Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 7 – The Strong

Ahead of the weekend’s action, we take our regular look at the forthcoming fixtures and highlight those teams with the best schedules over the next four to six Gameweeks. In-form Southampton look poised to continue their impressive start, last term’s Championship winners have reason to be cheerful, whilst fortunes on Merseyside could take a turn for the better as the fixture list smiles a little more kindly.

Liverpool

Denied the full three points in the Anfield leg of the Merseyside derby, the Reds yet again failed to convince last weekend. If they’re to maintain a credible title challenge, Brendan Rodgers needs to rapidly address shortcomings at both ends of the pitch, but he does at least have fixtures on his side for the time being. Over the next four weeks, West Brom and Hull visit Anfield whilst trips to two of the bottom three, Newcastle and QPR, also look ripe for returns.

Faith in the Liverpool defence has scarcely been lower and few would bank on Simon Mignolet whatever the fixtures. With a complete absence of resilience, most of the backline are considered dead wood for Fantasy purposes, but for those who fancy Liverpool to tighten up, Alberto Moreno has still been impressive in attack, if not in defence, and may yet reward patience. In midfield, Raheem Sterling continues to defy his team’s form and deliver results, while Steven Gerrard’s clinical set-piece delivery ensures that he stays relevant. Daniel Sturridge is hoping for a return to the fray soon, which could boost his team and may help Mario Balotelli notch his first Premier League goal for the Reds.

Leicester

While a 2-0 loss at Crystal Palace was a sharp comedown from their previous week’s triumph over United, the defeat surely won’t dampen the Foxes’ spirits too much. Nigel Pearson’s side have some excellent fixtures on the horizon to help lift them into a well earned position in the top half of the table, beginning with a home clash against fellow promoted side Burnley this weekend. After that, the following five Gameweeks include trips to Newcastle, Swansea and Southampton as well as home fixtures with West Brom and Sunderland. Such a schedule could boost the appeal of a defence with just one shut-out to their name and also aid Leicester’s burgeoning attack.

As the ticker turns blue, Kasper Schmeichel gets a fair chance to entice Fantasy managers, while 4.0 priced Liam Moore could become a bargain. In midfield, we’re still waiting to see which – if any – budget assets emerge but Esteban Cambiasso has a proven record as a box-to-box type and has already opened his account. Cambiasso’s compatriot Leonardo Ulloa has been subject to significant interest after his high-profile heroics against United and now has the platform to add to his five goal-tally, while Jamie Vardy will be similarly hopeful of kicking on after an incredible 21-point haul in his previous home appearance.

Stoke

Finally giving their fans a victory at the Britannia, the Potters are starting to deliver on their promise. Over the next six Gameweeks, Mark Hughes has a good-looking set of fixtures to use to his advantage and build momentum, with home matches against Swansea, West Ham and Burnley plus visits to Sunderland, Southampton and an off-key Spurs. Such fixtures could be profitable for Fantasy managers all over the pitch.

In defence, a second clean sheet brings Asmir Begovic into contention while Marc Wilson has now played every minute of the season to quash any doubts over his security. Alternatively, Marc Muniesa was given the nod over Erik Pieters last night after scoring a brace in the Capital One Cup and has huge potential if he can hold onto that place. In midfield, Victor Moses looks to be finding himself at home after his unhappy toils at Chelsea and Liverpool last season. The Nigerian seems to have struck up a partnership with evergreen Peter Crouch – both were in the points for the second match running last night and either could prove good value over these fixtures.

Southampton

A win over QPR that, in truth, could easily have been far more comprehensive sees the Saints make a play – for the second season running – as the best value outfit across the Fantasy games. Ronald Koeman’s side have earned themselves second place in the league and have the fixtures to help strengthen their position. A visit to their old manager at Spurs will hold little fear on current form and the following five Gameweeks include three promising home matches against Sunderland, Stoke and Leicester plus visits to Hull and Aston Villa.

In a similar situation to this time last term, few Fantasy teams are now are without at least one Southampton defender and a case can easily be made for doubling up. While Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand duel for ascendency in our choice of full-back, their attacking points make goalkeeper Fraser Forster a little unappealing at the same price-point. In midfield, it seems only a matter of time before Dusan Tadic delivers on his potential, while Sadio Mane has caught the eye and comes with plenty of pedigree from the continent. Up front, Graziano Pelle now has four goals, an assist and seven bonus points and has completely overshadowed Shane Long, who may well be set for bench-warming duties as a result of Mane’s arrival.

Also Consider

Arsenal
As the injuries pile up, the fixtures mercifully begin to soften for Arsene Wenger. After this weekend’s daunting trip to Stamford Bridge, the Gunners face just two of last season’s top eight in the subsequent nine Gameweeks – while Fantasy prospects look tantalizingly good, choosing the right assets to take advantage looks a frustratingly fraught task.

Calum Chambers would be the stand-out option in defence, but for his propensity for picking up cards that sees him perched precariously on the suspension tightrope. In midfield, confirmation of Aaron Ramsey’s hamstring injury has sparked an exodus but a like-for-like replacement for Arsenal’s fixtures isn’t forthcoming with Theo Walcott not quite ready to return and Alexis Sanchez’s pitch time puzzlingly unassured. Danny Welbeck, on the other hand, does appear to be firmly in Wenger’s plans and he ought to prosper from these fixtures – at a price of 7.2 in FPL, the deadline-day signing looks exceptional value ahead of this run of matches.

Everton
A last-gasp goal from Phil Jagielka saved Roberto Martinez from further blushes as he toils to replicate his stellar first season in charge. Of course, the opening fixtures haven’t helped the Toffees, and once this week’s trip to Old Trafford is dispensed with, they have a long tract of easier ground to tread, with Aston Villa, Swansea and West Ham all rolling up to Goodison Park.

The Everton backline has been uncharacteristically porous this season but that hasn’t stopped Leighton Baines’ ascent up the Fantasy standings and the forthcoming schedule should strengthen his chances of points at both ends of the pitch. Injury to Kevin Mirallas could benefit Aiden McGeady, and while Steven Naismith seems to be taking a little breather, Romelu Lukaku could be set to ramp up his form – providing his manager stops fielding him on the wing, after the big Belgian was fielded on the right of a 4-3-3 against Liverpool.

Crystal Palace
Neil Warnock’s second reign at Crystal Palace has been anything but the disaster many had initially feared and the weekend win over Leicester showed a good balance between defence and attack. With three decent fixtures to come over the next four weeks, the Eagles have a chance to get more points on the board before battening down the hatches. Scott Dann has prospered the most in defence so far while Julian Speroni has also ticked over nicely between the posts. In midfield, Wilfried Zaha has lost his manager’s faith, handing Jason Puncheon the platform to pick up the points in four of his five appearances. We’ve yet to see the impact of the imminent return of Marouane Chamakh on Warnock’s frontline, but having sung Fraizer Campbell’s praises, it looks likely that Dwight Gayle will be the one to make way after Campbell took his tally to two goals in as many matches last weekend.