MY PREDICTIONS ... Saturday December 20 Manchester City v Crystal Palace 12.45pm GMT, Etihad Stadium, Manchester City have the chance to join Chelsea at the top of the table for a couple of days at least if they can win this game. They scraped a win at Leicester last week and will find goals hard to come by with Sergio Aguero injured until the new year. After a poor start at home they have won their last four home games in a row and will be big favourites to make it five. With Aguero out David Silva, Yaya Toure and maybe even Samir Nasri are the players to possibly watch for fantasy managers. Palace have only won once in their last 10 games and are only one point above the relegation zone. They have only won once in their eight away games and will have their work cut out to get anything out of this game. They have only lost three of their away games though and have scored more goals away from home than at home. Mile Jedinak is the Palace player most likely to succeed for fantasy managers. Despite Agueros absence I still think City have more than enough to win by a couple of goals. Prediction: 2-0 Aston Villa v Manchester United 3pm GMT, Villa Park, Birmingham Villa have only won two of their seven home games and theyre the lowest scorers in the league at home too. Last weeks defeat to West Brom was their first defeat in six games, but they have failed to score in half of their 16 league games. Theyre suited to playing on the break and might just get the chance to do so in this game. I cant see any Villa players setting the world of fantasy football alight right now although Brad Guzan hasnt done too badly. United have won their last six league games despite a dodgy defence as they have been clinical in front of goal. There is talk of them having a chance in the title race, but I very much doubt that and a top four finish is the height of their capabilities. United have won their last two away games after failing to win any of their first five and have conceded more than they have scored on the road. Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata are all well worth having for fantasy managers right now. I think United will continue their winning streak against a Villa team who struggle at home. I think my freinds Otis ,DZ Sokoloko ,Real Killer ,Judah Chapola,and many devoz would be happy with this. Prediction: 1-3 Sunday December 21 Newcastle United v Sunderland 1.30pm GMT, St. James Park, Newcastle Newcastle were well beaten by Arsenal last week and Spurs in the Capital One Cup in midweek, but they have been impressive for quite a while now. They have only lost once at home in their seven matches and have won their last four home games. Those four games were all won by one goal only and they kept clean sheets in all of them except for the 2-1 win over Chelsea. Papiss Cisse can be a good fantasy option when hes on his game and has done well in recent weeks. Sunderland are the draw specialists of the Premier League and will stay close to the wrong end of the table as long as they draw so often. They have only lost as many games as fourth placed West Ham, but they have drawn 10 of their 16 games. They have only lost once in their last seven league games and have only lost two of their seven away games so far. Costel Pantilimon has done well since taking over in goal for Sunderland and is worth including for fantasy managers. Its never easy to predict derby games, but I think Newcastle might just edge this one. Prediction: 2-1 Liverpool v Arsenal 4pm GMT, Anfield, Liverpool Liverpool have only won two of their last eight league games and have failed to score in four of those games. They have only won three of their eight home games and only Villa have scored less goals at home. The midweek Capital One Cup victory might be the boost they need to turn their season around, but they will have to improve in defence if they are to have any chance of pushing for a top four place. Its not easy to pick Liverpool players for fantasy managers at the moment, but they will surely come good at some stage with Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard the most likely suspects. Arsenal are very much an up and down team this season, but their win over Newcastle leaves them only two points outside the top four. They have a huge list of injuries at the moment and could find the festive period difficult if they cant get some of those injured players back. They have won three of their last four league games, but have only managed to win three of their eight away games. Alexis Sanchez continues to make himself a must have player for fantasy managers while Olivier Giroud, Santi Cazorla and my man of the moment Ox have hit good form in recent games. Liverpool need to get a result in this game, but I think Arsenal might just sneak it. Prediction: 1-2 Monday December 22 Stoke City v Chelsea 8pm GMT, Britannia Stadium, Stoke Stoke have won three and lost three of their seven home games and have only managed nine goals in those games. They have won at home to both City and Arsenal though as they have saved their best performances for games against the top teams. They will be hard pushed to get anything from this game, but they have done so before and can do it again. Stoke seem to share their achievements out among the team and as a result none of their players have been too impressive for fantasy managers. Chelsea got back to winning ways at home to Hull last week after the disappointment at Newcastle the previous week. Only City have won more away games and scored more away goals than Chelsea, but they have only won once in their last four away games. They could find themselves off the top of the table before this game if City can put Palace to the sword on Saturday and their reaction if that is the case will be interesting. Eden Hazard is the Chelsea player to have at the moment although he does his best work at home while Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas and all of their defenders are decent purchases too. Despite their good performances against the better teams in the league I still think Stoke will lose this game. Prediction: 1-3 Thats it for this week. See you next week.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 01:47:34 +0000