THE TRANSFER WINDOW may be closed for Premier League managers but in here in Fantasyland, you’ve got the whole day to make your mind up over who’s in and who’s for the chop ahead of Gameweek 25.
At the top of the table, Manchester United face a Fulham side they saw off in the FA Cup last weekend while a now Mario Balotelli-less Man City host Liverpool on Sunday.
Third-placed Chelsea slipped up by dropping two points against Reading during the week and need win away to Newcastle to close the widening gap on the top two and keep Spurs, who travel to West Brom, off their heels.
Two players to pick this week
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United): He picked up 13 points during the week with his double against Southampton and having also notched against tomorrow’s opponents Fulham in the FA Cup last Saturday, Rooney looks to be in one of his purple patches and you would bet on him adding to his tally again at Craven Cottage.
Nikica Jelavic (Everton): It hasn’t been the best of times for the Toffees striker, who has scored just one league goal since the beginning of November. It’s about time then that he broke his duck and what better team to do it against than Aston Villa. Jelavic has scored three times in as many appearance against the Midlanders, including one in the 3-1 win earlier this season, and should start after only coming off the bench in midweek.
Two players to avoid this week:
Joey O’Brien (West Ham): The Dubliner may be West Ham’s highest scoring defender but the Hammers eight in the last two games. Swansea, meanwhile, drew 0-0 against Sunderland on Tuesday but we’re backing them to get a couple at Upton Park.
Peter Odemwingie (West Brom): After yesterday’s transfer fiasco which saw the Nigerian international attempt, and fail, to force a move to QPR through, Steve Clarke has told the striker to stay away from training until next week – which means he will play no part in their meeting with Spurs at the Hawthorns.
Predictions:
QPR 1-1 NorwichArsenal 2-2 StokeEverton 2-0 Aston Villa
Newcastle 2-3 Chelsea
Reading 2-1 Sunderland
West Ham 0-2 Swansea
Wigan 1-1 Southampton
Fulham 0-2 Manchester United
West Brom 0-1 Tottenham
Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool
Who’s leading TheScore.ie Primera Division?
The ‘Sultans of Ping FC’, managed by Mark Dinan, are still sit on top of the table with a 32 point lead over Luke Kitt’s ‘K I C K B A G S’.
