The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 35 – The Midfield

After rolling out our preferred picks in defence for the remaining four rounds of fixtures, we focus our thoughts on the centre of the park. Alexis Sanchez keeps his place at the summit thanks to both form and a security of starts, whilst Liverpool and City’s European commitments and potential rotation over the run-in also plays a major part in our thinking.

With four goals and two assists in his last five appearances, Alexis Sanchez remains at the top of our refresh. Arsenal’s lack of cup commitments over the run-in ensures that the Chilean is a nailed-on starter for the final four Gameweeks in a run that hands them showdowns with three (sun, NOR, mci, AVL) of the bottom four.

Whilst Mesut Ozil offers a similar security of starts, there’s no doubts that the German has struggled for form and has produced one goal in six ahead of tonight’s showdown with West Brom. Elsewhere at the Emirates, Alex Iwobi offers a viable budget route into Arsene Wenger’s attack. The 4.6-priced youngster has started each of the last four now and racked up two goals and a couple of assists over that period – he does remain a slight rotation risk, though, which may deter many from investing at a time where opting for nailed-on starters is key over the run-in.

Certainly, there’s no question marks over Dele Alli’s security of pitch time. The Spurs midfielder severely punished those who sold him ahead of double Gameweek 34 by bagging a brace away to Stoke on Monday evening and has racked up three goals and a trio of assists in his last five matches. Still priced at a very generous 6.1, Alli has the form to keep on delivering over the final four (WBA, che, SOU, new) as Mauricio Pochettino’s men chase Leicester down at the summit.

Liverpool pair Philippe Coutinho (8.3) and Roberto Firmino (8.1) both bagged a goal apiece over the double Gameweek to maintain their fine recent form. Although the Reds now have a superb run of fixtures remaining (NEW, swa, WAT & CHE, wba), the upcoming Europa League semi-final dates against Villarreal will surely play a major part in Jurgen Klopp’s domestic team sheets. The first leg takes place five days after this weekend’s home match with Newcastle and three days before the trip to Swansea, whilst the second leg occurs four days after their Liberty clash and three days before the home match against Watford, which is the first of their double Gameweek 37 fixtures.

Coutinho has scored in each of his last three starts but bearing in mind he has been rested for two of the last three league matches, there still has to be concerns over his pitch time. Firmino, who has bagged an impressive eight goals and four assists in his last 11, has started each of the last three since recovering from injury and if Divock Origi is ruled out with an ankle injury sustained against Everton last night, there’s a chance he could be utilised as a false nine if Klopp looks to manage Daniel Sturridge’s minutes. Whilst the Liverpool midfielders have plenty of upside, then, the risk of rest and rotation still hangs heavy over Anfield.

City’s Kevin de Bruyne (10.4) is also lower down in our refresh for similar reasons. The Belgian was benched in Gameweek 33 ahead of the Champions League quarter-final against PSG and with the likes of Raheem Sterling, and possibly Samir Nasri, back in contention, there’s a fear that his minutes will be managed as Manuel Pellegrini targets Europe in his final few fixtures at the helm. De Bruyne’s single assist in the last three also makes his 10.4 price tag a little prohibitive, with many preferring Sergio Aguero as their only source of City attacking coverage for the final four (STO, sou, ARS, swa) Gameweeks.

With a pair of home matches against Swansea and United in double Gameweek 37, the 8.5-priced Dimitri Payet cannot be overlooked. West Ham face a blank this week and have trips to West Brom and Stoke on either side of the double, which sees the Hammers play at Upton Park for the final time before moving grounds. Although Slaven Bilic’s side boast a significant threat in the final third, scoring at least twice in each of their last six, the attacking returns have dried up for Payet of late. Indeed, he’s played a part in just three of their last 12 goals and served up no more than an assist for double Gameweek 34 – food for thought for those considering handing him the armband for the penultimate round of matches.

Two goals and a pair of assists in his last four appearances highlights Andros Townsend’s recent improvement. The 5.7-priced wide man has served up 29 points over that period and those who snapped him up for double Gameweek 34 may well look to hold for the remainder of the campaign. The Magpies’ appeal is boosted by a Gameweek 35 fixture (albeit a trip to Liverpool) and ensuing showdowns with Palace and Villa offer further reason for optimism.

Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek could also be one to consider. Although Guus Hiddink has chopped and changed his team sheet in recent matches, the youngster has started each of the last three in a central support role and bagged a goal against Villa in Gameweek 32. With five fixtures in the final four (bou, TOT, sun & liv, LEI), he could prove to be a decent budget enabler at a price of just 4.6.