Man City’s festive schedule has a significant effect on this week’s refresh. They may have no fit strikers to choose from but Manuel Pellegrini’s side still offer us options at the back and in the centre of the park, whilst over on the other side of Manchester, the allure of a certain Dutchman is growing ever stronger.
The Defence
City’s upcoming set of fixtures promote both Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta in our thinking. The champions prepare for four superb upcoming fixtures (CPL, wba, WBA, SUN) on the back of a run which has seen them concede only once in their last four outings, and with options in attack limited, we reckon Manuel Pellegrini will continue to tighten up at the back to grind out results. At 6.4, Zabaleta is pricier than Gael Clichy, but having scored twice in his last three matches in all competitions, the Argentine has the edge. Another factor in our thinking here is that Zabaleta was already rested last weekend and looks less susceptible to rotation over the festive matches now. Hart, certainly, looks the most secure option if you’re prepared to spend big between the posts.
Like City, Tottenham’s Ben Davies and QPR’s Yun Suk-Young also have four home matches in the next six to further their points potential. Granted, they don’t offer the same sort of resilience as the champions but, at 4.4 and 3.9 respectively, offer the cheapest routes into their defences. Davies has started the last five for Spurs now and supplied an assist against Swansea last weekend – Burnley, Leicester, Palace and Sunderland in the upcoming six should keep him ticking over. Yun – who has two clean sheets in his last four at home – plays host to West Brom, Palace and Swansea, in addition to travelling to Burnley.
Hull’s Allan McGregor has a run of five decent fixtures (SWA, sun, LEI, EVE, wba) but may need save points to help, bearing in mind the Tigers have a single clean sheet in six. Elsewhere in the budget bracket, Villa’s Alan Hutton slips a little as he serves a one-match suspension against United this weekend. At just 4.3, though, the Scot than faces Swansea, Sunderland, Palace and Leicester in the following four – a run of five without a clean sheet is somewhat disconcerting, though Hutton’s goal threat is on the rise after he notched at home to Leicester earlier in the month.
David De Gea’s heroics have been key to United’s run of six straight victories. The 5.6-priced Spaniard rose to second in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) keeper standings on the back of another superb showing at home to Liverpool last weekend, and with injuries blighting Louis van Gaal’s defensive options on a near-weekly basis, De Gea looks the safest route into the Red Devils backline. Having conceded just three times over that winning streak, he now squares up to the likes of Villa, Newcastle, Stoke, Southampton and QPR in the next six.
An injury to Glen Johnson brings Javier Manquillo onto the radar. With Jon Flanagan also sidelined, the on-loan Spaniard could be poised to claim the right-back berth ahead of a very kind run of fixtures – after this weekend’s visit of Arsenal, the Reds travel to Burnley, Sunderland and Villa in the following five and also host Swansea and Leicester. At 4.6, Manquillo could be worth considering if Brendan Rodgers reverts to a back-four, given that the Merseysiders have conceded once in three home fixtures. His acquisition doesn’t come without a risk, though, bearing in mind the Reds’ boss rolled out a 3-4-3 at Old Trafford last weekend.
The Midfield
Eden Hazard holds onto top spot, though a run of one goal in five since being move to the wing dents Alexis Sanchez’ prospects. The Gunners travel to Liverpool, West Ham, Southampton and City in the next six, and with Olivier Giroud bang in form, the Chilean looks likely to remain on the flank.
City pair Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri are the form options as Manuel Pellegrini looks to juggle his side to cope with the lack of fit and available strikers. As we’ve mentioned earlier in the week, the Chilean has discussed moving to formation with a false nine to cope with the injury situation and will trial Nasri, David Silva and James Milner in the most advanced role. Either of the latter two would force a Watchlist re-think if they can claim that position.
Still priced at just 6.3, Stewart Downing has racked up 22 points in his last three appearances as the Hammers prepare for four home encounters (LEI, ARS, WBA, HUL) and a trip to Swansea in the next six. Up to third in the FPL midfield rankings on the back of three goals, two assists and nine bonus points in the last five, Christian Eriksen has now scored or assisted five of Tottenham’s last six goals. With Burnley, Leicester, Palace and Sunderland in the next six, the stage is set for the Dane to deliver over the winter schedule.
A move to the centre of Liverpool’s front three elevates Raheem Sterling in this week’s refresh. Granted, a run of 11 matches without a goal is anything but convincing but the youngster’s underlying stats during Sunday’s loss at United hinted that he could be worth revisiting if Brendan Rodgers keeps him in the middle.
Yannick Bolasie and Leroy Fer are the in-form budget options. Palace’s wide man is pivotal to their attacking forays and has posed plenty of threat from inside the area in recent matches, whilst Fer – at 5.5 – has notched in each of his last two at Loftus Road ahead of those four home fixtures in six.
The Forwards
Diego Costa and Wilfried Bony remain as our top two after both continued their excellent seasons by getting amongst the goals once again last weekend.
Charlie Austin climbs up to third spot, though, having served a one-match suspension on Monday evening. Down to just 6.0, the QPR frontman has averaged 6.5 points per home appearance ahead of a quartet of Loftus Road encounters – he’s bagged five goals and two assists in the previous four in front of his own fans.
Robin van Persie climbs above Wayne Rooney as our United forward of choice on the back of three sets of 10+ hauls in the last four Gameweeks. With his confidence high, the Dutchman is finally looking like a viable candidate as our Sergio Aguero replacement, whilst Rooney’s new central midfield role is a major concern, despite a third goal in four last time out.
At a bargain 5.1, Harry Kane took his tally to three goals in the last seven Gameweeks for Spurs with the opener at Swansea last weekend. The youngster has now played six lots of 90 minutes in succession and looks far too crucial to Mauricio Pochettino’s side to be taken out of the firing line over Christmas.
West Ham’s kind fixtures promote both Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll in our thinking. Both have very impressive underlying stats, though there’s no doubt the Senegal striker has been the more prolific, having scored in seven of his nine league outings. At 5.8 to Carroll’s 6.9, Sakho is also the more budget-friendly but is set to depart for the African Cup of Nations next month.
Olivier Giroud and Christian Benteke offer further options in the mid-price bracket. The Frenchman’s brace against Newcastle strengthened his case as the Gunners’ lone forward in light of Arsene Wenger’s decision to revert to 4-2-3-1, whilst a goal and assist in his last three hints at a return to form for Villa’s frontman as the fixture list smiles a little kinder.
