Team Form Focus is a new weekly article analysing the in-form teams in the league and the ones failing to deliver. The statistics are taken from the last five Gameweeks, which will go up to six weeks once we’ve hit Gameweek 7. I’ll also be picking out a player who has the potential to do well for the next Gameweek or several Gameweeks. Potential clean sheets are another area to go under examination, with two or three teams being tipped each week to shut the opposition out.
THE FORM TABLE
KEY: P = Played, GS = Goals Scored, FS = Failed to Score, GC = Goals Conceded, CS = Clean Sheet, PTS = Points.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Philippe Coutinho — The Brazilian is now available for selection after serving his one-match ban. He’s missed roughly a game and a half due to receiving a red card against West Ham, but still boasts some decent stats in comparison to others. Liverpool play at Anfield in their next two games against Norwich and Aston Villa, who have conceded a total of 17 goals between them. The Reds then travel to Everton for the Merseyside derby. I was torn between Coutinho and Christian Benteke for the Player Spotlight and I’m strongly considering both for my Fantasy Premier League team, but I think Coutinho edges it in more ways than one. Firstly, the two players share very similar statistics, despite Coutinho playing 162 minutes fewer than the Belgian. Secondly: clean sheet points and extra points for a goal. Liverpool have kept three clean sheets so far, and look likely to keep at least one over the next three. It may only be one extra point than what Benteke would receive, but a point is precious – especially this season. Coutinho also has the chance to receive one extra point than Benteke for each goal scored, though admittedly the former doesn’t have the pedigree of a goalscorer. The Brazilian is cheaper, even if it’s only 0.4. And finally, Coutinho is a differential to Benteke; he has an ownership of 14% and 35% own Benteke. Both of these players could do well over the coming weeks, but I think Coutinho has the advantage of the two.
THE CLEAN SHEET PICKS
Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle — Manchester City is the most obvious choice to keep a clean sheet, after conceding no goals so far. Although they are on an almighty run, West Ham could be the team to end it. West Ham are one of three teams who haven’t gifted the opposition a clean sheet and have also picked up six points away to other top sides, Arsenal and Liverpool. But I wouldn’t want to bet against a team who have only conceded one big chance this season. I’m also tipping Liverpool to shut out Norwich on Sunday afternoon. Norwich are in goalscoring form, but I think Liverpool’s defence has the capabilities to stop a newly promoted team from scoring. Newcastle are at home to Watford this Gameweek, and the match could easily end 0-0 with both sides struggling to score. Both teams have scored five goals in total and failed to score in seven. Watford do have the better defensive record, but I’ve gone with the home team in this tie.
