Our pre-Gameweek analysis of the PlayON Player Price List arrives once again, as the minutes tick down until another 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 extended their deadline for submitting teams so you can now tinker with your starting XI right up until the first kick-off each week – this evening that’s 7.45pm, when three of the Gameweek’s ten matches get underway. Please also note that the weekend encounter between QPR and Spurs is not part of this PlayON Gameweek.
Goalkeeper – Brad Guzan
The Villa stopper has averaged three saves per appearance over the last seven weeks, despite his side conceding 15 goals during those fixtures. Guzan (6.8m) now plays host to a West Brom side that have failed to find the net in three of their last five away matches and with Tim Sherwood’s desperate for a first point, defensive returns looks feasible for the 11%-owned US international. Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet appears to have recovered from his early-season error-strewn performances. The Belgian’s new-found confidence has delivered five clean sheets in his previous seven appearances and, at a price of 7.5m, has been selected by 13% of PlayON teams for the visit of struggling Burnley.
Defenders – Craig Dawson
The West Brom defender has two goals so far this term and with two shots on target (worth 200 points each in PlayON) in the last three appearances, is still getting into threatening positions. The Baggies will be looking for a fourth clean sheet in a row away to neighbours Aston Villa and with doubts over a number of their strikers, Tony Pulis’ troops are likely to keep it tight at the back. Bearing in mind the hosts have scored just twice in ten matches, a goalless draw could well be on the cards here, making Dawson – available for 6.4m in PlayON and owned by 15% – a solid option for our four-man defences. Danny Rose is the essential defender pick for the midweek visit of Swansea. Priced at 6.9m, the left-back has served up two goals and an assist in his last seven matches and, with two more assists also arriving at White Hart Lane earlier in the season, he clearly prefers home comforts. Owned by 19%, his raids down the left could be key as Spurs look to recover from Sunday’s cup final loss at Wembley.
Midfielders – Nabil Bentaleb
The Algerian is yet to score this term but, with three shots on target in as many matches, his confidence appears to be growing. A first assist of the season in the recent North London derby victory also shows Bentaleb is getting forward more often and, having picked up 5,000 PlayON points in his last four appearances, also benefits from plenty of interception and tackle points that are a crucial part of the PlayON scoring matrix. At a price of 6.5m, Bentaleb (owned by 15%) looks excellent value for the home clash against Swansea. Philippe Coutinho (40% ownership) has scored in spectacular style in each of his last appearances and looks far more composed in front of goal in recent matches. The Brazilian also has five assists in his last ten and, at 11.0m, is a cheaper option to Raheem Sterling (12.2m) ahead of Burnley’s visit to Anfield. Given that the Clarets have failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 matches, Liverpool will be confident of delivering a ninth win in 11 attempts, with Coutinho likely to be the main architect.
Forwards – Papiss Cisse
The striker scored his eleventh of the season to secure all three points against Aston Villa in the Magpies’ first home win of the calendar year. Cisse has struck in six of his last eight starts and, having netted over a third of Newcastle’s league goals this campaign, his importance is obvious ahead of the visit of a Man United side with only one win in six on the road. Currently selected by just 4% of teams, the 8.7m-priced Cisse looks a decent in-form differential for the Gameweek. Although Harry Kane and Daniel Sturridge have promising home fixtures on the cards, we cannot overlook Sergio Aguero (15.0m) for Man City’s Etihad encounter with basement-dwellers Leicester. The 58%-owned Argentine has delivered three goals and four assists in five appearances since returning from injury and with the Foxes conceding at least twice in nine of their last ten road trips, it could be a long night ahead for Nigel Pearson’s strugglers.
