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 In week 2 of Premier League Pickem, Dario Ambrozewiez, John Watson, Nathan Susanto and Joe Hiegel all top-scored with 29 points. Andrew Maher and Phil Woo were three points off the pace in a tie for fifth. In total, 16 participants reached the 20-point mark, 11 more than week 1. Ambrozewiez and Watson tied with the most correct picks (7), while Joe Hiegel and Phil Mila recorded the most perfect games (3). There was a vast improvement on week 1's results, with the average per pick made increasing from 1.754 points to 2.159. Every pick logged for the Liverpool v Bournemouth fixture correctly predicted a home victory, with the 2.69 points average the best yield of week 2. The participants struggled to predict the result of Liverpool's local rival, though, with Everton's 3-0 win over Southampton only giving up a 0.11 point average. Dario Ambrozewiez was the only member to put his full faith in the Toffeemen. Andrew Maher retains a seven-point lead in the overall standings with 55 points. Nathan Susanto has climbed to second, while John Watson occupies third with 46 points. Dario Ambrozewiez and Joe Hiegel sit in a tie for fourth having tallied 45 points. Maher, Watson and Mark Yothers have all notched the most correct picks to date (11), while Maher and Phil Mila have chalked up the most perfect games (4). The only week 3 fixture that pitches two undefeated teams against each other sees early pace-setters Manchester City, who is one of only four clubs that have maintained a 100% record through two games, travel to Everton, who has opened their campaign with four points out of six. Remember to make your Premier League Pickem predictions before the deadline of each game. Week 3's schedule starts on Saturday with a 7:45 AM ET kickoff. There are then five 10 AM ET games. Sunday's lineup has an 8:30 AM ET clash and two 11 AM ET fixtures. The week concludes on Monday with a 3 PM ET matchup. Here we preview the ten games in the upcoming week of the English Premier League. The title of each game section is a link to pick the result of that game. Newcastle United (15th) at Manchester United (=3rd) (Sat, 7:45 AM ET) Steve McLaren took over a Newcastle side that ended the previous campaign in terrible form. Two games into the new term and it looks as if there is still a lot of work to do. In the opening week, the Magpies held on to tie 2-2 with Southampton but last time out they suffered a 2-0 defeat at Swansea, not helped by the dismissal of Daryl Janmaat. Manchester United's style has been anything but enterprising so far but Louis van Gaal's second term in charge has begun with maximum points. The Red Devils edged Spurs 1-0 in week 1 and it was the same scoreline when they beat Aston Villa last Friday. Their Champions League campaign began this week with a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Newcastle 1-3 Manchester United Manchester United 1-0 Newcastle (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Manchester United lead 5-1-0. Last 3 at Manchester United (all competitions): Manchester United lead 2-1-0. All-time (all competitions): Manchester United lead 83-41-37. Team News Newcastle (from): Darlow, Elliot, Krul, Coloccini, Dummett, Haidara, Janmaat, Lascelles, Mbemba, Taylor, Williamson, Aarons, Abeid, Anita, Bigirimana, Colback, De Jong, Gouffran, Obertan, Sissoko, Thauvin, Tiote, Wijnaldum, Cisse, Mitrovic, Perez, Toney. Doubts: Sissoko (groin). Out (reason, expected return date): Marveux (groin, Sep 14), Good (hip, no date), Riviere (knee, no date). Suspended: Janmaat (one-match ban). Manchester United (from): De Gea, Romero, Johnstone, Lindegaard, Blackett, Darmian, Evans, McNair, Rojo, Shaw, Smalling, Blind, Carrick, Herrera, Januzaj, Lingard, Mata, Pereira, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Valencia, Young, Depay, Hernandez, Rooney, Wilson. Out (reason, expected return date): Jones (illness, Sep 12). Suspended: Fellaini (final game of three-match ban). Aston Villa (10th) at Crystal Palace (7th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Aston Villa really struggled for goals last season and in the opening two weekends of this campaign a similar theme might be emerging. Villa soaked up early pressure from Bournemouth on day one to snatch a 1-0 win but last time out they were beaten 1-0 by Manchester United as they search for someone to fill the void left by Christian Benteke. Crystal Palace was perhaps lucky to gain a positive result on the opening day of the season but they felt aggrieved with a refereeing decision last weekend which might have helped them keep an unbeaten record. The Eagles won away at Norwich in week 1 but lost 2-1 last weekend against Arsenal, who might have had Francis Coquelin sent off. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Aston Villa 1-0 Crystal Palace Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Tied 2-2-2 (includes 2 FA Cup games). Last 3 at Crystal Palace (all competitions): Tied 1-1-1 (includes 1 FA Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Aston Villa lead 17-10-14. Team News Aston Villa (from): Bunn, Guzan, Steer, Amavi, Bacuna, Baker, Bennett, Clark, Hutton, Richards, Senderos, Cole, Gil, Gueye, Grealish, N'Zogbia, Richardson, Sanchez, Veretout, Westwood, Agbonlahor, Ayew, Gestede, Kozak, Sinclair, Traore. Out (reason, expected return date): Crespo (groin, Sep 13), Gardener (ankle, Sep 13), Okore (knee, Sep 13). Crystal Palace (from): Hennessey, McCarthy, Dann, Delaney, Hangeland, Kelly, Mariappa, Souare, Ward, Bolasie, Cabaye, Guedioura, Jedinak, Ledley, Lee, McArthur, Mutch, Puncheon, Sako, Zaha, Bamford, Gayle, Murray, Wickham. Out (reason, expected return date): Chamakh (hamstring, Sep 12), Speroni (hand, Aug 29), Campbell (hamstring, no date), Appiah (ACL, no date). Tottenham Hotspur (=13th) at Leicester City (2nd) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Tottenham got off to the perfect start to last term but they head into week 3 of this campaign seeking their first win. Spurs went to Manchester United in their first fixture and lost 1-0. Last week they hosted Stoke and jumped into a 2-0 lead through two first half goals. However, they were pegged back after the break and had to settle for a 2-2 tie. Leicester's fine form from the end of last season has continued into this campaign, with the goals flowing freely. The Foxes have already netted six goals in their opening two fixtures, with a 4-2 win over Sunderland recorded in week 1. Leicester then traveled to West Ham last weekend and came away with a 2-1 victory to keep their perfect record. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Tottenham 2-1 Leicester Leicester 3-4 Tottenham (reverse fixture) Leicester 2-1 Tottenham (FA Cup) Last 6 (all competitions): Tottenham lead 3-2-1 (includes 2 FA Cup games). Last 3 at Leicester (all competitions): Tottenham lead 2-1-0 (includes 1 FA Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Tottenham lead 51-33-18. Team News Tottenham (from): Lloris, McGee, Vorm, Alderweireld, Davies, Dier, Fazio, Rose, Trippier, Vertonghen, Walker, Wimmer, Yedlin, Alli, Bentaleb, Carroll, Chadli, Dembele, Eriksen, Lamela, Mason, Onomah, Pritchard, Townsend, Winks, Kane, N'Jie. Doubts: Townsend (ankle). Leicester (from): Schmeichel, Schwarzer, Benalouane, De Laet, Fuchs, Huth, Moore, Morgan, Simpson, Wasilewski, Albrighton, Drinkwater, Hammond, Inler, Kante, King, Mahrez, Schlupp, Kramaric, Lawrence, Okazaki, Ulloa, Vardy. Out (reason, expected return date): James (ACL, Feb). Stoke City (=13th) at Norwich City (9th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) At half-time last Saturday it looked as if Stoke was heading towards two successive defeats but a second half fight back led to them putting their first point on the board. The Potters lost 1-0 to Liverpool in week 1 and fell 2-0 down to Spurs last week. Second half goals from Marko Arnautovic and Mame Birouf Diouf, though, helped rescue a point. Norwich felt like they were denied a chance of a share of the spoils in week 1 but they were clear winners last week. The Canaries suffered a 3-1 reversal against Crystal Palace on the opening day of the term but goals from Russell Martin, Steven Whittaker and Nathan Redmond helped them win by the same scoreline on the road at Sunderland. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Last met in 2014 Last 6 (all competitions): Tied 2-2-2. Last 3 at Norwich (all competitions): Norwich lead 1-0-2. All-time (all competitions): Stoke lead 19-17-15. Team News Stoke (from): Butland, Haugaard, Given, Bardsley, Cameron, Johnson, Muniesa, Pieters, Teixeira, Wilson, Wollscheid, Adam, Afellay, Ireland, Moha, Shaqiri, Shenton, Sidwell, Van Ginkel, Whelan, Arnautovic, Bojan, Crouch, Diouf, Joselu, Walters. Out (reason, expected return date): Odemwingie (hamstring, Aug 29), Shawcross (back, no date). Norwich (from): Kean, Rudd, Ruddy, Bassong, R. Bennett, Martin, Olsson, Toffolo, Turner, Whittaker, Wisdom, Andreu, E. Bennett, Brady, Dorrans, Hoolahan, Howson, Johnson, O'Neil, Odjidja-Ofoe, Redmond, Tettey, Grabban, Hooper, Jerome, Lafferty, Van Wolfswinkel. Doubts: Lafferty (knee), Olsson (shoulder). Out (reason, expected return date): Mulumbu (Metatarsel, Sep 20). Swansea City (6th) at Sunderland (20th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Swansea can't quite match the perfect record they had after three games last term but some of the form they've shown in the first two weeks suggests there's a high possibility of being undefeated through a trio of fixtures this time around. The Swans held the champions to a 2-2 tie in week 1 and last weekend they defeated Newcastle 2-0. Sunderland's Dick Advocaat was in two minds about staying on at the club after last season's struggles and with little to be positive about after two games he might be thinking he should have stuck with his original decision to quit. The Black Cats have already shipped seven goals and they've also trailed for all but 37 minutes in 180 minutes of play. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Swansea 0-0 Sunderland Sunderland 1-1 Swansea (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Swansea lead 2-0-4. Last 3 at Sunderland (all competitions): Swansea lead 1-0-2. All-time (all competitions): Sunderland lead 12-8-10. Team News Swansea (from): Fabianski, Nordfeldt, Tremmel, Amat, Bartley, Fernandez, Naughton, Rangel, Tabanou, Taylor, Tiendalli, Williams, Ayew, Britton, Cork, Dyer, Fulton, Grimes, Ki, Montero, Routledge, Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Eder, Emnes, Gomis. Doubts: Ki (hamstring). Sunderland (from): Mannone, Pantilimon, Brown, Coates, Jones, Kaboul, Matthews, O'Shea, Van Aanholt, Bridcutt, Buckley, Cattermole, Giaccherini, Gomez, Larsson, M'Vila, Rodwell, Defoe, Fletcher, Graham, Lens. Out (reason, expected return date): Johnson (shoulder, Oct 17). A.F.C. Bournemouth (19th) at West Ham United (8th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) After just two weeks of their first taste of top tier soccer, Bournemouth is finding out little separates success and failure in the Premier League. Unfortunately for the Cherries, they've lost two out of two and they've yet to score a goal. Villa shut out Bournemouth in week 1 and then they lost 1-0 again, though Liverpool's goal was controversial. West Ham has already experienced highs and lows going into week 3 of the 2015-2016 campaign. The Hammers got things going in fine fashion by traveling to the Emirates and beating the current FA Cup and Community Shield holders Arsenal. They then lost 2-1 at home to Leicester, though, and goalkeeper Adrián will be suspended for three games. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Last met in 1999 Last 6 (all competitions): Only five games. Last 3 at West Ham (all competitions): West Ham lead 3-0-0 (includes 1 FA Cup and 1 League Cup game). All-time (all competitions): West Ham lead 3-0-2. Team News Bournemouth (from): Allsop, Boruc, Federici, Cargill, Cook, Daniels, Distin, Elphick, Francis, Mings, Smith, Ward, Atsu, Gosling, MacDonald, O'Kane, Pugh, Ritchie, Stanislas, Surman, Gradel, Kermorgant, King, Rantie, Tomlin, Wilson. Out (reason, expected return date): Artur (groin, Aug 29). West Ham (from): Spiegel, Randolph, Collins, Cresswell, Demel, Jenkinson, Ogbonna, Oxford, Reid, Tomkins, Amalfitano, Jarvis, Kouyate, Lanzini, Noble, Nolan, Obiang, Payet, Samuelsen, Maiga, Sakho. Out (reason, expected return date): Valencia (knee, Oct), Carroll (MCL, Sep 14), Zarate (hamstring, Sep 14). Suspended: Adrián (first game of three-match ban). Chelsea (=16th) at West Bromwich Albion (18th) (Sun, 8:30 AM ET) The defence of Chelsea's crown has got off to a slow start, with the champions, who won last season's title by eight points, already five points off the pace. The Blues were held to a 2-2 tie at home by Swansea in week 1 and then last week they came up against likely title challengers Manchester City and they were comprehensively dispatched 3-0. West Brom heads into the third weekend of the season sitting in the bottom three of the standings with one point on the board and they're still to hit the back of the net. Like their week 3 visitors, the Baggies have played Manchester City and they too lost 3-0. Last weekend, West Brom journeyed to Watford and they played out a goalless stalemate. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Chelsea 0-3 West Brom West Brom 0-2 Chelsea (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Tied 2-2-2. Last 3 at West Brom (all competitions): West Brom lead 2-0-1. All-time (all competitions): Chelsea lead 55-43-34. Team News Chelsea (from): Begovic, Blackman, Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Rahman, Terry, Zouma, Cuadrado, Fabregas, Hazard, Loftus-Cheek, Matic, Mikel, Ramires, Traore, Willian, Costa, Falcao, Pedro, Remy. Out (reason, expected return date): Oscar (muscular injury, Aug 29), Moses (knock, no date). West Brom (from): Myhill, Rose, Chester, Dawson, Gamboa, Lescott, McAuley, O'Neil, Olsson, Pocognoli, Brunt, Fletcher, Gardner, Gnabry, McClean, McManaman, Morrison, Sessegnon, Yacob, Anichebe, Berahino, Ideye, Lambert, Nabi, Rondon. Out (reason, expected return date): Foster (ACL, Oct 1). Manchester City (1st) at Everton (5th) (Sun, 11 AM ET) Manchester City's attempt at regaining the EPL title couldn't have begun better, with the two-time champions sitting on top of the table after two games. City began the campaign with a 3-0 away win at West Brom and then last week they notched another 3-0 victory, with Sergio Agüero, Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho getting on the scoresheet. Only this week's visitors and Leicester have scored more goals than Everton in the opening two weeks of the term. The Toffees struggled to get a result against promoted Watford, though, having to fight back from a goal down twice to earn a 2-2 tie. They were more clinical and comprehensive at Southampton, however, with Everton winning 3-0. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Manchester City 1-1 Everton Everton 0-1 Manchester City (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Manchester City lead 3-1-2. Last 3 at Everton (all competitions): Tied 1-1-1. All-time (all competitions): Tied 66-66-44. Team News Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Clichy, Demichelis, Denayer, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Otamendi, Sagna, Delph, Evans, Fernandinho, Fernando, Lopes, Nasri, Navas, Silva, Toure, Zuculini, Aguero, Bony, Iheanacho, Pozo, Sterling. Out (reason, expected return date): Zabaleta (knee, Sep 19). Everton (from): Howard, Joel, Stanek, Browning, Coleman, Galloway, Holgate, Jagielka, Oviedo, Stones, Barkley, Barry, Besic, Cleverley, McCarthy, McGeady, Mirallas, Osman, Deulofeu, Kone, Lukaku, McAleny, Naismith. Out (reason, expected return date): Baines (ankle, Nov), Hibbert (knee, Sep 12), Gibson (ankle, Aug 29), Pienaar (hamstring, no date). Southampton (=16th) at Watford (12th) (Sun, 11 AM ET) This might be a campaign where Southampton will have to juggle domestic and European duties but the term hasn't begun as well as they might have hoped. In the league, the Saints fought back to tie 2-2 away to Newcastle but last weekend they lost 3-0 to Everton. In Europe, Southampton is one result away from the Europa League group stages. Watford should be pleased they've earnt something from the two games they've played so far but perhaps they'll be disappointed they haven't notched their first win of the campaign yet. The Hornets led twice against Everton before having to settle for a tie and then in week 2 they didn't carve out many opportunities in a 0-0 tie with West Brom. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Last met on 2012 Last 6 (all competitions): Watford lead 3-2-1. Last 3 at Watford (all competitions): Tied 1-1-1. All-time (all competitions): Southampton lead 19-17-8. Team News Southampton (from): K. Davis, Gazzaniga, Stekelenburg, Caulker, Cedric, Fonte, Martina, McCarthy, Targett, Yoshida, S. Davis, Isgrove, Mane, McQueen, Ramirez, Reed, Romeu, Tadic, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Juanmi, Long, Pelle, Rodriguez. Out (reason, expected return date): Forster (knee, Apr), Clasie (ankle, Sep 12), Bertrand (knee, Sep 12), Gardos (knee, no date). Watford (from): Arlauskis, Gilmartin, Gomes, Angella, Belkalem, Britos, Cathcart, Hoban, Holebas, Layun, Nyom, Paredes, Prodl, Pudil, Abdi, Anya, Ake, Behrami, Capoue, Dyer, Jurado, Watson, Berghuis, Deeney, Diamanti, Ighalo, Forestieri, Vydra. Out (reason, expected return date): Doyley (neck, no date), Ekstrand (ACL, no date). Liverpool (3rd) at Arsenal (11th) (Mon, 3 PM ET) Liverpool began last season with just one cleansheet in their first eight games and they conceded 12 in the final four games of the term, but two games into this campaign they're yet to concede. That's helped the Reds gain maximum points, courtesy of two 1-0 wins, though the League admitted the winner against Bournemouth shouldn't have stood. Arsenal has history against them as they've never won the English Premier League after losing their first match of the season. They bounced back last time out with an away victory, though. The Gunners were stunned by West Ham on the opening weekend, losing 2-0. However, Arsenal then went to Crystal Palace and came away with a 2-1 win. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Liverpool 1-4 Arsenal Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Arsenal lead 3-1-2 (includes 1 FA Cup game). Last 3 at Arsenal (all competitions): Arsenal lead 2-0-1 (includes 1 FA Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Liverpool lead 83-78-57. Team News Liverpool (from): Bogdan, Mignolet, Clyne, Jose Enrique, Gomez, Lovren, Moreno, Sakho, Skrtel, Toure, Can, Henderson, Lallana, Lucas, Markovic, Milner, Balotelli, Benteke, Borini, Coutinho, Firmino, Ibe, Ings, Origi. Out (reason, expected return date): Flanagan (knee, Dec), Sturridge (thigh, Sep 12), Allen (hamstring, no date). Arsenal (from): Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Sanchez, Ozil, Ramsey, Giroud, Ospina, Gibbs, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gabriel, Debuchy, Walcott. Out (reason, expected return date): Welbeck, (knee, Sep 26), Wilshere (shin, Sep 12), Rosicky (knee, no date). |
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