This Much We Know – Gameweek 36

Manchester City’s De Bruyne has timed his ascent to perfection as Sanchez continues to toil in Arsenal’s new set-up. We’re relying on a Baggies air raid to spoil Conte’s party, Mourinho’s rotation has us in a spin, while keepers have forever booked their place in our double Gameweek plans. Here are the learnings from Gameweek 36 so far…

We can only hope that West Brom have some fancy set-pieces left…
Events in Gameweek 36 have conspired somewhat against those who loaded up on Spurs assets for the run-in.

Friday’s shock reverse at the London Stadium, coupled with Chelsea’s stroll past Middlesbrough last night, means Mauricio Pochettino’s men could take to the pitch against Manchester United on Sunday with their title aspirations in tatters – should the Blues get the better of West Brom on Friday, that is.

It’s all far from ideal from an FPL perspective, given that a run of nine successive victories prior to that Hammers defeat persuaded many of us to go big on Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli for the run-in.

As we witnessed last season, Spurs fell apart after their bid to clinch the crown finished prematurely, crumbling to defeats against Southampton and Newcastle United in their final pair of fixtures.

We now need Tony Pulis’ set-piece specialists to hand Spurs a brief glimmer of hope or, if Chelsea prevail, see a big response from Mauricio Pochettino’s men to prevent our Double Gameweek 37s falling flat.

We’re looking to you, McAuley and Dawson.

…or Conte’s rotation could leave us disappointed…
The prospect of claiming a double in his first season in charge of Chelsea will surely dominate Antonio Conte’s thinking now.

A win over West Brom would not only seal the title, it would also give the Blues boss the luxury of being able to rest his regulars for the final two matches of the season – home fixtures against Watford and Sunderland that otherwise look highly conducive to Fantasy returns.

Such a scenario is far from ideal for the 34% and 33% holding big hitters Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, with the champions-elect set to face Arsenal in the FA Cup final six days after their Gameweek 38 clash against the Black Cats.

As witnessed last night, though, the absence of N’Golo Kante could strengthen Cesc Fabregas’ appeal for the final trio of fixtures, with Conte perhaps now looking to wrap the PFA Player of the Year in cotton wool to ensure he’s fully fit for the Wembley showpiece.

The three-man defence has strangled Sanchez…
Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Man United delivered a fourth clean sheet in five home matches and also highlighted Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s improved displays as a wing-back differential.

What it failed to do, however, was arrest Alexis Sanchez’s recent continued decline as a Fantasy asset.

The most-captained player for Double Gameweek 36, the Chilean fired two off-target attempts on goal and returned just three points in yet another frustrating display.

Arsene Wenger’s switch to 3-4-2-1 may have afforded his side hope of a fourth place finish, but while the team have benefitted, Sanchez has chalked up just a single goal in seven appearances.

While Double Gameweek 37 clashes with Stoke City and Sunderland will keep him in most managers’ plans, we simply cannot trust Sanchez as a captaincy contender right now – he’s managed just one set of double-digits from Gameweek 22 onwards.

De Bruyne has left it late…
Soaring into fifth place in the midfield standings on the back of a 17-point haul at home to Palace, the Belgian has earned more transfers-in than any FPL midfielder for Double Gameweek 37.

With two double-digit returns in four, De Bruyne has been key in guiding Man City into pole position in the race for a third-place finish, with Liverpool’s goalless draw against Southampton placing the Etihad outfit one point behind with a match in hand.

Back-to-back home encounters against Leicester City and West Brom afford Pep Guardiola’s side the chance to maintain that momentum in their search for a spot in next year’s Champions League.

While a price of 10.4 is far from budget-friendly at a time when the likes of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and even David Silva offer cheaper alternatives, De Bruyne has plenty still to play for at a time when other premium-priced midfielders look to be lacking motivation and, in Sanchez’s case, form.

Pride is keeping the Foxes in contention…
At this time of year, those safely ensconced in the security of mid-table are typically accused of already being on the beach.

But the same cannot be said for defending champions Leicester. Now up to ninth on the back of a 3-0 home battering of Watford, the Foxes seem to be making up for lost time after a disastrous title defence had many predicting a drop into the Championship.

Chalking up seven wins and a draw in 10 league outings since Craig Shakespeare was appointed, Leicester have one of the toughest Double Gameweek 37s on offer – away to Man City and at home to Spurs.

Yet with a Gameweek 38 visit from Bournemouth seeing out their season, that pair of King Power clashes could turn a few heads to consider the likes of Jamie Vardy, or weekend scorers Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton, particularly if Spurs have already lost the title by the time next Thursday’s encounter comes around.

Vardy is the obvious choice, but Mahrez’s display against Watford piqued some interest. Like De Bruyne, he may just have timed his late ascent to coincide with Fantasy managers’ hankering for an explosive differential.

Liverpool are limping over the line…
Despite requiring a win at home to Southampton in their quest for Champions League qualification, Jurgen Klopp’s side looked laboured at best in Sunday’s goalless draw.

Without the injured Sadio Mane and with Adam Lallana eased back into action with another outing off the bench, the Reds welcomed back Philippe Coutinho from the dead leg that forced him off against Watford last Monday.

Yet the Brazilian, and compatriot Robert Firmino, huffed and puffed without success against a Saints side that were happy to sit back and failed to register a single effort on goal in the opening 45 minutes.

Devoid of a Double Gameweek 37 and up against a West Ham side with four clean sheets in five, the Liverpool pair rank among the top three midfielders for transfers-out this week as many cut and run. It’s difficult to argue against such a decision.

Mourinho is true to his word…this time…
The Manchester United manager had hinted at making plenty of changes for Sunday’s trip to the Emirates, yet Liverpool’s stalemate against the Saints earlier in the day had left the door open for a top-four finish.

But with at least one eye on this week’s Europa League clash with Celta Vigo, Jose Mourinho stuck to his guns and omitted the likes of Paul Pogba, Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly and Marcus Rashford from his first XI.

Progress past their La Liga opponents on Thursday and the Old Trafford side will clinch a place in the final, which takes place on Wednesday, May 24 – just three days after the end of the season.

Considering that United have still to play three times in the league prior to that, their remaining teamsheets may be no more than a lottery, if Sunday’s is anything to go by.

We will always have a soft spot for a double Gameweek keeper…
Stoke’s Lee Grant set the tone in Double Gameweek 27, racking up 13 points for a pair of clashes against Middlesbrough and Man City.

Then Man United’s David De Gea followed suit, delivering 17 points against Burnley and Man City to emerge as joint-top scorer in Double Gameweek 34.

This time around, Southampton’s Fraser Forster looks set to surpass both after delivering 16 points alone in the first match of Double Gameweek 36, courtesy of his spot-kick save at Anfield.

Although the allure of a pair of fixtures has a tendency to draw us to attackers, the men between the posts have served a very timely reminder that going against the common consensus can sometimes prove a hugely profitable tactic in our quest for mini-league success.