With Gareth Bale joining Theo Walcott on the sidelines, it’s been a turbulent 24 hours for Fantasy managers as we address the Welshman’s impending two-week absence. Behind the scenes, we’ve rallied back and forth and called upon Liverpool and Chelsea to come to the rescue, with the pair supplying five of our XI for Gameweek 32. Here’s who we’ve gone for:
Petr Cech may be a little pricey between the posts but with money saved elsewhere in our XI, we’ve opted for the Chelsea keeper’s consistency of starts ahead of Sunday’s home clash with Sunderland. With a single goal conceded in their last three at home, the Blues will be confident of keeping the Black Cats at bay in Paolo Di Canio’s first match on charge of the visitors.
Glen Johnson is welcomed to the fold as Liverpool prepare for the visit of West Ham. Devoid of Andy Carroll due to the conditions of his loan deal, the Hammers’ chances of improving a record of four goals in the last nine away matches looks bleak, while Johnson’s forward forays from right-back have impressed of late, despite a lack of attacking returns.
We put our faith in Barclays Player of the Month Jan Vertonghen to maintain his recent run of form as Tottenham welcome Everton to the Lane. With double figure hauls in two of the last three, the Belgian’s attacking potential has more than atoned for a lack of clean sheets – Everton have scored once in their last three on the road and with Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar suspended and Kevin Mirallas a doubt, Vertonghen may even pick up some defensive returns this Sunday.
Seb Bassong is the final defender as Norwich prepare for the visit of Swansea. The Canaries have conceded just twice in their last five home matches and will be confident of another clean sheet at Carrow Road – Swansea have scored just once in their previous five road trips. Bassong has already notched against the Welsh club earlier in the season, with his aerial ability proving crucial in the Canaries’ win at the Liberty.
Having been utilised as a second-half sub against Rubin Kazan last night, we’re backing Eden Hazard to return to the Chelsea starting line-up as the Blues square up to Sunderland at Stamford Bridge. The Belgian has produced double figures in four of his last six home starts – by comparison, Juan Mata has yet to return double figures all season in front of his own fans. With Paolo Di Canio promising to go on the offensive, an open, attacking game could play into the hosts’ hands as Rafa Benitez’s side go seeking their fifth successive home win.
Santi Cazorla’s recent form, allied with Theo Walcott’s absence, helps the Arsenal playmaker get the nod for the trip to West Brom. The Spaniard has returned four goals, an assist and five bonus points in his last five appearances and will be confident of producing the goods again, given that the Baggies have conceded in each of their last six at the Hawthorns.
With attacking returns in all three of his home games since joining Newcastle in January, Moussa Sissoko looks key to the Magpies chances this weekend. Alan Pardew’s side welcome Fulham to St James’ Park and having beaten the likes of Chelsea, Southampton and Stoke in front of their own fans, will be confident of picking up the points and boosting their bid to beat the drop. Sissoko has returned 30 points over that trio of fixtures, picking up double figures twice.
Another mid-price winter acquisition gets the nod as we welcome Philippe Coutinho to the Scout Pick fold. The young Brazilian has made an instant impact on Merseyside since arriving from Inter earlier this year and with attacking returns in four of his five appearances in the Reds’ starting XI, has averaged six points per start – he looks a strong option at home to West Ham this Sunday.
An average of over 10 points per game across his last five home appearances highlights Luis Suarez’s appeal as Liverpool square up to West Ham. The Uruguayan has produced four goals, four assists and 11 bonus points over that period, failing to find the net only once – up against a Hammers side that have lost five of their last six road trips, there’s no surprise to see he’s the runaway armband favourite, with over 44% of the votes cast in this week’s Captain Poll.
We’ve decided to change tact for Monday’s Manchester derby and opt for Wayne Rooney over Robin Van Persie. Rooney climbed to the top of the Watchlist standings earlier this week and has returned to full training after a brief groin problem – while the Dutchman struggles for form, Rooney has scored in three of the last four at Old Trafford and could keep Van Persie in the shade again as Sir Alex Ferguson looks for the victory that would all but clinch the title.
QPR may be staring relegation in the face but Harry Redknapp’s side have been full of goals in recent matches. The R’s must go on the offensive in tomorrow’s home clash with Wigan and, having notched in three of the last four, Loic Remy’s consistency has proven crucial – at 5.9 in FPL, the Frenchman has offered superb value in recent matches.
Stoke’s Marc Wilson makes the bench ahead of a home clash with Villa. Coming in at just 3.9 in FPL, the Potters left-back affords a cut-price route into a backline that has conceded just twice in their last three at the Britannia.
With four goals in his last seven for club and country in all competitions, Gylfi Sigurdsson is full of confidence right now. The Icelandic international notched in last night’s Europa League draw with FC Basel and with Gareth Bale sidelined for Spurs, Sigurdsson’s eye for goal will be more crucial than ever as Andre Villas-Boas’ side look to maintain their charge for a third place finish.
Rickie Lambert is a little unlucky only to make the bench as Southampton travel to Reading. With spot-kicks and set-piece duties in his locker, the Saints hit man gets the nod ahead of in-form team mate Jay Rodriguez as he looks to get one over former manager Nigel Adkins at the Madejski tomorrow.
