I really can’t get away with calling this one midweek-ish. Not to worry, it’s getting late and you need my usual nonsense on the weekend’s fixtures together with some early thoughts on player picks. Here’s some words for all your night owls…

Best For Clean Sheets…

It’s a week where the top rearguards all look to have strong fixtures – which immediately bodes well for a high scoring week for those who have invested in their fantasy defence. Even lower down the bracket, the options look strong and clean sheets plentiful.

United and Chelsea lead the way on shutouts and both look favourable options again this gameweek. Neither have easy fixtures and with Champions League rotation a possibility, we can’t take anything for granted. Spurs come to Old Trafford having scored 8 goals in their last 5 away games and they will test United’s rearguard. Vidic and co still look a strong option however, with clear evidence that they have tightened things up of late.

Hiddink takes his side to West Ham who will once again be without Carlton Cole up front. His injury has left the Hammers toothless and I can easily see Chelsea coming away with the narrow win and a cleanie here.

Liverpool are clinging to title hopes and have an away fixture at Hull, who themselves are desperate for points. Phil Brown’s side are without a home win in their last 5 games and have scored just 5 goals in the process. The Liverpool defence looked extremely shaky against Arsenal on Tuesday but they will surely have an easier time of things at the KC this weekend.

Moving down a bracket, Everton’s defence was imperious at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. They will face a City side who have scored just a single goal in their last 5 games away from Eastlands. You have to fancy Moyes’ defence to prosper here – with Baines, Lescott and Jagielka all likely to profit. There is a slight risk of rotation with Yobo fit and available as an option so we’ll need to assess the noises from Goodison prior to the game.

Arsenal also have a very strong fixture, with a desperate Boro side paying a visit to the Emirates. They’ve scored just a single goal in the last 5 away games while the Gunners boast a record of no goals conceded in their last 5 home games. Despite the injuries in the Arsenal back line, it’s hard to ignore those stats.

Fulham have lost 3 of the last 5 at home but have only conceded 4 goals in those games and come into their fixture with Stoke having kept another clean sheet at the Riverside last weekend. The key here is that Stoke will be without James Beattie up front, which will severely reduce their firepower. Fulham kept Stoke at bay at the Britannia, holding them to a 0-0. I can easily see them coping with Stoke’s bombardment again and coming away with another cleanie.

If you’re looking for a budget alternative you could gamble on Blackburn at home to a Wigan side who have notched just 3 goals in their last 5 away games. Samba could be the smart choice here, given that he could be employed up front once again.

Best For Goals…

Finding goals looks a far tougher proposition. United and Chelsea won’t find it easy against sides who boast stubborn defences (Spurs and West Ham). Neither will be going hell for leather prior to the Champions League in midweek, so I’m not seeing too many goals in either of their encounters.

Liverpool and Arsenal, who shared 8 goals on Tuesday of course, look stronger options. Rafa’s side should find some charity amongst the Hull defence who have conceded 7 goals in the last 5 at the KC. Gerrard could well be absent again but Torres is more than capable of causing the damage – ably assisted by Kuyt and Benayoun. Liverpool don’t have the Champions League to distract them either.

You have to fear for the Boro defence at the Emirates against an Arsenal side who struck 4 at Anfield on Tuesday. However, there will be some rotation from the Arsenal lineup, so there are no guarantees on the personnel or the level of damage they are likely to inflict on Southgate’s side.

Everton have the best home form of any side in the division right now, with 4 wins from 5, scoring 13 goals in the process. They come up against a City side who have struggled all season on the road and have conceded 7 goals in their last 5 away from Eastlands. Moyes’ side look good for a couple at least then, even with Jo ineligible against his owners. Saha could well be a decent short-term option here.

If you’re looking lower down the price bracket for goals then Bolton look your best bet. They go into their home game with Villa with exceptional form at the Reebok, having won 4 from 5 scoring 11 goals. O’Neill’s side meanwhile, are still struggling defensively and appear to offer potential for further profits for Taylor and Davies.

After that it might be worth gambling on those sides desperate for points at the foot of the table. West Brom will surely have to go all out against Sunderland at the Hawthorns and, having scored in each of their last 4 games, you would fancy them to breach Sbragia’s defence. Equally Jones and Cisse are a dangerous enough to pose the Baggies backline plenty of problems.

Newcastle are similarly gasping for points and will come up against a Portsmouth side who are regularly conceding on their travels (8 in their last 5 away). Owen and Martins have to be the key players for Shearer’s side and he needs goals from one or both of them in this one.

Best For Frustration…

Rotation prior the Champions League semis will undoubtedly be our main source of frustration this weekend. I can see all three sides involved coming out on top in their games but I just can’t see them going all out for goals in the process. Staring lineup changes and early substitutions of key players such as Lampard, Drogba, Ronaldo and Fabregas could leave many of us cursing and may punish those who have invested in such players this week.

The Provisional Picks…

I’m almost spoilt for choices defensively, although a certain degree of caution is required with rotation on the cards. Everton, United, Fulham, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal are all in the running to be represented but right now I’m not 100% on the personnel. In normal circumstances I’d be looking at Vidic, Baines, Alex, Toure, Arbeloa and Hangeland/Schwarzer but it will take definitive team news tomorrow to make that commitment. I’m also toying with the idea of Warnock or Samba for attacking potential plus a risky clean sheet punt.

The midfield looks fairly straightforward but again, the options are plentiful – Ronaldo, Lampard, Matt Taylor, Cahill, Fellaini and Fabregas are all in my thoughts – Dempsey, Kuyt and Benayoun also look handy if we can get confirmation of Gerrard’s absence.

Up front, there are also plenty of names but I’m not totally convinced by any of them. Arshavin looks very strong given that he is a certain starter against Boro. There’s a temptation to think that his boat has sailed but his next two fixtures fall nicely in his favour and he is assured of his place. An expensive partner for the Russian looks one possible route, with Torres the key threat to Hull and Drogba the battering ram that will surely trouble West Ham. The Chelsea man is at risk of rotation or an early substitution though. That would leave me with mid price options and the likes of Davies, Carew, Martins, Cisse and Jones. Everton’s Saha is also someone I’m considering in the short-term.