Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 22 – The Weak

Having analysed those sides with the strongest upcoming schedules over the next four to six Gameweeks, we now check out those with tougher fixtures to follow. Aston Villa and Leicester brace themselves for some hard times ahead, whilst Man City and Liverpool are also set for a testing run of matches.

Leicester

Nigel Pearson’s side have home clashes with Stoke and Palace in the next three Gameweeks to continue the form that has harvested seven points and a pair of clean sheets in their last three league outings.

Unfortunately for the Foxes, they also go head-to-head with Man United, Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea in the upcoming six rounds of fixtures, suggesting Fantasy points could be few and far between. With three-goal Jeffrey Schlupp injured, Marcin Wasilewski’s 3.9 price tag enhances his appeal as a cheap fifth defender, and with Riyad Mahrez still off on international duties, only David Nugent – with a goal and assist in the last three – has shown any signs of form.

Liverpool

A trip to struggling Villa offers hope for the Reds this weekend, but beyond that one, they square up to four of the current top seven (WHM, TOT, sot, MCI) and also face a Merseyside derby trip to Everton.

At the back, Martin Skrtel has earned bonus each time his side have delivered a clean sheet, though the big centre-half may have to rely on his aerial threat in the box to remain in consideration. The imminent return of Daniel Sturridge could provide the spark that reignites our interest in Brendan Rodgers’ main men, though in the meantime, Raheem Sterling – back after a weekend rest – and Philippe Coutinho, with returns in four of his last five, are the likeliest to deliver for the ever-improving Reds, who have dropped just two points in the last four Gameweeks.

Manchester City

City’s next two fixtures play a significant part in their place in this week’s article. Nonetheless, having hammered Arsenal 6-3 at the Etihad last season, those holding the likes of Sergio Aguero and David Silva will have little fear ahead of this weekend’s match, though there’s no denying the trip to Stamford Bridge somewhat curbs our enthusiasm.

Trips to Liverpool and Stoke – the latter having merged victorious at the Etihad earlier in the campaign – could throw a spanner in the works, though our fears are perhaps more focused on the City defence here. Whilst Aguero has shown his fixture-proof potential time and again, a defence that has conceded twice to both Burnley and Sunderland in the last three matches hardly instils much confidence. Vincent Kompany’s return could boost the points of potential of Pablo Zabaleta and Gael Clichy, though – City shipped just one goal in the last four with their captain on board.

Also Be Wary Of….

Swansea
With Wilfried Bony now finally off to City, Garry Monk faces a tough task in addressing a run of form which has seen the Welsh club score more than a single goal in just one of the last ten Gameweeks.

Swansea go head-to-head with Chelsea and Southampton’s resilient defences in the next two and then face Sunderland, West Brom and United’s stubborn rearguards. Few will be willing to gamble on Bafetimbi Gomis right now, in spite of his kind 6.5 price tag, whilst Monk’s recent admission that Gylfi Sigurdsson has been playing through the pain barrier with a foot problem is not what the playmaker’s owners want to hear. At the back, it’s worth noting that all eight of Swansea’s clean sheets have arrived against clubs in the bottom nine, suggesting that invetment in the likes of Lukasz Fabianksi and Neil Taylor should be left alone for now.

West Ham
Big Sam’s side have just two favourable fixtures in the next eight Gameweeks as the schedule continues to turn against them. Those holding Hammers players will be looking for returns at home to Hull this weekend, but following that one, only the visit of Palace in Gameweek 27 (liv, MUN, sot, tot, CPL, CHE, ars) offers some respite.

Stewart Downing sits in 25% of Fantasy Premier League sides but his owners have a real decision to make once the Tigers clash is out of the way, whilst Andy Carroll’s four goals and an assist in the last seven may not be enough to convince. At the back, Allardyce’s outfit have mustered just one clean sheet in the last eight and it’s fair to say that the appeal of Aaron Cresswell and co. looks limited right now.

Aston Villa
Paul Lambert’s side approach a testing run of fixtures in dire form after scoring just one goal in their last six fixtures. Villa will be hoping new playmaker Carles Gil can spark the struggling Christian Benteke back into form after a series of poor displays, though with back-to-back showdowns against Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea immediately on the cards, there’s little hope of returns at either end of the pitch.

The Midlands side also travel to Hull and Newcastle and play host to Stoke over the next six matches, though it’s mainly their defence that’s likely to benefit here. Villa haven’t conceded more than a single goal since Gameweek 10, though have frustratingly earned just three clean sheets in the 11 matches over that period. Brad Guzan’s save points and Alan Hutton’s 4.4 price tag are the main attractions, though their appeal is somewhat lessened by a knee injury to Ron Vlaar, which could keep the centre-half on the sidelines for six weeks.