Thursday 21 September 2017

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek Six

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. Last week was one of my worst weeks ever with one perfect outcome, two correct outcomes and seven incorrect. That leaves me rock bottom of my predictions league and here's a look at how the top five in that league stands.

POSITIONPLAYER NAMETHIS WEEKPOINTS
 1 (3) Brisbane City FC
3
385
 2 (5) immycader
Imran Cader
1
310
 3 (1) Wild Things
2
300
 4 (2) betojohn
ioannis papanikos
2
290
 5 (8) JediKnut
1
275

Saturday September 23

West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur 

12.30pm BST, London Stadium, London

West Ham got a good point in a scoreless draw at West Brom last week and that point moved them out of the bottom three on goal difference. This is only their second home game of the sason and they won the other one, but they did struggle to score goals at home last season. After losing their first three games they have taken four points in their last two and kept clean sheets in both of them.

If they can get their attack flowing West Ham players such as Javier Hernandez and Michail Antonio could do well for fantasy managers, but maybe not in this game.

Spurs could only draw 0-0 at home to Swansea last week and their results at Wembley are becoming a real worry for them. They have won both of their away games though without conceding a goal in the process. Their away record stopped them from truly challenging Chelsea for the title last season and it appears their home form might possibly do so this season.

Despite only scoring in one league game so far Harry Kane still has to be considered by fantasy managers while Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli are almost must haves along with the Spurs defenders and keeper.

I think Spurs will have too much in attack for a weak West Ham defence and should win by a couple of goals at least.

Prediction: 0-2

Burnley v Huddersfield Town

3pm BST, Turf Moor, Burnley

Burnley got another very good away result last week when they came away from Liverpool with a 1-1 draw. Their home form last season was very good for a team who didn't finish too far above the relegation zone. That home form will be crucial for them again this season and they will be targeting all three points in this game.

Burnley's defenders are good fantasy options at home in particular while Chris Wood and Robbie Brady could be worth a shot too.

Huddersfield got a good point at home to Leicester last week and they're still proving to be a very hard team to beat. Their home form is going to be very important for them, but the more points they get on the road the better too. They have only scored two goals in their last four games and their lack of goals looks like it will be their biggest problem this season.

Despite their reasonably good start to the season I'm still not sure Huddersfield players are the best option for fantasy managers.

I think this will be a close game, but Burnley's record at home suggests they will take the three points.

Prediction: 1-0

Everton v Bournemouth 

3pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool

Everton were beaten 4-0 at United last week and that result dropped them into the bottom three. They had a very good home record last season, but they have already lost one home game this season. They have lost their last three games and conceded nine goals in the process, but Bournemouth won't be as tough an opponent as Chelsea, Spurs and United were in those games.

If he can get a run in the team Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks like a reasonably priced option for fantasy managers.

Bournemouth got their first points of the season when they came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Brighton last week, but they're still second last in the table. They have lost both of their away games so far without scoring a goal and they only won three away games last season. Only West Ham and Everton have conceded more goals with only Palace, Everton and Swansea conceding less.

I'm still not sure there are any Bournemouth players to currently interest fantasy managers.

Everton badly need to get a few more points on the board and I think they will do just that in this game.

Prediction: 2-1

Manchester City v Crystal Palace 

3pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City won 6-0 away to Watford last week and they seem to be getting better with each game at the moment. Their home form let them down last season, but their 5-0 win at home to Liverpool suggests that might not be the case this season. They have an identical record to United so far and both teams have scored more and conceded less than any other team.

Sergio Aguero again looks like a must have for fantasy managers with David Silva, Gabriel de Jesus and their defenders all looking very good too.

Palace lost at home to Southampton last week and their next three games are against City, United and Chelsea. They lost both of their away games by the same 1-0 scoreline, but they will do well to concede only one goal in this game. They are the only team not to score so far even if five other teams have conceded more goals.

I can't see any Palace players to recommend to fantasy managers for the next few weeks at least.

It looks like it could be a matter of how many goals City get in this game and surely they will run out easy winners.

Prediction: 4-0

Southampton v Manchester United

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

Southampton won 1-0 away to Palace last week, but they're still struggling to score goals. Only two teams won less games at home last season and they have already failed to score in two of their three home games. They are struggling for goals yet again this season and that's not a good thing considering they're playing the joint top scorers in the league.

Southampton's defenders and keeper are all good fantasy options at the moment, but it's best to avoid their attacking players until they can find the net more often.

United won 4-0 at home to Everton last week and they are dead even with City at the top of the table. They dropped their only points so far in a draw in their last away game at Stoke, but only City have scored more goals on the road. They have started very well in games they would be expected to do well in and their real tests will come in quick succession in a few weeks.

There are so many very good fantasy options in the United team with Romelu Lukaku, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and all of their defenders and keeper the best of them.

United have found goals so easy to come by that I think they should win this game by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 0-2

Stoke City v Chelsea 

3pm BST, Bet365 Stadium, Stoke

Stoke lost away to Newcastle last week and they have slipped back towards the wrong end of the table. They usually do well at home in the Premier League and they have taken four points from their two games so far against Arsenal and United. They will be hard pushed to get something from this game as well, but their home games do get a little easier after this game.

It's hard to see which Stoke players might make a difference for fantasy managers on a consistent basis.

Chelsea could only draw 0-0 at home to Arsenal last week, but they're still third in the table and three points behind the two Manchester teams. They have won both of their away games so far and it was their away form which made the difference in the title win last season with 13 wins in 19 games. They haven't being scoring as frequently this season as they were last season and they have being conceding more goals too.

Alvaro Morata, Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta are all very good choices for fantasy managers.

Stoke have proved to be a hard team to beat at home this season, but I think Chelsea will get the better of a very close affair.

Prediction: 1-2

Swansea City v Watford

3pm BST, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea got a very good point at Spurs last week, but they are finding goals hard to come by. They have lost both of their home games so far without scoring a goal with only Watford and Palace conceding more goals at home. They have failed to score in four of their five games so far with only Palace scoring less goals.

Swansea's defenders have done well so far for fantasy managers and are available at a good price too if you're willing to take a risk on them.

Watford came crashing back to earth last week when their unbeaten start to the season ended in a 6-0 defeat at home to City. They have won both of their away games so far without conceding a goal and they're one of four teams with a 100% record on the road. It remains to be seen whether the drubbing they got from City last week will have an effect on them or not.

Despite last week's result Watford's defenders could still offer some value to fantasy managers while Abdoulaye Doucoure and Richarlison Andrade are reasonably priced attacking options too.

It's not too easy to see which way this game will go, but I think the spoils might just be shared.

Prediction: 1-1

Leicester City v Liverpool 

5.30pm BST, King Power Stadium, Leicester 

Leicester drew away to Huddersfield last week and at least their fixtures will get a little easier after this game. Their only win so far came at home, but they have had a tough start to the season. Only West Ham and Everton have conceded more goals so far and it could be another tough day for them.

Jamie Vardy is still by far the Leicester player most likely to do the business for fantasy managers 

Liverpool could only draw at home to Burnley last week and they missed the chance to move into the top four. They haven't won away from home yet with only West Ham conceding more goals on the road. Only the top two have scored more goals than Liverpool, but only two teams have conceded more and that's something they need to address quickly.

With Sadio Mane still suspended the best fantasy options in the Liverpool team could be Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Phillippe Coutinho, but they need to find some consistency.

Leicester beat Liverpool in the Cobarao Cup in midweek and they will be looking for more of the same, but they might have to settle for a share of the spoils.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunday September 24

Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United

4pm BST, Falmer Stadium, Brighton 

Brighton led away to Bournemouth last week, but they ended up losing 2-1. They were a tough team to beat at home last season and it's that home form which will decide their fate this season. They're still very close to the wrong end of the table, but they would be happy if they finished the season in their current position.

Pascal GroB has done very well for fantasy managers in the last two weeks and he won't break the bank either.

Newcastle won 2-1 at home to Stoke last week and that win moved them into the top four. They won their last away game at Swansea and they will feel this is a very good opportunity to get another three points on their travels. They have won three of their five games so far even though they have only scored six goals in those five games.

Newcastle defenders have done very well for fantasy managers so far and they might fare well in this game too.

This battle of the newly promoted teams could go either way and I think the points will be shared.

Prediction: 1-1

Monday September 25

Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion

8pm BST, Emirates Stadium, London

Arsenal got a good point away to Chelsea last week, but they're already six points behind the pacesetters. They have won their two home games so far with only United scoring more home goals. They have failed to score in three of their five games though and that's something they have to change quickly if their going to challenge for a top four place.

Alexander Lacazette and Aaron Ramsey could be good choices for fantasy managers, but Sead Kolasinac is increasingly looking like the best fantasy option in the Arsenal team.

West Brom drew 0-0 at home to West Ham last week and they're another team who are struggling to score goals.

West Brom defenders have done well for fantasy managers, but they could struggle to get a good return from this game. They only won three of their away games last season and their have a very poor record away to Arsenal. After a good start they haven't won in their last three games and they have found goals quite hard to come by.

I think West Brom will make things difficult for Arsenal, but the home team will emerge with the three points.

Prediction: 3-1

That's it for this week.

See you next week.

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