Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 26 – The Strong

Having assessed those sides with weak schedules over the next four-to-six Gameweeks, we now turn our attentions to those with favourable fixtures to follow. The champions look poised to benefit from some eye-catching match-ups, whilst both sides of North London also have reason for optimism.

Man City

The champions have timed their return to form to perfection ahead of some enticing fixtures. After last week’s 4-1 demolition of Stoke, Manuel Pellegrini’s men host Newcastle, Leicester and West Brom and also travel to Burnley and Palace, leaving the Gameweek 27 visit to Anfield as the only tough encounter on the horizon.

Sergio Aguero is expected to recover from the minor back problem that forced him off at the Britannia and with Yaya Toure back on board, our faith in City’s main men is certainly on the rise. Samir Nasri and David Silva were both in the points against the Potters, and with new boy Wilfried Bony potentially offering a far cheaper route into their attack, there are options aplenty here. At the back, a run of eight matches without a clean sheets underlines City’s defensive woes and few will be prepared to gamble on a porous defence that’s failed to keep out the likes of Burnley, Sunderland and Hull in recent home matches.

QPR

Chris Ramsey couldn’t have asked for a better start at the helm after the R’s earned their first away points of the season with a 2-0 win at Sunderland. Up next, clashes with Hull, Palace, Everton and West Brom are slotted alongside a blank Gameweek 27 and double at home to Arsenal and Spurs the following week.

Charlie Austin has been the jewel in the Fantasy crown so far and is expected to shake off a foot problem in time for this weekend’s KC trip. With only a converted penalty in his last six, though, his form fell by the wayside in Harry Redknapp’s last few matches, though Ramsey’s installation could help spark him back into life. Matty Phillips’ pair of assists against the Black Cats brings him into contention as a budget option, whilst Steven Caulker and Rio Ferdinand’s partnership in defence was key to a first away clean sheet of the campaign. For those looking for a new keeper, Rob Green has made more stops than any other number one and is sure to deliver save points if his defence is breached.

Stoke

Mark Hughes’ side approach a kind run of fixtures with a number of injury worries hanging over their heads. With the likes of Ryan Shawcross and Marc Muniesa still sidelined and doubts hanging over Marc Wilson and Erik Pieters, the 4.5-priced Philipp Wollscheid certainly looks a secure starter in the heart of defence. The schedule (avl, HUL, EVE, wba, CPL) certainly suggests points but much depends on just how many regulars will be absent for this period.

In attack, Jon Walters and Peter Crouch are the men in form but both are also uncertain to feature this weekend. With Crouch scoring in each of his last two and Mame Biram Diouf offering another option up top, it remains to be seen whether Walters can remain the preferred choice as the lone striker. Victor Moses has strong underlying stats but has yet to deliver any points in four appearances since returning from injury.

Sunderland

Gus Poyet’s side have the fixtures but are certainly lacking form after back-to-back losses against QPR and Bradford in all competitions. Sunderland are also sweating over the fitness of Jermain Defoe, who missed the weekend cup defeat with a calf complaint. Having played a part in three of his side’s last four goals, he certainly looks the man most likely to deliver ahead of three kind home clashes (WBA, AVL, NEW) and trips to Hull and West Ham in the next six.

Poyet will also be desperate for Adam Johnson to rediscover the form that served up three goals and an assist between Gameweek 16-20 but beyond that, it’s difficult to place any faith in the Wearsiders’ misfiring attack. In defence, Costel Pantilimon is slightly more expensive than raiding left-back Patrick van Aanholt (4.6 to 4.3) but the former’s save point potential looks the safest bet here – he’s averaged 4.6 points per appearance compared to Van Aanholt’s 2.8.

Also Consider

Arsenal
With Palace, Everton, QPR, West Ham and Newcastle in the next five, the Gunners look likely to profit at both ends of the pitch. David Ospina and Hector Bellerin remain the budget options at the back, though Laurent Koscielny’s two goals in the last five highlight just why he’s a little more costly.

As we’ve seen over the last few weeks, Arsene Wenger’s side have been somewhat prone to rotation – Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott have dropped to the bench of late due to the numerous attacking options. Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez seem immune to Wenger’s tinkering if fully fit and the German’s two goals and three assists in a trio of appearances since returning from injury highlights just why he’s replaced Cazorla in yesterday’s Watchlist update.

Tottenham
Mauricio Pochettino’s troops will dust themselves down after their 3-2 defeat at Liverpool last time out. A blank Gameweek 27 needs to be navigated but aside from that, clashes with West Ham, United, Leicester and Burnley are also boosted by a double Gameweek that pits Spurs against Swansea and QPR.

Recent weeks have shown Harry Kane can serve up the points regardless of opponent, whilst Christian Eriksen will be much sought after once the blank is out of the road. With Nacer Chadli uncertain of starts again, Moussa Dembele – at 5.2 – has a goal and two assists in his last three and is thriving in the support role behind Kane. It’s difficult to make a case for a defence with two shut-outs in the last ten, though Danny Rose’s budget appeal (4.8) may persuade some he’s worthy of a punt.

Hull
A 2-0 win over Villa bodes well for Steve Bruce’s side ahead of four kind fixtures (QPR, sto, SUN, lei). Front two Nikica Jelavic and Dame N’Doye bagged a goal apiece last time out as the Tigers switched from 3-4-2-1 to 3-5-2 and Bruce will look to go on the offensive now to help fire his side up the table. There remains uncertainty over Bruce’s preferred backline, though his son, Alex, is priced at 3.9 and looks back in favour at a time when Curtis Davies has been handed bench-warming duties in recent weeks.

Aston Villa
Tim Sherwood’s appointment comes ahead of an excellent run of fixtures that sees Villa host Stoke, West Brom and Swansea, in addition to travelling to Newcastle and Sunderland. It remains to be seen what Sherwood’s first-choice line-up will be but skipper Ron Vlaar – now down to 4.3 – and Christian Benteke will surely be reinstalled to the starting XI as the new manager attempts to kick on from last weekend’s cup win over Leicester.