Gameweek 17 rolls on via a stormy Tyne-Wear derby clash and the meeting of two top four hopefuls at Anfield.
Events begin at St James Park where Newcastle will attempt to halt rather catastrophic blip in their revival: they’ve lost their last two outings, shipping eight goals in the process. Local rivals Sunderland are unlikely to provide sympathetic opponents; the Black Cats have lost just once in their last seven league matches.
Alan Pardew’s men welcome back Sammy Ameobi and Cheick Tiote following recent knocks, while both Daryl Janmaat and Steven Taylor also return to bolster the back four, although with 17-year-old Jak Alnwick continuing in goal, the fragility in defence could well remain.
Gus Poyet’s men will look to exploit such a weakness as the Uruguayan makes just one change to his Sunderland starting XI, recalling striker Steven Fletcher with the much-maligned Jozy Altidore dropping to the bench. The visitors have been forced into a late change, however, with Anthony Réveillère sustaining an injury in the warm-up; Liverpool loanee Sebastián Coates is drafted into the back four.
The day’s action continues shortly after the whistle in the north east, as we drop in at Anfield to check on the progress of both Liverpool and Arsenal. Alexis Sanchez and a cast of mid-price differentials are on show, as the likes of Raheem Sterling and Olivier Giroud audition in a bid to boost their pre-Christmas Fantasy stock.
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