Predictions For Premier League Gameweek One

The new season is almost upon us and yet it seems like last season has just ended. Unfortunately the site which ran my Predictor League has decided not to continue with the game this season, but I have managed to find an alternative with a different scoring system. Here’s the link to sign up to that predictions league http://superbru.com/sh/?k=b3MFJ7b4

As always I’ll be predicting the outcomes of every single Premier League game and giving tips for fantasy managers from my perspective at least. It’s a strange start to the season with four teams not playing (City, United, Burnley and Villa) due to last season ending so late and it makes it difficult for fantasy managers to pick their squads. There could be quite a few managers using their first wildcard after Gameweek One.

Saturday September 12

Fulham v Arsenal 

12.30pm BST, Craven Cottage, London

Fulham won their way back to the Premier League via the playoffs and their goal for this season has to be to avoid relegation. Only Leeds took more points at home in the Championship last season, but life won’t be so easy in the top flight. They have a chance to start the season well with no other games against the “big six” until Gameweek 11.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is probably the Fulham player most likely to make an impact for fantasy managers.

Arsenal had their worst Premier League finish in 25 years last season, but winning the FA Cup got them into the Europa League anyway. They only won four of their 19 away games last season and that statistic will have to improve this season if they are to return to the top four. Their FA Cup win followed by lifting the Community Shield has boosted their confidence and they need to build on that as the season progresses.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the Arsenal player most likely to do well for fantasy managers now that he’s listed as a midfielder and Kieran Tierney might not be a bad bet either.

I think Arsenal will get the new season off to a good start by taking the three points in this game.

Prediction: 1-3

Crystal Palace v Southampton 

3pm BST, Selhurst Park, London 

Palace finished last season very poorly mainly due to their inability to find the back of the net. They only won six of their home games last season and no other team scored less goals on their own patch. They have a pretty tough start to the season and they could struggle early on if they continue to underperform in front of goal. 

Tyrick Mitchell could be the cut price defender fantasy managers are looking for while Jordan Ayew is worth considering too.

Southampton flirted with relegation for a little while last, but a strong second half of the season saw them finish just outside the top 10. Only Liverpool and City took more points away from home last season and only four other teams scored more goals on their travels. They have a reasonably good start to the season and they could do well if they can sort out their home form.

Danny Ings was the Southampton player to have for fantasy managers last season and he might be again this season while Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong could be worth a shout too.

I think Southampton’s better finishing might just be enough to see them take the three points in this game.

Prediction: 1-2

Liverpool v Leeds United 

5.30pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool 

Liverpool won the league with 18 points to spare last season and they will want to defend their title this season. They won 18 of their 19 home games last season and it’s been a long time since they lost a league game at home. They play Chelsea and Arsenal after this game and we should know early on whether they will be as formidable as they were last season.

There were so many Liverpool players to choose from for fantasy managers last season and all of their defenders and keeper  along with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are almost certain to do really well again.

Leeds won the Championship last season to finally return to the Premier League after a 16 year gap and they couldn’t have asked for a tougher opening fixture. No other team took more points or scored more goals away from home in the Championship last season, but the top flight is a very different matter. Like the other two promoted teams their goal will be to avoid the drop and that won’t be decided in this game.

It’s hard to see any Leeds players making a real impression for fantasy managers right away, but Barry Douglas could be a reasonably priced defender to watch and Rodrigo Moreno could be worth considering too.

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

Prediction: 4-0

West Ham United v Newcastle United 

8pm BST, London Stadium, London 

West Ham only finished two places above the relegation places last season and they will want to improve vastly on that this time around. Only three other teams took less points at home last season and only two other teams scored less goals at home. They have a very tough start to their season and they will do well to stay clear of the wrong end of the table early on.

Michail Antonio and Tomas Soucek are the West Ham players most likely to make a difference for fantasy managers.

Newcastle were never really too close to the bottom three last season and they managed to finish 10 points clear of the best of the relegated teams. Only Norwich and Chelsea conceded more away goals than Newcastle last season and that’s something they need to improve upon this season. They only play two of the “big six” in their first 14 games and that could help them to a fairly good start to the season.

Allan Saint-Maximin is possibly the Newcastle player to have for fantasy managers with new boys Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser worth considering too.

I think this will be a very close game and the chances are it will end with the spoils shared.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunday September 13

West Bromwich Albion v Leicester City

2pm BST, The Hawthorns, Birmingham 

West Brom finished runners up in the Championship last season only two years after relegation and will hope to retain their status this season. They actually took more points away from home than they did at home in the Championship last season. Their home form will be very important if they’re going to stay up, but they won’t find it easy to get anything from this game.

Matheus Pereira could be the only West Brom player of interest to fantasy managers, but he is a risky purchase.

Leicester faded badly towards the end of last season and ended up just outside the top four after spending most of the season in a comfortable third place. It was probably their away form towards the end of the season which cost them so dearly and that will need to improve this season if they are to challenge for the top four again. The fixture list is kind enough to them early on and three points in their first game would be a very good start.

There are quite a few Leicester players for fantasy managers to consider such as Casper Schmeichel, Jamie Vardy, Harvey Barnes, James Maddison and Caglar Soyuncu with James Justin an outside bet due to his price, but I’m not so sure they will perform as well as they did last season.

I think this will be a close game, but Leicester will probably get the better of proceedings.

Prediction: 1-2

Tottenham Hotspur v Everton 

4.30pm BST, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London 

Spurs finished sixth last season, but they have to play in the Europa League qualifying rounds after Arsenal won the FA Cup. Only the top two took more points at home last season and that home form will be crucial if they are to make the top four this season. They have a very favourable run of fixtures to start the season and could find themselves well placed after eight games if they can find some form.

Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son are both very good options for fantasy managers while new boy Matt Doherty could be too if he’s given the licence to attack that he was at Wolves.

Everton could only finish 12th last season, but they have invested heavily this summer and will have to improve an awful lot on that position. They lost 11 of their 19 away games last season and only five other teams conceded more goals on the road. Their games get easier for a few weeks after this game and I think they will need to start relatively well if they’re going to challenge for a top six place.

Lucas Digne, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were the best of the Everton players for fantasy managers last season and there’s no reason that should change this season with new boy James Rodriguez added to the list.

Both teams will want to get the season off to a flyer, but the chances are they will have to share the spoils.

Prediction: 1-1

Monday September 14

Sheffield United v Wolverhampton Wanderers

6pm BST, Bramall Lane, Sheffield 

United did very well last season after being promoted the previous season, but they faded at the end of the season to finish ninth. Only City conceded less goals at home than United last season, but they didn’t score a lot of goals. They play five of the eight teams who finished above them in their first eight games and it makes for a pretty tough start.

United’s defenders and keeper were very good for fantasy managers last season and they could be again this season, but they will cost a little more.

Wolves did very well to finish seventh and reach the last eight of the Europa League last season, but they won’t have any European football to distract them this season. Only Liverpool lost less games away from home last season and only five other teams took more points on the road. After a couple of hard games to start the season things get relatively easier for them for five games which could see them build up quite a few points.

Raul Jiminez is probably the best choice for fantasy managers in the Wolves team while Ruben Vinagre is a good cut price option and Adama Traore is worth considering too.

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

Prediction: 1-1

Brighton And Hove Albion v Chelsea 

8.15pm BST, AMEX Stadium, Brighton 

Brighton managed to finish seven points above the bottom three last season and that has to be their aim again this season. Only three other teams took less points at home last season and only two other teams scored less goals on their own patch. They don’t have the easiest start to the season and we could get an idea early on of how their season will progress.

Matt Ryan and Dale Stephens are reasonably priced options for fantasy managers while Lewis Dunk isn’t a bad option and Bernardo Fernandes da Silva is a cheap defender who just might get to play.

Chelsea managed to finish in the top four with four points to spare last season after spending so long outside the top four. They lost five home games last season and they actually scored more goals away from home than they did at home. They’ve spent an awful lot of money this summer and expectations have to be high, but the question is whether they can live up to them or not.

Timo Werner could be the Chelsea player to have for fantasy managers while Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic (if he’s fit), Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech (if he’s fit) and Caesar Azpilicueta are all good choices too.

I think Chelsea should be too strong for Brighton and should take the three points with a couple of goals to spare.

Prediction: 1-3

That’s it for this week.

See you next week.