Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 11 – The Weak

Yesterday afternoon, we kick started our assessment of the schedules over the next four-to-six Gameweeks by looking at those sides with some strong upcoming fixtures.

In our second instalment, Chelsea’s recent renaissance is set to be put to the test, while West Ham’s tough run of matches should ensure that the Michail Antonio exodus picks up pace over the international break.

West Ham United

(STO, tot, mun, ARS, liv, BUR)

After Saturday’s home clash against Stoke City, the fixture list turns particularly difficult for the Hammers, with three of the current top five and a trip to Old Trafford on the agenda.

Three of those matches are away from home, and with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Liverpool all among the seven teams allowing the fewest shots from inside the box, chances could be at a premium for Slaven Bilic’s men.

Arsenal will also be tough opponents given they’ve conceded three goals in four, so West Ham attackers look set to struggle once this weekend is out of the way.

Owners of Dimitri Payet and the afore-mentioned Antonio may be best advised to start making alternative plans, then, particularly with so many other in-form midfield options on offer.

Hammers defenders also hold little appeal over this spell.

Manchester United and Spurs lead the way for total goal attempts over the last four Gameweeks with 85 and 71 respectively, while Liverpool have scored 11 times in four at Anfield.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have scored four goals in two of their last three matches on the road, suggesting that’s another fixture which promises very limited defensive returns.

Chelsea

(EVE, mid, TOT, mci, WBA, sun)
While Chelsea’s form is buoyant, the next four Gameweeks will certainly provide a stern test that could yet derail their momentum.

The Blues have kept four consecutive clean sheets but Manchester City and Tottenham both feature in the top five for shots on target over the last four Gameweeks.

Everton also pose a real goal threat in the shape of the in-form Romelu Lukaku, leaving Middlesbrough as the only short-term match where you’d be confident in predicting a clean sheet.

Owners of the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta or Marcos Alonso will probably hold, though, given the current form and favourable turn in fixtures from Gameweek 15 onwards.

From an attacking point of view, Chelsea will come up against two teams, Middlesbrough and Tottenham, that have conceded just two goals apiece over the last four Gameweeks.

City, meanwhile, have allowed the second fewest number of shots inside the area over the last four, while Everton haven’t conceded more than one goal in any league match this season.

Those holding the in-form Eden Hazard and Diego Costa will no doubt be happy to retain their services, but they could struggle to be quite so explosive in the short-term, at least.

Middlesbrough

(mci, CHE, lei, HUL, sot, LIV)

The outlook for ‘Boro assets appears particularly grim over the next month or so, with Aitor Karanka’s men facing three of the current top four, along with testing trips to Leicester and Southampton.

Goals have been in short supply for ‘Boro this season, and that lack of cutting edge doesn’t look likely to change over the coming weeks, with Chelsea, City and Southampton all among the four sides conceding the fewest big chances over the previous four Gameweeks.

Leicester are also tough to break down at the King Power Stadium, having managed three shut-outs so far on home turf, while Liverpool are also reasonably solid at the back barring their weakness defending set-pieces.

The plum home fixture against Hull City in Gameweek 14 won’t convince any Fantasy managers to invest in ‘Boro attackers, then, who look best left alone until their fixture list eases from Gameweek 17 onwards.

Although the Teesside team have defended well of late, it may be hard to maintain their recent record given the level of upcoming opposition.

Liverpool, Chelsea and City are all ranked in the top five for goals scored over the last four Gameweeks, while Southampton are second only to Man United for total attempts in home matches this season.

Leicester also have to be fancied to score against ‘Boro given their array of attacking options, so, once again, it’s only that Hull match-up that looks likely to yield any meaningful points.

‘Boro defenders look best consigned to the bench over the coming period, then, or shipped out should you not have any more pressing transfers.

Everton

(che, SWA, sot, MUN, wat, ARS)

The Toffees face four tricky match-ups in the next six, so we should perhaps be slightly wary regarding the prospects of Everton assets.

Given Watford have also been strong at the back of late, keeping three successive clean sheets, goals may be fairly tough to come by over the coming weeks.

Chelsea as already mentioned are on a run of four consecutive shut-outs, while Man United and Arsenal have each managed two clean sheets over the last four Gameweeks.

Additionally, Southampton have only conceded five goals in as many home matches, so while the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Yannick Bolasie may still be able to flourish, their ceiling probably isn’t that high over the coming period.

Equally, there are concerns over the Toffees’ prospects of defensive returns.

No team has scored more goals than Chelsea (11) over the last four rounds of matches, while the Blues, along with United, Southampton and Arsenal, are the four clubs who’ve registered the most shots from inside the box over the last four Gameweeks.

Clean sheets look possible against both Swansea and Watford, but given the price of Everton defenders, that may not be enough to keep them in our 15-man squads over the next few weeks.

Also be wary of…

Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham’s next three away fixtures (ars, che, mun) look tough for returns at either end of the pitch.

Kyle Walker has been a popular option at the back this season, but with defensive points likely to be at a premium in those matches, he may struggle to deliver value on his 6.1 price tag in Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

That being said, the fact Tottenham face four in six at home after the international break (WHM, SWA, HUL, BUR) may be enough of a caveat to keep faith in the Spurs rearguard.

It’s the same story when assessing the attacking prospects over the next month or so, with those away trips placing doubt on the appeal of Spurs’ attackers.

But once Sunday’s north London derby is out of the way, those home fixtures may be enough to promote the likes of Dele Alli and Harry Kane – when fit – back into our thinking.

Man United
With Jose Mourinho’s side hosting Arsenal, West Ham and Tottenham in their next three home fixtures, we’re slightly worried about the upside of owning United players.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has already failed against Stoke and Burnley at Old Trafford and may well continue to struggle in clashes with strong defences such as Arsenal and Tottenham.

The situation is perhaps slightly brighter from a defensive standpoint, with clean sheets appearing a realistic possibility against Swansea, West Ham and Crystal Palace.

But given the current injury crisis, it may perhaps be best to invest in other premium options at this point of the season.

Watford
The Hornets have two really treacherous away trips (liv, mci) in their next six matches, while Leicester and Everton will provide tough opposition at Vicarage Road.

Although Leicester and Everton have only managed four and five goals respectively over the last four Gameweeks, both possess plenty of firepower, and with defensive returns very unlikely at Anfield and the Etihad, Watford defenders can’t be expected to maintain their recent form.

The matches at home to Stoke and away to West Brom will probably be enough for owners of Jose Holebas to keep faith, but Hornets defenders look destined to be bench fodder for much of the coming period.

Given Stoke and West Brom are fairly solid defensive sides, it’s the prospects of Hornets attackers that look set to take the biggest hit.

It’s difficult to see Watford scoring freely given their recent goal scoring record, so early season favourites Troy Deeney and Etienne Capoue may be set for some further sales over the next few weeks.