We roll out the third and final instalment of this week’s recommended player picks for the next four to six Gameweeks this evening. Having looked at The Defence and The Midfield, it’s the turn of the forwards – you won’t be surprised see a certain Uruguayan keeps his place at the summit after last night’s demolition of Norwich:
Luis Suarez continues to lead the way after four goals and an assist against the Canaries took his tally to 99 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points in just nine appearances for the season. Averaging 11 points per game since returning from suspension, the Liverpool talisman has produced the goods in all but two of his appearances – two sets of double figures on the road and three at home highlight his consistency ahead of a mixed upcoming schedule. The Uruguayan welcomes West Ham, Cardiff and Hull to Anfield in the next six, suggesting the armband will be nailed on for those matches, though trips to Spurs, City and Chelsea are undoubtedly trickier tests.
City pair Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo offer options across the price range at 12.3 and 9.3 respectively. As with Suarez, their upcoming fixtures are a mixed bag – a trip to Southampton and home games against Arsenal and Liverpool look tough but City’s form at the Etihad has already seen them put four past United and six past Spurs – indeed, Aguero has produced double figures in four of his seven home appearances, whilst Negredo has scored or assisted in each of the last six in front of his own fans. With games against Fulham and Palace also factored into their next five, Manuel Pellegrini’s side look poised to offer up plenty more attacking returns – Negredo’s stock took a dent last night after he was rested for the trip to West Brom but he’s expected to return to the XI for the weekend visit to St Mary’s.
Romelu Lukaku climbs into third spot. Everton’s trip to the Emirates this weekend is by no means easy but following that, the schedule could barely be any kinder (FUL, swa, SUN, SOT, sto, NOR) and is likely to bring the big Belgian plenty new owners. The fact that Lukaku alternates home and away with Suarez may also help sway the Uruguayan’s owners to double up on the Merseyside duo – Lukaku’s above-mentioned trio of obliging Goodison fixtures could more than atone for a possible blank or two from Suarez, given his tricky away schedule. Lukaku has now averaged 6.6 points per game since arriving on loan in Gameweek 5 and his rampaging displays look set to continue right through the festive period.
Wayne Rooney temporarily drops in the rankings due to this weekend’s one-match ban at home to Newcastle. Prior to last night’s loss to Everton, however, Rooney had delivered four sets of double figures in five and the schedule certainly suggests he’s likely to continue that rich vein of form when returning from suspension. Trips to Villa, Hull and Norwich, along with a home game against West Ham, should see him quickly settle back into his scoring ways – a goal or assist in 10 of his 13 appearances highlight the source of consistency offered to Fantasy managers this season, with Robin van Persie still struggling to make it out of the Old Trafford treatment room due to an ongoing groin problem.
Newcastle’s Loic Remy remains in fifth spot despite a weekend visit to the champions. The Frenchman will fancy his chances against a backline with a single clean sheet in 10 league fixtures – after that, he welcomes Southampton and Stoke to St James’ Park, with a visit to Palace sandwiched in between. Eight goals and a couple of assists in 12 appearances sum up his contribution as Remy looks to recover from a rare blank at Swansea on Wednesday evening.
Olivier Giroud and Christian Benteke keep their spots in the top ten, despite dropping to the bench in last night’s matches. Rested for the first time this term, Giroud looks poised to return for Arsenal this weekend but with Everton, City and Chelsea up next, he could struggle for returns. Benteke’s star also looks to be on the wane after Gabby Agbonlahor and Libor Kozak both scored away to Southampton last night. The big Belgian has now blanked in each of his last eight but the fixtures still smile kindly for Paul Lambert’s side – they have Fulham, Stoke, Palace, Swansea and Sunderland in the next six.
Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long are the pick of the budget options. The Southampton forward has now scored in five of the last eight Gameweeks and has chipped in with an assist and nine bonus points along that run – he looks a more secure starter than either Rickie Lambert or Pablo Osvaldo under Mauricio Pochettino right now and comes in at just 5.8 in FPL. With games against City, Newcastle, Spurs, Chelsea and Everton in the next six, though, the upcoming schedule could barely be more difficult for the Saints. Long has now started each of the last five, producing three goals and an assist, but Steve Clarke’s first-team tinkering against City on Wednesday, allied with a strong display from Victor Anichebe off the bench, suggests the 6.0-priced forward may not make the first XI in every game over the festive schedule – nonetheless, home games with Norwich and Hull and a trip to Cardiff look potentially profitable for a side that have scored twice against the likes of United, Chelsea and City already this season.
