| Rank | Player | Res | Cls | Exa | Slm | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 - |  | 28 | 46.5 | 57 | 11 | 142.5 |
2 - |  | 31 | 37.5 | 51 | 9 | 128.5 |
3 - |  | 33 | 43.5 | 42 | 8 | 126.5 |
4 - | | 33 | 51 | 24 | 6 | 114.0 |
5 - | | 23 | 48 | 33 | 4 | 108.0 |
Saturday January 16
Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Bromwich Albion
12.30pm GMT, Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Wolves lost 2-1 at home to Everton in midweek, but they’re still a very healthy 10 points above the bottom three. They have only won once in their last five home games, but only five other teams have conceded less goals at home. They have only won once in their last eight games, but they should get the chance to put that right in this game.
I’m not so sure there are any Wolves players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment even if Pedro Neto and Ruben Neves have done pretty well recently.
West Brom didn’t play in midweek and they lost 4-0 at home to Arsenal the last time they did play. They’re one of two teams without an away win and only two other teams have scored less goals on the road. They have only taken two points from their last seven games and no other team has conceded more goals.
I can’t see any West Brom players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.
I think Wolves will get a much needed win in this game with a couple of goals to spare.
Prediction: 2-0
Leeds United v Brighton And Hove Albion
3pm GMT, Elland Road, Leeds
Leeds lost 3-0 away to Spurs when they last played, but they’re still sitting comfortably in mid-table. They won their last two home games and they scored six goals in those games, but they have scored and conceded more goals on the road. They have won four and lost four of their last eight games and only West Brom have conceded more goals.
Patrick Bamford and Stuart Dallas have done very well for fantasy managers so far and they’re both worth considering.
Brighton lost 1-0 away to City in midweek and they’re now only two points above the relegation zone. They haven’t won in their last four away games, but their only two wins so far have come on their travels. They haven’t won in nine games, but they drew five of those games and no other team has drawn more games.
I can’t see any Brighton players who might make a difference for fantasy managers at the moment.
I think Brighton will make a game of it, but Leeds will probably take the three points.
Prediction: 2-1
West Ham United v Burnley
3pm GMT, London Stadium, London
West Ham last played when they won 1-0 away to Everton and that win was enough to keep them in the top half of the table. They haven’t won in three home games, but only five other teams have conceded less goals at home. They have only lost once in their last six games and they kept clean sheets in their last two.
Tomas Soucek looks like very good value for fantasy managers at the moment while all of the defence are good choices too and especially Aaron Cresswell.
Burnley lost 1-0 at home to United in midweek, but they’re still four points above the bottom three and steadily climbing the table. Only two other teams have taken less points on the road and they have only scored one goal in their last six away games with no other team scoring less goals on their travels.€ They have taken 11 points from their last seven games, but no other team has scored less goals.
All of Burnley’s defenders and keeper are looking good for fantasy managers at the moment, but their attacking options are best avoided.
I don’t think there will be too much in this game, but the chances are West Ham will win by a single goal.
Prediction: 1-0
Fulham v Chelsea
5.30pm GMT, Craven Cottage, London
Fulham got a very good 1-1 draw away to Spurs in midweek and they’re now only two points away from exiting the relegation zone. They have drawn their last three home games and they kept clean sheets in the last two, but only three other teams have scored less goals at home. They haven’t won in six games, but they have drawn their last five and they will need to turn some of those draws into wins if they’re going to climb the table.
Despite their recent upturn I’m still not convinced there are any Fulham players for fantasy managers to consider with the possible exception of Ademola Lookman.
Chelsea last played in their 3-1 defeat at home to City which saw them drop to ninth in the table. They have lost their last three away games after being unbeaten in the previous five. They have only taken four points from their last six games, but only two other teams have scored more goals.
Despite their recent poor form Kurt Zouma, Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount are still all options fantasy managers should consider.
I think Chelsea will just about get back to winning ways with a narrow victory in this game.
Prediction: 1-2
Leicester City v Southampton
8pm GMT, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester last played when they won 2-1 away to Newcastle and they’re still in the top four despite not playing in midweek. Only two other teams have lost more home games and they have taken more than two thirds of their points so far away from home. They have taken 14 points from their last seven games and only three other teams have scored more goals.
Jamie Vardy is still the best option in the Leicester team for fantasy managers while their defenders and keeper are worth considering too along with James Maddison.
Southampton won 1-0 at home to Liverpool when they last played and they’re only three points behind Leicester going into this game. They’re unbeaten in seven away games, but they drew four of those games with only Liverpool drawing more away games. They have taken 12 points from their last seven games and they kept clean sheets in their last three with only three other teams conceding less goals.
James Ward-Prowse is looking very good for fantasy managers at the moment along with Southampton’s defenders and keeper, but Danny Ings is doubtful thanks to our old friend Covid.
I think this will be a very close game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it end all square.
Prediction: 1-1
Sunday January 17
Sheffield United v Tottenham Hotspur
2.05pm GMT, Bramall Lane, Sheffield
United eventually managed their first win of the season with a 2-1 victory at home to Newcastle in midweek, but they’re still stranded at the foot of the table nine points from safety. They have lost more home games than any other team and no other team has scored less goals at home either. Their first win of the season will give them some hope, but their opponents in their next three games are all very tough and no other team has scored less goals.
I still can’t see any United players to recommend to fantasy managers.
Spurs let a lead slip late on at home to Fulham in midweek and they had to settle for a 1-1 draw which meant they didn’t move back into the top four. They have only lost one of their eight away games with only Villa and City conceding less goals on their travels. They have only won once in their last six games, but they’re still within touching distance of the top four.
Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son are still the outstanding Spurs players for fantasy managers and they’re both well worth having.
I think Spurs will be too strong for United and should win by at least a couple of goals.
Prediction: 0-2
Liverpool v Manchester United
4.30pm GMT, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool didn’t play in midweek, but they lost their last game 1-0 away to Southampton and United are now above them at the top of the table. They’re the only team unbeaten at home and no other team has scored more goals at home with only City conceding less. They haven’t won in three games and they haven’t scored in their last two, but no other team has scored more goals.
Mohamed Salah is still the best of the Liverpool players for fantasy managers with Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson pretty good options too.
United won 1-0 away to Burnley in midweek and that win was enough to move them three points ahead of Liverpool at the top of the table. They’re the only team unbeaten away from home and no other team has scored more goals on the road. They have taken 29 points from their last 11 games with only Liverpool scoring more goals.
Bruno Fernandes is the United player to have for fantasy managers with Marcus Rashford and maybe even Paul Pogba worth considering too.
I think this will be a very close game which could go either way, but the chances are it will end with the points shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Manchester City v Crystal Palace
7.15pm GMT, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City won 1-0 at home to Brighton in midweek and they’re only four points off the top of the table with a game in hand. 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 20 points from their last eight games and they kept clean sheets in six of those games with no other team conceding less goals.
Kevin de Bruyne is the attacking player to have in the City team for fantasy managers while all of their defenders and keeper are very good options too.
Palace drew 0-0 away to Arsenal in midweek and they’re still only three points off the top half of the table. They have only won once in their last six away games and they failed to score in four of those games. They are unbeaten in three games and they kept clean sheets in their last two and they have a very good run of games coming up after this one.
Wilfried Zaha is still the only Palace player to interest fantasy managers although their defenders and keeper have improved in recent weeks.
I think City will continue their good run by taking the three points in this game.
Prediction: 2-0
Monday January 18
Arsenal v Newcastle United
8pm GMT, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal drew 0-0 at home to Palace in midweek and they’re still in the bottom half of the table. Only two other teams have lost more home games and only four other teams have scored less goals on their own patch. They have taken 10 points from their last four games and they kept clean sheets in their last three with only three other teams conceding less goals.
Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney are probably the best of the Arsenal players for fantasy managers with Bukayo Saka worth considering too.
Newcastle lost 1-0 away to bottom club Sheffield United in midweek, but they still have seven points to spare over the bottom three. They have lost four of their last five away games and they failed to score in three of those games. They haven’t won in six games and they have only scored one goal in their last four games with only five other teams scoring less goals.
I would usually recommend Callum Wilson as the only Newcastle player for fantasy managers to consider, but it’s even difficult to recommend him at the moment.
I think Arsenal’s rejuvenation will continue with them taking the three points in this game.
Prediction: 2-0
Tuesday January 19
West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion
6pm GMT, London Stadium, London
West Ham play their second game of the Gameweek and they’re both at home to teams in the bottom five. If they can get two wins in those games it would give their hopes of European football for next season a real boost.
With two home games this week the West Ham players I mentioned previously are pretty good options for fantasy managers.
West Brom play for the second time this week too and both games are away to mid-table teams. It could be a bad week for West Brom considering their away form and their recent run of results.
I can’t see any West Brom players who might make a difference for fantasy managers.
I think West Ham might just win this game too for a six point haul in one week.
Prediction: 3-0
Leicester City v Chelsea
8.15pm GMT, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester play their second home game of the week and they’re both against teams who are pretty close to them in the table. This is a very big week for Leicester, but they need to get their home results to match their away results if they’re going to challenge for a top four spot.
As I mentioned previously Vardy and the Leicester defenders could be very good options for fantasy managers with two games in a week.
Chelsea play their second away game of the week and Leicester should be a tougher proposition than Fulham despite Fulham’s recent upturn in results. They need some points quickly with Frank Lampard feeling the pressure recently and the two games they have are certainly both well within their capabilities of winning.
With two games this week Chelsea players are very interesting for fantasy managers if they can choose the right ones.
I think this will be a very close game with a draw the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
Wednesday January 20
Manchester City v Aston Villa
6pm GMT, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City play their second home game of the week and it could give them the chance to go to the top of the table depending on how other games go. They may not be the goalscoring machine they have been in recent seasons, but they look much stronger at the back and that might just be the ingredient they need to win the title.
If City are going to go to the top of the table then de Bruyne is the player most likely to get them there and Phil Foden might be able to assist him.
Villa have had their problems with Covid in recent weeks and this should be their first game back as long as it goes ahead. Only three other teams have taken more points on the road and no other team has conceded less goals on their travels. They haven’t won their last two games which were against Chelsea and United, but they have a much better run of games after this one.
With two games this week Jack Grealish and Emiliano Martinez are looking very good for fantasy managers while Anwar El Ghazi and Bertrand Traore are worth considering too.
I think City will be too strong for Villa and should win with a couple of goals to spare.
Prediction: 3-1
Fulham v Manchester United
8.15pm GMT, Craven Cottage, London
Fulham have their second home game of the week, but they won’t be easy for them as they’re both against big six teams. They have proved to be a hard team to beat in their last five games, but they still have a long way to go to beat the drop.
As I said above Lookman could be a good option for fantasy managers this week with two games to play.
United play their second away game of the week, but that shouldn’t be too much of a problem for the team with the best away record in the league. They have won seven of their eight away games and even if they don’t get a result against Liverpool a win in this game could put them back on top of the table.
With Fernandes usually doing so well on the road he’s probably the United player fantasy managers should concentrate on.
I think Fulham’s woes will continue with the second home defeat in a week.
Prediction: 0-2
Thursday January 21
Liverpool v Burnley
8pm GMT, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool play their second home game of the week and Burnley shouldn’t pose as much of a problem as United. If they’re going to retain the title their home form will do it for them, but their away results are really hampering them at the moment.
Even if Salah and Mane don’t do too well for fantasy managers against United they have the chance to make up for it in this game.
Burnley play their second away game of the week and a trip to Liverpool will be even more difficult than the trip to West Ham. They have climbed the table recently thanks to some good results at home, but there’s only so far they can go if they can’t score away from home.
With two games this week Burnley players have to be considered by fantasy managers, but they could suffer in this game.
I can’t see anything other than a comfortable Liverpool victory in this game.
Prediction: 3-0
Saturday January 23
Aston Villa v Newcastle United
8pm GMT, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa play for the second time in a few days and a home game against Newcastle has to be a better prospect for them than their trip to City. They have lost as many games as they have won at home and it’s their away form which has them so high in the table.
Grealish and Martinez and the other Villa players I mentioned could do very well for fantasy managers in this game even if the trip to City is tough for them.
Newcastle play their second away game of the week and the way they have played recently it could be a tough week for them. They still have seven points to spare over the bottom three, but they need to improve soon or things could get a little uncomfortable for them.
I can’t see any Newcastle players to recommend to fantasy managers despite having two games this week.
I think Villa will take the three points in this game, but maybe not by as many goals as expected.
Prediction: 2-1
That’s it for this week.
See you next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment