The Dugout Discussion – Gameweek 38

As tradition dictates, the full complement of Premier League teams will clash concurrently at three o’clock, affording Fantasy managers with one last-ditch opportunity to shoot for glory in their mini leagues.

On paper, Arsenal’s home encounter against Aston Villa stands out as a key fixture. Although the Gunners flattered to deceive on the attacking front across their previous four outings – mustering five goals and the joint-third-fewest big chances (three) – they’ll fancy their chances against a Villains defence that charts top for goals conceded (72). Moreover, the West Midlanders have shipped four or more goals on four occasions since Gameweek 26.

Elsewhere in the battle for second place, Tottenham Hotspur travel to face Newcastle United. Spurs are winless in three, despite having managed six more attempts (77) than any side over their last four outings. The Lilywhites place second for goals scored (33) and bottom for goals conceded (15) in road ties, underlining their status as the league’s second-best travelling side. As for the Magpies, they’ve recorded just five clean sheets on home turf.

Southampton play host to a Crystal Palace side that’s subject to heavy rotation ahead of their FA Cup final. Saints flourished in their last four match-ups, charting top for goals (11), third for big chances (14) and second for shot-conversion rate (18.6%). The south-coast club’s red-hot attack is well positioned to punish an Eagles rearguard that’s only claimed shut-outs in two of their 18 road encounters this term.

In the capital, Chelsea entertain Leicester City at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s attack impressed over their previous four fixtures, amassing nine goals and the most shots on target (24). At the other end of the pitch, the Blues’ rearguard was breached seven times and surrendered the seventh-most shots inside the box (36). The champions ranked joint-second for goals (10), top for shots inside the box (53) and top for big chances in their last four outings, and place third for away goals (32).

Manchester City will endeavour to secure fourth when they make the trip to Swansea. Although the Sky Blues chalked up the fourth-fewest attempts (40) and sixth-fewest shots inside the box (27) across their previous four league ties, they profited from the best shot-conversion rate (22.5%). Manuel Pellegrini’s troops clash with a Swans outfit that conceded nine goals and the second-most big chances (13) over their last four matches.

Fresh from a stunning comeback in the Boelyn Ground’s swansong, West Ham United embark on a road clash against Stoke City. West Ham excelled in the attacking third across their previous four outings, notching 10 goals, the joint-second-most attempts (71), second-most big chances (15) and second-most shots on target (23). Nonetheless, the Potters will draw encouragement from the fact that the Hammers also conceded seven goals during that period.

Ahead of the Europa League final, Liverpool are expected to name a second-string outfit for their trip to West Bromwich Albion. The Reds mustered the joint-second-most attempts (71) across their last four starts but suffered from a lacklustre shot-conversion rate (8.5%). Regardless, they harbour decent clean-sheet potential against a Baggies troupe that charts bottom for attempts (208) and shots on target (57) in home fixtures.

Manchester United cling onto their top-four aspirations as they invite Bournemouth to Old Trafford. Only three teams racked up more shots on target than the Red Devils (20) in their past four match-ups, yet only five sides have accrued fewer big chances on home soil (25). On a more positive note, Louis van Gaal’s charges still boast the stingiest defence in home ties, having conceded just 11 goals in 18 head-to-heads.

Watford and Sunderland cross swords at Vicarage Road. In light of Sam Allardyce’s pledge to deploy a bevy of youngsters, the hosts are well placed to trouble a Black Cats defence that ranks second for goals conceded in away matches (40). Although the Hornets’ attack has floundered since the turn of the year, they tallied as many shots on target as Spurs (19) in their previous quartet of encounters, which bodes well for this Hertfordshire showdown.

Everton welcome a Norwich team that will be licking their wounds after failing to escape relegation. The Toffees were decidedly abject in their last four match-ups, carding three goals and the fourth-fewest shots inside the box (24). Furthermore, they conceded the joint-most goals (11), most shots inside the box (60) and most big chances (15). The Canaries, however, chart joint-second-bottom for away goals (13), so might lack the wherewithal to capitalise on the Merseysiders’ slump.