The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 31 – The Midfield

After running through the prime cuts on offer at the back on Wednesday, the focus shifts to the midfield this evening as we roll out our latest Watchlist rankings, offering player recommendations for the next four-to-six Gameweeks. There is no shifting the in-form Eden Hazard and David Silva from the summit, though Juan Mata’s brace at Anfield sees the Spaniard launch himself back into our short-to-mid term thinking, along with, wait for it, Marouane Fellaini….

Having averaged 7.1 points per appearance over Chelsea’s last seven league matches and with a strong upcoming schedule (STO, qpr, MUN, ars/lei, CPL, LIV), Eden Hazard remains untouchable at the top of our rankings. The Belgian international, now valued at 11.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), leads the way for bonus points accrued (34) this season and is now just 21 points behind the 202 he collected a year ago.

While Hazard is very much the gold standard among midfielders this term, David Silva isn’t far behind – the Spaniard has bagged the same number of goals (11), despite missing six matches through injury. The 9.8-priced schemer has registered 11 goal attempts over the last two Gameweeks, four more than any other midfielder, while he has created 15 chances, six more than his nearest rival. With a decent run of fixtures (cpl, mun, WHM, AVL, tot, QPR) to come, there are no signs of his outstanding form being halted.

Sadio Mane jumps up a place in our latest refresh despite blanking in Southampton’s 2-0 win against Burnley. The Saints have the second most favourable schedule (eve, HUL, stop, TOT, sun, lei) according to our Season Ticker, and coming in at just 6.7 in FPL, the Senegal international remains a strong fourth midfielder option – regardless of his recent shift back to a flank role. Mane is one of just four midfielders to record double figures for efforts in the box over the past six Gameweeks.

With three favourable fixtures (NEW, hul, QPR) in the next five, Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho is on the rise again. The Brazilian international has managed 14 goal attempts over the last four Gameweeks, the second highest behind Silva, while he has also created nine chances. Coming in at 7.9 in FPL, Coutinho is our preferred Reds midfield option for now, though if Daniel Sturridge’s reported hip muscle tear sees Raheem Sterling lead the attack, that could change. That is, of course, providing Sterling shrugs off the toe problem that has forced him to withdraw from England’s clash with Italy on Tuesday. It’s also worth noting that Coutinho’s above-mentioned trip to Hull in Gameweek 33 may yet be subject to change if the Reds get the better of Blackburn in their FA Cup replay. Passage to the semi-finals would see Liverpool handed a blank with a double Gameweek to follow, vastly influencing our assessment of Liverpool’s assets.

Gylfi Sigurdsson’s stock is in the ascent as Swansea prepare to face a friendly run of fixtures (HUL, EVE, lei, new, STO). The 6.5-priced Icelandic international has only scored once in his last seven league appearances, and was substituted after 63 minutes in the 1-0 win against Aston Villa last time out. However, that run of ties provides the perfect platform for prosperity, with Sigurdsson potentially adding to his five goals and seven assists to date.

Like Sigurdsson, Stewart Downing has struggled for form in recent outings. The Hammers midfielder – who has only delivered one assist in his last eight league outings – rises by virtue of a kind fixture list (lei, STO, mci, qpr, BUR, avl). Coming in at 6.5 in FPL like the Swans schemer, Downing could be an effective mid-price option for those looking to free up funds ahead of Chelsea’s double Gameweek 34.

Having failed to provide attacking returns in five of his last six league appearances, Alexis Sanchez suffers a hefty drop in this week’s ladder. Over 28,000 Fantasy managers have transferred out the Chilean so far, with his price dropping 0.1 to 11.3 in FPL. With Arsene Wenger quotedsaying Sanchez could be rested at some stage, along with the Gameweek 33 blank and tough matches against Liverpool and Chelsea on the horizon, the summer signing may struggle to justify his lofty price tag until the fixtures turn from Gameweek 35.

Christian Eriksen continues to fall down our midfield pecking order, despite picking up an assist in Tottenham’s 4-3 win over Leicester. That made it just two assists in his last seven league appearances, and although Spurs face three favourable fixtures (bur, AVL, new) in the coming weeks, a turn in the schedule come Gameweek 34 means it may be a matter of when, and not if, owners decide to show the 8.4-priced playmaker the door.

Despite having scored seven league goals this season, Juan Mata has barely been on the radar of Fantasy managers. The Spaniard has found it difficult to establish himself in Louis van Gaal’s first XI, with constant changes in formation casting him as a little more than an extra amongst United’s “Hollywood” headliners. But after starting in the 3-0 win against Tottenham, the 8.3-priced midfielder stole the show against Liverpool with two well-taken goals. With Mata revelling on the right-hand side in a 4-3-3 system, the former Chelsea playmaker looks set for an extended run in the first XI. Although the upcoming schedule is mixed (AVL, MCI, che, eve, WBA, cpl), the impressive nature of the last two victories may well convince some to take a gamble on him, even with Angel di Maria looming in the wings.

Marouane Fellaini also earns a place in our refresh after an impressive brace for Belgium against Cyprus last night continued the form that has won his a regular role under Louis van Gaal. As mentioned above, although United’s schedule could be far kinder, they clearly have the form to overcome such a tricky schedule and at a price of just 6.3, the former Everton man is certainly easier on the pocket than team-mate Mata but, potentially, just as effective and explosive on his day.

Three goals and an assist in his last four league appearances have brought Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson into our thoughts. After the trip to the Emirates, the Reds face four kind fixtures (NEW, hul, wba, QPR), which could offer the 6.5-priced midfielder the chance to continue his rich vein of form. His prospects would also be further boosted if Brendan Rodgers’ side beat Blackburn in their FA Cup quarter-final replay on April 8, leaving Liverpool with a double Gameweek – as mentioned above, though, this would leave him without a fixture in Gameweek 33.

Yannick Bolasie creeps in as our weapon of choice from Alan Pardew’s Palace dynamic midfield, edging out team-mates Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha (just). The 5.4-priced midfielder created a league-high six chances in Gameweek 30, and with three favourable fixtures (sun, WBA, HUL) in the next four, looks a viable differential candidate, with an ownership of just 1.5%.

Matt Phillips suffers a drop in our latest refresh. QPR are faced with one of the toughest schedules (wba/avl, CHE, blank, WHM, liv, mci) according to our Season Ticker. Those who brought in the 4.6-valued midfielder for double Gameweek 28 will likely be looking for an exit route once the Chris Ramsey’s side’s latest double is out of the way, with a blank in Gameweek 33 coming after a testing trip to Stamford Bridge.