no other team has conceded more goals.

Ryan Babel has been the only Fulham player for fantasy managers to consider in recent weeks.

I think Bournemouth should be too strong at home for an already relegated Fulham and should win with a few goals to spare.

Prediction: 3-1

Huddersfield Town v Watford 

3pm BST, John Smith Stadium, Huddersfield 

Huddersfield lost 4-0 away to Spurs last week and it’s very hard to see what they have to play for with relegation already confirmed. They have lost nine of their last 10 home games and no other team has taken less points or scored less goals at home. They have lost 11 of their last 12 games and they have failed to score in nine of their last 13 games with no other team scoring less goals and only Fulham conceding more.

I can’t see any Huddersfield players to recommend to fantasy managers.

Watford lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal last week after playing most of the game with 10 men thanks to Troy Deeney’s red card. They have lost their last three away games and they conceded 10 goals in those games, but they were all against top six sides. They have lost four of their last six games, but again they were all against top six sides which is a category Huddersfield certainly don’t fall into.

With Deeney suspended and Gerard Deulofeu possibly injured it’s not easy to see which Watford players to suggest to fantasy managers.

I think Watford should win this game by at least a couple of goals. 

Prediction: 0-2

West Ham United v Leicester City

3pm BST, London Stadium, London 

West Ham lost 2-1 away to United last week and they’re going to find it hard to finish in the top half of the table. They lost their last home game after going unbeaten in the previous six and only seven other teams have scored more home goals so far. They lost their last three games and they have some tough games to finish the season too.

I can’t see any West Ham players for fantasy managers to consider.

Leicester lost 1-0 at home to Newcastle last week, but they held on to seventh place as the four teams directly below them all lost too. They won their last two away games, but they have taken more points on their travels than at home and only five other teams have taken more away points. They had won four games in a row before losing last week, but they have some very hard games to go and will struggle to hold on to seventh place.

Jamie Vardy is the form Leicester player at the moment with Youri Tielemans and James Maddison doing quite well too.

I think this will be a close game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton And Hove Albion

3pm BST, Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton 

Wolves lost 3-1 away to Southampton last week, but they’re still only off seventh place on goal difference. They have taken 13 points and scored 12 goals in their last five home games. They have only won two of their last eight games and they have only kept two clean sheets in their last 16 games. 

With two games this week Raul Jiminez and Diogo Jota are probably the best bets in the Wolves team for fantasy managers.

Brighton lost 5-0 at home to Bournemouth and then 2-0 at home to Cardiff last week and they’re now only two points above the bottom three. They lost four of their last five away games and only the bottom two teams have taken less points away from home. They have lost their last four games and their remaining fixtures don’t make pretty reading for a team struggling to avoid relegation.

I can’t see any Brighton players to recommend to fantasy managers.

I think Wolves should be too strong for Brighton and should win by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 2-0

Newcastle United v Southampton 

5.30pm BST, St. James’s Park, Newcastle 

Newcastle won 1-0 away to Leicester last week, but they might need one more win to be certain of avoiding the drop. They have won five of their last six home games, but only Huddersfield have lost more games on their own patch. Only six other teams have conceded less goals than Newcastle, but only Huddersfield and Cardiff have scored less.

I can’t see any Newcastle players to recommend to fantasy managers with the possible exception of Solomon Rondon.

Southampton won 3-1 at home to Wolves last week, but they’re still a few points short of maintaining their Premier League place. They have only lost two of their last seven away games and they were to United and Arsenal. They have won three of their last four games, but no other team has drawn more games.

With two games this week Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse might not be the worst choices for fantasy managers.

I think this will be another very close game with the spoils more than likely shared.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunday April 21

Everton v Manchester United 

1.30pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool 

Everton lost 2-0 away to already relegated Fulham last week, but it didn’t affect their position in the table as the teams around them all lost. They have taken seven points and conceded no goals in their last three home games with only the top six getting more points at home. They had won three games in a row before losing last week and they have kept clean sheets in five of their last seven games.

Everton’s defenders have done well recently for fantasy managers with Lucas Digne probably the pick of them.

United just about managed a 2-1 win at home to West Ham last week, but they have two points to make up on the top four and some tough games left to play. They have lost their last two away games, but only three other teams have taken more away points and only Spurs have scored more away goals. They have won 12 of their last 16 games, but they will probably have to win four of their last five to finish in the top four.

With two games this week Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba are probably the best choices in the United team for fantasy managers with Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial worth considering too.

I think this will be yet another very close game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Arsenal v Crystal Palace 

4pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London 

Arsenal just about managed a 1-0 win away to 10 man Watford last week to stay on Spurs’s heels in fourth spot. They have won their last 10 home games and they kept clean sheets in five of those games with only the top two taking more points and scoring more goals at home. They have taken 25 points from their last 11 games to make themselves favourites to finish fourth.

Arsenal are another team with two games this week which could make Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pretty popular with fantasy managers.

Palace lost 3-1 at home to City last week, but the eight points they have to spare over the relegation zone should be more than enough to keep them up. They have taken 16 points from their last eight away games which included a win at City and only six other teams have taken more points on the road. It’s their away form which has kept them out of the bottom three and they will look to use their counter attacking skills to get something from this game.

Luka Milivojevic and Wilfried Zaha continue to impress for fantasy managers and they’re certainly both worth considering.

I think Arsenal will just about manage to take the three points, but Palace will make it very hard for them.

Prediction: 2-1

Cardiff City v Liverpool 

4pm BST, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff 

Cardiff lost 2-0 away to Burnley last week, but they bounced back in midweek with a very important 2-0 win away to Palace. They have lost three of their last four home games and no other team has conceded more goals at home. The win at Brighton was only their second win in eight games, but it moved them within two points of Brighton and gave them some real hope in their fight to beat the drop.

I can’t see any Cardiff players who might make a difference for fantasy managers.

Liverpool won 2-0 at home to Chelsea last week to stay two points clear of City at the top of the table, but they have played a game more than them. They have won their last two away games after only winning one of the previous five and no other team has taken more points or conceded less goals on their travels. They have won their last five games, but they only kept one clean sheet in those games while only City have scored more goals and no other team has conceded less.

Liverpool might only have one game this week, but Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and all of their defenders could do very well in this game.

I can’t see anything other than a comprehensive Liverpool victory in this game.

Prediction: 0-3

Monday April 22

Chelsea v Burnley 

8pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London 

Chelsea lost 2-0 away to Liverpool last week and that defeat meant they dropped out of the top four. They have taken 17 points from their last seven home games and they kept clean sheets in five of those games with no other team conceding less goals at home. They have taken 16 points from their last eight games, but they have played a game more than the three other teams chasing a top four place.

Eden Hazard is the Chelsea player of choice for fantasy managers while their defenders and keeper tend to do well in home games.

Burnley won 2-0 at home to Cardiff last week and they’re looking pretty safe as they’re eight points above Cardiff. They have only lost two of their last seven away games, but only three other teams have conceded more away goals. They have won their last three games which was probably just as well for them considering the four very tough games they have left.

Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes have being doing well for fantasy managers, but they might struggle in this game.

I think Chelsea’s home form should be enough to see them take the three points in this game.

Prediction: 3-1

Tuesday April 23

Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton And Hove Albion 

7.45pm BST, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London 

Spurs play their second game of the week and a home game against struggling Brighton isn’t quite as difficult as their trip to City on Saturday. They have taken 16 points from their last six home games, but they did lose four home games at Wembley before moving to their new stadium a few weeks ago. This should be a routine win at home to struggling Brighton, but you can never be sure against a team fighting for their Premier League survival.

With Harry Kane still injured fantasy managers will be very interested in Son Hueng-Min, Christian Eriksen and maybe even Dele Alli too.

Brighton lost twice at home last week and they play twice again this week, but both games are away from home. They need to find something from somewhere or they could find themselves relegated despite reaching the FA Cup semi finals and looking almost safe only a few weeks ago. Their home game against Newcastle next week could be the crucial game for them and three points in that game could be enough to keep them up even if they lose all of their other games.

Despite having two games this week I can’t see any Brighton players to recommend to fantasy managers after their performances in their two games last week.

I think this game should be a fairly comfortable win for Spurs.

Prediction: 3-0

Watford v Southampton 

7.45pm BST, Vicarage Road, Watford 

Watford play their second game of the week and they will be expected to win both games against teams in the bottom five. Their defeat against Arsenal last week was their first home defeat in six games, but they haven’t scored too many goals at home. If they can keep their minds off their upcoming FA Cup Final they have every chance of finishing as high as seventh.

With Deeney suspended and Deulofeu possibly injured I can’t see too many Watford players excelling for fantasy managers, but they do play twice this week so it’s hard to ignore them too.

Southampton play their second game of the week too, but they are both away from home. They probably only need one more point to avoid relegation and I would be very surprised if they didn’t get at least that from their two away games this week.

As I said already Redmond and Ward-Prowse might be worth a punt for fantasy managers.

I think this will be a very close game and the chances are it will end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Wednesday April 24

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal 

7.45pm BST, Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton 

Wolves play their second home game of the week and you would expect Arsenal to be a tougher challenge than Brighton. They have a very good record against the top six sides this season and they will be more than happy to put a spanner in Arsenal’s works. They looked like they might have been suffering after their FA Cup semi final defeat when they lost at Southampton last week, but surely they will be over that now.

As I said already Jiminez and Jota are worth considering for fantasy managers this week while Matt Doherty might do well in their two games.

Arsenal play their second game of the week and with those two games they have the chance to strengthen their top four place. They have taken seven points from their last four away games, but they failed to win in the previous six even though only four teams have scored more goals away from home. If they can win both of their games this week they will be in a very strong position for the race for a top four place.

Again it’s the Arsenal strikers who are most likely to make a difference for fantasy managers this week.

I think this is a game which could go either way, but I think Arsenal will just about get the better of proceedings.

Prediction: 1-2

Manchester United v Manchester City

8pm BST, Old Trafford, Manchester 

United play their second game of the week and a home game against City will be harder than their trip to Everton. They have won seven of their last nine home games and have only lost one home game so far, but they have conceded considerably more goals at home than the rest of the top six. It’s a game they really need to win, but even a point could possibly give them the satisfaction of stopping City from retaining the title. 

With two games in a week United players should be at a premium for fantasy managers, but neither game is easy and they may not fare too well.

City have their second game of the week against one of the top six and nothing other than six points in those two games will do if they want to keep their title ambitions alive. They have won their last four away games and they only conceded one goal in those games with only Liverpool taking more points on the road and no other team conceding less goals. After their midweek Champions League heartache they will have to show real resolve to overtake Liverpool by winning their two games.

The two players I mentioned already are definitely very good choices, but more or less any City player could have an influence for fantasy managers and the trick is knowing who and when.

This is a game which is very hard to predict, but I think City’s class will give them a narrow victory.

Prediction: 1-2

That’s it for this week.

See you next week.