Wednesday 18 October 2017

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek Nine

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 despite only getting one perfect outcome, three corrrect outcomes and six incorrect and I moved four places off the bottom of my predictions League. Here's a look at how the top five of that league stands with me nowhere in sight.

 1 (1) Brisbane City FC
4
595
 2 (6) betojohn
ioannis papanikos
3
570
 2 (2) JediKnut
2
570
 4 (3) Wild Things
3
555
 5 (6) lukaszbee
1
535
 5 (5) immycader
Imran Cader
1
535

Friday October 20

West Ham United v Brighton And Hove Albion

8pm GMT, London Stadium, London

West Ham nearly held on for a 1-0 win at Burnley last week after going down to 10 men, but they had to settle for a point in the end. They have won two of their three home games and they kept clean sheets in those two games. They have only lost once in their last five games and they kept clean sheets in three of those games, but only Palace and Stoke have conceded more goals 

None of the West Ham players are really doing enough to recommend to fantasy managers, but a fit again Michail Antonio might just be able to do so.

Brighton must have thought they had taken the three points at home to Everton last week, but a last minute penalty cost them two points. They have lost three of their four away games with only Palace scoring less goals away from home. They have failed to score in half of their league games so far, but they're two points above the relegation zone and that's their goal for the season.

Pascal Gross has been the best fantasy option in the Brighton team and he's still available at a good price.

I think this will be a close game, but West Ham should have just enough to take the three points.

Prediction: 2-1

Saturday October 21

Chelsea v Watford

12.30pm BST, Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea lost away to Palace last week and they're already nine points behind the league leaders after only eight games. They have only won once in their four home games and have only scored four goals in those games despite being the top scorers at home last season. They have only won once in their last four games, but only the top three have scored more goals.

If Alvaro Morata is fit to return he's the best fantasy choice in the Chelsea team while Eden Hazard's return should increase as he plays more games.

Watford came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Arsenal last week and those three points moved them into the top four. They have won three of their four away games with only Spurs and City taking more points on the road and only three teams scoring more away goals. They have only lost one of their eight games with only the top three scoring more goals, but only three other teams have conceded more goals.

Richarlison is the Watford player to have for fantasy managers while Abdoulaye Doucoure isn't too far behind him.

As good as Watford have been up to now I don't think Chelsea will be as easy to turn over as Arsenal and they should win by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 3-1

Huddersfield Town v Manchester United

3pm BST, John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield 

Huddersfield lost 2-0 away to Swansea last week, but they're still three points above the relegation zone thanks to their good start to the season. They have only lost one of their four home games, but no other team has scored less goals at home. They haven't won in six games and they failed to score in five of those games with only the bottom two teams scoring less goals.

I can't see any Huddersfield players who might make a difference for fantasy managers.

United went to Liverpool looking for a point last week and came away with a drab 0-0 draw. They're unbeaten away from home with only City and Swansea conceding less away goals. They are still unbeaten with seven clean sheets in their eight games and only City have scored more goals with no other team conceding less.

Despite failing to score last week Romelu Lukaku is still a very good choice for fantasy managers while all of United's defenders and goalkeeper are very good choices too.

I can't see anything other than a comfortable United win in this game.

Prediction: 0-3

Manchester City v Burnley

3pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City put seven goals past Stoke last week to go two points clear at the top of the table. Only United and Arsenal have taken more points at home and they're the top scorers at home with 18 goals in four games. They have won their last six games and scored 26 goals in the process with no other team scoring more goals and only United conceding less.

With Sergio Aguero available again it's hard to know which City striker fantasy managers should choose, but David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane all offer loads of points from midfield.

Burnley left it late against 10 man West Ham last week, but they just about managed to take a point. They're still unbeaten away from home despite four tough away fixtures to start the season and it doesn't get any easier in this game. They have only lost one game and are unbeaten in six with clean sheets in three of those games.

Stephen Ward has done very well for fantasy managers at a good price with Chris Wood worth considering too.

With the form City are in I think they should win this game and win it with ease too.

Prediction: 4-0

Newcastle United v Crystal Palace

3pm BST, St. James' Park, Newcastle 

Newcastle led twice at Southampton last week, but they had to settle for a draw in the end. Only four teams have taken more points at home despite losing their first home game to Spurs. They have taken 11 points from their last six games and will be happy if they finish the season in their current position in the top half of the table.

None of the Newcastle players have done too much for fantasy managers so far, but Jamaal Lascelles and Matt Richie haven't done too badly.

Palace got their first goal and first points of the season last week when they won 2-1 at home to the champions. They have lost all of their away games and they're the only team not to score away from home with no other team conceding more goals on their travels. They have lost seven of their eight games and they're the lowest scorers with no other team conceding more goals.

Wilfried Zaha could be the man to save Palace now that he's back from injury and if he is he could do quite well for fantasy managers.

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

Prediction: 1-1

Stoke City v Bournemouth 

3pm BST, bet365 Stadium, Stoke

Stoke managed to score twice at City last week, but they ended up conceding seven goals with a makeshift defence. They have only lost one of their home games despite playing three of the big six teams, but only Watford have conceded more goals at home. They have lost three of their last four games and conceded 14 goals in those games and they're only one place and two points above the bottom three.

I don't see any Stoke players making an impact for fantasy managers at the moment.

Bournemouth put up a good fight at Spurs last week, but they lost 1-0 and that leaves them in the bottom three four points from safety. They have lost all of their away games with only Palace scoring less goals away from home. They have lost six of their eight games and failed to score in five of them with only Palace scoring less goals.

Like Stoke none of the Bournemouth players are doing too much to impress fantasy managers right now.

This has the makings of a very close game with both teams badly in need of points and I think Stoke will just about win.

Prediction: 2-1

Swansea City v Leicester City

3pm BST, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea won 2-0 at home to Huddersfield last week to move out of the bottom three. They have lost three of their four home games with only three teams scoring less goals at home and only Watford conceding more. Their win last week was their first in five games and they have failed to score in five of their eight games with only the bottom two scoring less goals.

Tammy Abraham would seem to be the Swansea player to have for fantasy managers and he's available at a good price too while their defenders and goalkeeper have fared well recently too.

Leicester took a point at home to West Brom on Monday night thanks to a late goal from Riyad Mahrez, but it wasn't enough to keep Craig Shakespeare in his job. They haven't won away from home yet, but they have at least drawn their last two on the road. They haven't won in their last six games and only five teams have conceded more goals.

Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire are the Leicester players most likely to get something for fantasy managers and maybe the change of manager will improve their form.

It's not easy to know what way this game will go, but I think it might just end with the spoils shared.

Prediction: 1-1

Southampton v West Bromwich Albion

5.30pm BST, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton 

Southampton came from behind twice last week to get a 2-2 draw at home to Newcastle. They have only won once in five home games and they failed to score in three of those games. They have failed to score in four of their eight games and have kept clean sheets in three of them.

Fraser Forster and Maya Yoshida are the Southampton players doing the best for fantasy managers, but they're doing their best work away from home.

West Brom led at Leicester on Monday night, but a late Riyad Mahrez goal meant they had to settle for a point. They have won once in their four away games, but they have only managed two goals in those four games. They haven't won in their last six games, but they did draw four of those games and no other team has drawn more games.

I can't see any West Brom players to recommend to fantasy managers and they have some tough games coming up.

Both of these teams are having problems winning games and scoring goals which leads me to believe it could end in a goalless draw.

Prediction: 0-0

Sunday October 22

Everton v Arsenal

1.30pm BST, Goodison Park, Liverpool

Everton left it late last week, but a last minute Wayne Rooney penalty saw them take a point at Brighton. They have won two and lost two of their four home games, but they have only scored three goals in those four games. They have only won once in their last seven games and they didn't keep a clean sheet in any of those games with only Palace and Stoke conceding more goals.

I can't see any Everton players who might make a difference for fantasy managers at the moment.

Arsenal led 1-0 away to Watford last week, but ended up losing 2-1 thanks to some poor finishing and bad refereeing as well as their own weaknesses. They have only managed one goal and one point in their four away games with only Palace scoring less goals on the road. They had taken 10 points from their four games before last week's defeat and kept clean sheets in those four games, but three of those games were at home.

Arsenal players have not done well away from home and it's hard to recommend any of them in this game, but Alexander Lacazette, Alexis Sanchez, Sead Kolasinac and their other defenders all seem to be good bets at home.

This is a game which could go either way and I think Arsenal should just about get the better of proceedings.

Prediction: 1-2

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool

4pm BST, Wembley Stadium, London

Spurs finally put their Wembley league hoodoo behind them last week when they just about managed to beat Bournemouth 1-0. They have only won once in their four home games with only three teams scoring less goals at home. They have taken 13 points from their last five games and kept clean sheets in four of them with only the top two scoring more and conceding less goals.

Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen are the best of the bunch in the Spurs team for fantasy managers with their defenders, keeper and Dele Alli all doing very well too.

Liverpool couldn't find enough to break down a resolute United defence last week and they had to settle for a 0-0 draw. They have only won once in four away games and no other team has conceded more goals away from home. They have drawn three of their last four games and only five teams have conceded more goals even if only the top three have scored more.

Phillippe Coutinho is the Liverpool player to have for fantasy managers while Mohamed Salah and maybe Roberto Firmino are worth considering too.

This is a big game for two teams trying to keep pace with the two Manchester teams at the top of the table and the chances are they will share the points.

Prediction: 2-2

That's it for this week.

See you next week.




1 comment:

  1. Hey Rover,
    I came across your blog searching for Premier League blogs on blogspot.
    It's fascinating to see your predictions for this week. As of this writing, 8 matches of matchweek 9 are done with 2 to go including big match, Tottenham vs Liverpool. :)
    Well Huddersfield pulled out a completely unexpected result of the season. Bournemouth won at Bet365 where Arsenal struggled, again an unexpected outcome. Watford showed some resistance against Chelsea, leading by a goal at one time but champions secured all 3 points at the end. Man City result was obvious.
    I wish Arsenal secure all 3 points at Goodison Park today, though they are shaky in their performance.

    And I am also covering a bit of Premier League on the name link. All the Fixtures/Results of the season are available along with clubs Standings. I have also incorporated players data of all the contesting clubs. (:
    COYG

    ReplyDelete