The headache that is Gameweek 29 is now almost upon us and, with five of the top six teams out of contention, plenty big hitting Fantasy assets are sitting on the sidelines. Nevertheless, there are still some enticing options to be had amongst the remaining six fixtures – having dabbled with a 3-5-2 last weekend, we revert to the regular 3-4-3 and call upon a couple of in-demand Belgians to help lead the line:
Newcastle keeper Rob Elliott gets the nod for Sunday’s home clash with Stoke. Granted, the Magpies haven’t quite hit the defensive heights that harvested 15 clean sheets in the previous campaign but, with a single goal scored in their last six road trips, the Potters’ woeful attacking form on the road will give Alan Pardew’s side plenty encouragement.
Seb Bassong is next up, ahead of Norwich’s home clash against Southampton. Chris Hughton’s side have picked up defensively in recent Carrow Road matches and have conceded just twice in the last four in front of their own fans – with three goals and a pair of assists already this term, the Cameroon international has offered more attacking threat than any Canaries defender.
With so few fixtures at our disposal, we have to break with tradition and field a defender and attacker on opposite sides. Bearing in mind a certain Welshman is nailed on in midfield, we’ve opted for Glen Johnson as Liverpool entertain Tottenham in Sunday afternoon’s final match of the Gameweek. Johnson’s attacking potential has harvested a pair of assists in the last six and could come to the fore once again if Brendan Rodgers’ side fail to produce a fourth clean sheet in five at Anfield.
Our three-man backline is completed by Chris Samba as QPR welcome Sunderland to Loftus Road. Buoyed by their first win in seven, the R’s will be confident of registering a fourth clean sheet in five home games against a Black Cats side that have been relatively toothless in recent matches, with just four goals in their previous five. Samba’s aerial threat in the opposition box means he offers greater potential for points at both ends of the pitch than any of his defensive team mates.
Gareth Bale’s stunning form makes the Tottenham man an obvious contender. With seven goals in his last five league fixtures, he’s second in this week’s Captain Poll so far and served a reminder of his form only last night by opening the scoring in the 3-0 Europa League win over Inter. The Welshman faces a tricky trip to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon but, given his current displays, there’d be no surprise if he registered his fifth successive double figure FPL haul at Anfield.
He may have suffered a rare blank away to Swansea last week but we’re backing Moussa Sissoko to return to form as Newcastle welcome Stoke to St James’ Park. The Frenchman has flourished in a role in “the hole” behind Papiss Cisse, scoring and receiving maximum FPL bonus points in both his two home appearances thus far – with the Potters conceding in each of their last 10, he could prosper yet again.
We’re backing Michu to add to his 15 goal haul as Swansea make their way to the Hawthorns tomorrow. While West Brom’s home form has been impressive, they have been far from resilient at the back in front of their own fans of late. Steve Clarke’s side started the season with four clean sheets in six at home but have since registered just one in the following eight – if anyone is likely to breach the Baggies backline, the Spaniard certainly seem the man most likely.
Robert Snodgrass is our final midfielder. In his debut top-flight campaign, the former Leeds man has proven Norwich’s most consistent Fantasy performer and is the only Canaries player to break the 100 point mark in FPL so far – with set-pieces and corners in his locker, he’ll he looking to add to the assist accrued against Everton in his previous home game, as Southampton make their way to Carrow Road.
A hat-trick in last weekend’s win at Wigan continued Luis Suarez’s sensational season. While Daniel Sturridge’s expected return will see the Uruguayan tuck in behind the former Chelsea man in a move back to 4-2-3-1, Suarez has already demonstrated he’s more than capable of thriving in a more withdrawn role and has outscored Sturridge in three of the four games they have started together. Granted, Spurs will be anything but a pushover at Anfield but Suarez looks irresistible right now and looks more than capable of adding to his 21 goal tally this Sunday.
Subject of an earlier Watchlist piece, there’s no surprise we’re backing Romelu Lukaku ahead of a home game with Swansea. With Shane Long rated doubtful due to an ankle injury, the Belgian’s starting role is surely not in question – having averaged 6.3 points per start for the Baggies this term, Lukaku’s contribution will be key as the hosts look to avenge their 3-1 reverse at the Liberty back in Gameweek 14.
Fellow Belgian Christian Benteke completes the XI ahead of a trip to Reading. The Villa forward has impressed on the road in recent matches and has notched in three of his last four away appearances – indeed, three of his previous six road trips have harvested double figures. With the Royals conceding at least twice in three of their last four at home, Benteke looks primed for a prosperous weekend.
Ian Harte is our first sub. As mentioned above, Reading have hardly been resilient at home in recent matches but the left-back’s creativity earns him a place on the bench – he has provided an assist in three of his last four.
With clean sheets looking unlikely at the Madejski, Charles N’Zogbia’s recent form persuades us to take a punt on the Frenchman. The former Wigan man has produced attacking returns in each of his last three away fixtures and could flourish in his role in “the hole” once again in tomorrow’s proverbial six-pointer.
Our final spot goes to Loic Remy for QPR’s Loftus Road encounter with Sunderland. Having returned to the first XI last weekend, the January signing notched his second goal in three starts for Harry Redknapp’s side and will fancy his chances against a Saints side that have conceded at least twice in each of their last four away fixtures.
