Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 23 – The Strong

Next up, we turn our attentions to the upcoming schedule and analyse those teams with the strongest fixtures over the next four to six Gameweeks. Everton have every reason for optimism at both ends of the pitch, whilst West Ham and West Brom are also braced for a kind run of matches.

EVERTON

Having scored 17 goals in their last six home matches, and coming up against lowly Swansea and Newcastle over the next two Gameweeks, Toffees attacking assets should continue to flourish in the short term. Newcastle have allowed more shots from inside the box (44) than any other side over the last four Gameweeks, and have also conceded nine big chances, the second most in the top flight over the same period. Swansea have managed just one clean sheet on their travels this season, so Romelu Lukaku (9.2), in particular, looks a great option for our three-man frontlines. The trip to Aston Villa in Gameweek 28 offers another favourable match-up, while West Brom have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six away matches.

Villa, Swansea and West Brom have created the fewest big chances over the last four Gameweeks, so the prospect of defensive returns for members of the Everton rearguard appear fairly hopeful in those matches. Newcastle and Liverpool do feature in the top three for shots from inside the box over the last four Gameweeks, though, while Stoke have averaged two goals per match over the same period. The fact Roberto Martinez’s side have only kept three clean sheets in their last 16 matches means Everton defenders are unlikely to be high on Fantasy managers shopping lists, but the two assists registered by Leighton Baines (6.1) against Chelsea may persuade some to invest in the left-back, with returns at either end of the pitch looking possible over the coming period. At 5.1, Phil Jagielka is the cheaper alternative here.

WEST BROM

It’s West Brom’s defence that has attracted much of our attention this season as regards to possible investment in Baggies Fantasy assets, but Tony Pulis’ men have surprisingly only managed one shut-out over the last 12 Gameweeks. As already mentioned, though, the Baggies’ next two opponents, Aston Villa and Swansea, are both struggling to create many clear-cut opportunities at present, so the chances of picking up clean sheets in those matches appear fairly bright. The other team to visit the Hawthorns on the current slate are Crystal Palace, and having failed to score in their last five matches, that also represents a reasonably favourable match-up, although much will depend on whether Yannick Bolasie is back in action by Gameweek 27. The three away matches (new, eve, lei) all look pretty tricky in terms of keeping things tight at the back, though, so while those who own the likes of Craig Dawson (5.1) will be happy to hold at the moment, we may see some sales after the next two home matches, particularly if the backline fail to produce the goods. Boaz Myhill owners may be looking for a way out soon, with Ben Foster back in contention.

With Newcastle, Everton, Swansea and Villa all ranked in the top 10 for big chances conceded over the last four Gameweeks, the prospects for the Baggies’ attackers look promising. The other two fixtures over the next six Gameweeks (CPL, lei) also don’t appear that unfavourable given the Eagles have conceded eight goals in their last four matches, while only Newcastle have allowed more shots from inside the box than Leicester over the last four Gameweeks. With no stand-out option among the midfield or forward line, though, it’s unlikely many Fantasy Premier League (FPL) bosses will be looking to the Hawthorns to fill their front eight positions.

WEST HAM

Two plum home fixtures against Aston Villa and Sunderland should prove very fruitful for the Hammers from an attacking point of view. The Black Cats have conceded 16 goals in their last five away trips, while the vulnerability of the Villa rearguard has already been touched upon. The trip to Southampton in Gameweek 25 looks a tougher proposition on the back of consecutive clean sheets at home for the Saints, but the Carrow Road encounter that follows is likely to offer more potential. In saying that, the Canaries have also kept shut-outs in their last two outings on home turf. Although the home clashes against Man City and Tottenham will offer tougher match-ups, though, those that have invested in Dimitri Payet (8.0) and, to a lesser extent, Michail Antonio (5.2), will still be optimistic that the pair can bring in the points.

It goes without saying it will be tough for the Hammers to keep out either City or Tottenham when they visit East London over the next few weeks. Sunderland could also be hard to keep at bay, given Sam Allardyce’s men have scored in each of their last five away matches, including at the Emirates, the Etihad and White Hart Lane. Southampton have also found their scoring boots over the last two Gameweeks, so it’s perhaps only the matches against Villa and Norwich where there appears to be a good chance of defensive returns for the likes of Adrian (5.0) and Aaron Cresswell (5.6).

ALSO CONSIDER…

Crystal Palace
With Swansea, Watford and, to a slightly lesser extent, West Brom generally figuring towards the bottom of the key attacking categories such as big chances created and shots from inside the box, members of the Palace backline could be handy investments over the coming period. While Bournemouth and Sunderland have both been improving in front of goal of late, both fixtures are also reasonable match-ups, so Scott Dann (5.8) in particular should continue to be a sought-after option for our five-man backlines.

As previously mentioned, the goals have dried up for the Eagles over the past month, so while the home fixture against Bournemouth in particular looks favourable with the Cherries allowing more big chances (11) than any other team over the last four Gameweeks, it’s only perhaps Yohan Cabaye (6.5) who looks worthy of consideration until Bolasie returns to full fitness. The rest of Palace’s upcoming schedule (TOT, BOU, swa, WAT, wba, sun) is reasonably favourable though.

Liverpool
With only the home clash against Man City in Gameweek 28 looking too unfavourable in the next six (nor, lei, SUN, avl, EVE, MCI), the prospects for Reds attackers appear pretty promising. Leicester have been a much improved defensive unit of late, only conceding two goals in their last five matches, but having scored freely at both Chelsea and Man City, Jurgen Klopp’s men have shown their capabilities on the road against top opposition. Roberto Firmino (7.8) offers a genuine differential option with his ownership standing at just 2.6% in FPL, with the Brazilian currently playing out of position in the “false nine” role.

The matches against Norwich, Sunderland and Aston Villa should offer reasonable chances for defensive returns, but with Liverpool likely to concede in the other three matches over the next six Gameweeks, Reds defenders perhaps have a limited ceiling over the coming period. Alberto Moreno (4.9) should still represent decent value for Fantasy bosses, though.

Aston Villa
There have been signs of a mini-revival at Villa Park over the last two Gameweeks, and matches against West Brom and Norwich in the next three could prove profitable for the likes of Jordan Ayew (5.5). With West Ham, Liverpool, Stoke and Everton to face in their other four fixtures, though, it still looks unlikely that Villa attackers will make their way onto our radars any time soon.

At the other end of the pitch it looks much the same story, with the West Brom and Norwich clashes holding the most potential. Liverpool have struggled on the road to some of the sides towards the wrong end of the table, but with plenty of more appealing budget options for us to consider, the likes of Joleon Lescott (4.7) are probably unlikely to capture the imagination of FPL managers.

Bournemouth
Eddie Howe’s side have kept three clean sheets in their last five matches, and with some decent upcoming fixtures (sun, cpl, ARS, STO, wat, SOT), members of the Bournemouth backline could continue to pick up steady defensive returns. Charlie Daniels (4.5) definitely looks the pick of the bunch given he currently has penalty duties and loves to push forward from left-back.

The fixtures aren’t very favourable from an attacking point of view, though, so while Benik Afobe (6.1) got on the scoresheet against Norwich last time out, investment in any Cherries attacker appears unlikely to reap any significant rewards. Junior Stanislas (4.2) continues to feature in Howe’s first-team plans and retains some appeal as a cheap fifth midfielder, though it remains to be seen whether he’ll retain his start once Matt Ritchie is fit and Juan Iturbe finds his feet.