Our weekly regular is rolled out once again, as we assess the “strength of schedule” over the next four to six Gameweeks. United’s fixtures remain strong, with Liverpool’s outlook also improving to coincide with their recent form. On the opposite side of the coin, Chelsea, City and Tottenham look to face a test of their credentials as they approach the festive period…
The Strong
Liverpool
Unbeaten in their last six and with Luis Suarez continue to plunder the goals and assists, Brendan Rodgers’ side are finally starting to click. A defence which has conceded just once in their previous three at Anfield looks promising as Wigan, Southampton and Villa all pay visit in the next six; Andre Wisdom has now started the last six and, at 4.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), could be a strong cut-price defensive contender if he continues in the first XI. It does appear that a shift back to 4-4-2 will likely see him drop to the bench, however.
Up top, Suarez has already received significant investment after taking his goal haul to eight for the season at the weekend and will be hoping to address an imbalance which has seen him return 25 points in six home fixtures compared to 44 in five road trips. Liverpool also have visits to Swansea, Spurs and West Ham on their agenda; only the Upton Park trip looks a potential stumbling block for finding the net with both the Spurs and Swansea defences failing to convince. Steven Gerrard remains a differential with under 5% ownership and has ticked over so far, with 48 FPL points already under his belt, while Raheem Sterling’s 5.1 price tag will surely convince more to take a punt, particularly having seen Rodgers shift the 17-year-old up alongside Suarez at Stamford Bridge.
Man United
The fixture list remains kind to the league leaders and with two or more goals scored in every fixture from Gameweek 2 onwards, United’s attack shows little sign in letting up. Robin Van Persie may have been overshadowed by the exploits of Javier Hernandez last weekend but the Dutchman maintained his run of producing attacking returns in all nine of his starts for the Red Devils with an assist for the Mexican’s Villa Park winner.
A Gameweek 16 trip to City is tricky but United’s remaining fixtures over the next six (nor, QPR, WHM, rdg, SUN) offer Van Persie further chance to continue a source of Fantasy consistency which has left all others trailing in his wake: he looks an armband favourite for many weeks to come. Wayne Rooney will be hoping to shake off the ankle injury which forced him off at Villa, though with a single assist in his last three, his threat has somewhat tailed off by comparison. Hernandez’s eye for goal, highlighted by his exploits at the weekend, has helped him accrue 20 FPL points in just 71 minutes over the past three Gameweeks, while four assists in the last six highlight the potential of Antonio Valencia. At the back, two clean sheets in 11 means attacking potential is a must when investing – Rafael has two goals and a pair of assists and remains the most likely target.
Arsenal
Olivier Giroud chose the perfect time to notch for the first time at the Emirates as Arsenal gear up for the visit of Spurs this Saturday. With home clashes against Swansea and West Brom supplemented by trips to Villa and Reading, Arsene Wenger’s side have, arguably, just one troublesome test to engineer on the next six – a Gameweek 14 trip to Everton. Giroud has now produced double figures in two of his last five starts and the former Montpellier man could be set for significant investment, with the schedule looking tasty all the way to Gameweek 21 – at 8.4 in FPL, he’s sure to pick up from a current ownership level of 1.3%.
Theo Walcott’s first start since Gameweek 1 harvested eight FPL points at the weekend and if he can overcome a glute injury sustained in the 3-3 draw with Fulham, the winger looks to offer a viable, and cheaper, alternative to Santi Cazorla within the Gunners’ midfield. With one clean sheet in their last eight, investment in the Arsenal backline looks risky – Bacary Sagna looks nailed-on at right-back since returning from injury and offers a less costly alternative to Thomas Vermaelen amongst Wenger’s defensive regulars.
Newcastle
While the home defeat by West Ham will have dented their confidence, the Magpies have three strong looking fixtures in the next four (SWA, sot, sto, WIG) which afford them a chance to bounce back. The return of Cheick Tiote after a three-game suspension could prove pivotal – his ball-winning presence in front of the back-four has been sorely missed, with Alan Pardew’s side registering just a single clean sheet all season.
Yohan Cabaye offers an in-form and cheaper option in midfield than Hatem Ben Arfa – the former, at 6.8 in FPL, has scored twice in his last four, while his 7.9 priced compatriot has mustered a mere two assists over the last eight Gameweeks. Up front, Demba Ba has been picked up by almost 10,000 FPL already this week, despite just one goal in his last five – with 63 points to Papiss Cisse’s measly 21, he’s Pardew’s one real hope of goals as Newcastle seek to return to winning ways.
Also Consider
Southampton – their form is unlikely to tempt investment but this could be a make or break spell as the Saints face up to three fixtures which could, potentially, decide whether Nigel Adkins stays in his job. Up next is a trip to basement-dwellers QPR and with back-to-back home games against Newcastle and Norwich to follow, the contributions of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Gaston Ramirez may never be more crucial for their under-fire manager.
Sunderland – again, the Black Cats have done little to tempt our interest of late but with four home matches (including a double Gameweek) in their next five, Martin O’Neill’s side are afforded the chance to get their season back on track. With just three goals conceded in four at the Stadium of Light, Simon Mignolet and Carlos Cuellar will surely see new investment at the back. Adam Johnson opened his account at Goodison last weekend and may find his way onto Fantasy radars, while Steven Fletcher remains the key attacking asset, although the ankle injury that saw him withdraw from Scotland’s squad this week could be a concern.
The Weak
Chelsea
Without a win in their last three, Roberto Di Matteo’s side face a tricky run over the next few fixtures. The Blues travel to West Brom, West Ham and Sunderland – all three have been particularly strong at the back this term, with four, five and three goals conceded in their respective home games so far. Chelsea also play host to City and face a home derby with flourishing Fulham; again, neither looks straightforward. With a blank Gameweek 17 also on the cards, the Londoners’ title credentials could be fully tested before they fly off on World Club Championship duties.
West Ham
The fixtures remain a worry for Sam Allardyce, though with his side’s form currently making a mockery of their strength of schedule, the Hammers boss won’t be too fazed by what’s to follow. Back-to-back clean sheets and four points accrued against City and Newcastle will have the Hammers in buoyant mood ahead of trips to Spurs, United and West Brom in the next six, while home clashes against Stoke, Chelsea and Liverpool sum up the task in front of the sixth placed club. Jussi Jaaskelainen continues to rack up the save points and clean sheets; he is the number one FPL keeper with 51 points so far, while Kevin Nolan’s goal threat remains a constant – he has now climbed to fourth in FPL, with his winner at St James’ Park taking his tally to 63 points.
Man City
The return of David Silva steered the champions into second spot after a comeback win over Spurs but, aside from a potentially profitable home clash with Villa this weekend and Gameweek 14 trip to Wigan, their schedule is far from enticing. City have clashes with three of the top four on the horizon, with a visit to the Bridge preceding back-to-back visits of Everton and United. A backline that has conceded just two goals in their last five looks set to be sorely tested, then, before Roberto Mancini’s side make their way to Newcastle in Gameweek 17. Carlos Tevez’s owners will be hoping he can address the goalscoring woes that have seen him find the net just once since Gameweek 3, while Silva’s scheming will be more crucial than ever over the next month.
Also Be Wary Of
Tottenham – with three defeats in their last four since losing Moussa Dembele to injury, Andre Villas-Boas’ outfit have been far from impressive. Next up is a north London derby at the Emirates but with trips to Fulham and Everton also in their next five, in addition to home clashes against in-form West Ham and Liverpool, the schedule could be a lot kinder for Spurs. With one assist at home all season, Gareth Bale needs to step up at the Lane, while a backline that has produced a single clean sheet will afford their upcoming opponents plenty of confidence.
Swansea – Michael Laudrup’s side seem to have stuttered once again, grabbing just two goals in their last three outings. Having found the net just once in their last four road trips, Swansea’s next three away fixtures (new, arse, tot) are all likely to pose problems, while home clashes against Liverpool, West Brom and Norwich look testing, with the Canaries continuing to impress at the back under Chris Hughton.
