Happy New Year! We’d like to start this article by wishing you all the best, in both your FantasyBet and real life endeavours, for 2016. With the new year upon us, we thought we’d experiment with a new format for this article. We’ll be giving you more information from the bookies, breaking that information down by fixture (rather than by defence and attack), allowing you to easily compare stats across all games, and we’ll round off the article with a recommended squad of 15, along with a captain and vice-captain recommendation.

West Ham vs Liverpool Odds Probability West Ham clean sheet 4.33 23% Liverpool clean sheet 2.6 38% Both teams to score 1.93 52% Over 2.5 goals in the match 2.18 46% Benteke to score 2.75 36% Coutinho to score 3.6 28% Carroll to score 3.9 26% Lanzini to score 5 20% Zarate to score 4.6 22% Firmino to score 3.5 29% Bookies prediction 1-1 7.5 13%

West Ham come into the early kick off with Liverpool off the back of 5 draws and 1 defeat, with an upturn in their defensive resolve seeing them concede just 3 times in those 6 matches. With Liverpool also keeping 2 clean sheets in their last 2 games (both 1-0 wins), the bookies are expecting a low-scoring encounter, as evidenced by the fact that Over 2.5 goals market is priced at 2.18 (46% chance). Goals are deemed more probable for the away side, with Christian Benteke the most likely to oblige (36% chance of scoring) after scoring the winner in both of the Reds’ last 2 matches.

Arsenal vs Newcastle Odds Probability Arsenal clean sheet 2 50% Newcastle clean sheet 12 8% Both teams to score 2 50% Over 2.5 goals in the match 1.53 65% Giroud to score 1.75 57% Walcott to score 2.2 45% Ozil to score 3.1 32% Mitrovic to score 5.5 18% Perez to score 6 17% Wijnaldum to score 6.1 16% Bookies prediction 2-0 7.5 13%

In contrast to the West Ham vs Liverpool clash, the bookies are expecting goals in a one-sided game between Arsenal and Newcastle at The Emirates. With a 2-0 home win the favoured scoreline, and the bookies also strongly expectant of the match producing 3 or more goals (65%) (contradictory, we know), Fantasy managers could do worse than look at Arsenal players for their squads this weekend. Mesut Ozil is in a purple patch as Arsenal’s creator-in-chief, whilst Olivier Giroud (57% chance of scoring) has netted 8 times in 7 games against the Magpies during his Gunners career. At the back, the likes of Petr Cech, Hector Bellerin and Laurent Koscielny are expected to provide defensive returns against a Newcastle side who have scored just 5 times in 9 away games this season.

Leicester vs Bournemouth Odds Probability Leicester clean sheet 2.9 34% Bournemouth clean sheet 5.25 19% Both teams to score 1.72 58% Over 2.5 goals in the match 1.87 53% Vardy to score 2.12 47% Mahrez to score 2.88 35% Okazaki to score 3.25 31% Murray to score 3.8 26% King to score 4.1 24% Stanislas to score 5.5 18% Bookies prediction 1-1 8 13%

After relinquishing their lead at the top of the table to Arsenal in the last round, Leicester will look to get back to winning, and scoring, ways against Bournemouth this weekend. The bookies see goals in this one, implying a 58% chance of both teams scoring, with both the Foxes and the Cherries known for their attacking styles and defensive frailties. Player of the Year nominees Jamie Vardy (47%) and Riyad Mahrez (35%) are deemed most likely to score for the home side, whilst Glenn Murray (26%) harbours the best chance for the away side.

Man Utd vs Swansea Odds Probability Man Utd clean sheet 2 50% Swansea clean sheet 5.25 19% Both teams to score 2.4 42% Over 2.5 goals in the match 2.25 44% Martial to score 2.62 38% Rooney to score 2.7 37% Mata to score 3.5 29% Gomis to score 4.8 21% Ayew to score 5.6 18% Sigurdsson to score 6.2 16% Bookies prediction 1-0 6.3 16%

One of the shyest away attacks in the league (7 goals in 9 games) visit the meanest home defence in the league (3 goals conceded in 9) on Saturday, so it’s no surprise to see the bookies favouring a 1-0 win for United. A United clean sheet (50% chance) is a possibility, whilst Swansea have also kept 3 clean sheets on the bounce and shouldn’t be ruled out either. For attacking prospects, we advise looking at other games, although Juan Mata (29%), Bafetimbi Gomis (21%) and Andre Ayew (18%) all scored in Swansea’s 2-1 win over United earlier in the season.

Norwich vs Southampton Odds Probability Norwich clean sheet 3.8 26% Southampton clean sheet 3.1 32% Both teams to score 1.8 56% Over 2.5 goals in the match 2.05 49% Mbokani to score 3.75 27% Redmond to score 5.75 17% Jerome to score 4.25 24% Long to score 2.95 34% Mane to score 3.35 30% Tadic to score 4 25% Bookies prediction 1-1 7.5 13%

A low score draw seems to be the likely outcome here according to the bookmakers. With both teams having the same, inconsistent record over their last 6 (2 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses), it’s hard to pick any players of Fantasy value from this fixture, although Dusan Tadic (25%) could be a differential shout, having netted twice against the Canaries in a 3-0 home win earlier in the campaign.

Sunderland vs Villa Odds Probability Sunderland clean sheet 2.8 36% Villa clean sheet 3.1 32% Both teams to score 2 50% Over 2.5 goals in the match 2.38 42% Defoe to score 3.4 29% Fletcher to score 3.6 28% Borini to score 3.75 27% Gestede to score 3.5 29% Agbonlahor to score 4.33 23% Sinclair to score 4.5 22% Bookies prediction 1-1 7 14%

The Premier League’s bottom 2 face off in a relegation six-pointer at The Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon. Both sides enter the clash in dire form, having only taken 3 points from the last 18 available to each of them. A tense and nervy game is expected to unfold and, with both teams failing to offer any valid Fantasy options, we once again recommend looking elsewhere for both attacking and defensive returns. Jordan Ayew would have been our sole recommendation for this one, but is suspended following his 5th yellow card of the season last time out.

West Brom vs Stoke Odds Probability West Brom clean sheet 2.88 35% Stoke clean sheet 2.8 36% Both teams to score 2.1 48% Over 2.5 goals in the match 2.64 38% Bojan to score 3.7 27% Shaqiri to score 5 20% Arnautovic to score 4 25% Lambert to score 3.75 27% Berahino to score 3.75 27% Anichebe to score 4.4 23% Bookies prediction 1-1 7 14%

Tony Pulis welcomes his former employers Stoke City to the Hawthorns with Mark Hughes’ men in great form. Scoring an average of 2.3 goals per game recently, the Potters will fancy their chances against a West Brom side who, quite uncharacteristically, have one of the worst home defensive records in the league this season (1.6 goals per game conceded). The bookies, however, don’t see things quite as clear cut, with a low scoring game expected (only 38% chance of there being 3 goals or more). Bojan, Arnautovic and Shaqiri have all found goalscoring form recently, and are afforded 27%, 25% and 20% chances of getting on the scoreboard respectively.

Watford vs Man City Odds Probability Watford clean sheet 6 17% Man City clean sheet 2.7 37% Both teams to score 1.71 58% Over 2.5 goals in the match 1.76 57% Aguero to score 2.05 49% De Bruyne to score 3.5 29% Toure to score 3.5 29% Ighalo to score 3.1 32% Jurado to score 7 14% Deeney to score 3.75 27% Bookies prediction 1-1 8.5 12%

Top of the Premier League form table with 13 points from a possible 18 and scoring 2 goals per game lately? We aren’t talking about City, it’s Watford! Quique Sanchez Flores’ men have surpassed all expectations and proved they can mix it with the big boys, hammering Liverpool 3-0 at home before taking a point from Stamford Bridge in a 2-2 draw. Odion Ighalo, top scorer in English football for the 2015 calendar year with 30 goals, has a 32% chance of scoring, whilst Sergio Aguero, yet to truly get going this year but always a threat, is given a 49% chance of finding the back of the net. Given the attacking talent on show from both sides, the bookies fancy both teams to score (58%) and the game having 3 or more goals (57%). We are inclined to agree.

Crystal Palace vs Chelsea Odds Probability Palace clean sheet 3.8 26% Chelsea clean sheet 2.6 38% Both teams to score 2 50% Over 2.5 goals in the match 2.27 44% Chamakh to score 4.75 21% Zaha to score 6.5 15% Puncheon to score 5.75 17% Costa to score 2.62 38% Hazard to score 3.65 27% Oscar to score 4.75 21% Bookies prediction 0-1 7 14%

Sunday’s lunchtime kickoff sees Crystal Palace entertain Chelsea. Both sides come into the game off the back of 0-0 draws, and, with Palace only conceding 3 in their last 6 games, the onus will be on Chelsea to break them down. Diego Costa (38%), back from suspension, will be key to their chances. With the bookies fancying 2 goals or less in the game, and a 1-0 Chelsea win to be the most likely outcome, defensive assets such as Scott Dann and Branislav Ivanovic are promoted into our thinking.

Everton vs Spurs Odds Probability Everton clean sheet 4 25% Spurs clean sheet 3.9 26% Both teams to score 1.65 61% Over 2.5 goals in the match 1.83 55% Kane to score 2.38 42% Lukaku to score 2.4 42% Lamela to score 4 25% Deulofeu to score 4.5 22% Alli to score 4.75 21% Barkley to score 4 25% Bookies prediction 1-1 7.5 13%

In the final encounter of the weekend, Everton host Spurs. Both teams are averaging 2 goals or more per game recently, with Everton also conceding rather frequently (12 in 6). Spurs have the best defensive record in the division, but it’s no surprise, given the strength of the Blues’ attack, that the bookies are predicting both teams to score (61%) in this one. The main protagonists are expected to be Harry Kane (3 in 3) and Romelu Lukaku (10 in 9), both with an implied 42% chance of scoring.

After taking into account all of the above information, our recommended squad for this gameweek is…

Goalkeepers: Petr Cech and Wayne Hennessey

Defenders: Chris Smalling, Branislav Ivanovic, Craig Dawson, Alberto Moreno and Ashley Williams.

Midfielders: Riyad Mahrez, Mesut Ozil, Erik Lamela, Dusan Tadic and Yaya Toure.

Forwards: Romelu Lukaku, Olivier Giroud and Jamie Vardy.

Captain: Olivier Giroud

Vice-captain: Romelu Lukaku