As November comes to a close, Fantasy managers brace themselves for a hectic festive period which affords us six Gameweeks of action to contemplate. There are plenty of strong home ties on the weekend agenda – here’s who we have for you this time out:
A last-minute change of keeper sees Wojciech Szczesny get the nod ahead of Arsenal’s home clash with Swansea. This afternoon’s news that Pablo Hernandez will miss out through injury is a significant blow for the visitors, given the Spaniard’s recent form; with just three goals in their last five on the road, the Swans’ away toils could be good news for the Gunners’ backline tomorrow afternoon.
Jose Enrique’s move to the left of Liverpool’s front three brings the 5.9 priced Fantasy Premier League (FPL) defender into our thinking. The Reds play host to Southampton tomorrow and with a single goal conceded in their last four at Anfield, look a decent shot for a clean sheet . Enrique produced a goal and assist in his last home game, highlighting his attacking capabilities.
Norwich’s exceptional recent home record earns Javier Garrido a call-up ahead of the visit of goal-shy Sunderland. The Canaries have kept clean sheets in each of their last three at Carrow Road, with Arsenal, Stoke and United all failing to find the net – Garrido has produced an assist in two of his last three appearances and offers the chance of points at both ends of the pitch.
Liam Ridgewell completes the back-three as West Brom prepare for a midlands derby with Stoke. The Baggies have produced four clean sheets from their six wins at the Hawthorns so far and will be confident of keeping out the Potters’ attack – Tony Pulis’ side have netted just three times in their last five away. Ridgewell has also chipped in with a pair of assists this term and, at 5.0 in FPL, offers a cheaper route into Steve Clarke’s defence than 5.6 priced Gareth McAuley.
We’re handing this afternoon’s Moneyball man Adel Taarabt the chance to impress as Redknapp looks to engineer a first win of the season for QPR. The Moroccan has yet to earn the Fantasy returns his displays have deserved and will be key to his side’s chances of victory this Saturday afternoon.
Theo Walcott ousts Santi Cazorla as our Arsenal midfielder of choice ahead of this weekend’s home clash with Swansea. The winger has been in sensational form of late, with two goals, three assists and 28 FPL points over his last three appearances and is expected to shrug off an ankle knock sustained against Everton on Wednesday evening. With a single clean sheet in their last 12, the visitors have been far from impressive at the back under Michael Laudrup.
With rest and rotation continuing to blight Roberto Mancini’s forwards, we’ve opted for the security of starts afforded by David Silva in the City midfield. The Spaniard may have drawn blanks in his last two games as City tightened up on the road but at home, it’s a different matter. Since returning from a hamstring injury, he has racked up 23 points in two appearances at the Etihad – visitors Everton have a single clean sheet since Gameweek 1 and look more than likely to concede tomorrow.
Gareth Bale’s stunning form makes him a nailed-on pick for Spurs’ trip to Fulham. With goals in each of his last three, the Welshman has risen to the top of the FPL midfield rankings and with Moussa Dembele back in the starting XI, Tottenham look a different proposition altogether. The Cottagers may be impressive going forward but have conceded at least two goals in three of their last four at home, suggesting Bale may be primed to pick up the points yet again.
Current leader of the Captain Poll with over 40% of votes cast, the weight of expectation is on the shoulders of Luis Suarez ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with Southampton. The Uruguayan has scored and picked up bonus in each of his last two at Anfield and up against a backline that have conceded more than three goals per away game, could be set to prosper yet again as the hosts look to bounce back from their midweek loss at Spurs.
A trip to Reading offers Robin Van Persie further chance of points after he ended a two-game scoring drought against West Ham in midweek. The Dutchman has already returned double figures twice on the road this term and up against a backline with a single clean sheet all season, looks in line to nine goal-haul at the Madejski tomorrow evening.
Dimitar Berbatov earns the final spot in our XI ahead of a home clash with former club Spurs. Aside from Van Persie and Suarez, only one other forward – Carlos Tevez – has bettered the Bulgarian’s 5.7 points per game so far. The visitors record of one clean sheet all season affords Berbatov’s 14% FPL owners plenty optimism going into tomorrow’s showdown at the Cottage.
Ryan Nelsen warms the bench for QPR’s first home game under Harry Redknapp. The Loftus Road outfit will be buoyed by their first away clean sheet of the season in midweek and will be confident of continuing their resilience – Villa have scored just once in their last four away games.
To a slightly lesser extent than Taarabt, Wes Hoolahan has turned in a series of fine performances without quite producing the Fantasy points. Tucked in behind Grant Holt in Chris Hughton’s preferred 4-4-1-1, the Irishman’s creativity looks key to unlocking a Sunderland defence that have one clean sheet to their name since the opening day of the season.
Shane Long is more than a little unlucky to only find a place on the bench. With so many strong forward choices this week, the West Brom man has been squeezed out of our thoughts but with attacking returns in all seven of his home games this season, Long is likely to have a say as the Baggies look to get the better of Stoke in tomorrow’s midlands derby at the Hawthorns.
