Fantasy managers can breathe a little easier this afternoon after the cancellation of the London Tube strike allows Liverpool’s trip to Craven Cottage to go ahead. No surprise to see us double up on Brendan Rodgers’ side, then, whilst Everton, Chelsea and City feature prominently in our starting line-up ahead of this evening’s deadline:
Adrian takes his place between the posts as West Ham prepare to host Norwich. The 4.4-priced stopper has now registered four clean sheets in the last five and, given that the Canaries have notched just three times in the last seven Gameweeks, another Hammers shut-out looks likely.
Back in the Everton starting line-up for Sunday’s trip to Tottenham, Seamus Coleman returns to the Scout Picks ahead of a home clash with Crystal Palace. Tony Pulis’ side have scored just once in their previous four away fixtures, whilst Coleman’s eye for goal has already seen him find the net five times this term.
With John Terry still sidelined due to a muscle problem, we opt for Branislav Ivanovic as Chelsea head to West Brom. The right-back has registered back-to-back double-figure returns and has picked up in attacking threat, whilst the Blues’ record of seven clean sheets in nine could well be extended against a Baggies side yet to win under new boss Pepe Mel.
We opt for Vincent Kompany for City’s Etihad encounter with Sunderland. Undoubtedly, Aleksandar Kolarov offers a greater upside than his skipper and, having been benched at the weekend, should return against the Black Cats but Kompany’s security of starts swayed our decision, whilst three goals in his last nine highlights the Belgian’s aerial threat in the opposition box.
Chelsea’s man of the moment Eden Hazard rolls up to the Hawthorns on the back of a hat-trick against Newcastle last weekend. With Billy Jones doubtful for the Baggies, the Belgian could be set to face Steven Reid on the flank this evening and, given his current form, further returns look on the menu as Hazard goes in search of an eighth double-figure haul of the season.
Everton’s home clash with Palace brings Kevin Mirallas into consideration. The Belgian has scored five of his six strikes at Goodison and has netted in each of the last two in front of his own fans – a potential move to the middle could be on the cards again after the Toffees drew a blank at Tottenham, whilst a share of set-pieces came to fruition against Villa in his previous appearance on Merseyside.
Free to feature against Sunderland after the FA decided against taking action over his Carrow Road altercation with Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Yaya Toure is our City midfielder of choice. Having scored or assisted in nine of his 11 Etihad appearances, the Ivorian has provided a source of consistency that is hard to ignore – not only is he on set-piece duties, Toure will be first in line for spot-kicks with Sergio Aguero still sidelined through injury.
Having bagged a brace in each of his last two appearances, Kevin Nolan gets the nod as West Ham prepare for the visit of Norwich. The absence of Andy Carroll didn’t quite have the detrimental effect many expected last weekend as the Hammers skipper struck twice against Villa – his penalty box menace could make the difference against a Canaries side that have conceded 26 goals in 12 away games to date.
Raheem Sterling gets the nod after Liverpool’s game at Fulham was given the go-ahead. A weekend brace against Arsenal sums up the youngster’s current form and, at a mere 5.5 in the Fantasy Premier League, looks superb value as Brendan Rodgers’ free-scoring side prepare to face a defence that has shipped more goals in front of their own fans than any other side in the Premier League.
Daniel Sturridge’s form caused much deliberation behind the scenes but we’ve opted for Luis Suarez as Liverpool prepare for a plum away clash at the Cottage. Ultimately, given Fulham’s dire defensive record, the Uruguayan’s armband appeal won the day – he’s racked up 10 sets of double figures to Sturridge’s two and has already produced 16 points against tomorrow’s opponents back in Gameweek 11.
Utilised as a sub in City’s goalless draw at Norwich, Edin Dzeko is expected to return to the starting line-up for the home encounter with Sunderland. With the Black Cats devoid of Wes Brown through suspension, the Bosnian will be looking to recapture the form that had seen him rack up four goals and a pair of assists in five appearances prior to City’s back-to-back blanks.
Geoff Cameron is drafted in as Stoke welcome Swansea to the Britannia. Whilst the Potters have been less than resilient in front of their own fans, their visitors’ recent away record – a single goal scored in four road trips – suggests a shut-out could be on the cards for Mark Hughes’ side.
Stoke’s Charlie Adam is perhaps a little unlucky only to make the bench. The Potters midfielder has struck four times in his last four home matches and is up against a Swansea side that last managed an away clean sheet in Gameweek 5.
We hand Christian Benteke a spot on the bench as Villa roll up to Cardiff. With a goal or assist in four of his last five, the Belgian has been in strong form of late and faces a defence that has conceded at least twice in all but one of the last nine Gameweeks.
