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 four correct predictions and six incorrect, but it wasn't the best week for a lot of others too. I'm still on top of my predictions league as you can see from the table below and I'm beginning to believe I have a chance of retaining my title.
| Name | Badges | This Week | PTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1) |   Michael Sheehy |   4 | +30 | 705 | |
| 2 (2) |  Rutland Gooner | 2 | +30 | 580 | |
| 3 (4) |   Karl-Yngve Lund | 2 | +85 | 520 | |
| 4 (3) | sensisoccerworld | 1 | -35 | 460 | |
| 5 (5) | Wayne Hubbard | | +5 | 410 | |
Saturday October 22
Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur
12.30pm BST, Dean Court, Bournemouth
Bournemouth thrashed Hull last week and they're looking better with each game they play. No other team has won more home games than Bournemouth with only Arsenal and City scoring more goals at home. They have taken 10 points from their last five games with the only defeat in those games coming away to City.
Junior Stanislas did exceptionally well for fantasy managers last week while Calum Wilson and possibly even the Bournemouth defenders are worth considering.
Spurs left it late last week, but they rescued a point away to West Brom to remain the only unbeaten team in the league. They're one of the two teams unbeaten away from home with only Liverpool and City scoring more goals on the road. Despite being the only team unbeaten so far they're still a point behind the leaders and they have four clean sheets in their opening eight games.
Dele Alli looks to have gotten in to his stride and the Spurs defenders are doing very well for fantasy managers too.
I think Bournemouth will push Spurs quite hard, but their defence might let them down in the end.
Prediction: 1-3
Arsenal v Middlesbrough
3pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal were far from convincing at home to Swansea last week, but they managed to hold on for their sixth league win in a row. They have won their last three home games and have scored more home goals than any other team, but they have also conceded a lot of goals at home. They will go to the top of the table before City play if they win this game and it's an opportunity they can't afford to pass up.
Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are all doing very well for fantasy managers and the Arsenal defenders aren't doing too badly either.
Boro lost yet again last week when they went down 1-0 at home to Wafford and they're almost in freefall. They have taken five of their seven points away from home and have only lost one game on their travels. They have only taken one point in their last five games with only Sunderland and Burnley scoring less goals.
Boro players aren't exactly setting the world alight for fantasy managers at the moment.
Arsenal are on a great run at the moment and I expect that winning run to continue in this game.
Prediction: 2-0
Burnley v Everton
3pm BST, Turf Moor, Burnley
Burnley lost 3-1 away to Sunderland last week, but they have saved their best performances for their home games. They have taken all seven of their points so far at home with only three other teams conceding less goals at home. No other team has scored less goals than them though and they will have to continue their good home form if they are to have any chance of staying up.
I can't see any Burnley players showing enough consistency to interest fantasy managers.
Everton got a very good point away to City last week and they're only four points off the top of the table. They have only lost once in their four away games with only Arsenal conceding less goals away from home. After a very good start to the season they have only taken two points from their last three games, but this game offers them the chance to stop that run.
Romelu Lukaku has hit some form and looks like a very good buy for fantasy managers at the moment.
I think this will be a very close game and it might just end with the spoils shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Hull City v Stoke City
3pm BST, KCOM Stadium, Hull
Hull were thrashed away to Bournemouth last week and they're now only one point above the drop zone. They have lost three of their four home games with no other team scoring less goals at home and only the bottom three conceding more on their own patch. They have lost their last four league games and conceded 17 goals in the process.
Robert Snodgrass has been by far the best of the bunch in the Hull team for fantasy managers.
Stoke finally got their first win of the season at home to Sunderland last week, buy they're still in the relegation zone. They have yet to win away from home with only Burnley and Sunderland scoring less goals away from home. Despite only getting their first win last week they are unbeaten in three games and they have a run of games coming up where they can get some points to move up the table.
Marco Arnautovic still looks like a pretty good purchase for fantasy managers while Joe Allen is on fire at the moment.
I think Stoke will build on their win last week and win this game narrowly.
Prediction: 1-2
Leicester City v Crystal Palace
3pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester were well beaten yet again last week and they're only two points above the relegation zone. They are unbeaten at home though and no other team has conceded less goals on their own patch. Things are going well for them in their Champions League group, but they need to improve their league form quickly.
The Leicester defenders have done well at home, but none of their players have done particularly well for fantasy managers.
Palace lost at home to West Ham last week to put an end to a very good run. They have only lost one of their away games and have taken more points on the road than they have done at home. They had taken 11 points from five games before losing last week, but they haven't managed a clean sheet yet this season.
Christian Benteke has been the outstanding Palace player for fantasy managers recently although he would do better if he didn't miss penalties.
I think Palace will give Leicester a very tough test, but Leicester will just about manage a win.
Prediction: 2-1
Swansea City v Watford
3pm BST, Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Swansea very nearly got a point away to Arsenal last week, but they ended up losing 3-2 to drop back to second last in the league. They have only taken one point from their four home games and no other team has conceded more goals at home. They have only taken one point in seven games since winning on the opening day and they need to turn things around quickly.
Despite Swansea's problems Leroy Fer and Gylfi Sigurdsson still look fairly good for fantasy managers.
Watford put an end to their recent poor run by winning away to Boro last week. They have only lost one of their four away games and have taken more points on the road than they have at home. The clean sheet at Boro last week was their first of the season, but only four other teams have scored more goals than Watford.
Etienne Capoue started the season very well for fantasy managers, but has slowed up recently while Troy Deeney is a little more consistent at least.
This game could go either way and I think it will probably end in a draw.
Prediction: 2-2
West Ham United v Sunderland
3pm BST, London Stadium, London
West Ham got their first win in six league games away to Palace last week and moved out of the bottom three as a result. They have only won once at home so far and only two other teams have scored less goals at home. The win last week was their first win in six games and their only two clean sheets came in their only two wins so far.
Dimitri Payet is the best long term fantasy choice in the West Ham team with Michail Antonio and Manuel Lanzini worth considering too.
Sunderland lost away to fellow strugglers Stoke last week and they're the only team without a win to their name. They have only taken one point at home and no other team has conceded more goals on their own patch. If their form doesn't improve David Moyes could be in trouble and the rumours of a Sam Allardyce return are already starting.
I can't see any Sunderland players worth considering for fantasy managers.
I think West Ham should be good enough to get their second win in a row in this game.
Prediction: 3-1
Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion
5.30pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool had the chance to join City and Arsenal at the top of the table, but they could only draw 0-0 at home to United on Monday night. They have played less home games than any other team, but only the top two have scored more goals at home. That draw with United was their first clean sheet of the season and Watford are the only team in the top half of the table to have conceded more goals.
Phillippe Coutinho, Roberto Frimino, Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane are all doing well for fantasy managers and James Milner isn't doing too badly either as he is taking Liverpool's penalties.
West Brom almost won at home to Spurs last week, but they had to settle for a point in the end. They have only lost once away from home and only Arsenal have a better defensive record on the road while only two other teams have scored less goals on their travels. They have drawn each of their last three games 1-1 and only three other teams have a better defensive record than them to date.
Nacer Chadli looks like the West Brom player fantasy managers should be interested in.
I think Liverpool's attacking prowess should see them win this game with a couple of goals to spare.
Prediction: 3-1
Sunday October 23
Man City v Southampton
1.30pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City could only draw at home to Everton last week and they haven't won in their last four games in all competitions. No other team has taken more points at home than City with only Arsenal scoring more goals at home. They have only managed one clean sheet so far despite winning their first six games and they have only taken one point from their last two games.
Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne are all among the very best performers for fantasy managers.
Southampton won at home to Boro last week to continue their current good run. They have only won once away from home so far and there hasn't been too many goals from either side in those games. They have taken 10 points from their last four games and they kept clean sheets in three of those games.
Charlie Austin, Dusan Tadic and Nathan Redmond are all performing well for fantasy managers right now and the Southampton defenders aren't doing too badly either.
Southampton aren't going to make things easy for City, but I think City will just sneak a win.
Prediction: 2-1
Chelsea v Manchester United
4pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea looked good in their 2-0 win at home to Leicester last week, but Leicester are far from impressive on their travels. They have won three of their four home games with only two teams scoring more at home and only three teams conceding less. After a dodgy run they have won their last two games and kept clean sheets in both of them too.
Diego Costa looks like a must have for fantasy managers right now with Eden Hazard doing well and the Chelsea defenders might just be on the up too.
United parked the bus at Liverpool on Monday night and came away with a scoreless draw. They have taken as many points on the road as they have at home, but they have struggled for goals away from home. They have drawn their last two games and the clean sheet against Liverpool was their third one in their eight league games.
None of the United players are exactly burning things up for fantasy managers and it's not easy to know which ones to opt for.
This is a really tough game to call and I think the chances are it will end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
That's it for this week.
See you next week.
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