Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 18

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 only two correct predictions and eight incorrect which saw me drop a little in my predictions league, but I’m still level with the fifth placed player. Here’s a look at how the top five in that league stands.

POSITION				PLAYER NAME				THIS WEEK	POINTS
1 (3)				AFCDAVE				0	960
2 (4)				GoonerLaw				+15	945
3 (1)				Ali Bergkamp				-40	930
3 (1)				Invader 67				-40	930
5 (6)				Mystical				+30	900

There are only nine games this week as Liverpool play in the World Club Championship which leaves a few problems for fantasy managers as they look to bench their Liverpool players for a week and hope their benches are strong enough to cope.

Saturday December 21

Everton v Arsenal 

12.30pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool 

Everton drew 1-1 away to United last week and that was enough to move them three points above the bottom three. They have won half of their eight home games, but only five other teams have scored less goals at home. They have only won three of their last 13 games and they have only kept one clean sheet in their last 15 with only four other teams conceding more goals.

It’s still not easy to see which Everton players might be of interest to fantasy managers, but that could change when they have a new man in charge.

Arsenal lost 3-0 at home to City last week and they’re only in the top half of the table on goal difference. They have only won once in their last seven away games and they didn’t keep a clean sheet in any of those games. They have only won once in their last nine games and they have only kept one clean sheet in their last 16.

As I’ve said almost every week Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the only Arsenal player of interest to fantasy managers at the moment.

I think this will be a very close game and Arsenal might just sneak a narrow win.

Prediction: 1-2

Aston Villa v Southampton 

3pm GMT, Villa Park, Birmingham 

Villa lost 2-0 away to Sheffield United last week and they’re only above the relegation zone on goal difference. They have taken 11 of their 15 points at home and they play teams below them in their next two home games. They have only taken four points from their last eight games and only the three teams below them have conceded more goals, but no other team in the bottom half of the table has scored more goals.

Despite missing a penalty last week I still think Jack Grealish is the Villa player most likely to make a difference for fantasy managers.

Southampton lost 1-0 at home to West Ham last week to stay in the bottom three behind Villa on goal difference. They haven’t won in their last five away games, but they have taken more points on their travels than they have at home. They haven’t kept a clean sheet in 12 games and no other team has conceded more goals.

Danny Ings came very close to scoring last week and his recent form suggests he’s still a very good option for fantasy managers.

I think this will be another very close game with Villa emerging with the three points.

Prediction: 2-1

Bournemouth v Burnley 

3pm GMT, Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth 

Bournemouth won 1-0 away to Chelsea last week and those three points moved them four points above the bottom three. Only four other teams have taken less points at home with only Watford and Palace scoring less goals on their own patch. They had lost five games in a row before beating Chelsea, but they only play one of the “big six” in their next 10 games.

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

Burnley won 1-0 at home to Newcastle last week and they’re now only one point off the top half of the table. They have only won once in their eight away games and that was at the bottom club Watford. They had lost three games in a row before beating Newcastle and they conceded 11 goals in those three defeats with only four other teams conceding more goals.

Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes are pretty good bets for fantasy managers while Dwight McNeil and Nick Pope are worth considering too.

This looks like it will be a very close game too with a draw probably the most likely outcome.

Prediction: 1-1

Brighton And Hove Albion v Sheffield United 

3pm GMT, AMEX Stadium, Brighton 

Brighton drew 1-1 away to Palace last week and they’re now five points clear of the bottom three. They have only lost two of their eight home games and three of their next four games are at home. They’re unbeaten in three games, but they’ve only kept one clean sheet in nine games.

Neal Maupay is the Brighton player for fantasy managers to watch at the moment with Matt Ryan and Lewis Dunk possibilities too.

United won 2-0 at home to Villa last week to move back up to seventh place and they’re only four points off fourth. They’re one of only two teams unbeaten away from home with only Liverpool and Leicester conceding less on the road, but they have drawn six of their eight away games. They have only lost once in their last 10 games and only the top two teams have conceded less goals.

John Lundstram is still the best United player for fantasy managers with all of their defenders and keeper worth considering too along with Lys Mousset and John Fleck (when his suspension is over).

I think there won’t be too much between the teams in this game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the spoils shared.

Prediction: 1-1

Newcastle United v Crystal Palace 

3pm GMT, St. James’s Park, Newcastle 

Newcastle lost 1-0 away to Burnley last week, but they’re only outside the top half of the table on goal difference. They’re unbeaten in their last seven home games with only Leicester conceding less goals and only Watford and Palace scoring less on their own ground. They have only lost twice in their last eight games, but only Watford and Palace have scored less goals.

If he’s fit to play Jonjo Shelvey is the Newcastle player most likely to make a difference for fantasy managers.

Palace drew 1-1 at home to Brighton last week to move above Arsenal into ninth place. They have taken eight points from their last five away games and only six other teams have taken more points on their travels. They’re unbeaten in four games and they only play two of the “big six” in their next 13 games.

Palace’s defenders and keeper are the ones to watch for fantasy managers at the moment.

I don’t think there will be too many goals in this game, but Palace might just score the only one.

Prediction: 0-1

Norwich City v Wolverhampton Wanderers 

3pm GMT, Carrow Road, Norwich 

Norwich drew 1-1 away to high flying Leicester last week, but they’re still second last and three points adrift of safety. They have only taken one point in their last five home games with only Watford taking less points at home and only Southampton conceding more goals. They have lost eight of their 12 games since beating City and they failed to score in six of those games with only Southampton conceding more goals.

Teemu Pukki and Todd Cantwell have regained some form in recent weeks and they could be possibilities for fantasy managers.

Wolves long unbeaten run came to an end when they lost 2-1 at home to Spurs last week and that defeat saw them fall to eighth place. They have only lost one of their eight away games, but no other team has drawn more games on the road and only three other teams have conceded less away goals. They were unbeaten in 11 games before losing to Spurs and they haven’t failed to score in a game since their opening day blank against Leicester.

Raul Jiminez and Matt Doherty are still the best options in the Wolves team for fantasy managers with Joao Moutinho and Adama Traore worth considering too.

I think Wolves will be too strong for Norwich and should win with a couple of goals to spare.

Prediction: 1-3

Manchester City v Leicester City 

5.30pm GMT, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City strolled to a 3-0 win away to Arsenal last week, but they’re still in third place and they’re four points behind second placed Leicester going into this game. They have only won five of their eight home games which is good, but not good enough to keep pace with Liverpool who are the only team to have scored more goals at home. They have only won three of their last six games, but no other team has scored more goals.

Kevin de Bruyne proved his worth for fantasy managers last week while Raheem Sterling and David Silva are good choices too as is Gabriel Jesus as long as Sergio Aguero is injured.

Leicester’s long winning streak came to an end last week when they drew 1-1 at home to lowly Norwich which leaves them 10 points behind Liverpool at the top of the table. They have won their last four away games while only City and Liverpool have taken more points away from home and only Liverpool have conceded less goals. They had won eight games in a row before drawing with Norwich and no other team has conceded less goals, but they play City and Liverpool in their next two games.

Leicester players have done very well for fantasy managers with Jamie Vardy the pick of them and he has been ably supported by James Maddison as well as all of their defenders and keeper.

I think this is a game which could go either way, but City will probably just about take the three points.

Prediction: 2-1

Sunday December 22

Watford v Manchester United 

2pm GMT, Vicarage Road, Watford 

Watford lost 2-0 away to Liverpool last week to remain firmly rooted to the foot of the table. Only Villa have taken less points away from home with no other team conceding more or scoring less goals on their travels. They have only taken one point and scored one goal in their last five games and no other team has scored less goals with only Southampton and Norwich conceding more.

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

United drew 1-1 at home to Everton last week to drop back to sixth place, but they’re only four points off the top four now. They have only won two of their eight away games and they haven’t kept a clean sheet away from home yet. They’re unbeaten in six games, but they haven’t kept a clean sheet in 12 games and only Wolves have drawn more games.

Marcus Rashford is the pick of United players for fantasy managers at the moment with Daniel James and Anthony Martial worth considering too.

I think United should be good enough to win this game by at least a couple of goals.

Prediction: 0-2

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea 

4.30pm GMT, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London 

Spurs won 2-1 away to Wolves last week thanks to a last minute goal and that was enough to move them up to fifth place and within three points of fourth place. Only Liverpool and Leicester have taken more points at home with only Liverpool and City scoring more goals on their own patch. They have won four of their last five games and they scored 14 goals in those games.

Dele Alli and Heung-Min Son are the in form Spurs players for fantasy managers while Lucas Moura, Harry Kane and Serge Aurier aren’t the worst choices either.

Chelsea lost 1-0 at home to Bournemouth last week as their decline continued and they’re now only three points ahead of Spurs with inferior goal difference. They have lost their last two away games and only two other teams have scored more goals on the road, but only three other teams have conceded more. They have lost four of their last five games and they only scored four goals in those games.

Chelsea players haven’t done so well for fantasy managers in recent weeks, but Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Willian are all still worth considering.

I think this is another game which could go either way and a draw is probably the most likely outcome.

Prediction: 2-2

That’s it for this week.

See you next week.