Frisking The Fixtures – Gameweek 7 – The Weak

After detailing those teams with the strongest fixtures over the next six Gameweeks, we now focus on those who face far less favourable upcoming schedules.

High-flying Man United are about to enter their toughest stretch of the season so far, while budget options from Huddersfield Town could soon be surplus to requirements.

Crystal Palace, Watford, Liverpool and Spurs are among the other sides with stiffening fixtures on the horizon.

Manchester United

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The Prospects – Goals
The Gameweek 7 fixture couldn’t be more favourable, entertaining a Crystal Palace side still awaiting their first win of the season, conceding 13 goals in the process.

But aside from a Gameweek 9 trip to Huddersfield, United then face three testing fixtures in the subsequent four.

This includes a trip to Anfield – the Reds have only conceded once in three home matches – while Spurs will provide a stern test in Gameweek 10, having conceded just five big chances. A visit to Chelsea follows that one – Antonio Conte’s men lead the way for the fewest big chances allowed with only four.

While his side have netted 17 times so far, the concern is that Jose Mourinho will approach the fixtures against top-six rivals with a more defensive mindset.

Following that, a home encounter with Newcastle should be a pretty kind match-up in Gameweek 12, though.

The Prospects – Clean Sheets
No team has managed more clean sheets (five) than Man United, but the upcoming period sees Mourinho’s men face three good fixtures, along with three unfavourable match-ups.

Palace are yet to score this season, while both the Huddersfield and Newcastle attacks are far from prolific.

Further shut-outs do appear a distinct possibility in those clashes, then.

But Liverpool and Spurs lead the way for total shots this season with 120 apiece, while a clean sheet also looks a tough ask at Stamford Bridge, although Arsenal managed just that in Gameweek 5.

The Turning Point
Further difficult fixtures against Arsenal and Manchester City also follow in Gameweeks 15 and 16, before the schedule turns favourable once again, starting with a home clash against Bournemouth.

Verdict
Despite several Man United assets shining so far, they’ll need to produce against Palace this weekend in order to avoid a possible exodus.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan could be particularly vulnerable if the trend of opting for three premium forwards continues to gain momentum, with less funds being kept in midfield.

Romelu Lukaku looks slightly less at risk, but the news that Phil Jones is a major doubt for Gameweek 7 spells bad news for his 10.5% ownership.

Huddersfield Town

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The Prospects – Goals
The Terriers have netted just once in their last four matches and the outlook for goals, at home in particular, looks far from rosy.

Spurs and Man United are among the most fearsome defences in the Premier League, while West Bromwich Albion will provide a tricky test, although the Baggies have shipped five goals in their last two away encounters.

A trip to Anfield also looks unlikely to yield goals for David Wagner’s men.

Visits to Swansea City and Bournemouth appear slightly more promising – the Welsh side have lost all three of their home matches – while the Cherries are still awaiting their first clean sheet.

The Prospects – Clean Sheets
Huddersfield have been a surprise source of defensive points, but those may dry up over the next month or so.

In terms of the home fixtures, both Spurs and Man United will be expected to score at the John Smith’s Stadium.

The home meeting with West Brom does provide a decent opportunity for another shut-out, though.

Swansea’s struggle for goals – having managed just three so far – makes that another reasonable match-up, but trips to Liverpool and, to a lesser extent, Bournemouth further damage the prospects of Terriers defenders.

The Turning Point
Huddersfield face another brutal run of fixtures between Gameweeks 13 and 17, with the schedule only turning favourably again from Gameweek 18 onwards.

Verdict
While Wagner’s assets have proven to be a great source of points over the opening six Gameweeks, the time to make alternative plans looks to have come – unless they can recapture the opening weekend form that brought a 3-0 win at Palace.

Members of the backline may still be worth holding onto if you have more pressing transfers to make, but Aaron Mooy’s 10-point haul in Gameweek 2 now seems a distant memory, with the Australian’s prospects now appearing bleak.

Crystal Palace

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The Prospects – Goals
Another week, and another match goes by without the Eagles scoring.

Unfortunately for Roy Hodgson, the fixture list offers little relief.

A trip to Old Trafford is up next, against a side who are yet to concede at home.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have kept clean sheets in three of their last four, a record matched by Newcastle.

West Ham United have improved defensively since switching to a back three, registering two shut-outs in their last three matches, while Spurs provide a tough opponent – though they have yet to keep a clean sheet at Wembley.

The Everton clash in Gameweek 12 may be one of the better fixtures – only two sides have allowed more shots on target than the Toffees (20) in away matches.

The Prospects – Clean Sheets
Up against Man United and Chelsea, there appears little realistic hope of a first clean sheet over the next two Gameweeks.

Newcastle impressively rank sixth for the most shots from inside the penalty area. Stopping the Spurs attack may also be beyond Hodgson’s side, while although Everton have only scored four goals, they are around mid-table for big chances created (eight), despite their treacherous start.

But West Ham have failed to register on three of their four road trips to offer a winnable match-up.

The Turning Point
Despite the short-term doom and gloom, the schedule does improve dramatically from Gameweek 13 onwards, starting with a home clash against Stoke.

Verdict
The matches against Newcastle and West Ham look crucial in order for the Eagles to avoid being cut adrift at the bottom.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek continues to be a standout budget midfield option. But outside of the Chelsea loanee – who will be ineligible when the two sides meet in Gameweek 8 – there is virtually no appeal in owning any other Palace asset.

Watford

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The Prospects – Goals
It’s the short-term prospects in particular that are a concern for the Hornets’ attack.

While they’re delivering on the road, Saturday’s trip to West Brom isn’t likely to throw up many chances – the Baggies have only conceded once at the Hawthorns in three encounters and a trip to Stamford Bridge will be even tougher.

Arsenal’s defence has been vulnerable on the road, however.

The fixtures then turn. Stoke have conceded eight goals in their last three matches, Everton have at times been unconvincing at the back and the West Ham match-up appears reasonable.

The Prospects – Clean Sheets
West Brom have failed to score in their last two, so Marco Silva’s men could produce a fourth clean sheet of the season this weekend.

A Stoke side who have netted just twice on their travels should present a decent match-up, with the West Ham fixture another looking reasonable from a defensive point of view.

But the clashes with Arsenal and Chelsea are far less promising and the Everton attack is beginning to take shape, so the trip to Goodison Park looks tricky,

The Turning Point
The Hornets face further unfavourable fixtures against Man United and Spurs in Gameweeks 14 and 15, before a strong run of fixtures from Gameweek 16 onwards.

Verdict
Despite the testing schedule, particularly in the short-term, Richarlison remains one of the more appealing mid-price midfield options.

Investment in the defence isn’t likely to gain much reward until Gameweek 10, when Kiko Femenia could emerge as a decent budget buy.

But with more unfavourable fixtures to follow, many Fantasy managers may be happy to look elsewhere in order to unearth greater value.

Also be wary of…

West Bromwich Albion
The home fixtures (WAT MCI CHE) are a concern given Watford’s 100% away record, and the fact clean sheets are unlikely in the other two matches.

Defensive returns will need to be found on the road, then, in order to justify keeping members of the Baggies’ backline.

But trips to Southampton and Huddersfield, and certainly Leicester, mean clean sheets could be scarce during this period.

Liverpool
Matches against Man United and Spurs in the next three are a concern, particularly for those who have doubled up on the Reds’ attack.

Sunday’s trip to Newcastle and the home meeting with Huddersfield around those two difficult fixtures will be crucial, then, with Roberto Firmino certainly in need of a big performance at St James’ Park to prevent further sales.

The long-term outlook is brighter, though, so given Liverpool’s record of delivering against top-six rivals, they may yet remain a fruitful source of attacking points.

Tottenham Hotspur
Mauricio Pochettino’s side face three of last season’s top six (LIV mun ars) over the coming six Gameweeks, placing real importance on their next two matches against Huddersfield and Bournemouth.

Providing they can build momentum in the short-term, we may be more confident in holding multiple Spurs assets through that tricky period.

It’s worth noting Liverpool are the only real test in their next eight at home, so should they overcome their Wembley demons against the Cherries, Spurs players will become even more appealing.