Premier League 2020/21: FPL Gameweek 15 Fantasy Forecast
Ahead of each Gameweek in the Premier League, The Hype Train's team, Robert Austin, Sam Austin and Phil Jones, duel for FPL and league supremacy in predicting Premier League scores, as well as going head to head in picking a Scout Picks squad for each round of games. With the 2020/21 Premier League season starting tomorrow, we provide our Gameweek Forecast predictions, speculating how we think the first round of games will be played out. Welcome to the Forecast. All aboard.
Premier League 2020/21: Gameweek 15 Fixtures
Premier League 2020/21: FPL Gameweek 15 Forecast
Enjoy our FPL Forecast article, with each of our team forecasting how we think the Premier League will shape up this upcoming Gameweek. If you agree or want to challenge us on our point of view, get in touch with us on our main Twitter account, @RealHypeTrain.
Fixture Predictions: Gameweek 15
Leicester 1-2 Manchester United
Aston Villa 1-0 Crystal Palace
Fulham 1-2 Southampton
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle
Sheffield United 0-2 Everton
Leeds 2-1 Burnley
West Ham 3-0 Brighton
Liverpool 3-0 West Brom
Wolves 0-2 Spurs
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 15
Who are the teams to look out for and avoid?:
There are lots of cut and dry fixtures this week, which is great for fantasy managers, and then there are a few tough to call fixtures such as Chelsea visiting the Emirates, and United taking on Leicester. Liverpool, Villa, Man City, West Ham, and Everton have highly winnable fixtures. Anyway, here is the hot and cold topics for the Boxing Day fixtures.
Manchester United (Watch): The Red Devil’s have picked up a head of steam and are currently undefeated in seven games with six wins and only one draw which was against their Sky-Blue rivals in GW12. Barring the 0-0 draw against City, their last four wins have seen United score three or more goals in every one those games, and most recently they doubled the average in one game against Leeds where they scored six goals. The form, the goals, and the momentum is there for United to easily win this fixture.
Leicester (Avoid): I am adding Leicester here because despite their league position the Foxes tend to lose home games to anyone who is capable of scoring goals, such as West Ham and Spurs, and whilst I can see Leicester scoring, I don’t see them winning when you have Man United’s top talent all in-form.
Manchester City (Watch): A home game against a Newcastle team who were thoroughly walked off the pitch against Brentford in the League Cup Quarter-Finals is the dream Christmas present all City have received. Newcastle are completely woeful, and I say that as someone who only wants the best for them but watching Steve Bruce completely butcher a well-drilled Rafa Benitez machine is extremely tough to watch. Bringing in Jeff Hendrick, changing their shape from week-to-week, benching Almirón for most of the season, and trusting Andy Carroll in a prominent role before his injury just shows you the levels of incompetence that Bruce is proud to exhibit. I don’t even need to talk about City as you know what you get from them, all you need to know is that Steve Bruce is on a mission to destroy his hometown football club, and I can see them rolling over to City because Bruce is just plain scared and will set up with two banks of five that will easily be beaten.
Chelsea (Avoid): The Blues are missing a lot of key figures in their squad for the trip to Arsenal, and I just have the feeling that they will struggle. I still favour a Chelsea result because Arsenal are currently the dumpster fire of London clubs, but you can never rule out a surprise result this weekend. Chelsea are still finding their rhythm amongst all their new signings, and historically this fixture tends to be a closely fought battle.
Gameweek 15 – FPL Differential Picks:
LEI/MUN: Antony Martial (MUN, FWD, £8.7mil, 3.8% ownership)
AVL/CRY: Matthew Cash (AVL, DEF, £5.0mil, 0.6% ownership)
FUL/SOU: Ademola Lookman (FUL, MID, £5.0mil, 1.6% ownership)
ARS/CHE: Christian Pulisic (CHE, MID, £8.2mil, 2.5% ownership)
MCI/NEW: João Cancelo (MCI, DEF, £5.5mil, 4.7% ownership)
SHU/EVE: Gylfi Sigurdsson (EVE, MID, £6.8mil, 1.2% ownership)
LEE/BUR: Rodrigo Moreno (LEE, FWD, £5.7mil, 2.3% ownership)
WHU/BHA: Sébastien Haller (WHU, FWD, £6.1mil, 0.5% ownership)
LIV/WBA: Roberto Firmino (LIV, FWD, £9.3mil, 4.4% ownership)
WOL/TOT: Daniel Podence (WOL, MID, £5.5mil, 5.4% ownership)
Differential Captain: Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)
The Brazilian has been at his best in the last few weeks, and in the last two games alone has three goals and one assist. Firmino was incredible against Spurs and scored a delightful double against Palace in Liverpool’s record breaking away win. Liverpool host West Brom on the 27th and with Firmino at his influential best it could be another big win for Liverpool. Liverpool assets are hot property in this Gameweek, and if Firmino performs, then it means the team has a better chance of getting returns as well.
FPL Scout Picks: Gameweek 15
Formation: 3-4-3
Starting 11
GK: Ederson (MCI)
DEF: Tyrone Mings (AVL)
DEF: João Cancelo (MCI)
DEF: Trent Alexander-Arnold (LIV)
MID: Bruno Fernandes (MUN)
MID: Hueng-Min Son (TOT)
MID: Mohamad Salah (LIV)
MID: Raheem Sterling (MCI)
FOR: Roberto Firmino (LIV)
FOR: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (EVE)
FOR: Anthony Martial (MUN)
Substitutes
GK: Emiliano Martinez (AVL)
MID: James Maddison (LEI)
DEF: Yerry Mina (EVE)
DEF: Aaron Cresswell (WHU)
Fixture Predictions: Gameweek 15 Leicester 3-1 Man United Aston Villa 2-1 Crystal Palace Fulham 0-2 Southampton Arsenal 1-3 Chelsea Man City 1-2 Newcastle Sheffield United 2-1 Everton Leeds 0-1 Burnley West Ham 4-0 Brighton Liverpool 4-0 West Brom Wolves 2-3 Spurs
FPL Scout Picks: Gameweek 15 Formation: 3-4-3
Starting 11
GK: Edouard Mendy
DEF: Trent Alexander Arnold DEF: Kyle Walker-Peters DEF: Charlie Taylor
MID: Heung-Min Son MID: Mo Salah (C) MID: Christian Pulisic MID: Jack Grealish
FOR: Harry Kane (VC) FOR: Tammy Abraham FOR: Jamie Vardy
Substitutes
GK: Emiliano Martinez MID: Sadio Mane DEF: John Stones DEF: Sergio Reguilon
Fixture Predictions: Gameweek 15
Leicester 1-2 Man United
Aston Villa 1-1 Crystal Palace
Fulham 1-3 Southampton
Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea
Man City 6-0 Newcastle
Sheffield United 0-2 Everton
Leeds 2-1 Burnley
West Ham 1-1 Brighton
Liverpool 4-0 West Brom
Wolves 0-1 Spurs
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 15
Top FPL player targets ahead of the Boxing Day schedule:
There aren’t many attractive options this other than Liverpool players against West Brom and Man City’s game against Newcastle at The Etihad. The latter team have just announced on Christmas Day that Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker have both tested positive for Covid, alongside two staff members, meaning that they’re ruled out. This shouldn’t change anything though due to City’s depth, unless there is a mass shutdown like when Newcastle players caught the virus in mass.
The main transfers out have been Chelsea’s injured defenders, Ben Chilwell and Reece James, alongside Man City players in favour of Liverpool players. Charlie Taylor (BUR) has the seal of approval from Phil, whilst Fabian Balbuena (WHU), Mason Holgate (EVE) or Jan Bednarek (SOU) might be cheaper alternatives if you can’t afford the desirable picks – Trent Alexander-Arnold or Andrew Robertson.
If you don’t have these issues in your team, either stack up on bench fillers that play in case of rotation, or just bank the transfer and wait for rainier days that include an upcoming Blank Gameweek.
Who are the teams to look out for and avoid?:
Man City (Watch & Avoid): Here’s the season to be rotated, fra la la la la, la la la.
Wolves (Avoid): Nuno’s side are struggling in front of goal and against a defensively stout Spurs team that are on the rebound after successive losses, suggest to me that it might be a long day for Wolves.
Liverpool (Watch): Big Sam’s been giving this fixture the big talk, stating that they’ll be a well-oiled machine and will defend like monsters whilst frustrating the league leaders. Don’t be bought in to these mind games. It’s Liverpool, at home. They don’t lose and it will quite literally be an Xmas miracle if The Baggies get anything at Anfield.
Southampton (Watch): A few injury concerns ahead of this one, with Ings almost certainly out, though the level of their performance, even in defeat against Man City last week, suggests that this one should be a comfortable away win.
Leeds & Burnley (Uncertain): One is a blue magnet, the other a red magnet. They’re the actual reverse of one another and I’m unsure how this one will go – one thing is for certain though, Arsenal will be biting their nails over a couple of potential relegation rivals picking up points. My gut says that defence always wins, though this isn’t the SuperBowl.
Everton (Watch): Ancelotti should be getting all three points in this one and Calvert-Lewin should be looking at a good return in FPL. You just don’t need any specific ‘xG’ data to tell you that this should in theory be a mis-match and nothing else other than an away win.
Gameweek 15 - FPL Captaincy Picks:
Essential: Mohamed Salah (LIV)
Alternative: Harry Kane (TOT)
Differential: Ollie Watkins (AVL)
Other Gameweek Comments:
I’d just like to take this time to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s. It’s been a very interesting year for our website as we look to build on our first year at Hype Train FC, whilst also dealing with substantial breaks with the football schedule that has thrown everyone off their natural rhythm.
Thank you to anyone who has been following our content (whilst never charging a penny) and the team on our socials – we can’t wait to develop and grow even more in the future as we have some big plans for the next few years.
FPL Scout Picks: Gameweek 15
Formation: 3-4-3
Starting 11
GK: Edouard Mendy (CHE)
DEF: Andrew Robertson (LIV)
DEF: Ruben Dias (MCI)
DEF: Jan Bednarek (SOU)
MID: Mohamed Salah (LIV) – (C)
MID: James Ward-Prowse (SOU)
MID: Kevin De Bruyne (MCI)
MID: Heung-Min Son (TOT)
FOR: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (EVE)
FOR: Harry Kane (TOT)
FOR: Ollie Watkins (AVL)
Substitutes
GK: Alex McCarthy (SOU)
MID: Phil Foden (MCI)
DEF: Aaron Cresswell (WHU)
DEF: Mason Holgate (EVE)
Want to know more about The Hype Train?
The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in Fantasy sports reporting, starting with Fantasy Premier League (FPL), before expanding to MLS Fantasy coverage in 2018.
We pride ourselves in providing beautiful graphics, statistics, in-depth analytical reporting and free weekly insight for hopeful players attempting to climb rankings tables. We are also occasional media reviewers, with a keen interest to review games, live sport, and professional wrestling.
In 2019, Hype Train Football Club was formed, becoming the first Fantasy Football website to take to the field. HTFC is a socially active team across social and web channels, providing regular match highlights, match reports, comprehensive player statistics and unique player profiles. We won both Goal of the Season Awards in the Berkshire and County FA regions, with Callum Parr-Jones winning the Berks & Bucks FA award, whilst Martin King won the PlaySport UK award.
The Hype Train were nominated and shortlisted for the 'Best Football Blog' in 2016 by the Football Bloggers Association at their annual Football Blogging Awards (The FBA's), and were again shortlisted as a finalist in 2019 in the 'Best Fantasy Football Blog' category.
You can follow us on Twitter, Like us on Facebook, follow Hype Train FC on Instagram, subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive content, or visit our website here at www.thehypetrain.co.uk
All aboard.
