The last frisking of this annum is slightly more focused, as we consider those fixtures that take place over the coming festive schedule – the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Gameweeks 19 to 22.
Let’s give the games a good look over and see who we’ll be recommending to Santa for his naughty and nice lists…
The Highs…
Liverpool
Three of Liverpool’s next four fixtures are more than good enough to force Fantasy Managers to put down the mince pies and ponder “Hmmm, Torres?”. Roy Hodgson’s men will be facing defences that will afford them (multiple) opportunities for goals – even an inconsistent Liverpool should find the net against the Blackpool, Wolves and Bolton rearguards.
The aforementioned Torres will always turn heads because, on form, he is up there with the best (in the world) and rarely fails to produce in Anfield clashes. Steven Gerrard is expensive but is due to return to lead the side and dominate set-plays, while a cavalcade of defenders are available (Glen Johnson, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Paul Konchesky), depending on your budget and confidence in Hodgson’s side.
Man United
United are top of the league, unbeaten this season and considered to be fumbling for top gear – all of a sudden it looks like their title to throw away. The Christmas programme offers United home ties versus Sunderland and Stoke, sandwiching trips to Birmingham (arguably the hardest fixture of four) and West Brom – that’s a selection that appears to offer profit at both ends of the field in Fantasy terms.
Nani is obviously on the radar for us all, but the fixtures also appear “straightforward” enough for Alex Ferguson to switch back to a more open 4-4-2 and make Dimitar Berbatov a viable option once more . Wayne Rooney will undoubtedly keep his slow creep of ownership rising, despite his recent penalty miss. At the back meanwhile, it’s difficult to look beyond Rafael who appears to have made the right-back role his own and offers strong value as a result.
Fulham
If you want to take a risk on a differential over Christmas then the fixture list appears to be pointing you towards Craven Cottage. Fulham are struggling to find a Premier League foothold right now, but have a run of opponents in front of them that appears to improve their revival prospects. Both West Ham and West Brom arrive at the Cottage to present beatable opposition in Gamweeks 19 and 22, while trips to Stoke and Spurs around those games, could offer returns if Mark Hughes can muster some confidence in his squad. Clint Dempsey is always a decent midfield option (and often an “Out of Position” candidate) and if Mousa Dembele gets fit, his current price looks tempting. Reliable heads at the back include Brede Hangeland, who has already found the net with vital goals this term. John Pantsil, a crowd favourite, is not quite such a safe bet but is prone to the odd assist and FPL Bonus.
Also to consider: Man City – two strong home matches (AVL BLP) are sandwiched between trips to Newcastle and Arsenal but, given their defences, City will fancy goals across all four games. Spurs – a trip to a stuttering Aston Villa on boxing day followed by home games with Newcastle and Fulham, offer opportunity for more goals. Sunderland – Look beyond their game at United this weekend (where Darren Bent bagged a handy brace last season) and the Wearsiders next three fixtures offer return potential. West Ham – Avram Grant’s side have a string of vital relegation scraps in front of them, starting with Fulham at the Cottage on Boxing Day, with the Wolves clash in Gameweek 21 also looking key.
The Lows…
Aston Villa
Despite winning their most recent fixture (at home to West Brom the week before last), the Villans are still considered to be in a bit of a mauve patch. Gerard Houllier’s men are set to face Spurs, Man City, Chelsea and Sunderland over the next four Gameweeks – that’s four of the top six. There could be little Christmas cheer for Villa then and Fantasy interest is set to remain limited to the prodigious budget talent presented by Marc Albrighton.
Birmingham
Villa’s local rivals in Blue don’t get an easy ride over Christmas either. Alex McLeish’s outfit will be welcoming Man United and Arsenal to their stable, whilst preparing for trips to Goodison and Blackpool. That set of games appear to offer little incentive for Fantasy Managers, particularly as Birmingham approach that run having scored just 3 goals in their last 5 outings. Defensively they have faired better and Ben Foster’s save count may keep him some festive lineups. Backers of the Birmingham back four however, will either need to give them short shrift or show a little remorse and offer a bench place or two over Christmas.
Bolton
The talents of Johan Elmander and Kevin Davies have huffed and puffed over recent weeks without significant returns. The bad news is that, given the run of opponents to come, their drought may well be set to continue. The home fixture against West Brom this weekend looks key – if Bolton’s strike force stutter here, Fantasy investors will surely be tempted to look elsewhere as Owen Coyle’s side travel to Chelsea and Liverpool over the next two Gameweeks.
Be wary of: Stoke – Tony Pulis’ men will face trips to Ewood and Old Trafford while welcoming an Everton side who have been strong on their travels – not a pleasant run into the New Year. Arsenal – the Gunners have home games against two key rivals (Chelsea and City) and a trip to St. Andrews – that might be enough to temper interest in Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie for the time being. Blackpool – the weather could yet deny them a Boxing Day clash with Liverpool, while Ian Holloway will hardly be relishing the testing trips to Sunderland and City that follow.
