Predictions For Premier League Gamweek Two

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 five correct predictions and five incorrect and crucially I got my banker wrong. I've a lot of catching up to do in my predictions league as you can see from the table below which doesn't show me as I'm 110 points behind the leader already with only one team below me. The only way is up though I hope.

1 (1)				slats			1	+115	115
2 (1)				Brisbane City FC			1	+105	105
3 (1)				AndyMcL Andy McLundie			1	+100	100
3 (1)				IFK-Y Karl-Yngve Lund			1	+100	100
5 (1)				Lords Of The Field Ian Playford			1	+90	90
5 (1)				raibkhan			1	+90	90

Saturday August 19

Swansea City v Manchester United

12.30pm BST, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea got a credible draw away to Southampton last week, but they could find United a tougher team to repel. They won as many games as they lost at home last season, but only Hull conceded more goals at home. It's going to be a hard season for them if they can't find the right players to invest the fee for Gylfi Sigurdsson in.

With Sigurdsson gone and Fernando Llorente still injured it's hard to see any Swansea players to suggest to fantasy managers.

United are top of the table after a pretty easy 4-0 win at home to West Ham last week and the early season fixtures have been fairly kind to them. Only Chelsea and City took more points on the road last season and they actually got more points on their travels than they did at home. They have the chance to put a lot of points on the board before their fixtures get decidedly tougher in Gameweek eight.

Romelu Lukaku got his United career off to a flyer last week and is making himself a must have for fantasy managers already while Phil Jones looks like a reasonably priced alternative in defence and both Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have started well too.

I think United showed enough last week to suggest they should win this game with a couple of goals to spare.

Prediction: 0-2

Bournemouth v Watford

3pm BST, Dean Court, Bournemouth

Bournemouth lost 1-0 at West Brom last week and they could do with something from this game as they have City next week. They were a match for almost any team at home last season and they scored and conceded plenty of goals at home too. I'm not convinced Bournemouth can do as well this season as last season, but I hope they prove me wrong.

As I said last week it's not too easy to see which Bournemouth players will do the business for fantasy managers this season, but it might become clearer over the next few weeks.

Watford got a very good and well deserved point at home to Liverpool last week and they will hope for a similar performance in this game. Only three teams lost more away games than Watford last season and only Hull conceded more goals away from home. Like Bournemouth this could be a tough season for them, but the point they took off Liverpool will have given them some belief.

Stefano Okaka showed against Liverpool that he might just have something to offer fantasy managers and at a very reasonable price too.

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

Prediction: 2-2

Burnley v West Bromwich Albion

3pm BST, Turf Moor, Burnley

Burnley got a great win away to the champions last week and they will fancy their chances on their own patch considering how well they did at home last season. They won 10 home games last season and more of the same this season would surely give them a great chance of staying up. They only finished six points above the bottom three though and their form in the second half of the season was far less impressive than the first half.

Despite his two goals last week I'm still not sure Sam Vokes will get enough goals to justify his selection by fantasy managers while Burnley's defenders and goalkeeper could be a good option in home matches again this season.

West Brom got a narrow 1-0 win at home to Bournemouth last week and this is the second of their three early fixtures where they will hope to pick up points. They only won three of their away games last season, but they did draw seven on the road to help them to a top half finish. There weren't too many goals in their games last season and they will need to score a few more if they are going to improve.

West Brom might just have found another goal scoring defender in Ahmed Hegazi and if that's the case he's still available at a pretty good price for fantasy managers as is Ben Foster in goal for them.

Burnley will hope to continue their good home form from last season, but West Brom won't make it easy for them and might just sneak a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Leicester City v Brighton & Hove Albion

3pm BST, King Power Stadium, London

Leicester played well in scoring three goals away to Arsenal last week, but two late goals saw them end up with no points. They took the vast majority of their points at home last season with only six other teams scoring more goals at home. They have some tough games coming up and they will want a few points in the bag before playing United, Chelsea and Liverpool in three of their next four games.

I thought Jamie Vardy could do well this season and judging by last week's performance fantasy managers should be seriously considering him.

Brighton fought bravely at home to City last week, but they were outclassed and probably a little lucky only to lose 2-0. Their home form was impressive last season and it's hard to know how they will do away from home. If they're going to have a chance of staying up that home form will be crucial, but it already looks like a tough task.

At the moment it's not too easy to see which Brighton players might make a difference for fantasy managers and I'm not so sure that will change over the coming weeks.

If Leicester can reproduce their display from last week this game should be there for the taking for them.

Prediction: 3-0

Liverpool v Crystal Palace

3pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool

Liverpool looked like sneaking a win at Watford last week, but a last minute equaliser put paid to their hopes. Only the top two scored more goals at home last season, but they took almost as many points on their travels as they did at home. It's been a busy start to the season with Champions League qualification to cope with as well as Premier League action.

Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Frimino all look like very good options for fantasy managers while Phillippe Coutinho is best avoided as he looks like he could be on the move.

Palace were well beaten at home to newly promoted Huddersfield last week and they need to sort their defence out quickly. They took more points away from home than they did at home last season and they scored more goals on the road too. They only finished seven points above the bottom three last season thanks to a strong finish, but only eight teams scored more goals than them.

Wilfried Zaha looked dangerous for Palace last week and he is certainly worth thinking about for fantasy managers, but he's an injury doubt for this week.

Both teams might have struggled in defence last week and I think Liverpool's firepower will be too much for Palace.

Prediction: 3-1

Southampton v West Ham United

3pm BST, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton 

Southampton drew 0-0 at home to Swansea in a game they dominated, but they didn't really create enough good chances to earn the three points. Only three teams took less points at home last season and only Sunderland scored less goals at home. Their home campaign didn't get off to a great start with a goalless draw against Swansea last week and they have to find a way to score more goals at home.

Southampton's defenders look like pretty good bets for fantasy managers at the moment.

West Ham were well beaten away to United last week and they will have to perform a lot better over the next few weeks with their first four games away from home. They took almost as many points away from home as they did at home last season and scored more goals away from home too. With their first four games all away from home they could do with a much better performance than the one they put in last week. 

I'm not so sure there are any West Ham players to consider for fantasy managers at the moment even if I do have Chicarito in my own team.

Despite West Ham's poor performance last week they will still think they have a chance against goal shy Southampton, 

Prediction: 1-0

Stoke City v Arsenal

5.30pm BST, bet365 Stadium, Stoke

Stoke lost 1-0 at Everton last week and they have a fairly tough run of fixtures to start the season. Their home form wasn't up to it's usual standard last season with only seven wins on their own patch. They have some tough games coming up quite soon and could do with a good performance and result before those games.

I can't see any Stoke players to recommend to fantasy managers right now.

Arsenal left it late at home to Leicester last week, but they managed a 4-3 win and will want to build on that win in this game. Their away form in the second half of last season cost them a top four place, but only two teams scored more goals away from home. They started with three important points last week and they need to add three more in this game before heading to Liverpool next week.

Alexandre Lacazette and Aaron Ramsey are looking good for fantasy managers right now with Sead Kolasinac and Granit Xhaka not looking too shabby either.

Stoke will do all they can to put it up to Arsenal, but I think Arsenal might just win by the odd goal if they can defend better than last week.

Prediction: 1-2

Sunday August 20

Huddersfield Town v Newcastle United

1.30pm BST, Kirklees Stadium, Huddersfield

Huddersfield got life in the Premier League off to a great start with a 3-0 win away to Palace last week. They did quite well at home in the Championship last season and they will know what to expect at home to the team that won that league last season. They surprised me with their result at Palace last week and maybe they stand a far better chance of staying up than I thought they did.

Steve Mounie looks like he could be a very good third striker for fantasy managers while some of Huddesfield's defenders are available at a pretty good price too.

Newcastle lost 2-0 at home to Spurs last week and they showed very little in attack, but they weren't helped by Jonjo Shelvey's stupid red card. They have always prided themselves on their strength at home, but they will need to get a few points on the road this season. Their inability to add much to the squad which won promotion last season is a real problem for them and it's something they have to address quickly.

Newcastle are going to have to do an awful lot more to convince fantasy managers to select their players although Matt Richie could be considered as he is on set piece duty.

Despite Huddersfield's great win last week and Newcastle's poor display I still think the chances are this game will end all square.

Prediction: 1-1

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea

4pm BST, Wembley Stadium, London

Spurs were fairly impressive when they won 2-0 away to Newcastle last week and they will relish the chance to play the only team to finish ahead of them last season so early this season. They took more points at home than any other team last season and the were the only team unbeaten at home as well as having the best defensive record on their home patch. They will play their home games at Wembley this season though and how they fare there will determine whether they can match last season's exploits.

Harry Kane still looks like a fantasy must have even if he just can't score a goal in August while Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and all of Spurs' defenders are very good options too.

Chelsea got their title defence off to a disastrous start last week with a 3-2 loss and two red cards at home to Burnley. They won more away games than any other team last season even if four other teams did score more goals on the road. They have a fair bit of work still to do in the transfer market and it seems to have badly affected the start to their season.

Alvaro Morata was one of the few bright points for fantasy managers with Chelsea players last week while Willian is doing well too, but plenty of managers will be waiting for the return of Eden Hazard.

This is the first big game of the season and I think Spurs will continue to pile the pressure on Chelsea with a narrow victory.

Prediction: 2-1

Monday August 21

Manchester City v Everton

8pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester

City were impressive in winning 2-0 at Brighton last week and they look like they deserve the title favourites tag early on at least. It was City's home form which ruled them out of the title race last season with only 11 wins compared to the 17 of Chelsea and Spurs. They look like they might just be stronger in defence this time and that's what they will need if they're to fulfill their favourite's tag.

If City are going to rotate like they did last season it's hard to know which players to pick for fantasy managers, but Kevin de Bruyne, Gabriel de Jesus, Sergio Aguero, David Silva and their defenders all look pretty good to me.

Everton won 1-0 at home to Stoke last week, but they still look like they will struggle to score goals without Romelu Lukaku. They only won four games away from home last season and they have the potential to challenge for a top six place if they can improve on that away form. They have four very tough games in a row and we might get an idea of how good they are when they get through those games.

The addition of Gylfi Siggurdsen gives fantasy managers an option in the Everton team while Wayne Rooney showed last week that he still has something to offer.

I think City should have enough strength to get the better of Everton and continue their good start to the season.

Prediction: 2-0

That's it for this week

See you next week