Finally, we’re back in the saddle after another FA Cup interruption. We’re banking on Arsenal to return to winning ways against Villa after successive home defeats against Blackburn and Bayern, while United, West Brom and Everton all supply us with a couple of players apiece in what looks a potentially tricky Gameweek to navigate:
Ben Foster gets the nod between the sticks as West Brom welcome Sunderland to the Hawthorns. With Claudio Yacob and Youssouf Mulumbu protecting the back-four, the Baggies look a different prospect altogether and registered a first clean sheet in nine at Anfield last time round – with the Black Cats scoring just once in the last three Gameweeks, Foster’s prospects of defensive returns look strong.
We’ve opted for Leighton Baines ahead of Everton’s trip to Norwich. Typically, the Toffees left-back gets the nod for his attacking potential, with a share of set-pieces and spot-kicks always liable to produce, but the Canaries dire attacking form also plays a part – Chris Hughton’s side have scored just once in the last five Gameweeks, affording Baines a chance of points at both ends of the pitch.
The cut-price appeal of Ian Harte earns the Reading left-back a place in our starting XI as Brian McDermott’s side prepare to welcome Wigan to the Madejski. While the Royals have conceded in their last six, Harte’s creative endeavours have come to the fore – with an assist in each of the previous couple of Gameweeks, his delivery from the flank, allied with a share of set-pieces and corners, makes the 3.9 priced defender a potential bargain as the hosts go in search of a crucial win.
Our recent Watchlist candidate Jonny Evans is selected as United make their way to QPR. The league leaders have registered a clean sheet in each of the last four with the Northern Ireland international in their ranks and will be confident of a fifth, given that the R’s have failed to score in each of their last four at Loftus Road. Having produced three goals and a pair of assists already this term, Evans’ attacking returns have helped him average 4.8 points per game thus far.
The consistency of Theo Walcott makes the Arsenal midfielder a nailed-on candidate for a home clash with strugglers Villa. While morale at the Emirates is hardly high after back-to-back home defeats, Walcott, with attacking returns in nine of his last 10, looks a real armband contender against a side that has shipped 15 goals in their last four road trips.
Gareth Bale is an obvious option. The Tottenham winger’s scintillating form has already seen his price rise 0.3 heading into Monday night’s match at West Ham – with four goals in his last three and five sets of double figures produced on the road thus far, he’ll be looking to take advantage of a Hammers side with a single clean sheet in their last nine.
While the goals have somewhat dried up since returning from suspension, Marouane Fellaini has still been picking up the points. The Belgian has scored, assisted or returned bonus in four of his last six and with doubts over Victor Anichebe, his contribution away to Norwich will be more crucial than ever, given Nikica Jelavic’s recent misfiring form. With six lots of double figures to his name already this term, we still have plenty faith in the Everton midfielder for tomorrow’s trip to Carrow Road.
The impact of Moussa Sissoko on Tyneside makes the Frenchman impossible to ignore. With attacking returns in each of his three appearances since moving to Newcastle last month, including a 15 point FPL haul on his home debut against Chelsea, Sissoko has prospered from the role in “the hole” behind Papiss Cisse. A home clash with Southampton affords the Magpies the chance to bounce back from their narrow loss at Spurs last time out – a single away clean sheet all season suggests the Saints may struggle to keep their hosts at bay this Sunday.
A trip to QPR looks far from straightforward, given the hosts record of three successive clean sheets. Nevertheless, we’re backing Robin Van Persie to fire United to victory and extend his side’s lead over City to 15 points prior to the latter’s home game with Chelsea the following day. With Wayne Rooney uncertain to feature due to a sinus infection, Van Persie’s contribution will be all the more crucial – an average of 7.6 points per game over his last six away appearances highlight his current form.
Two set of double figures in his last three at the Emirates is enough to persuade us to hand Olivier Giroud a starting berth. With City’s game against Chelsea too close to call, we’re looking elsewhere for alternatives and calling on the Arsenal frontman to produce the goods at home to Villa tomorrow. Having been omitted from the starting XI for the midweek Champions League defeat by Bayern, he’ll be fresh and raring to go as the Gunners look to recover against the out-of-sorts midlanders.
Our final spot goes to Romelu Lukaku for West Brom’s home clash with Sunderland. The Belgian has scored or assisted in each of his last six and bearing in mind he is ineligible for next week’s game with parent club Chelsea, we reckon he’ll return to the first XI, having started on the bench in the previous Gameweek at Liverpool. With the Black Cats conceding at least twice in each of their last three on the road, his chance of points look good before next week’s enforced rest.
Sascha Reither is our first sub for Fulham’s home game with Stoke. Having recovered from illness, the right-back is expected to return to the starting XI against the Potters tomorrow – Riether has provided an assist in two of his last five at the Cottage and, with Tony Pulis’ side scoring just once in their last five on the road, a clean sheet could well be on the cards for Martin Jol’s men.
Next up, we find a place for West Ham skipper Kevin Nolan ahead of Monday home game with Spurs. Granted, he’s hardly been banging in the goals of late but the Members area statistics over the last four Gameweeks suggest Nolan is offering plenty threat for Sam Allardyce’s side and have persuaded us to take a mid-price punt.
Finally, Rickie Lambert is somewhat unfortunate to only make the bench. Having scored in five of his last six road trips, he takes his sensational away form to Newcastle next as the Saints look to build on the previous Gameweek’s win over City.
