Spot The Differential – Gameweek 32

Our search for a trio of lesser-backed players bursting with Fantasy potential this Gameweek has us eyeing up Arsenal’s Welsh star, Crystal Palace’s red-hot striker and Liverpool’s marquee forward.

Daniel Sturridge

Daniel Sturridge finished last season as the second-top scorer (22) in the Premier League behind team-mate Luis Suarez (31), but a catalogue of injuries this term have restricted the English marksman to just seven starts. A slight knock sustained during the international break prevented Sturridge from recording his fourth successive appearance in Brendan Rodgers’ XI at the Emirates last Gameweek before being introduced in the second half and, after returning to the first-team for the midweek cup win at Blackburn, he’s back in contention for the upcoming home tie against Newcastle United.

The Magpies beleaguered defence could be in for another bruising evening when they roll up to Anfield on Monday. John Carver’s side have conceded nine goals in their last three road matches and have kept out their opponents just twice in the last 19 Gameweeks. Sturridge has threatened to burst into life in recent weeks – netting in home ties against Burnley and United – so the Tynesiders’ makeshift defence could be the perfect catalyst.

Investing in Sturridge comes with the caveat that Liverpool don’t have a fixture in Gameweek 33 following their progress into the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Those that are willing to sit the former Chelsea frontman, however, could profit when Rodgers’ men travel to West Brom and Hull in their double Gameweek 34. With home clashes against QPR and Palace in the subsequent three fixtures proceeding the double, Sturridge certainly has the platform to belatedly earn a place in our three-man frontlines at a time where fellow big-hitters Sergio Aguero and Diego Costa are struggling for form and fitness respectively.

Aaron Ramsey

Arsenal’s resounding 4-1 win over Liverpool last weekend served to highlight the plentiful sources of attacking returns within their squad. Olivier Giroud, with seven goals in six outings, remains the prime pick among the Gunners offensive contingent, whilst Alexis Sanchez (a goal and an assist), Mesut Ozil (a goal and two bonus points) and Aaron Ramsey, with two assists, also demanded attention in their demolition of the Merseysiders.

With ten goals and nine assists in just 23 appearances last year, hopes were high for Ramsey’s prospects this time round. Although a spate of hamstring injuries has stymied the Welshman’s progress, his recent spike in productivity suggests things are finally clicking into gear. Shifted out of a central role and onto the right flank last weekend, the 8.6-priced midfielder looks an integral part of Arsene Wenger’s XI once again and, having started each of the last three, has returned a goal, a trio of assists and three bonus points – indeed, no other midfielder in the league has contributed to more goals (four) than Ramsey in their last three appearances.

A trip to Burnley awaits Arsenal in Gameweek 32 and, whilst the Clarets have been better at the back in recent matches, Wenger’s side have already put three past them at the Emirates earlier in the season and roll up to Turf Moor on the back of a seven-match winning streak. Granted, a blank Gameweek 33 may deter some from immediately investing, though those with strong squads or currently wielding wildcards may be well-equipped enough to draft him in and bench him for next weekend.

From Gameweek 34 onwards, Ramsey is then poised for four home matches (CHE, hul, SWA, mun & SUN, WBA) and a double Gameweek in the final five rounds of fixtures. With Sanchez and Giroud likely to earn a spot in many managers’ squads, tomorrow’s trip to Turf Moor hands Ramsey the perfect opportunity to stake a claim for that third Arsenal spot as Wenger’s side look to take advantage of the schedule and nail down second spot.

Glenn Murray

Allied with Alan Pardew’s fresh attacking philosophy, Glenn Murray has been a revelation since his return from injury, notching five goals and two assists in his last five appearances – including a 12-minute cameo against Arsenal. The 5.1-priced forward has been relatively starved of service in his last two match-ups – only receiving a combined total of 14 passes in the final third and fashioning just four attempts on target – yet still managed to net against Manchester City and Stoke City. In light of his clinical displays in recent Gameweeks and the Eagles’ general form (they secured a third successive victory for the first time this campaign with a win over the Sky Blues), Murray is shaping up to be an enticing short-term option for those Fantasy mangers in need of a budget third forward.

Next on the agenda for Palace is a trip to Sunderland, before they play back-to-back home ties against West Bromwich Albion and Hull City. The Black Cats shipped four at home in Gameweek 29, the Tigers have conceded eight in their previous two clashes and the Baggies have been breached on seven occasions in their last two outings, strengthening Murray’s case for inclusion.

From Gameweek 35 onwards, Palace are faced with a quartet of fixtures (che, MUN, liv, SWA) that could beckon in a leaner spell for the ex-Brighton striker,  yet recent goals against City and Arsenal reveal he’s up to the challenge. For many, though, those next three fixtures offer a temporary solution – perhaps a way out for Charlie Austin owners, given QPR’s schedule – before we re-assess our options for the final four Gameweeks.