Home matches for all of the top four teams play a major part in our selections this week. We double up on Chelsea, Arsenal, City and Liverpool for our Scout Picks XI, then, with the latter two teams also supplying our bench with a player apiece ahead of their games against Stoke and Swansea respectively:
A home clash with Fulham sees Ben Foster selected between the posts this weekend. Whilst the Cottagers under Felix Magath are an unknown quantity, their failure to score in three of the previous four away fixtures bodes well for the West Brom number one’s clean sheet potential.
We opt for Per Mertesacker as Arsenal prepare to welcome Sunderland to the Emirates. A shut-out looks on the cards for the Gunners, bearing in mind they have conceded just once in their last nine home league games, whilst Mertesacker’s goal threat and propensity to earn bonus has helped him climb to second in the defender standings thus far.
Three sets of successive double-figure hauls is indicative of Branislav Ivanovic’s current form ahead of Chelsea’s home clash with Everton. The Serbian’s attacking raids down the right have reaped reward in recent weeks, whilst the Toffees face a tough task to breach a backline that has conceded a mere three goals in the last 10 Gameweeks.
City’s home encounter with Stoke brings Aleksandar Kolarov into this week’s Picks. With 27 goals against on their travels, the Potters have the third worst away defence in the top-flight and Manuel Pellegrini is resultantly expected to go on the attack, meaning the Serbian’s raiding runs and penchant for a long-range strike should help earn him the nod over Gael Clichy. Given that Mark Hughes’ side have scored three times in their last seven road trips, City’s chances of a shut-out look likely.
Eden Hazard has racked up three double-figure hauls in his last five home appearances ahead of Chelsea’s showdown with Everton. The Belgian produced 21 points in his previous appearance at the Bridge and faces a Toffees side that have managed just a single clean sheet in the last 11 Gameweeks.
Yaya Toure’s prospects look a little brighter now that Fernandinho has returned from injury ahead of City’s home game against Stoke. The Ivorian has registered two successive blanks, but with his midfield sidekick now back in the starting line-up, he’ll be afforded the opportunity to forage forward and join in his side’s attacks – Toure has scored or assisted in nine of his 11 Etihad appearances this term.
Raheem Sterling’s budget appeal earns him the nod for Liverpool’s home game against Swansea. The 5.6-priced midfielder bagged a brace against Arsenal in his previous Anfield appearance and, with the Welsh club rolling up to Merseyside on the back of an energy-sapping Europa League clash against Napoli, Brendan Rodgers’ side look overwhelming favourites.
A home game against Sunderland brings Santi Cazorla into contention. With the likes of Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud struggling for any semblance of form or confidence, the little Spaniard looks vital to Arsenal’s chances of breaking down the Black Cats’ rearguard – two goals and an assist in his last three at the Emirates bodes well for the weekend.
Luis Suarez is our preferred Liverpool forward for the Anfield encounter with Swansea. Yes, Daniel Sturridge has shown better form in recent matches but the Uruguayan’s tendency to produce the points against less-fancied sides at home swayed us. Suarez has already racked up six sets of double figures in front of his own fans and is heavily backed in this week’s Captain Poll to deliver against a defence that have conceded in each of their last 10 road trips.
With three goals in his last four since returning from injury, Robin van Persie has been quick to find his form. A trip to Palace isn’t the easiest, but with Wayne Rooney still struggling in a withdrawn role, the underlying stats suggest the Dutchman’s eye for goal could prove the difference this weekend and temporarily put the brakes on the Eagles’ revival under Tony Pulis.
Having been omitted from the Spurs squad for yesterday’s trip to the Ukraine, Emmanuel Adebayor looks likely to return to the starting XI for a tricky trip to Carrow Road. Norwich have now registered three consecutive home clean sheets but will do well to keep the Togo international at bay – he’s notched seven times in five away appearances under Tim Sherwood.
We hand John Flanagan a spot on the bench for Liverpool’s clash with Swansea. With Glen Johnson back in the mix, the versatile Flanagan could shift over to left-back for Sunday’s Anfield encounter – the Swans have scored just twice in their last five road trips, boosting their hosts’ chances of a shut-out.
A goal and assist in his last four appearances suggest Robert Snodgrass is starting to pick up in form. If Norwich are to get the better of Spurs this coming Sunday, their playmaker’s creativity and goal threat may well prove instrumental as Chris Hughton’s side look to scramble up the table.
Handed a brief sub appearance against Barcelona in midweek, Edin Dzeko is expected to return to the City starting line-up tomorrow. With Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic both available, there’s enough of a doubt to dissuade us from naming the Bosnian in the Picks XI – if he starts, though, the points potential is obvious against a porous Potters backline.
