The first instalment of this weekβs regular takes a look at those teams with favourable fixtures on their agendas over the next four-to-six Gameweeks. Two of the top three could be set to strengthen their lofty league positions, while further down the table, the Canaries are granted a chance to recover from Saturdayβs Etihad mauling:
Chelsea
Following triumph over Man City with defeat by Newcastle, Jose Mourinhoβs side are struggling for consistency. Even so, it would be hard to look at their upcoming fixtures without harbouring hope for Fantasy points. In the next six, they face only Southampton from the top half of the table, with a schedule (WBA, whm, SOT, sun, sto, CPL) that affords plenty reason for optimism.
Having uncharacteristically failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last five games, faith in Mourinhoβs backline has been receding lately but for those who still believe, John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic seem to be the safest bets. Further forward, another blank for Oscar and Eden Hazard stymies our efforts to choose between them while Andre ShΓΌrrleβs appeal was dented by omission from the last starting lineup; a return could be on the cards, though, after Juan Mata failed to impress against the Magpies. Up top, Fernando Torresβ muscle injury could afford Samuel Etoβo a chance but only the bravest of Fantasy managers would hitch their fortunes to the form of the faltering Cameroonian.
Liverpool
With last weekendβs Emirates defeat now behind them, Liverpool look forward to a schedule that could help them return to winning ways. With home games against Fulham, Norwich and West Ham in the next five, as well as a trip to Hull, only the Goodison instalment of the Merseyside derby seems particularly daunting.
Despite producing blanks against Arsenal, strike pairing Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez are still on song, with an incredible 10 goals and four assists between them in the five weeks since the latter returned from suspension. Philippe Coutinhoβs comeback from injury is good news for Brendan Rodgers but possibly not for owners of Liverpoolβs centre-backs; the Brazilianβs substitute appearance triggered a formation change to four-at-the-back and it isnβt clear just now who would be first choice if that system prevails. The ever-popular Simon Mignolet could be the safest entry route into a defence that is hoping for a first clean sheet since Gameweek 3, while Glen Johnson expected to recover from the illness that kept him out of the Emirates clash.
Aston Villa
Another game without a goal is hugely frustrating for Paul Lambert but the fixtures look set to offer every chance to rejuvenate an attack that put three past Man City. Home games against Cardiff and Sunderland in the next four combine with visits to West Brom and Fulham to create a landscape fertile with points potential. Games against Southampton and Man United curtail enthusiasm just a little.
Christian Benteke hasn’t quite regained the form that brought him three goals in Villaβs opening Double Gameweek but a quick look at his shooting stats show that itβs not for want of trying and Fantasy managers will be hopeful of goals to come. With Gabby Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann possibly sidelined, new signing Libor Kozak comes into the equation as a wild differential if Lambert is forced to field a 3-5-2 again. At the back, three clean sheets in six games tell a story of a new-found defensive resolve that could yet produce budget priced points from these fixtures. Ron Vlaar is the only defender to have played 90 minutes of every game but it may be that Nathan Baker has finally won his battle with Ciaran Clark, having started the last three. Brad Guzan provides a safe entry into the backline and with a respectable number of save points to justify the extra outlay.
West Ham
Sam Allardyceβs team may be struggling to score goals with Andy Carroll still injured, but theyβre holding the fort admirably and defending their way to respectable results. Three clean sheets in the last four bodes well in light of their next six fixtures. Fulham and Sunderland arrive at Upton Park while visits to Norwich and Crystal Palace look enticing β games against Chelsea and Liverpool mar the picture a little, though.
Winston Reid and James Tomkins look to have made the centre-back pairing their own, while summer signing Razvan Rat has now started the last six games and at 4.5 is the cheapest safe entry into the Hammersβ lucrative defence. In midfield, Ravel Morrison is flavour of the month with attacking returns from three of his six starts and at 4.7 in FPL represents decent value.
ALSO CONSIDER
Swansea
The case for Swansea gets weaker by the Gameweek. Sundayβs loss in the first ever Welsh Premier League derby means they have failed to score in three of the last four, while doubts over their Spanish talisman have seen plenty parting company. Even so, the fixtures look good for them to atone for their poor displays: home to Stoke, Fulham and Newcastle in the next six in addition to visits to Fulham and Norwich. With Michu struggling to shake off an ankle problem and Pablo Hernandez suffering an injury setback, Michael Laudrupβs side may toil up top – investment at the back may be the safest option right now, going on form. Certainly, Ashley Williams appears to have the edge for bonus point potential, though Chico has shown plenty attacking intent without quite reaping reward β Michel Vorm sits out a one-match suspension against the Potters this week but returns to face Fulham in Gameweek 12.
Stoke
Handed the most fortuitous of goals to hold Southampton to a draw, Mark Hughesβ side will be hoping to capitalise on the impending visits of Sunderland and Cardiff to shore up their campaign, while visits to Swansea and Hull in the next six could also hold promise. With Erik Pieters now the cheapest entry into the Stoke defence, Fantasy managers may want to consider goal hero Asmir Begovic at just 0.4 more for the extra save points. In midfield, Marko Arnautovic has scored two goals in three games in all competitions to start earning some of the attention that came his way, while recently re-installed frontman Peter Crouch has mirrored the Austrianβs contribution over that trio of fixtures.
Norwich
Chris Hughtonβs team have had a torrid time of it lately, facing Chelsea, Arsenal and, most devastatingly, Man City to concede 14 goals in their last four games. The tempest has now passed and Norwich can look forward to three favourable home fixtures, as West Ham, Crystal Palace and Swansea visit Carrow Road in the next six, in addition to trips to Newcastle and West Brom. As with others in this article, Norwich look to be of most value in defence. Russell Martin and Michael Turner appear to be assured of their places, but most intriguingly, Martin Olsson has started the last five games and at 4.2 could represent excellent value. Further forward into the darker reaches of differential territory, Jonny Howson scored twice in the last five games while Anthony Pilkington has Fantasy pedigree that fits his budget price β if Roberto Snodgrass is passed fit, he could still be worth consideration; the Scotβs stats suggest he has been highly unlucky to only draw blanks thus far.
