Predictions For Premier League Gameweek Two

It’s that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I did reasonably well last week with one perfect prediction, three correct outcomes and four incorrect outcomes which left me in third place in my predictions league after the first Gameweek. Here’s a look at how that league currently stands. It’s not too late to join in and you can do so here http://superbru.com/sh/?k=b3MFJ7b4

1 -	IAMC0Le	2	4.5	3	1	10.5
2 -	Sam	2	3	3	1	9.0
3 -	JamrockRover	2	1.5	3	0	6.5
4 -	Kjor1172	0	3	3	0	6.0
5 -	solo97	1	4.5	0	0	5.5
6 -	Mwebi2013	1	4.5	0	0	5.5
7 -	Lordwhalez	2	3	0	0	5.0
8 -	Habeeb	3	1.5	0	0	4.5

Last week was a very strange start to the season with four teams not playing and so many players only just returning from international duty. Added to that the gap between this season and last season was so short that pre-season was almost nonexistent for so many teams and the transfer window is still open for a few more weeks. All of those factors can make it difficult for fantasy managers, but class inevitably shines through which we saw with a few of the regular performers living up to expectations last week and that should increase over the coming weeks.

I meant to predict who I thought would be the best choice as captain last week, but I forgot to add my selection of Mohamed Salah to my blog and he most definitely proved me right. This week my selection from my team will be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang although there are others who I don’t have who could potentially do just as well if not better.

Saturday September 19

Everton v West Bromwich Albion 

12.30pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool 

Everton won 1-0 away to Spurs last week as their new players fitted in very nicely to their team. They only lost four home games last season and their ability to make an impression on the top six could depend on their home form this season. They only play two of the big six in their next 10 games which could give them a chance to have a very good start to the season.

While James Rodriguez looked good for Everton last week it looks like Lucas Digne and Richarlison could be the Everton players to have for fantasy managers.

West Brom lost 3-0 at home to Leicester last week and it looks like it could be a long hard season for them. They only lost four away games in the Championship last season and no other team took more points on the road, but it will be a lot tougher for them in the Premier League. Their chances of survival will probably be determined by how they do against the other teams who’s goal is to maintain their status.

I can’t see any West Brom players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment, but that could change when their fixtures improve in a few weeks.

I think Everton will get their second win of the new season with at least a couple of goals to spare.

Prediction: 2-0

Leeds United v Fulham 

3pm BST, Elland Road, Leeds

Leeds put up a great fight away to Liverpool last week, but they ended up losing 4-3 to a late penalty. No other team took more points or conceded less goals at home in the Championship last season and they will hope to make Elland Road a fortress this season too. They looked very good against Liverpool last week and they will surely steer clear of the wrong end of the table if they continue to play like that.

From what I saw last week Pablo Hernandez could possibly do well for fantasy managers and we might have a better idea of how some of their other players will fare after this game.

Fulham lost 3-0 at home to Arsenal last week and they look like they could struggle for the whole season. They only won eight games away from home in the Championship last season and they could struggle on their travels this season. Their fixtures for the next few weeks are reasonably good and we’ll have an idea of their chances fairly soon if they don’t rake up too many points.

Aleksandar Mitrovic was the Fulham player I predicted to possibly do well last week and he was left on the bench, but that should change this week.

I think Leeds showed enough in their opening game to suggest they will win this game.

Prediction: 2-1

Manchester United v Crystal Palace 

5.30pn BST, Old Trafford, Manchester 

United didn’t play last week due to their late participation in European football so they’re starting off a week later than most of the other teams. Only Liverpool lost less home games than United last season, but only Newcastle drew more and they need to turn more of those draws into wins. Hopes are high after their late flourish to finish in the top four last season, but they need to hit the ground running and their first 10 games give them a very good chance of doing so.

I think Bruno Fernandes is the best of the United players for fantasy managers, but Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and all of their defenders are pretty good options too.

Palace won 1-0 at home to Southampton last week, but their task will be a lot tougher in this game. They took almost as many points away from home as they did at home last season, but only three other teams scored less goals on their travels. Goal scoring has been a real problem for them and they have two more difficult games right after this one, but then they have a long run of favourable fixtures.

I’m not sure there are any Palace players to recommend to fantasy managers given their inability to score goals.

I think United should have enough to win this game despite starting their season a week later than Palace.

Prediction: 2-1

Arsenal v West Ham United 

8pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London 

Arsenal won 3-0 away to Fulham last week to put themselves on top of the table early on. They only lost three home games last season, but they will have to do even better this season if they’re going to trouble the top four places. They have to travel to Liverpool, City and United in their next three away games so their home results might have to carry them for a while.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang still looks like the Arsenal player to have for fantasy managers while Kieran Tierney looks a good option too.

West Ham lost 2-0 at home to Newcastle last week and they will need to play a lot better to get anything out of this game. They only won four away games last season and they struggled for goals away from home too. They have a run of six games coming up where it’s quite possible they won’t take a single point which could make it a long hard season for them.

Given the way they played last week it’s difficult to see any West Ham players to recommend to fantasy managers, but Michail Antonio has the potential to do well.

I think Arsenal should be too strong for West Han and should win with a few goals to spare.

Prediction: 3-0

Sunday September 20

Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur 

12pm BST, St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton 

Southampton lost 1-0 away to Palace last week in a game in which they really could have done a lot better. Only Norwich took less points and conceded more goals at home last season and they could have a good season if they can improve at home for this season. Their opening fixtures have been kind to them and they have the possibility of being in a strong position in a few weeks if they can take advantage of those fixtures.

Despite last week’s result I think Danny Ings and Che Adams could interest fantasy managers while Nathan Redmond is a possibility too.

Spurs lost 1-0 at home to Everton last week and they didn’t look like they were ready for the season to start. They only won four away games last season and they conceded a lot of goals on their travels too. They only play one of the teams from the top half of the table last season in their next seven games and that must surely give them a chance to get off to a very good start despite last week’s result.

Unless they improve on last week’s performance it’s hard to see any Spurs players who could make a difference for fantasy managers, but Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane are very difficult to ignore.

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

Prediction: 1-1

Newcastle United v Brighton And Hove Albion 

2pm BST, St. James’s Park, Newcastle 

Newcastle won 2-0 away to West Ham last week and they have a very good chance to make it two wins out of two in this game. They drew more home games than any other team last season with only two other teams scoring less goals on their own patch. They play Spurs and United in their next three games after this one, but then they have a long run of fixtures where they could do quite well.

Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson are the Newcastle players who should be of most interest to fantasy managers.

Brighton lost 3-1 at home to Chelsea last week, but they played well enough to suggest they can improve on last season’s 15th place finish. They took almost as many points away from home as they did at home last season as they proved difficult to beat in the second half of the season in particular. Three of their next five games including this one are against teams with similar ambitions and those results could give us a good idea of how their season will go.

I’m not sure there are any Brighton players to recommend to fantasy managers, but Tariq Lamptey is worth keeping an eye on as he’s available at a very good price.

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

Prediction: 1-1

Chelsea v Liverpool 

4.30pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London 

Chelsea won 3-1 away to Brighton last week, but we might get an idea of their potential for this season in this game. They lost five home games last season, but only two other teams conceded less goals at home. They only play one of the other big six in their next 12 games after this one and that has to offer them the chance to make a very good start to their season.

Timo Werner looks like the Chelsea player to have for fantasy managers while Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount are good prospects too.

Liverpool just about managed to win 4-3 at home to newly promoted Leeds last week and they will have to improve if they’re going to get something from this game. No other team took more points or conceded less goals away from home last season. They play at home to Arsenal next week and if they have nine points after their first three games it could tell us that they’re up to last season’s level again.

Salah is the best choice in the Liverpool team for fantasy managers if he continues to play like he did last week while Sadio Mane and all of their defenders are pretty good choices too.

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

Prediction: 2-2

Leicester City v Burnley 

7pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester 

Leicester won 3-0 away to West Brom last week and they’re only behind Arsenal at the top of the table in alphabetical order. Only three other teams won more games and took more points at home last season. It’s going to be hard for them to match their league position from last season and playing in the Europa League won’t make it any easier.

Jamie Vardy didn’t do too much last week besides scoring two penalties, but he’s obviously a very good choice for fantasy managers while Harvey Barnes and all of their defenders and keeper are looking pretty good too.

Burnley are another team who’s season only gets underway this week and they will have their work cut out to get something from this game. Only six other teams took more points away from home last season and they almost took as many points away from home as they did at home. After this game six of their next seven games are against teams who finished below them last season.

Chris Wood looks like the Burnley player most likely to make an impression for fantasy managers while Nick Pope is a good choice too even if he costs a lot more than he did last season.

I think Burnley will make a game of it, but Leicester should take the three points.

Prediction: 2-1

Monday September 21

Aston Villa v Sheffield United 

6pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham 

Villa find themselves in the same boat as Burnley and the two Manchester clubs with their Premier League season only starting with this game. It was their home results which kept them up last season with seven of their nine wins coming on their own patch despite only three other teams conceding more home goals. They have three very tough games in their next six after this game so they could do with getting results against the other teams they play during that run.

Maybe Jack Grealish can do well for fantasy managers now that he’s signed a new long term contract.

United lost 2-0 at home to Wolves last week and the suspicion is they might find it hard to live up to their exploits of last season. Only two other teams scored less goals away from home last season and their lack of firepower could be a problem for them this season. They play four of the big six in their next six games after this one which could make for a trying time for them.

I’m not sure there are any United players priced well enough to really interest fantasy managers.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see both of these teams get a point on the board with the spoils shared in this game.

Prediction: 1-1

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City

8.15pm BST, Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton 

Wolves won 2-0 away to Sheffield United last week as they took up from where they left off last season. Only Newcastle drew more home games last season and they could improve on their seventh place finish if they can turn some of those draws into wins. This might be a very hard game for Wolves, but they could do very well in their next five games after it.

Raul Jiminez showed last week that he’s likely to do just as well as he did last season for fantasy managers while all of Wolves defenders and keeper are good choices too, but maybe not in this game.

City are the final team to get their season underway and they will be very anxious to get off to a flyer as they look to regain the title Liverpool took from them last season. Only Liverpool took more points on the road last season and no other team scored more goals, but it’s been a long time since City lost seven away games. If they’re going to win the league they have to be ruthless from day one and the outcome of this game will give us an insight into where they could be going.

With Sergio Aguero probably out of this game Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling are the City players most likely to excel for fantasy managers.

Despite the results between them last season and how well Wolves played last week I think City will narrowly take the three points.

Prediction: 1-2

That’s it for this week.

See you next week.