Our Friday lunchtime look at the PlayON Player Price List comes around again as the hours count down until tomorrow’s deadline. As always, we offer a couple of picks per position: one essential weekend target and a left-field alternative for your consideration.
PlayON have now extended their deadline for submitting your teams so you can now tinker with your starting XI right up until the first kick-off each week – tomorrow that’s right up to 3pm, when six of the ten fixtures get underway.
Goalkeepers – Joel Robles
With the injured Tim Howard ruled out for a number of weeks, the Spaniard’s security of starts earns him the nod as our left-field pick this week. Having failed to keep a clean sheet so far, Robles only costs 6.0m in PlayON and he’ll be hoping for a first shut-out at home to a West Brom side that have failed to score in five out of their ten away matches this season. West Ham’s FA Cup hero Adrian (7.0m) has registered all four of this season’s clean sheets in front of his own fans. With visitors Hull deprived of their first-choice strikers, Nikica Jelavic and Abel Hernandez, through injury, The Tigers will struggle to improve a record that has seen them score in only two of their last seven away matches.
Defenders – Kieran Trippier
The Burnley right-back is expected to recover from a minor hamstring problem in time for a home clash with Crystal Palace. Despite earning a single assist this season, Trippier has offered plenty of threat down the flank and has created more chances than any defender over the last four Gameweeks – priced at 6.7m, his delivery from out wide could prove crucial for front two Danny Ings and Ashley Barnes. Investment in Tottenham’s defence looks a canny tactic this weekend, given that visitors Sunderland have failed to score in seven of their ten away matches. We opt for the in-form Danny Rose against the Black Cats, then – the left-back has now scored in each of his last two home appearances across all competitions and looks a great value pick at only 6.8m.
Midfielders – Victor Moses
Prior to being sidelined with a thigh injury in mid-November, Stoke’s on-loan winger served up a goal and four assists in eight appearances. Moses was an unused sub at Arsenal last Sunday but with a week’s training behind him, Mark Hughes has been full of praise ahead of the trip to Leicester. Setting you back just 7.6m in this week’s PlayON Price List, Moses’ delivery from the flank looks a likely weapon for the King Power clash – the Foxes defence is rated second worst in terms of aerial attempts against, suggesting he’ll be tasked with feeding Peter Crouch with crosses aplenty. We turn to Spurs once again for our essential midfield pick. Since returning from injury in Gameweek 17, Nacer Chadli has played a part in six of his side’s ten goals, whereas team-mate Christian Eriksen has had a hand in just one. The Belgian seems better value at 9.3m compared to Eriksen’s 11.1m for the visit of Sunderland, then, as the north London club look to continue the form that has seen them score nine times in their last two home matches.
Forwards – Andy Carroll
An impressive strike against Swansea last week was Carroll’s fourth in 11 appearances since returning from injury in early November. With Diafra Sakho still unavailable, the big target is set to carry the Hammers’ main goal threat at home to a Hull side with just one clean sheet in six and, at a price of just 9.8m, looks good value as Big Sam’s side look for their first win in five matches. After weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury, Sergio Aguero (14.8m) returned to action against Everton last week. Whilst his match sharpness may not be fully up to scratch, the Argentine still looks poised to be unleashed from the start at home to Arsenal on Sunday and has the class to destroy a defence that has conceded eight in their last four road trips.
