Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2020 (September 19-21)

So is everyone glad the Premier League is back?

It still doesn't sit right with me that the fans are not able to attend fixtures, although I am no conspiracy theorist and know exactly the kind of issues the Coronavirus pandemic is creating. Even then it is strange to see some of the NFL teams bringing in a number of fans with the Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Cleveland Browns managing to do that, although the fact that there was a positive test in the stands at the Chiefs can underlines the kind of problem the sporting authorities and the government are going to have dealing with a highly contagious disease.

News reports that a second 'short term' national lockdown is about to be put in place in the United Kingdom means any fans being allowed into the Stadiums is very likely to be pushed back from the October 1st date that many had targeted.

2020 has been a pretty miserable year, but there feels like at least another dip to come during the long winter months, and that is before any real hope of a stronger, longer term solution to be put in place.

I will have a small section about the Fantasy Football game below like I do usually, but before that you can read my thoughts from the Premier League games to be played in GW2 of the 2020/21 season.

Everton v West Brom Pick: You don't want to get carried about the performance of a team after one week but I was very impressed with the way Everton performed in North London in their 0-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur.

Carlo Ancelotti has brought in some real quality in the middle of the pitch and Everton may still be looking to do some business before the close of the transfer window. They will certainly feel the early fixture list is a bonus for them as they prepare to follow the win over Spurs by facing three clubs that many will tip up to finish in the bottom six of the Premier League next May.

Producing more consistency at Goodison Park is going to be key for Everton if they are going to push towards the top six and they will certainly feel a newly-promoted West Brom team are there for the taking in the early Saturday kick off.

Slaven Bilic's men might have earned promotion, but they were not at their best in the second half of last season. If it wasn't for Brentford's own failures in the final week of the season, West Brom would not have been automatically promoted and they virtually fell over the line.

Last weekend they played well at times against Leicester City, but lacked the quality to produce more in the final third. Defensively there were mistakes made and I think that is something that will concern former defender Bilic ahead of this fixture.

West Brom do have a decent recent record at Goodison Park, but this Everton squad looks to be better than those they would have faced in those games. I do expect Everton to kick on after two wins to open the new season and I will expect them to win this fixture.

There might be some chances for West Brom, but Everton look like they can create plenty of chances of their own with the quality from set pieces making them dangerous. With Richarlison, James Rodriguez and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the final third, Everton should have the goals in the squad to make it three wins from three.

Leeds United v Fulham Pick: Newly promoted clubs would love to get off the mark at a higher level as soon as possible and both Leeds United and Fulham have to be targeting the full three points in this Premier League fixture.

Only six weeks ago both were playing in the Championship and both learned how quickly you can be punished at the Premier League level as they conceded at least three goals in defeats last weekend.

At least Leeds United showed some competitiveness in the 4-3 defeat at Anfield rather than the limp display Fulham produced in losing 0-3 at home to Arsenal. The two managers will respect the fact that they won't face that level of competition every week, but Leeds United have shown more than Fulham in the very, very early stage of the new season.

Leeds United also beat Fulham handily when these two clubs met at Elland Road in June and I do think they deserve to be favourites here. I don't want to make a snap judgement about Fulham after one game, but I do think they look very similar to two years ago when they were relegated from the top flight.

In that season Fulham were beaten in 16 of their 19 away Premier League games and defensively they look like a team that can be got at.

Scott Parker will believe his team can cause problems for Leeds United as they did when they met in June, but the home team had enough firepower to get past them on that day. I think that will be the case here too as they win a game featuring two or more goals.

Manchester United v Crystal Palace Pick: Most clubs have had a week of competitive action under their belts going into the middle of September, but Manchester United will have been preparing for the new season having been afforded an extra week off.

That came about thanks to a late finish to the 2019/20 season having reached the Europa League Semi Final, but there will be no excuses if they cannot get off to a strong start to the new campaign.

Fans are a little restless considering the lack of investment made by the owners, something that is far too common under this regime. While things look unlikely to change any time soon, it also means the reality of a title challenge looks to be some way away.

Even then there is pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to build on what was a successful if not an outstanding season. Reaching three Semi Finals, but failing to win silverware is not really good enough for Manchester United, but earning a top four spot was important even if the owners and management of the club means they don't bother investing from a position of strength.

Things may change by the time you are reading this, but for now the squad will go into the season looking to have just recharged the batteries for what looks a relentless season. Manchester United will basically be playing every few days until late January at the earliest and that means the whole squad are going to need to step up.

I do think they will be too good for a Crystal Palace team who did win at Old Trafford last season, but who have injury concerns of their own. Roy Hodgson's men have to be credited for their deserved win over Southampton last weekend and Wilfried Zaha remains motivated, but injuries at the back make Crystal Palace more vulnerable even if back to back clean sheets over the last seven days makes a mockery of that statement.

At the end of the day Crystal Palace did lose their last 4 away Premier League games and they have not scored in 5 away games in all competitions. The club have tried to rectify that by bringing in Michy Batshuayi on loan from Chelsea, but this is a big test at Old Trafford where Manchester United only conceded 17 Premier League goals last season.

Defensively Manchester United don't always look secure, but they did manage a clean sheet in winning at Selhurst Park in mid-July and they largely restricted the home side that day. Even in the 1-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace in August 2019 came thanks to some clinical finishing from The Eagles and that is not something you can expect to see regularly.

They might not have lost either of their last 2 visits to Old Trafford, but I expect that run to come to an end on Saturday. Manchester United might not be at their fluent best, but I think they will contain Crystal Palace and that should lead to a win with a clean sheet.

Arsenal v West Ham United Pick: It is very easy to get carried away by the opening weekend results and make vast predictions as to how a season may develop.

Arsenal crushed Fulham at Craven Cottage so people are feeling bullish about their chances of earning a top four spot, while West Ham United were beaten at home by Newcastle United and might have had some putting some money down on them being relegated.

You are never as good or as bad as an opening result, but this does look like the start of a difficult run for West Ham United. They didn't play badly last week, but were punished at the back and I do think they remain defensively vulnerable which is a concern with the next set of six fixtures coming up.

David Moyes is an experienced manager though and the win over Charlton Athletic in the League Cup Second Round will have just given the squad a boost. They should be set up to be hard to beat and West Ham United are unbeaten in 3 away Premier League games which includes a visit to Old Trafford.

And as well as Arsenal played last week you do have to put into context- I think Fulham will struggle in the Premier League and the result might not be as impressive come May as it looked on the opening weekend.

Arsenal have shown improvement under Mikel Arteta and some of their Football really impressed, but I do think this is a team that is still more functional than one that will dominate as they did in their heyday under Arsene Wenger. Defensively they can still be exploited and that is what David Moyes will be asking his players to do with the pace they do have in the final third.

I do think West Ham United will have their chances in this one, and I think the underdog looks a little under-rated. Neither team can really point to their defensive strength and I think there will be goals in this one as long as the chances created are being taken.

I did lean towards West Ham United having enough to earn a result and both teams hitting the net, but Arsenal are unlikely to sit back if they need to chase the three points and I think the most likely outcome is that there will be at least three goals shared out.

Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: This might not have been the best week for either Southampton or Tottenham Hotspur, but it would have been much worse for the latter if they had been Knocked Out of the Europa League in the Second Qualifying Round.

The Europa League path back into the Champions League was the route Jose Mourinho took when managing Manchester United in 2016/17 and he will feel his Tottenham Hotspur team are capable of a very deep run as a back up to the top four aspirations.

A win in Bulgaria on Thursday will be a boost, but the bigger one might be the expected signing of Gareth Bale which is due to be completed before the weekend. That will give Jose Mourinho more attacking options and a real world class performer to pair up with Harry Kane in the final third.

For now they may have to give Bale a bit of time, but that won't mean Tottenham Hotspur can have any excuses for more dropped points having lost to Everton last Sunday. A trip home from Bulgaria is not ideal, but Spurs are playing a Southampton team who have lost 2 from 2 games and have failed to score in either.

The Saints did create chances at Selhurst Park last Saturday, but they looked vulnerable at the back and I do think Tottenham Hotspur will cause problems for them. However, I do believe Southampton can benefit from playing a team against whom they don't have to deal with the same type of expectations that they had in their first 2 matches.

The side have won their last 2 home Premier League games against Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton challenged them in all 4 meetings in the 2019/20 season. Having to go without Stuart Armstrong and Nathan Redmond is a blow for Southampton, but even then I think they can play their part in this early kick off and I think it will be a game which features at least three goals.

Newcastle United v Brighton Pick: If recent history is anything to go by, this may not be the most entertaining fixture to come on Super Sunday when four Premier League games are set to be played.

Both League games between Newcastle United and Brighton finished goalless last season and only four goals have been scored in the last 6 between them.

2 of the last 3 at St James' Park between these opponents have finished goalless and Newcastle United and Brighton have combined for 3 clean sheets in their first 4 games played this season.

Newcastle United did create chances in their win at West Ham United last weekend and also looked a little vulnerable at the back, but I am not sure Brighton have enough goals in them to hurt them here.

On the other hand Brighton did play well against Chelsea and may be more dangerous than some expect, but I do feel these teams cancel one another out. Steve Bruce will look for his Newcastle United team to be organised, while Graham Potter will want his Brighton team to dominate the ball.

The feeling is that Newcastle United can largely contain Brighton, but they will need their new signings to gel together to hurt their visitors when they do go forward. I think Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser are decent signings for Newcastle United and they may snap their poor recent record against Brighton, but I think the simple play here is expecting at least one of the teams failing to hit the back of the net.

Chelsea v Liverpool Pick: Both Liverpool and Chelsea got off to winning starts on the opening weekend of the season against clubs they would have been favoured to beat, but on Sunday they have a chance to announce their intentions to win the Premier League title this time around.

Liverpool did finish 33 points clear of Chelsea last season, but the latter have spent a lot of money to close that gap and Frank Lampard will know this is the chance for his team to produce a statement performance.

There is no love lost between the clubs in recent history and even their last Premier League meeting was very tetchy when Lampard and Jurgen Klopp seemed to fall out. Chelsea are potentially going to be missing a number of their new signings, but being at home means the expectation is going to be on them to show they are ready to take the next step in their development.

It is also a big game for Liverpool who have spoken about 'attacking the title' rather than 'defending' it and their 4-3 win over Leeds United was an important result. There have been some inconsistent performances from Liverpool in recent months and 2 wins from their last 8 away games in all competitions has to be a big concern for them.

They can't afford to defend as poorly as they did last Saturday and they will be very aware of what this Chelsea team can do having been a little fortunate to come away with a 5-3 win over them in the Premier League in July. Chelsea also created the better chances in the 1-2 home defeat to Liverpool twelve months ago and I do think they are a big looking underdog in this fixture.

The injuries to what are going to be key players is a worry though and the potential absence of Christian Pulisic is a real concern. His attacking thrust will be missed, but Chelsea should still pose questions for Liverpool, although defensively they do look very vulnerable themselves.

For me the most likely outcome is a 2-1 result either way or a high-scoring draw. With that in mind I would be very surprised if we don't see a few goals in what could be a very exciting fixture.

Leicester City v Burnley Pick: The final game on a long Sunday of Premier League action comes from the King Power Stadium as Leicester City look to back up their 0-3 win over West Brom last weekend. They host a Burnley team who are playing their first Premier League game of the 2020/21 season, and one who can't be underestimated.

There were all sorts of rumours that Sean Dyche would be leaving Burnley at the end of the 2019/20 season and I do think they could have been vulnerable if he did. While Dyche is here as manager, Burnley will continue to overachieve even if they eventually decide to cash in on James Tarkowski.

Burnley have been very hard to beat in their most recent away Premier League games and 1 loss in their last 8 on their travels has to be respected. That did come in a heavy defeat to Manchester City, but in the same run Burnley have won at Old Trafford and drawn at Anfield.

Their hosts struggled down the stretch which will concern them, but Brendan Rodgers has to be pleased with the way his Leicester City performed against West Brom.

The two Premier League games between these teams last season were decent to watch and I do think the return of James Maddison is huge for Leicester City. They won't have things completely their own way, but Leicester City have won 3 of their last 4 at home against Burnley and that has to be acknowledged.

My feeling is that the home team will edge this one and another 2-1 scoreline between these teams is not out of the realms of possibility.

Aston Villa v Sheffield United Pick: This was the first fixture that was played after the three month suspension of English Football back in June and it proved to be a pivotal one when the final points were tallied up in July.

The goalless draw meant the point earned by Aston Villa kept them in the Premier League, although rivals Bournemouth and Watford will be aggrieved that the point was secured thanks to an error in the goal-line technology. Instead of awarding Sheffield United what was a clear first half goal, the technology was bamboozled and the eventual point earned was a huge one for the hosts.

Aston Villa now come off another break in the Premier League to meet Sheffield United having not played on the opening weekend of the 2020/21 season. They have won at Burton Albion in the League Cup to get some competitive football back in the legs of their key players, but this is a big game for Aston Villa to show what they have learned from last season and whether the new additions to the squad can make it a relatively more comfortable season.

Scoring goals was a problem for Aston Villa, but they showed some real improvement defensively following the three month break. That could be key for them here against a Sheffield United team that can be dangerous from set pieces, but who have had some of the confidence knocked after losing 4 Premier League games in a row and scoring a single goal in that run.

Chris Wilder will not be happy with the first week of the new season as his side lost their opening Premier League game and were also beaten in the League Cup Second Round. The manager has usually gotten a pretty good reaction from his team, but he will want to see a little more stubbornness in the defensive areas where Sheffield United were strong for much of last season.

Losing Dean Henderson will have hurt, but I do think Sheffield United should be good enough to contain this Aston Villa attack. However, The Blades have lacked some sharpness of their own and I would not be surprised if at least one of these clubs can keep a clean sheet.

Wolves v Manchester City Pick: In the early weeks of this 2020/21 season I do think we are going to see some up and down performances from teams who are still at different stages of their recovery for a new campaign. The short off-season and the heavy schedules are going to play havoc and managers are already admitting that within their own squads players are further along with their progress than others.

To compound the issue will be the fact that some of the Premier League clubs playing this weekend have yet to play a competitive fixture while others have had two games in the legs. That could certainly have an impact in the results and it is something Wolves will be looking to take advantage of when they face Manchester City on Monday night.

It has not all be plain-sailing for Wolves who beat Sheffield United last week, but were then upset at Molineux by Stoke City in the League Cup Second Round. Nuno Espirito Santo did pick a relatively strong team for that League Cup tie so will be disappointed, but Wolves have shown they can raise their levels when facing up to some of the better teams in the Premier League.

They will need to do that on Monday night in the final Premier League in this round of fixtures as they prepare to host Manchester City. Revenge will be on the mind of Pep Guardiola's squad having lost twice to Wolves in the Premier League last season, although there hasn't been the kind of investment in the playing staff that so many believed there would be.

It remains a strong squad, although the absence of Sergio Aguero is a blow, and Manchester City will be itching to get out there and set the record straight against this opponent.

The players will also want to erase those memories of their last performance when beaten in the Champions League Quarter Final by Lyon. That result would have stung all at the club, but Manchester City are still very much a title contender and there is enough here to think they can close the 18 points to Liverpool as long as they stay healthier than last season.

This fixture might be a tough one for them as they have not looked like they have matched up well with a Wolves team that has pace on the counter attack to get to Manchester City's soft underbelly. However, Manchester City created plenty of chances in both Premier League games against Wolves last season and it was the Ederson sending off in the 12th minute at Molineux which really meant it was a tough day in the office.

Even then Manchester City led here twice before eventually succumbing to a defeat.

Wolves were beaten by Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Molineux last season and needed to come from behind to earn results against both Manchester clubs. While Manchester City were not at their best on their travels last season when it comes to the consistency levels, I do think they can find a way to edge to the three points here with their superior attacking quality likely to give them the advantage.

It should be a very good way to close the latest round of Premier League games in what should be an entertaining fixture.

MY PICKS: Everton to Win & Over 1.5 Goals

Leeds United to Win & Over 1.5 Goals

Manchester United Win to Nil

Arsenal-West Ham United Over 2.5 Goals

Southampton-Tottenham Hotspur Over 2.5 Goals

Newcastle United-Brighton Both Teams to Score- NO

Chelsea-Liverpool Over 2.5 Goals

Leicester City & Over 1.5 Goals

Aston Villa-Sheffield United Both Teams to Score- NO

Manchester City & Over 1.5 Goals

Fantasy Football GameWeek 2

The first week of the Official Fantasy Football game is in the books and it is an easy time to have plenty of knee-jerk reactions to what you have seen on the opening weekend.

At this point I imagine everyone wants to get off the trendy Southampton Hype Train, while Tottenham Hotspur players are no longer facing a positive run of fixtures to begin the campaign and those assets need to be sold, sold, sold!!

On the other side an upset win for Everton in North London and three good looking fixtures means their assets are being purchased at a huge rate, while both Manchester clubs are back in action.

Ultimately it is GW1 though and there is a long season ahead of us with twists and turns to come which makes me think this is not the time to panic. My own squad looks a little more vulnerable than I felt it did when I picked it ten days ago, but I don't want to deviate from the plan although some of the parts of said plan may have been pushed forward a week.

Personally I don't want to take a hit right now having found a reasonable path to bring in at least one strong Manchester United and Manchester City in time for the start of GW3. They may not be the same assets I had targeted before GW1 began, but a part of the reason for that is one name in my fifteen.

DELE ALLI.

Like many I am sure the 'All or Nothing' Tottenham Hotspur documentary on Amazon has made for interesting viewing ahead of the new season and it did have me convinced that Dele Alli was going to be an important player for Jose Mourinho.

However he was subbed off at half time in the 0-1 defeat to Everton, missed the trip to Bulgaria in the week and has been linked with a move away after Spurs look to have secured the signing of Gareth Bale.

Unsurprisingly his value has dropped as many owners jump off the bandwagon and what I am going to do with him is the big question ahead of this GW- if not for the uncertainty I was looking to bring in a Manchester United and Manchester City asset before GW3 and Alli was going to be the player I would have sacrificed having kept some money in the bank to make changes, but the drop in price was very much unforeseen.

It's not going to ruin my plans as such, but I do think it is a little frustrating to have left myself in this position.

I am very much going to be considering my transfer plans right up until the deadline on Saturday morning, but at this stage it would be a surprise if I didn't choose to make one.

Timo Werner looks like he will be passed fit to play against Liverpool so the squad is largely in a good position aside from Dele Alli's situation. At this stage I can't really recommend any Tottenham Hotspur attacking assets outside of Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son as we will need to see how Gareth Bale is going to be added to the mix and whether a change in formation is going to be needed to incorporate the Welshman and Sergio Reguilon who is also looking like he will be signed by Spurs from Real Madrid.

Last week I can mainly look to Mohamed Salah as to the reason my GW1 score ended at 74 points with 40 of those coming from the Egyptian who had been handed the Captain armband. I am never as happy to do that when Salah is playing away from home like he is this week, but I am not sure I understand those who are talking about selling him right now?

Liverpool are one of the stronger teams in the Premier League which means they are largely fixture proof and Mohamed Salah looked the sharpest of their attacking options in their win over Leeds United.

Outside of Salah it was a pretty 'meh' week to be honest having seen Che Adams resort to the kind of form he showed when I selected him last season by missing a chance that looked easier to score. Dele Alli's issue has already been spoken about, and I am going to need more consistency from those I have selected to make up for the fact that Chelsea play Liverpool this weekend.

In the FPL Community there has been a lot of talk about what to do with the first Wild Card this season which has to be used before GW16- some had planned a GW1 team knowing they would use it in either GW2 or GW3, especially with four clubs not in action on the opening weekend of the season.

My personal approach was to pick a team I could largely rely upon through GW4 of the FPL game knowing I would be able to use up to three transfers to fight any fires that have popped up (looking at you again Dele!)

The reasoning I have for this approach is that I feel I can have a pretty strong team for the first four rounds of the season and it would also cover the transfer window which is open until October 5th. GW4 is the final one before the international break so I would be happy to break out my Wild Card either ahead of GW5 if the transfers have changed the outlook for the players I have in my squad, or having that option in the weeks ahead when we will begin to find out which of the clubs are going to have a 'DGW' in January when the League is split across two match days.

At that stage we should also have a lot more information about tactics, positions of players and whether there are a few bargains to be had, but a lot can change (injuries, needing multiple hits to change the squad as I would like) which may impact when that WC is used.

But overall it isn't one I wish to use this side of the next international break if I can help that at all.

Over the coming hours I will have a good think about what to do with the Alli problem- I think I have a lean, but need to wait for final pressers to really knuckle down on it.

Good luck to all in GW2.

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2019 (November 30-December 1)

Everyone who knows anything about English Football will understand the importance of December to clubs around the country with games being set to come thick and fast.

Over the next ten days there are three full rounds of Premier League fixtures with the first of those being played on Saturday and Sunday this weekend.

On Tuesday through Thursday there is another full round of fixtures and then next Saturday a third round begins which is going to be concluded on Monday. That means a busy time for managers and also for fans and Fantasy Football players and I will have three separate threads ready to go.

This one is out on Friday and my next two will hopefully be out on Tuesday and Friday in the coming days.


Teams coming out of the European action might be a little more cautious with their team selections in this round of fixtures compared to those clubs who have had a week to prepare for fixtures. It was an important week for Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur who join Manchester United and Wolves with a guaranteed spot into the Knock Out Rounds of the Champions League and Europa League respectively. The first two of those clubs have also secured their spots within the Group which will make Match Day 6 fixtures meaningless and likely means a number of first team players will be given a chance to get some rest.

Manchester United and Wolves can still win their Groups but will need home results on Match Day 6, while Arsenal are almost certainly going through to the Last 32 of the Europa League barring an embarrassing defeat at Standard Liege.

Chelsea should also be very confident having earned a 2-2 draw in Valencia meaning a home win over Lille is enough to progress to the Last 16 of the Champions League.

However Champions League winners Liverpool are perhaps in the stickiest of positions after a 1-1 home draw with Napoli. Instead of winning and guaranteeing top spot in the Group, Liverpool have to either earn a positive result in Salzburg or score at least four goals to control their own destiny.

Any other result and Liverpool will need Genk to upset Napoli in the other game in the Group and at least earn a point in Italy to have any hope. It is not ideal for a club who have a lot more games in December than the other Premier League clubs and the missed opportunity to make wholesale changes to a squad and also progress to the Last 16 is now passed them. I still would expect Liverpool to do enough to get through, but Salzburg have shown they are far from an easy touch.


For now all of the managers are focusing on the Premier League and earning a result this weekend. I am also looking for a strong end to November after a bit of an unfortunate time for the selections last week.

I have no idea how the Aston Villa versus Newcastle United game ended with less than three goals shared out considering the chances created, but it is what it is and I can only look to bounce back this week.


Newcastle United v Manchester City Pick: The opening Premier League game of the weekend comes from St James' Park and I think Manchester City look plenty short in the outright market when you consider their recent form.

A single win from the last 4 games in all competitions is a concern and Sergio Aguero's absence will be magnified if Manchester City can't get back to scoring goals. They have only scored more than once in the victory during that poor run and Manchester City are not creating the chances that they were.

It won't be easy to get things right at Newcastle United where Manchester City have only won once in their last 3 visits. Even an opening goal inside sixty seconds could not change that narrative last season in Manchester City's 2-1 defeat here and I am intrigued in backing the home team with a start.

That might sound a little strange considering Newcastle United's below par performance against Aston Villa on Monday Night Football. The scoreline might have read 2-0, but Aston Villa had plenty of chances to really embarrass Newcastle United on the day and so I can see why people might think they are going to be blown away in this one too.

However Newcastle United have long been a more effective home team than an away one and they have avoided defeat in all games played since the opening weekend 0-1 loss to Arsenal. They have been pretty good in those games for the most part and Newcastle United have pace in the final third and also a big team that can be dangerous from set pieces which has to worry a Manchester City team that have not kept clean sheets in recent weeks.

Steve Bruce has to be brave enough to take advantage of the clear vulnerabilities Manchester City have and I do think the home team will cause problems if they are brave in their play. It is still difficult to believe Manchester City will lose, but I would be disappointed if Newcastle United can't push them all the way and having a two goal start on the Asian Handicap should be good enough for us to at least receive the stake back.

I don't often want to oppose a Manchester City team who are capable of wiping out any opponent when at their best- however, we have not really seen them firing on all cylinders in the last three weeks and the absence of Sergio Aguero may mean a tight win is on the cards for the visitors at best.


Burnley v Crystal Palace Pick: On paper there will be plenty who think this will be the last game shown on any highlights programme you may watch on a Saturday night, but I am not sure that the layers are underestimating the chance of a few goals being shared out in this one.

Out of the two teams Burnley have been better form than Crystal Palace, but I don't really want to criticise Roy Hodgson's men considering the fixture list that has been negotiated. The performances have been a little mixed, but things are easing up from this week and I think Crystal Palace will be encouraged by how well they played against leaders Liverpool in their 1-2 defeat last weekend.

If they can produce those levels in the upcoming fixtures I think Crystal Palace will win more games than they lose and there is a considerable threat they can pose for teams with the forwards they have.

Burnley will certainly be respecting the challenge in front of them, but they can't help but be feeling confident after back to back 3-0 wins in the Premier League. Sometimes results can cloud the levels being produced, but Burnley have been creating a lot of chances in recent games and in Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes they have players who can score goals for the club.

The home team have scored at least two goals in 3 of their last 4 at Turf Moor and they should be able to create chances against this Crystal Palace defence which has been far from watertight. However Crystal Palace have also found an attacking threat in their away games and they have scored at least two goals in 3 of their last 5 on their travels despite the tough Stadiums they have visited.

This is another, but I do think these teams can provide the chances to share out at least three goals on the day. The odds against quotes for that look very appealing when you consider 3 of the last 4 between Burnley and Crystal Palace at Turf Moor have seen that number hit and that will be my play this weekend.


Chelsea v West Ham United Pick: If Valencia had some composure in the final third Chelsea would have been in big trouble in their Champions League Group, but Frank Lampard's men returned from Spain with a valuable point.

They will have to beat Lille at Stamford Bridge to ensure progress through to the Last 16 of the competition, but Lampard will turn his attention back to the Premier League before that. Chelsea will play three League games in a row before that Champions League Match Day 6 game and The Blues have to feel they can earn at least seven points from the fixtures in front of them.

First up is this very winnable looking fixture against West Ham United who have lost 3 League games in a row and conceded at least three goals in each of those defeats. Manuel Pellegrini is feeling the pressure and his team showed little fight until it was too late in the 2-3 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last week.

Reports suggest West Ham United have put a shortlist together of potential replacements for Pellegrini, although he can end those rumours by guiding West Ham United to a win at Stamford Bridge. That looks a tall task for a team who have struggled defensively and who have scored just 2 goals in their last 5 away games in all competitions.

Chelsea are a team who can create chances and I do think we will see more of that on Saturday. The injury to Tammy Abraham is a blow, and he could be absent this weekend, but I expect Chelsea to still have enough in the final third to win and win well.

In recent years hosting West Ham United has been a challenge for Chelsea who have won 3 of the last 6 here against them. One of those was last season when Eden Hazard scored twice in a 2-0 win for Chelsea, but I think others can step up and help see off an opponent lacking confidence and with players wondering whether their manager has much of a future at the club.


Liverpool v Brighton Pick: The 1-1 home draw with Napoli in the Champions League has just given Liverpool a problem while there has to be a concern with the lack of clean sheets being produced by the team. As long as they remain on top of the Premier League I don't think any of the fans will be overly concerned, but Liverpool will need to be better defensively to make sure they are not putting too much pressure on their strikers to score the goals to win games.

At Anfield it has not been a problem for Liverpool who have won 13 League games in a row here and they have scored at least twice in each of those victories. They should be able to create plenty of chances against this Brighton team who have looked very weak defensively in losses to Manchester United and Leicester City either side of the international break.

Liverpool should be at full strength for this one despite the upcoming Merseyside derby that is coming up during the week and I think that will lead to a relatively straight-forward win for the home team.

I have been impressed with Graham Potter's impact at Brighton so I don't want to disrespect them, but it has been clear this is a team that is very different when it comes to games at the Amex Stadium and those on their travels. Last week even being at home could not help Brighton, while the team have lost comfortably at Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United in the Premier League already this season.

Brighton did beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-0, but that game was at home and I think they are going to struggle to contain Liverpool at Anfield.

The lack of clean sheets will make this selection look unappealing to some, but I do think Liverpool have defended well enough in recent home games to think those are going to come. Teams have just been clinical in front of goal and I am going to back Liverpool at odds against to win this one with a clean sheet as Brighton have struggled for consistency in the final third.

Aaron Connelly could be back to give them a boost and Brighton should provide a threat from set pieces, but Liverpool should control much of this game. At some point that control is going to be enough to limit teams in the final third and produce the clean sheets which should have arrived from the statistical breakdown of their games.

At odds against it is worth chancing that Liverpool can earn a fourth clean sheet in a row in a winning effort against Brighton.


Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth Pick: Games are coming thick and fast at this time of the Premier League season and that is especially the case for Jose Mourinho who is the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur. Instead of having some time to really put his ideas across to his squad, Mourinho is working with limited days between games at the moment and that means it is a real work in progress despite inheriting a decent enough squad.

The main problems for Tottenham Hotspur all season has been defensively and that is an area that will be irritating Mourinho even two games into his tenure with the club. In both games Tottenham Hotspur have conceded two goals and even the huge recovery against Olympiacos won't have given the new manager much relief as he looks to imprint his standard on the team.

I do think Tottenham Hotspur will improve under Mourinho's guidance because his teams have always been pretty secure defensively, but we might not see that impact for a few weeks. In the meantime the manager will rely on a strong set of forwards who have provided seven goals in his first two games in charge and I think there could be more scored on Saturday.

Tottenham Hotspur have played well when they have hosted Bournemouth and they might be catching them at the right time with injuries and back to back defeats for The Cherries.

Eddie Howe's men have had a good season to date, but they were well beaten by Wolves last weekend and this is a difficult ground to visit. Bournemouth being without Josh King is a blow for a team who will look to capitalise on the chances that may come their way, while Eddie Howe's future is once again being discussed as the likes of Everton show interest in the English manager.

I have been impressed with the defensive work that Bournemouth have done this season, but they have been in a poor run away from home. The lack of goals in those games is a concern too and I think Jose Mourinho might be able to enjoy a more serene home game in the Premier League than he had in the Champions League.

My feeling is that Tottenham Hotspur can win a fifth home game in a row against Bournemouth and I think they can win fairly comfortably on the day. Bournemouth have just lacked a real threat in recent away games and missing Josh King will make that much tougher for the visitors, while Spurs have scored seven goals in two games under the new manager. With that in mind I think Tottenham Hotspur have enough in them to cover the Asian Handicap and win at home in the Premier League for the first time since the end of September.


Southampton v Watford Pick: Two managers who have to be feeling the pressure will guide their teams into the late Saturday Premier League kick off and I don't think it is too far-fetched to suggest the losing team will be getting their P45 ready at full time for either Ralph Hasenhuttl or Quique Sanchez Flores.

The concern for Southampton and Watford is that they will be in danger of being cut off in the bottom three with a loss. With the money involved in the Premier League neither club will want the drop into the Championship and both owners have shown they are ready to make an immediate change if they feel their current manager is not going to get the job done.

The late goal conceded at Arsenal was a huge blow for Southampton as they dropped two points, but the performance will be encouraging. However the players have struggled at St Mary's all season and the 1-2 loss to Everton last time out here continued a worrying trend of conceding far too many goals.

Southampton do get on the scoreboard here, but that isn't enough if you are conceding at least two goals in every game and Watford do have players who can take advantage of that as they did in the 0-2 win at Norwich City.

That has been the one moment of light in an otherwise cloudy beginning to Flores' second tenure in charge at Vicarage Road. The 0-3 home loss to Burnley would have hurt everyone associated with Watford and I think the manager will be well aware that his time will come to an end if they can't earn a result here.

Games between these clubs have not featured a lot of goals in recent seasons, but both look capable of scoring and unlikely to keep a clean sheet. The 1-1 scoreline is a real player, but I think the motivation for the three points will be extremely high in both camps and the attacking players could have spaces to find a way to share out three goals on the day at a decent enough price.


Norwich City v Arsenal Pick: There are rumours that Unai Emery could lose his job as soon as Friday after Arsenal were beaten by Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League and the manager does look like a man who knows he does not have long left now. The Arsenal board are in meetings on Friday so the entire feel of this club might be a lot different by the time this fixture kicks off.

Right now the players look as disillusioned as some of the fans with the tactics run by Emery and even if he is in charge on Sunday I would worry about how much effort the Arsenal team want to put into this one. On the other hand he could be sacked by then and even then there will be some uncertainty as players wonder who the new manager is going to be and where they are going to stand and all of this adds up to being an opportunity for Norwich City.

The Canaries won't be worrying about problems others have considering the injuries they have been dealing with throughout this season. A newly promoted club who have not spent a lot of money in the summer were always going to find it difficult to plug the gaps, but Norwich City have not allowed themselves to be mentally worn down.

A lack of quality might cost them when it is all said and done in May, but the team are playing for the manager and the 0-2 win at Everton last Saturday is a big boost in confidence for them. They will be looking to back that up here, but you can't ignore how poorly Norwich City have defended at Carrow Road as Watford became the fifth Premier League club to leave the ground having scored at least two goals.

Norwich City have unsurprisingly lost 3 in a row here when you think of the goals they are conceding, but in general they do create problems of their own too. I expect that to be the case against an Arsenal team who have looked vulnerable any time a team has gone after them and I expect Norwich City to really want to pressure them from the opening minutes.

I can't completely ignore Arsenal's lack of away goals in the Premier League, but this is a team who can create chances and have some quality players in the forward line. I expect those to play their part in this fixture and I think a high-scoring game is in the offing.

The first 5 Norwich City games at Carrow Road all featured at least four goals shared out, while 2 of the 6 Arsenal away games have also hit that mark. If there is an early goal in this one, I can see an entertaining game played out with both teams creating a host of chances and those opportunities can lead to a game that features at least four goals shared out.


Wolves v Sheffield United Pick: The 3-3 draw at Sporting Braga on Thursday night underlines why I find it hard to really back Wolves with any confidence and I certainly have to be a lot more sure about their chances if I am going to consider them at odds on to win a game.

It is especially the case this Sunday when Wolves host Sheffield United who are unbeaten away from home and that includes them visiting Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. Chris Wilder will have had a full week to work with his players and the energy they use can certainly make things difficult for a squad that were playing in difficult conditions on Thursday in Portugal.

Wolves have shown they can handle the pressure of playing both the Europa League and Premier League within days of each other and they are in fine form. You can understand why some would want to back them, but the newly vacated job at Arsenal has to be a potential distraction for manager Nuno Espirito Santo who is considered amongst the favourites to be given the job at the Emirates Stadium.

I don't think the manager is one who will lose focus, but Wolves are not a massively high-scoring team and that will give Sheffield United a chance in this one.

I can make enough of a case for both teams here and that means I won't be having an opinion on this one that will be backed.


Leicester City v Everton Pick: Football can always throw a curveball into the equation when you think you have got a good read of a fixture, but I really can't see anything but another Leicester City win this weekend.

The last live Premier League game of the weekend comes from the King Power Stadium where Leicester City are looking for a seventh win in a row in all competitions. They are facing an Everton team coming off a really poor 0-2 home defeat to Norwich City and with the future of manager Marco Silva being heavily discussed.

It isn't just media rumours about the manager, but it has sounded like the Everton board came close to sacking him earlier this week. Only a failure to agree on a potential replacement has given Silva a stay of execution, but the fixture list looks very menacing and it is hard to believe the Portuguese manager survives for much longer barring some big upsets.

Everton play at the top two in the space of a few days before hosting Chelsea and then visiting Manchester United. The Merseyside derby next week looks very intimidating and the players are not full of confidence at the moment despite having been unbeaten in 3 games in all competitions prior to the loss to Norwich City.

Where Leicester City have been very strong at home, Everton have only just snapped a 4 game away losing run in the Premier League when beating Southampton at St Mary's. They do have a decent record here in the last few seasons, but Leicester City are playing with a real belief in the system set up by Brendan Rodgers and I do think the Everton players might be considering what is going to happen at the club.

That uncertainty could lead to a fairly comfortable win for an in-form Leicester City who have scored at least two goals in the last 5 at the King Power Stadium. Backing the home team to win a game with at least that many goals produced on Sunday is a very appealing price here.


Manchester United v Aston Villa Pick: I am not going to dwell on any negatives about the 2-1 defeat at Astana for Manchester United, but instead say a number of the young players looked comfortable playing in Europe for the first team. Many of those were making their debuts at senior level and I think they can be proud of their performance while also be deserving of further opportunities.

It is less likely that fans are going to be able to gloss over any defeat in the Premier League this weekend when Manchester United host Aston Villa ahead of a big week for the club. On Wednesday Jose Mourinho will return to Old Trafford with his new club, while we are less than a week away from the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium.

Those are big games for Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the manager will want some momentum to take into those fixtures by beating Aston Villa. The last few games have seen Manchester United rediscover some of their goal-scoring form and that is not good news for Aston Villa who have not been defending anywhere near the level that Dean Smith would have wanted.

I do expect Manchester United to score goals and create a lot of chances, but that does not mean they are going to win this game easily.

As poor as Aston Villa may defend, they have been very good the other way and have caused issues for the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City in recent games. Dean Smith is the kind of manager who will want his team to have an attacking intent in the fixture and I do think Aston Villa will have some chances of their own as they have shown an ability to create opportunities over the last month.

They might even score here, but Manchester United have kept their first team fresh for this fixture without the need to travel to Kazakhstan. They have been a little better in the last couple of games at Old Trafford and I think Manchester United will enjoy some of the spaces that Aston Villa allow them to operate in and I will look for the home team to win a game featuring two or more goals on the day.

MY PICKS: Manchester City & Under 3.5 Goals @ 2.25 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Burnley-Crystal Palace Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.20 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chelsea - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Liverpool Win to Nil @ 2.10 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)
Southampton-Watford Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Norwich City-Arsenal Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.10 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Leicester City & Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.95 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Manchester United & Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.72 Coral (2 Units)

November 2019/20: 6-10, - 7.66 Units (32 Units Staked, - 23.94% Yield)
October 2019/20: 16-14-2, + 6.14 Units (62 Units Staked, + 9.90% Yield)
September 2019/20: 13-9-1, + 8.82 Units (46 Units Staked, + 19.17% Yield)
August 2019/20: 14-17-2, - 8.78 Units (64 Units Staked, - 13.72% Yield)

Fantasy Football GameWeek 14

I am off my worst Fantasy Football GW of the 2019/20 season and I have to admit I was extremely frustrated by the nonsense of VAR last week.

I have made it clear I am not a fan of a system that only should appeal to those who are lacking any real passion for Football- there is no one who can say they are willing to lose themselves in the sport who want to see some fool with a protractor out trying to work out if someone's nose hair was less than a millimetre offside.

Twice I was done in by the system last week with Raheem Sterling's goal ruled out when it looked like he was level at best and the system is guessing his starting point. But to make matters worse was the Jamie Vardy twice taken penalty which saw countless owners who had captained him luck into points they simply didn't deserve.

Getting my Captain wrong again is becoming a feature of the season and I finished with a number that was below the average for the week which frustrates to say the least.

Injuries over the last couple of weeks are beginning to pile up and I am almost forced to take a hit in GW14 as my best laid plans have gone awry. This will only be the second hit I have taken this season, but it has to be done to make sure I am still able to capitalise on the first Wild Card of the season as I have planned to do for some time.

The two transfers I am making this week can be seen in my GW14 team which can be read below. Over the next couple of Rounds it is difficult to write out full Fantasy portions of this thread with the games coming thick and fast over the next week.

I have decided to keep Tammy Abraham despite him being ruled out for the game against West Ham United this weekend. Frank Lampard should have an update on his condition in the coming days and I don't really want to drop him unless he is missing out again during the week as I would then wonder if we see him before GW17.

Joshua King is another injury I am dealing with and I had decided to try and go big at the back one more time in a season when clean sheets have simply not been forthcoming for the top teams. I am doing that while replacing Benjamin Mendy who has not nailed down the left back role along with the Bournemouth striker and Abraham will be the next player out of the squad if he is going to be missing another couple of games.

My GW14 Fantasy Team

David De Gea- the decision to bring in a Manchester United player was somewhat enforced when Ederson went down with an injury, but it was also a statistical play which hasn't paid off so far. Keeping a home clean sheet against Aston Villa is far from straight-forward.

Andrew Robertson- Liverpool have struggled for clean sheets all season but a home game against Brighton is another good chance. The left back has been very successful at earning assists and goals which means he has continued producing even without the clean sheets.

Trent Alexander-Arnold- I have brought in the other Liverpool full back in place of Benjamin Mendy who I simply don't believe plays both games this week (although he will probably have a clean sheet in the one he does play now I've dropped him for a hit). Trent Alexander-Arnold is a source of assists, but home games against Brighton and Everton followed by a trip to Bournemouth should be a chance for at least one clean sheet to go with potential attacking returns.

Caglar Soyuncu- a home game against an Everton team who likely know manager Marco Silva is about to be sacked. Four clean sheets in a row for Leicester City.

Fikayo Tomori- was rested during the week in the 2-2 draw at Valencia but I expect to be restored to the starting line up.

Sadio Mane (C)- relatively easy choice for Captain in a home game against Brighton.

Raheem Sterling- hasn't been at his best this past week, but a key attacking performer for Manchester City who head to Newcastle United.

Youri Tielemans- doesn't grab the headlines likes Jamie Vardy and James Maddison, but the Belgian is always in and around the attacking areas for Leicester City.

Anthony Martial- Manchester United have scored six goals in their last two at Old Trafford and the Frenchman leads the line.

Andrea Pereira- another risky selection made because of position he tends to be selected in rather than the quality I believe he has.

Danny Ings- the transfer was one I was considering anyway as Southampton continue to create a lot of chances. He has been in form for Ralph Hasenhuttl and Southampton face Watford, Norwich City, Newcastle United, West Ham United and Aston Villa across the next five GWs. I am happy selecting him knowing he will start for my team more often than not.

Bench- Michael McGovern, John Lundstram (difficult away game at Wolves, but I don't mind if I have to bring him into the first eleven), Tammy Abraham (injured), Xande Silva (injured)

Weekend Football Picks 2019 (February 9-11)

The Premier League is going on a two week break following this round of fixtures, but there are some big games to be played over the weekend before the FA Cup Fifth Round takes over next weekend.

Over the last seven days it has been all change at the top of the Premier League as Manchester City have put back to back wins together at a time when Liverpool have just faltered. I am not suggesting Liverpool have 'choked' like so many on social media are quick to state, but they have simply not played well enough to win their last couple of games.

And Liverpool remain in control of the title knowing they will win the Premier League if they win all of their remaining games.

That's obviously a tall task for any team, but I think it has almost been lost in the headlines that Liverpool are still in control of their own destiny. Both them and Manchester City and have some tough obstacles to overcome, but it does feel like a big week for Liverpool to reclaim some lost momentum ahead of two big games to come later this month against Bayern Munich and Manchester United.

The top four race is heating up, while the cat will be amongst the pigeons as far as the relegation battle goes if Cardiff City can win at Southampton this Saturday.

Fantasy Football is back for another round too.

The good last week was highlighting Eden Hazard, Marcus Rashford, Raul Jimenez and especially Sergio Aguero as the key players with those four combining for eight goals across the board.

The bad had to be picking Oumar Niasse instead of Bobby Reid to be the key player for Cardiff City.

And I had some ugly picks too as Fernando Llorente didn't start and Aleksander Mitrovic missed a good chance in Fulham's loss at Crystal Palace.

It could have been worse, I could have identified Leroy Sane who picked up the massive one point across two matches in Manchester City's Double Gameweek.


Fulham v Manchester United Pick: The Premier League weekend gets underway from Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon and this is a big game for both Fulham and Manchester United as they bid to achieve their goals for the season.

We are almost getting to the last chance saloon for Fulham who have found themselves 7 points behind Burnley outside of the bottom three and with games running out. Home form is crucial for Fulham's chances of escaping the drop, but the fans remain optimistic that they can produce a miracle like they did under Roy Hodgson back in the 2007/08 season.

However it is not easy to see how that happens when you consider the amount of goals Fulham have been conceding. Confidence is clearly sapped and the 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace means they have conceded at least twice in 6 straight games in all competitions including the last 3 at Craven Cottage.

Now they face a Manchester United team who have been flying in recent weeks and managed to close to just 2 points off the Champions League spots under the guidance of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. At times they have managed to ride their luck, especially in the away wins at Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City, but confidence is a crucial part of any team and this Manchester United squad believe they are going to win games no matter what happens in the course of ninety minutes.

There may be changes to the Manchester United starting eleven to freshen things up, but it is hard to see them slipping up here. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be reminding his players what can happen in the Premier League and the lessons learnt from the 2-2 home draw with Burnley could be very important to make sure complacency does not set in here.

Bigger fixtures are coming up for Manchester United, but they can stay on track for their top four places and I think they can win a game featuring two or more goals on Saturday in West London.

Fantasy Star: Paul Pogba- I am going with the Frenchman because I think Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is going to make changes and he looks a nailed on starter. I have Marcus Rashford too, but I would not be surprise if the front three is Juan Mata, Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial in this fixture with the PSG game in mind.

Alternative: Anthony Martial- didn't start at Leicester City and could come in to pose a threat from the left of the front three.


Crystal Palace v West Ham United Pick: This is not an easy game to get a read on in the Premier League this weekend as both Crystal Palace and West Ham United can blow hot and cold on any given day.

The edge has to be given to Crystal Palace with the game being hosted by them, but the other side of the coin is the poor record at Selhurst Park against West Ham United. The Eagles have won 1 of their last 6 at home against West Ham United and none of the last 4, while the 2-2 draw between the clubs last season snapped a run of 3 consecutive wins for the visitor.

Crystal Palace look to have rounded into some good form ahead of this fixture though and they have also started scoring more goals. Defensively they have been pretty good at home all season and I do think they are the more likely winners in this one.

You just don't know what you are going to get from West Ham United though who can be brilliant in a win over Arsenal and draw with Liverpool but also lose 4-2 at the bottom club in League One between those games. The away form has been rancid of late as The Hammers have lost 4 straight on their travels in all competitions and conceded at least twice in each of those defeats.

Goals have been a problem for them too as they have not scored in their last 3 away Premier League games and it does feel like the home team can snap the poor recent history against this opponent.

A lack of goals in the Crystal Palace ranks and the concerns surrounding that are eased with the return of Wilfried Zaha and the options of Andros Townsend, Christian Benteke and Michy Batshuayi around him. The defensive issues West Ham United have had away from home can be highlighted here and Crystal Palace can use a strong defensive effort to win this one as they look for a fourth clean sheet in their last 5 at Selhurst Park.

The recent history can't be ignored completely so I will recommend Crystal Palace on the Asian Handicap which returns half the stake in the event of a draw.

Fantasy Star: Wilfried Zaha- back from suspension and about to be banned for one more game, but can sign off with a big performance for Crystal Palace. The return of Christian Benteke and arrival of Michy Batshuayi should mean more spaces for Zaha to attack.

Alternative: Felipe Anderson- yes I fancy Crystal Palace to win, but West Ham United have a good record here and Anderson could be the key to any success they have this weekend.


Huddersfield Town v Arsenal Pick: At some point you have to think Huddersfield Town are going to have a bit of luck and get back on the scoreboard, but any hopes of survival in the Premier League look to be long gone.

Jan Siewert will continue to talk a good game, but I think the appointment has been made to continue the work David Wagner did for Huddersfield Town and make sure there is a continuity that could lead to a promotion chase next season. The new manager has to keep talking about fighting and being mathematically alive, but Huddersfield Town are 13 points behind Burnley in 17th place and have earned just 11 points from 25 League games played.

The best thing I can say for Huddersfield Town is they may get on the scoreboard in this one against an Arsenal defence that has been poor to say the least. Arsenal have had just a single clean sheet from their last 9 Premier League games overall, while they have yet to keep a clean sheet away from home in the League all season and not since beating Huddersfield Town 0-1 on the last day of last season.

Arsenal do have plenty of quality going the other way though and I think that will be the danger to Huddersfield Town whose open style can suit the top clubs. They did show toughness in a 1-0 loss at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season, but the 5-0 defeat at Chelsea last weekend has to have knocked some of the stuffing out of the players.

To be fair to Huddersfield Town they have not suffered too many blow out losses and that may be the case when they face Arsenal on Saturday. They can challenge their visitors who have been in poor form away from home although ultimately I think Huddersfield Town may come up short again when it is all said and done.

The spreads and prices are about right for an Arsenal win when you consider how much behind the rest of the League Huddersfield Town have looked, so it is hard to find an angle. The best way to back Arsenal may be to look for them to win by either a one or two goal margin which can pay out at close to double the stake.

Only Chelsea and Manchester City have won by more than a two goal margin at Huddersfield Town this season, while Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool won by two and one goal margins respectively. Backing Arsenal to do something similar may be the best play from this fixture.

Fantasy Star: Alexandre Lacazette- there are some doubts about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's health and that may mean he is left out and the Frenchman can be the main threat for Arsenal.

Alternative: Aaron Mooy- he is the key for Huddersfield Town if they are ever going to score another Premier League goal. Won't face too many weaker defences than the Arsenal one.


Liverpool v Bournemouth Pick: In the new world of social media you tend to get a lot of extreme reactions to sporting events and the Premier League title race is proving to be no different.

Just a few days after it was suggested Manchester City had 'bottled' the title defence following a loss at Newcastle United, Liverpool have now 'choked' following back to back draws against Leicester City and West Ham United.

Instead of being potentially as many as 7 points clear of Manchester City, Liverpool go into this weekend behind the Champions albeit having played one game less. I think it would be foolish to suggest there will be no nerves in the Liverpool squad, but I just believe they have had two difficult fixtures and not performed to the level they can in those games.

As long as the fans don't head to Anfield with a nervous disposition, the players should be able to produce a much better performance against a Bournemouth team who have not enjoyed playing away from the Vitality Stadium. You do feel Liverpool will need an early goal to just ease any tensions at Anfield, but I expect them to have chances against Bournemouth who were beaten 2-0 at Cardiff City last weekend meaning they have conceded two or more goals in 7 straight away Premier League games and lost each one.

In that time Bournemouth have lost 3-1 at Manchester City, 5-0 at Tottenham Hotspur and 4-1 at Manchester United. The recent 4-0 win over Chelsea at home will give them some confidence, but Bournemouth can't ignore those heavy away defeats at the top six clubs over the last two months and the goals being conceded suggest Liverpool can get their title bid back on track here.

Liverpool have looked a little more vulnerable defensively, but Bournemouth are missing both David Brooks and Callum Wilson and that does take away a real threat they would have brought to Anfield. Mohamed Salah hasn't scored in his last couple of games, but he has scored five in three games against Bournemouth for Liverpool including a hat-trick earlier this season which suggests he could be the key for the home team again.

I did back Crystal Palace and Leicester City to keep things close with Liverpool in the last couple of games at Anfield and Bournemouth are being given the same head-start. However they have lost their last 6 away Premier League games by two or more goals and the heavy losses at the top six clubs I have mentioned in a paragraph above means I will back Liverpool to win by a wide enough margin to cover the Asian Handicap on offer.

Fantasy Star: Mohamed Salah- the abuse he received at the London Stadium was outrageous, but the home fans can give him the love to inspire Liverpool to a win. Five goals in three previous games against Bournemouth makes him hard to ignore as Captain material too.

Alternative: Sadio Mane- has scored in the last three Liverpool games and has proven to be a streaky scorer throughout his career.


Southampton v Cardiff City Pick: Two teams very much involved in the relegation fight will meet on Saturday at St Mary's and I have to expect this will be a game filled with tension knowing how important the three points are to both Southampton and Cardiff City.

Two places and two points separate these clubs, but there are only 13 games left to be played so you cannot discount the importance for the two teams to try and earn the points.

Southampton have been much improved under Ralph Hasenhuttl, but they still struggle to score enough goals and defensively it has still been a work in progress. For Cardiff City every time they have looked about to slump into a deep hole they have managed to produce a big result like they did last weekend to beat Bournemouth at home once a 5 point gap to safety had opened up in the early Saturday games.

The away form of Cardiff City has to be a concern though and I do think it puts a lot of pressure on them to find the points they need in front of their own fans. They have lost 3 straight away games since beating Leicester City and the worst of those was the capitulation at Newcastle United who are another team just a couple of points clear of The Bluebirds in the League table.

I don't think there will be much between these teams and the first goal could be crucial. Tellingly Southampton have managed to score that in 5 of their last 7 Premier League games at home and Cardiff City have conceded first in 7 of their last 9 away League games.

However I am not sure we are going to get a really high-scoring game with the two teams likely going to focus on making sure they don't give too much away. My edge does go to Southampton though and I will back them to win a game featuring three or fewer goals.

Fantasy Star: Nathan Redmond- may be the biggest attacking threat for Southampton now that Danny Ings has been ruled out with an injury.

Alternative: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg- has proven to be a key man for Mark Hughes and Ralph Hasenhuttl and another who can get forward as a cheap option from midfield.


Watford v Everton Pick: After the tug of war Watford and Everton had over Marco Silva around fifteen months ago you have to imagine the majority of Watford fans are much happier than their counterparts at Everton with the way things have worked out.

Silva didn't get to join Everton immediately, but was sacked by Watford thirteen months ago and replaced by Javi Gracia. The new man has taken Watford from strength to strength and is about to guide them into their best League finish since the 1986/87 season when Graham Taylor was concluding his final season in his first stint as manager of the club.

At the same time Marco Silva has taken over as manager of Everton but this has been a tough season for him and fans are beginning to question whether he is the right man for the job. A decent start has been replaced by a poor run of 7 losses in 10 League games and Everton are struggling for the 7th place finish in the Premier League which would have been the minimum of requirements.

Injuries to some key players in the Watford squad is a concern, but Everton were in a tough game on Wednesday and that may even things out. Even then Watford look short for a team who have won 1 of their last 6 Premier League games at home and instead I am going to look at the total goals market.

Both teams have quality in the final third which should see them cause the other some real problems defensively. That was evident in the 2-2 draw earlier this season between the teams and I would not be surprised if both teams were to score in this one.

The points on offer should be valuable enough to think neither manager will settle for a share of the spoils and I can see these teams matching what they did in the game at Goodison Park and that is sharing out at least three goals.

At the price I think that is slightly more attractive than backing either team on the Asian Handicap in what could be a game decided by an error or a moment of magic either way.

Fantasy Star: Troy Deeney- had a lot to say for himself in the media criticising Marco Silva and can back up the talk on the field against a vulnerable Everton defence.

Alternative: Richarlison- not in great form, but should be fresh and will want to show something to his former club.


Brighton v Burnley Pick: This has to be far from the most appealing Saturday Night Football game that is going to be broadcast between now and the end of the season but for Brighton and Burnley it is a hugely important game.

Both clubs are involved in a developing relegation battle and the points on the line could be vital when all is said and done later in the season.

If you're looking for goals the last eighteen months suggests this is not the ground to be visiting this weekend. Since Brighton were promoted to the Premier League the 3 League games between these teams have produced a grand total of a single goal and I do think chances are going to be few and far between.

Brighton have not scored in their last 3 home games in all competitions which is a massive concern for Chris Hughton as his team perhaps begin to get pulled back into a relegation scrap. They are now facing a Burnley team who have gone back to basics in being hard to break down and who will take the limited chances that come their way to earn points.

All credit has to be given to Sean Dyche who has overseen a 6 game unbeaten run in the Premier League for Burnley and whose side have only conceded more than once in 1 of those games. That came in the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford as Manchester United scored twice in the last few minutes to salvage a point, but the performances Burnley have produced of late makes them a tough team to oppose.

Brighton also had the misfortune of playing a tough FA Cup Replay that went to Extra Time on Wednesday and there could be one or two tired bodies in there. A single goal could be enough for either team to win this game, but I feel the edge has to be given to Burnley to avoid a defeat here as they have had a week to prepare for the fixture and been in the better run of form.

The visitors have scored in 3 of their last 4 away Premier League games and one goal may be enough to at least earn another point and I will back Burnley with the start on the Asian Handicap.

Fantasy Star: Shane Duffy- Brighton have defended well enough at home with one goal conceded in three Premier League games at the Amex Stadium. Shane Duffy should be rested and a threat from set pieces.

Alternative: James Tarkowski- Burnley are looking strong defensively during a 6 League game unbeaten run. Have kept 3 clean sheets in a row versus Brighton.


Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City Pick: I've read and heard some of the nonsense that has been said about Mauricio Pochettino over the last couple of weeks and I find it staggering some think he is 'underachieving' with Tottenham Hotspur.

For starters I think a number of the players he has are over-rated and a club that has spent nothing in two transfer windows should not be 5 points behind Manchester City and Liverpool with just 13 League games left to play.

They are firmly in control of finishing with a Champions League place and while silverware is always a bonus, I don't think Pochettino could be considered more successful if Tottenham Hotspur won the League Cup and finished 5th in the Premier League table.

It really baffles me and the results being churned out by the team without Dele Alli and Harry Kane should see the manager earning more respect than he seems to get from some quarters. Yes Tottenham Hotspur have needed late goals to keep the wins coming, but they have got them and they are arguably the most in-form team of the top six solely based on Premier League results.

Keeping that going against Leicester City won't be easy with the way the latter have been playing. The losses are piling up, but Leicester City were unlucky to lose to Wolves and Manchester United and could have won at Liverpool which suggests they are playing better than the results suggest.

I expect Leicester City to cause problems for Tottenham Hotspur in this one with their counter attacking ability and pace in the final third an issue for the home team to deal with. They have also enjoyed playing Tottenham Hotspur in recent years and have a pretty good record against them when visiting North London.

Both teams have managed to find the net in the last couple of Leicester City away games in the Premier League and I do think they are good for a goal here. They have scored at Old Trafford, the Emirates Stadium, Stamford Bridge and Anfield in the Premier League and Tottenham Hotspur have been far from watertight at the back.

However Spurs are scoring goals despite the absence of Harry Kane and they should be able to pressure a couple of mistakes out of the Leicester City defence too. With Heung-Min Son bang in form, I would be surprised if this selection is scuppered because Tottenham Hotspur have failed to score for only the second time in 12 games at Wembley Stadium in all competitions.

My feeling is that Tottenham Hotspur may come away with the narrow win as they continue to find a way to keep the points building up, but my selection is both teams will score in this live Sunday offering.

Fantasy Star: Heung-Min Son- it sounds like Harry Kane and Dele Alli could return sooner than expected, but for now Heung-Min Son continues to carry Tottenham Hotspur. Has scored in back to back games since returning from the Asian Cup.

Alternative: Jamie Vardy- the counter attack should be open for Leicester City and Jamie Vardy could be main beneficiary despite scoring one goal in his last seven League games. Scored three goals against Spurs last season including two at Wembley Stadium.


Manchester City v Chelsea Pick: The second of the live games to be played on Sunday comes from the Etihad Stadium as two of the top four teams in the Premier League meet with an important three points on the line.

Depending on results on Saturday, Chelsea may not even be in the top four at kick off in this fixture and Maurizio Sarri never seems too far away from being put under pressure. The 5-0 win over Huddersfield Town was a relief for the manager, but this is a much more difficult challenge for a Chelsea team who have lost 3 straight away games in all competitions without scoring a goal.

The way they capitulated in the second half against Bournemouth has to be a real concern and I do worry for Chelsea in the sense that they are a team who struggle to bounce back when things turn against them within a game. The same happened in the first half at Arsenal three weeks ago as Chelsea slumbered their way into a big hole and never really looked like digging themselves out of it.

Falling behind against Manchester City has not exactly been a death knell for teams of late after Newcastle United and Arsenal both recovered from conceding inside the first minute to level the game. However this is a team that should dominate the ball and if Chelsea start feeling sorry for themselves it could turn out to be a very long afternoon for them at the Etihad Stadium.

Being back on top of the Premier League has to give the Manchester City players a confidence boost and I can see them putting a strong 20 minute period together at to some point in this fixture to put Chelsea to the sword. Pep Guardiola won't underestimate Chelsea having seen his team lose at Stamford Bridge in December, but Manchester City can lay down a marker for the League Cup Final which is played later this month and I will back them to win this one by a comfortable margin.

Manchester City have scored at least twice in 16 straight games at home in all competitions and that should be enough for them to earn the victory. If Chelsea play as they did at Arsenal and Bournemouth then I think it could be a very tough fixture for them and Manchester City should have the chances to win by two or more goals on the day.

Fantasy Star: Sergio Aguero- hat-trick in his last game at the Etihad Stadium and remains the striker in the best form for Manchester City. Being pushed by Gabriel Jesus but I expect Aguero to lead the line for the home team.

Alternative: Bernardo Silva- scored the winner against Chelsea last season in the corresponding fixture and remains a key man for Pep Guardiola. Most secure Fantasy Pick in the Manchester City midfield perhaps?


Wolves v Newcastle United Pick: Two years to the day Wolves hosted Newcastle United in the Championship and an Aleksander Mitrovic goal helped The Magpies win 0-1 on their way to the title and a return to the Premier League.

They earned 94 points that season as they bounced back from relegation at the first attempt and in the same campaign Wolves finished 15th with just 58 points and a 16-10-20 record.

Things changed for Wolves that summer and the investment made into the club has seen them attract some real quality that has seen them promoted to the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo. This season Wolves are showing they can be considered best of the rest outside of the top six in the Premier League while they are also enjoying a FA Cup run that has seen them move through to the Fifth Round.

Newcastle United have not made the same investment in that time and they have been a team that has struggled in the bottom half of the Premier League since returning to the top flight. Even breaking their record transfer fee in the January transfer window won't have impressed that many people and Newcastle United have been overtaken by the likes of Wolves who are looking much further up the League table.

One factor that makes Newcastle United dangerous is the manager Rafa Benitez who knows how to organise his teams to frustrate opponents. They have needed to ride their luck at times in recent games, but that is down to the level of quality of players that Newcastle United have rather than the tactics and it isn't hard to work out what they will look to do here.

Limiting space and trying to catch Wolves on the counter attack will be the game plan and to be fair it is something that the likes of Huddersfield Town and Crystal Palace have used to beat the home team at Molineux. Watford have also won here so Wolves do look plenty short to beat Newcastle United on Monday Night Football, although I have to say I have been impressed with the attacking qualities they have shown in recent games.

Goals have been flowing for Wolves and I think that confidence will make the difference in what could be a tight game. Newcastle United have not been as strong away from St James' Park in recent games in the Premier League and I think Wolves will work their way to breaking down their visitors and winning this game.

It still doesn't mean they are a great price outright, but backing Wolves to continue the scoring output may just be the boost this pick needs. They have scored at least two goals in 4 straight games at home in all competitions and Wolves have won all of those. In fact Wolves have won 5 and lost 5 of their last 10 home Premier League games and in each win they have needed to score at least two goals to secure it and I expect that to be the case this Monday too.

Newcastle United might not be an offensive powerhouse, but they have scored in 5 of their last 7 away games in the League so Wolves may need two goals if they are going to win this and that is what I will look for them to do.

Fantasy Star: Diogo Jota- had a knock in another impressive performance for Wolves at Everton, but should be ready for this one. Has three goals and two assists in last three home League games and scored at St James' Park.

Alternative: Matt Ritchie- Wolves are in great form, but if Newcastle United are going to cause an upset, Matt Ritchie's set pieces and final ball could be a huge reason for it.

MY PICKS: Manchester United & Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.83 Bet Fred
Crystal Palace - 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet Victor
Arsenal to Win by One or Two Goals @ 1.97 Bet Victor
Liverpool - 2 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet Fred
Southampton & Under 3.5 Goals @ 2.30 Bet Fred
Watford-Everton Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Bet Fred
Burnley + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet Victor
Tottenham Hotspur-Leicester City Both Teams to Score @ 1.80 Ladbrokes
Manchester City - 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.83 Bet Victor
Wolves & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.20 Bet Fred