Gameweek 22 – Best Punts

It was so nearly perfect! Another two out of three of my punts paid off in Gameweek 21. My defensive choice was Gareth McAuley and Tony Pulis’ side kept a clean sheet; the first of what I think will be many towards the back end of this season. McAuley’s own impressive performance earned him an extra bonus point to go along with the clean sheet and he brought home a haul of seven points. I went for Bafetimbi Gomis up front and the big Frenchman was unlucky not to score. His header was put into the net by Mark Noble and was unluckily given as an own goal so Gomis had to make do with the assist points. However, with Wilfried Bony transferring to Manchester City, Gomis’s gathering form may attract many Fantasy suitors in the coming weeks.

My midfielder let me down last Gameweek. Jesús Navas made his second appearance in my articles, and despite having a clear-cut goalscoring opportunity, which he should have netted, he managed a mere two points against Everton. Frustratingly, I wrote in the comments section last week that I was torn between Navas and Jason Puncheon, even writing a paragraph on the latter before choosing Navas instead. Puncheon did deliver the goods that Navas didn’t with a total of nine points. This week I will follow my punt instinct to try and reach that 100% correct prediction! Ownership figures and prices are correct as of January 14.

Michael Keane

Club: Burnley

Position: Defender

Price: 4.4

Ownership: 0.1%

Last week Michael Keane made his loan from Manchester United to Burnley permanent and it is easy to see why. The talented young centre-back has turned in many impressive performances in an overall shaky first half of Burnley’s Premier League campaign. However, with five points in their last three, which included trips to Manchester City and Newcastle, the Clarets’ season is beginning to turn around. This Gameweek Sean Dyche’s men face Crystal Palace at home. The Eagles seem rejuvenated under Alan Pardew and will have their tails up after beating fierce rivals Tottenham. However, Burnley have kept clean sheets against four of their fellow bottom six so far this season, including one away at Selhurst Park in September. Sean Dyche knows which games his side need to get points from and he makes sure that his backline is impermeable. A home game against fellow strugglers Palace is another of these matches and I reckon the Clarets’ defence will expect a clean sheet this Gameweek.

As with many defensive punts, Michael Keane has an attacking threat. His eight attempts at goal this season have all come from inside the box, six of them with his head, which highlights his threat from set-play situations. Not only can Keane shoot from the air but he can knock the ball down to a team-mate to pick up assists, just as he did against Manchester City in Gameweek 19. The Englishman has won over 76% of his aerial duals, an incredible stat. Only two players who have entered more have a higher success rate in the whole league. So if Keane isn’t picking up attacking points from his heading he may well be collecting bonus points from defence.

Lazar Markovic

Club: Liverpool

Position: Midfielder

Price: 7.2

Ownership: 0.3%

Lazar Markovic finally looked the part in Liverpool’s win over Sunderland last weekend. After a poor start to his career on Merseyside the young Serb is finally finding his feet. He netted against Sunderland and was a creative spark, as well as a goal threat, throughout the match. He will be looking to carry that form forward into this week’s away trip to Aston Villa. The Villains are usually very tight at the back – indeed they have kept two clean sheets in their last three – but Liverpool have won their last two trips to Villa Park and I can’t see that changing this weekend. Brendan Rodgers has finally found a new system that works for his side and they are unbeaten in their last five matches. Raheem Sterling’s return will add further spice to a Liverpool strike force that will be too hot to handle this weekend.

The most obvious appeal that Markovic offers is his out-of-position threat. Despite being classed as a midfielder in the Fantasy Premier League game, he plays as a very advanced winger and his never ending energy means that he is always bustling around in the box. 64% of all of Markovic’s shots and 100% of his shots on target this season have come in the last six Gameweeks, which highlights the fact that he is on an improving trend. Not only is he a goal threat but the Serb carves out countless chances for his team-mates, creating a goalscoring opportunity every 41 minutes (in the last six Gameweeks). Markovic is full of confidence at the moment and not afraid to try anything. A youngster with his talent, ability and confidence is not to be passed up on!

Enner Valencia

Club: West Ham

Position: Forward

Price: 6.4

Ownership: 0.7%

Enner Valencia has proved to be one of the signings of the season for West Ham. The Ecuadorian forward is the complete package. Clinical with his feet and, despite his stature, Valencia is incredibly strong and can leap higher than any defender. So far he has had 34 attempts at goal, six with his head, and has scored three times as well as picking up the same number of assists this campaign. The Hammers’ forward has created eight goalscoring chances for his team-mates, despite his job being to finish them off, which adds to his appeal further, as not only can he score but he can assist too. He is also a threat from set plays, attempting 11 this season as well as taking the occasional corner. Since the introduction of Andy Carroll in the West Ham side Valencia’s points and ownership have dropped. However, after scoring against Everton in the FA Cup replay on Tuesday night I think Valencia has got his eye back in. Any headers that Carroll does win that drop into the danger zone, Valencia will look to latch on to and gather points from.

This Gameweek Sam Allardyce’s men face a struggling Hull side who currently sit in the bottom three. Many of the Hammers’ first-choice players played a full 120 minutes midweek, including Valencia, but they have until Sunday to recover. Morale will be high after winning an enthralling cup tie and despite some weary legs the Hammers will come out raring to go. Fatigue is a slight worry for Valencia but I think that he is fit enough to start again on Sunday. Hull have only kept two clean sheets since October and Steve Bruce will be concerned about his side’s defensive abilities against a West Ham team who have scored in all but one of their last ten matches. The Tigers’ defence is in for a hammering this weekend and Enner Valencia could be the one to conduct it.

Last Gameweek’s Best Punts

DEF – Paul Konchesky, 15 pts, 4.5, 0.6%

MID – Lazar Markovic, 11 pts, 7.2, 0.3%

FWD – Andy Carroll, 9 pts, 6.9, 1.5%