The Dugout Discussion – Sunday

The final Gameweek of the 2014/15 Premier League season sees all twenty teams duke it out in three o’clock showdowns, with Fantasy managers across the globe endeavouring to mount one final push on the summit of their mini leagues. Hull and Newcastle have the most to lose this afternoon, as the pair look to slide away from the top flight trapdoor. Elsewhere, many of us will hope that the diminished tension engenders a surfeit of high-scoring matches and Fantasy returns.

Chelsea will want to end their campaign on a high note when they entertain Sunderland at Stamford Bridge. Since clinching the title against Crystal Palace, the Blues have taken their foot off the gas, succumbing to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Baggies on Monday evening. The big news is that Eden Hazard starts, despite fears on his availability following emergency dental surgery in the week. However Diego Costa drops to the bench after starting at West Brom, despite Jose Mourinho stating that he will play his part on the final day. Didier Drogba leads the line in his final appearance for Chelsea.

Arsenal play host to West Bromwich Albion in search of their first home goal in three outings. The Gunners have netted just five goals in six matches, with the out-of-form Olivier Giroud drawing blanks in his last six starts. Similarly, Alexis Sanchez has delivered attacking returns just once in six appearances. The Baggies strive for their fifth clean sheet in six, with Saido Berahino fresh off a brace against the champions. Arsene Wenger hinted at changes to his teamsheet and they’ve materialised as Giroud drops to the bench, along with Aaron Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny. Scout Pick Theo Walcott earns a start.

Aston Villa welcome Burnley to Villa Park as they look to bounce back from a 6-1 mauling at the hands of Southampton. Christian Benteke is in imperious form – with 11 goals in 10 starts – while Tom Cleverley boasts three goals in four. The visitors failed to grace the scoresheet in seven of the past eight Gameweeks yet have conceded just six goals since Gameweek 29. Tim Sherwood has resisted resting key players but makes three changes as Jed Steer, Gabby Agbonlahor and Nathan Baker come in for Shay Given, Jose Okore and Alan Hutton.

Crystal Palace welcome Swansea City to Selhurst Park in their final match-up. Jason Puncehon (two goals in two), Wilfried Zaha (one goal in one) and Yannick Bolasie (two assists in one) are all displaying good form ahead of the Swans clash. In the Welsh club’s camp, Bafetimbi Gomis lays claim to five goals in as many appearances but he’ll have to do without the promptings of both Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jonjo Shelvey today – both are out of the matchday squad.

Everton invite Tottenham Hotspur to Goodison Park, with the visitors eyeing up a fifth-placed finish. Romelu Lukaku scored his first goal from open play in 14 Gameweeks during the Toffees’ 2-1 win over West Ham and now has two goals in three starts. As for Spurs, Harry Kane has drawn blanks in six of the past seven Gameweeks, forcing the North Londoners to rely on Nacer Chadli’s late surge (three goals in five).

Hull City go head-to-head with Manchester United knowing a victory is essential in their quest to beat the drop. The Tigers failed to net in their last two fixtures and will need their top scorer, Nikica Jelavic, to register for the first time in four starts. The Red Devils are playing for pride (bar an unmitigated collapse from Arsenal) at the KC Stadium, with Juan Mata surely determined to breach the 10-goal barrier. Mata starts again today, although David de Gea and Marouane Fellaini are both missing as Wayne Rooney and Angel di Maria earn recalls.

Leicester City lock horns with Queens Park Rangers at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes carded five shut-outs in their last six matches en route to Premier League safety and chalked up five goals in their past two home encounters. Leroy Fer (two goals in three starts) is the R’s form man, yet Charlie Austin is likely hungry for more goals after failing to score in his previous quintet of starts.

Manchester City pit their wits against Southampton at the Etihad Stadium. The Sky Blues are firing on all cylinders at present, having scored 16 goals and recorded three clean sheets in their last five fixtures. Sergio Aguero has been an end of season Fantasy powerhouse by way of eight goals and three assists in six starts. The Argentine’s unparalleled output was complemented by Yaya Toure’s brace last time out, while David Silva is also sparkling having registered five assists in his last three outings. The Saints possess threats of their own, however, in light of Sadio Mane’s hat-trick and Shane Long’s brace against the Villains last time out.

Newcastle United face off against West Ham at St James’ Park in the knowledge that a win would secure their top-flight status for another season. The Magpies last clean sheet arrived in Gameweek 27, suggesting they’ll need to rely on Papiss Cisse (three goals in five starts) to bail them out. He’s recalled to the starting lineup today, with Ayoze Perez surprisingly, dropping to the bench.

Finally, Stoke City round off their campaign with a home tie against Liverpool. The Potters will fancy their chances of earning a third consecutive clean sheet, given that the Reds scored just once in their previous three road clashes. Charlie Adam (four goals in seven) is the hosts’ most potent attacking threat at present, while his Liverpool counterpart, Steven Gerrard, boasts two goals in three starts. Gerrard is on the Liverpool teamsheet once again but Raheem Sterling loses his starting role along with Dejan Lovren and Jordan Ibe – Lucas, Joe Allen and Mamadou Sakho come in.