We cast an eye over the festive schedule this evening and focus on those sides with favourable sets of fixtures over the next four to six Gameweeks. Both halves of Manchester have reason for optimism, whilst Swansea and Everton have the platform to push on from disappointing weekend defeats.
Man City
Could there have been a worse time for Sergio Aguero to succumb to injury? Not only had the Argentine hit a run of form that was beginning to rival that of Luis Suarez’s last year, but the oncoming fixture list was set to offer him the chance to raise his stock even further. On the back of four consecutive league victories, City now face a plum next five, with Etihad encounters against Crystal Palace, Burnley and Sunderland married with trips to out-of-sorts Leicester and West Brom.
City have this evening confirmed a four-to-six-week absence and, as Aguero’s 31% ownership search for an exit route, that schedule affords both Edin Dzeko and Stefan Jovetic a chance to force their way into Fantasy managers’ plans. Much depends on whether Manuel Pellegrini opts for a lone striker set-up or a two man frontline; should it be the former, managers are likely to steer clear until a clearer picture emerges of who is the front runner. Jovetic seems to have overcome the knock that kept him out of this weekend’s win over of Everton and has two goals in his last three appearances, and whilst Dzeko has failed to make a start since Gameweek 9 due to injury, he arguably looks the most suited to the lone forward role.
With so much uncertainty now hanging round the forward positions, the 10.7-priced Yaya Toure has stepped up his performances at just the right time – with goals in three of his last four outings, and penalty duties now in the bag, the Ivorian’s form could see him rack up the returns before he heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations (ACoN) next month. The downside, of course, is that he sits on four yellows – just one shy of a suspension. Meanwhile, at the back, City have clocked up two shut-outs in their last three, with Gael Clichy scoring once and earning bonus points on both of those occasions, but with Aleksandar Kolarov back from injury, it remains to be seen whether he remains a secure starter. Vincent Kompany looks likely to be back in time for tomorrow’s clash with Roma and still remains the most reliable option for starts in the champions’ back-four.
Swansea
With two wins and a couple of losses in their last five fixtures, the Swans are amid a streaky patch of form but now have some cracking Christmas fixtures to help improve their consistency. Trips to Hull, Liverpool and QPR will offer hope aplenty, whilst Aston Villa’s visit to the Liberty also looks promising for Garry Monk’s outfit.
It’s all about Wilfried Bony in the Swans’ attack, though managers should be wary that the 8.4-valued striker, who has fetched returns in seven of his last nine appearances, is set to leave for the ACoN in January. Before then, however, the Ivorian has the chance to ensure he finishes 2014 as the league’s top-scoring player in the calendar year.
Gylfi Sigurdsson’s creativity is likely to prove essential to Bony’s cause, and the midfielder, now up to 7.0, will be looking to add to his tally of eight assists across the coming weeks. At the back, all of the Swans rearguard assets continue to fly relatively under the radar, despite their defensive solidity this season. Lukasz Fabianski’s (5.2) red card last Sunday could see the keeper miss this weekend’s clash with Spurs if an appeal falls through, though the Pole still looks a prime candidate for a spot between the sticks beyond that. Neil Taylor does, however, offer managers a route into the Swans’ rearguard for just 4.8 and should tempt investment now he has served out a one-match suspension.
Man United
Last night’s performance at Southampton may have been unconvincing, but the result fell in Louis van Gaal’s favour and took the Red Devils’ winning streak to five. A top-of-the-bill clash with rivals Liverpool is next on the cards for United, who then face enticing fixtures against Aston Villa, Newcastle and Stoke in their following four.
With Van Gaal’s defence still in limbo, only David De Gea really warrants our attention at the back at the moment – at 5.5, the Spaniard’s commanding performances have ensured that United have conceded more than a single goal in just one of the last 10 Gameweeks. In midfield, De Gea’s compatriot Juan Mata has the chance to further his cause whilst Angel Di Maria remains sidelined with a hamstring problem – the 8.4-priced man has started every match since the former Real Madrid star’s injury, and highlighted his potential with a goal in Gameweek 14.
Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie are now set to go head-to-head for the affections of Aguero’s owners, with both having impressed in their recent displays. Van Persie’s brace at St Mary’s earned the Dutchman a second double-figure haul in his last three, and suggested the 2.3%-owned striker may yet prove to be an explosive differential from here on in.
Everton
Just one win in their last six league outings means that Roberto Martinez’s side will be desperate to rediscover their best form as imminently as possible, and the schedule will certainly offer a helping hand. The Toffees’ next five all look promising, with Goodison Park clashes against QPR and Stoke either side of a trip to Southampton in Gameweek 17, with subsequent away days to Newcastle and Hull then following on.
The Merseysiders have let themselves slip defensively in recent weeks, and are without a clean sheet since Gameweek 10, whilst Leighton Baines, often so reliable for atoning for a lack of defensive returns with attacking performances, has blanked in his last three appearances. The 7.3-priced left-back will now be hoping to re-establish himself as a mainstay in our backlines, though Seamus Coleman is also on the radar after being fielded on the right wing against Man City on Saturday evening. Kevin Mirallas’ return to fitness has finally offered us a viable option in the Toffees’ midfield – the Belgian has been amongst the points in two of his last three displays – whilst Romelu Lukaku’s goalscoring consistency could make the 9.0 priced-striker a target for some of Aguero’s current crop of owners.
Also to consider
Aston Villa
A hard-fought win over Leicester ensured that the Villains have now managed back-to-back victories and are without a loss since Gameweek 10. The goals are also beginning to flow for Paul Lambert’s side, who now square up to West Brom, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Leicester once again in their next six. Alan Hutton underlined his budget value with a strike against the Foxes, and with just three goals conceded in their last five, the Midlanders’ rearguard is warranting plenty of attention right now. Up top, the 7.9-valued Christian Benteke has bagged a goal and an assist in his last two since his return from injury, and with an ownership of just 1.0%, looks a ready-made differential for our frontlines across the festive period.
Sunderland
A run of five matches without a win doesn’t justly represent the hard work and spirit the Black Cats have shown in recent weeks – they’ve managed clean sheets in three of those, including resilient displays against Chelsea and Liverpool. The fixture list now begins to turn in their favour, with home encounters against West Ham and Hull and visits to Newcastle and Villa in their next four. Costel Pantilimon has vindicated Gus Poyet’s decision to turn to his services between the sticks with a series of impressive performances and, at 4.4, looks a great pick for managers in the market for a keeper. Further forward, the pickings are admittedly slim – Seb Larsson has started every match of the season so far and notched two goals and three assists, whilst the 5.6-rated Connor Wickham will be looking to build on his Gameweek 14 goal against Man City.
Liverpool
Granted, the next two (mun, ARS) for Brendan Rodgers’ inconsistent Reds are sure to prove a mighty challenge, but the schedule then shines favourably beyond that, with meetings against Burnley, Leicester and Sunderland in the following four. The Merseysiders have picked up their defensive performances of late, conceding just once in their last three outings since Lucas returned to midfield, and Martin Skrtel’s guaranteed starts and penchant for bonus points make the Slovakian the most obvious pick in their rearguard. Elsewhere, the impending fixtures could see Raheem Sterling’s prospects pick up and allow Rickie Lambert to impress up top in Daniel Sturridge’s continued absence.
