Double Gameweek Beckons for Liverpool & Swansea

Earlier today, Fantasy managers were given the heads-up on a potentially imminent double Gameweek for both Swansea and Liverpool. At present, neither club has a Gameweek 27 fixture due to the Welsh club’s progress to the Capital One Cup Final on February 24 but according to Michael Laudrup, the fixture could be rescheduled for the weekend prior to their clash with Bradford City.

Swansea Upcoming Fixtures
February 9 – home league game versus QPR (GW26)
February 24 – Capital One Cup Final versus Bradford
March 2 – home league game versus West Brom (GW28)

Liverpool Upcoming Fixtures
February 11 – home league game versus West Brom (GW26)
February 14 – away game versus Zenit St Petersburg in Europa League
February 21 – home game versus Zenit St Petersburg in Europa League
February 26 – home friendly versus Norwegian side Strømsgodset
March 2 – away league game versus Wigan (GW28)

Certainly, with both sides out of the FA Cup, they now have a free weekend in mid-February (FA Cup Fifth Round) that could suit. Looking at the respective schedules above, Liverpool are clearly the busier of the pair, with a couple of Europa League games and a friendly on the horizon – should they progress past Zenit, Brendan Rodgers’ side will be keen to avoid any further fixture congestion.

The period between February 14-21 looks the most obvious – Liverpool face a trip to Russia on the February 14 – a Thursday – and with travelling time taken into account, a game on Sunday 17 or even Monday 18 would suit, with the latter date still giving them three days before their return match against Zenit. This backs up Laudrup’s thoughts on the matter and certainly suits Swansea, given their comparatively scarce fixture list.

Considering that Gameweek 27 doesn’t get underway until February 23, such a scenario would give both clubs a double Gameweek 26. Liverpool, therefore, would be afforded a hugely enticing pair of home fixtures, with West Brom also rolling up to Anfield, while Laudrup’s men would play host to QPR before making their way to Merseyside a week-and-a-half later.

If this transpires, it leaves Fantasy managers with something of a quandary, given the blank Gameweek 27. While many will load up on both sides for a possible double, resisting the urge to then transfer them out could be key – Liverpool face a superb run of matches from Gameweek 28 onwards which sees them travel to four of the bottom six as well as home clashes with Spurs and West Ham (wig, TOT, sou, avl, WHM, rea), heightening the appeal of the likes of Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge, Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique.

After their blank, Swansea face three home games in four (NEW, wba, ARS, TOT) then travel to Norwich and Wigan before hosting Southampton in Gameweek 34. Michu’s owners will no doubt hold but, while the likes of Ben Davies is surely set to earn a rise in ownership, the multitude of midfield options amongst Laudrup’s squad could well deter investment in the likes of Pablo Hernandez and Wayne Routledge.

Again, nothing has been confirmed but the potential looks particularly enticing. Given the success of Chelsea and Arsenal’s main Fantasy assets in the back-to-back doubles gone by, there will no doubt be huge interest in this one – strong benches will be a necessity for those patient enough to hold in Gameweek 27, while those still clutching wildcards will be licking their lips in anticipation if it does, indeed, go ahead. At the moment, this is just a heads-up – we’ll bring you more on this as soon as the Premier League announce the new date.