Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 27 – The Weak

After analysing those teams with Strong schedules over the next four-to-six Gameweeks, we now turn our attentions to those with tough fixtures to follow. Two of the bottom three brace themselves for testing times ahead, whilst both halves of Merseyside also have some cause for concern.

Leicester

With breezeblocks seemingly anchoring the Foxes to the foot of the league table, it’s starting to look like all or nothing from here on in. Upcoming clashes with Hull and West Brom may well provide Nigel Pearson’s side a saving grace, though with a blank Gameweek 27 and encounters with Man City, Spurs and West Ham also on the agenda, managers are likely to continue to steer well clear of the Midlanders for now.

Riyad Mahrez has provided his side with a much needed spark since his return from the African Cup of Nations, though has ultimately failed to find an end product. Likewise, Andrej Kramaric has impressed since his January move to the King Power Stadium, and opened his account in Gameweek 25 with the consolation goal against Arsenal, whilst Jeffrey Schlupp’s out of position prospects on the left flank are also worth monitoring. What with the stiffening schedule and their side’s dire lack of form, the trio are still unlikely to attract much Fantasy attention at this moment, though any signs of promise could interest managers already planning for the Foxes’ Gameweek 34 double against Burnley and Chelsea. Indeed, from Gameweek 31 onwards looks the best time to invest – thanks to that double, Pearson’s side face five home matches over the space of six rounds of fixtures.

Burnley

The Clarets demonstrated every inch of their desire to avoid a bottom three finish in the battling 1-1 draw with Chelsea last weekend, and that determination will have to continue to be on full show over a gruelling next six, which features encounters with five of the current top seven. With crucial scraps against fellow relegation threatened sides awaiting them on the other side, Sean Dyche will have to ensure that his team are still in the running to evade the drop, and navigating the imminent schedule may be as much about preserving team spirit as anything else.

Without a clean sheet since Gameweek 16, the Clarets’ backline was garnering little attention as it was, though Kieran Trippier has supplied an assist in three of the last five Gameweeks – hopes of further returns look set to rely solely on the right back maintaining that attacking output. Further forward, owners of George Boyd may consider swapping the former Hull City man for another budget fifth midfield option, whilst Danny Ings is about to have his mettle put to the test after a decent run of form; it’s five goals in seven now for the 5.9-rated striker, though there are big question marks over whether he can continue to deliver as consistently over such a demanding schedule.

Liverpool

Still without a league defeat in 2015, Brendan Rodgers’ men have mounted some serious momentum in recent weeks, leading to impressive victories over Spurs and Southampton in their last two. They will need to maintain that form, however, as the fixture list shows no sign of letting up. The Reds welcome both Manchester clubs to Anfield and face a trip to Arsenal in their next five in a run of matches that is likely to determine whether they will still be harbouring hopes of Champions League football come the final run-in.

Rodgers’ rearguard has excelled of late, acquiring clean sheets in all but one of their last six league ventures, and yet their highest owned regularly starting defensive asset, Martin Skrtel, currently sits on an ownership of just 7.6%. Nonetheless, with those testing fixtures in mind, managers may still be reluctant to invest. Raheem Sterling highlighted his case for a place in our midfields with a second goal in his last three appearances last weekend, and with Rodgers still evidently keen to use Daniel Sturridge sparingly, the youngster’s chances of continuing in the forward role should ensure that he remains a popular option. Those eyeing up Sturridge since his return from injury may, subsequently, consider delaying a move for the 11.2-priced striker for now, then, though the Reds are blessed with a much kinder schedule from Gameweek 32 onwards.

Be Wary Of…

Everton
It’s now just one win in ten for the Toffees, and the road ahead is still anything but smooth. Visits to Arsenal and Stoke are up next, with a clash with Southampton also in the pipeline. That said, their backline has chalked up three shut-outs in their last five, and Leighton Baines’ remaining owners are facing a tricky decision over whether to shed the heavy-hitting left back. Indeed, it has been in the forward department where the issues have been primarily located, with Romelu Lukaku having now found the net just once since Gameweek 14, and the big Belgian will need to prove his quality over this demanding schedule if he is to return to Fantasy favour before the end of the season.

Crystal Palace
After a flying start at the helm, Alan Pardew’s campaign has rather stuttered of late, with only a single win accrued in their last four. The good news is that they still sit five points clear of the relegation spots, and with Burnley and Leicester facing such menacing schedules, it seems unlikely that they will gain too much ground. The bad news, however, is that Palace now face trips to West Ham, Southampton and Stoke in their next four, which is followed by a meeting with Man City in Gameweek 31. The Eagles’ backline will be hard tasked to hold out for clean sheets, then, whilst their attack will need to up their impetus after scoring more than a single goal just twice in their previous 14 league outings. Jason Puncheon and Dwight Gayle have now failed to collect returns since Gameweek 22, and their owners are now likely to be on the hunt for alternatives.

Hull
Recent wins over Aston Villa and QPR have meant that the Tigers are slowly but surely edging away from the drop zone, though they now need to navigate a number of thorny fixtures if that trend is to continue. The Tigers now have trips to Stoke and Southampton as well as Chelsea’s visit to the KC Stadium to contend with in their next six, meaning that back-to-back encounters with Sunderland and Leicester in Gameweeks 28-29 could prove crucial to their survival bid. Alex Bruce remains a popular pick at the back courtesy of his bargain bucket 3.9 price tag, and managers are unlikely to cough up much for a bite of Hull’s rearguard cherry. Further forward, the Tigers have had strike duo Nikica Jelavic and new boy Dame N’Doye to thank for those two vital victories, with the latter’s slightly leaner value (5.5 to 5.7) earning him plenty of interest round these parts – whether he can justify the hype over that testing fixture list remains to be seen.