We turn our focus to the upcoming schedules this Tuesday lunchtime and assess those sides with strong fixtures over the next four-to-six Gameweeks. Palace are handed a chance to maintain their recent momentum, Chelsea’s title tilt looks irresistible, whilst Liverpool will be optimistic of recovering from crushing losses against United and Arsenal.
Crystal Palace
A stunning 2-1 victory over Man City last night was the Eagles’ fourth win in five and has more or less guaranteed Premier League football next season, leaving them with the opportunity to express themselves across the final weeks of the current campaign. That may be a bit tricky in their final four fixtures, in which Alan Pardew’s charges are pitted against Chelsea, Man United and Liverpool, but their next three should certainly allow for some entertaining displays, with a trip to Sunderland followed by back-to-back meetings home clashes against West Brom and Hull.
Scott Dann’s attacking instincts came to the fore once again last night as the centre back bagged his third assist of the season to go with his two strikes thus far. Granted, defensive returns have been minimal for Palace since Pardew’s installation, with only one clean sheet in their last 11 fixtures, and interest in their rearguard looks set to be limited to the offensive-minded Dann. On the other hand, investment in a number of their attacking assets is due a hike after yesterday evening’s showing, with managers offered the trio of Jason Puncheon (5.6), Yannick Bolasie (5.4) and Wilfried Zaha (5.1) to choose from in midfield, and the immensely impressive Glenn Murray a very tempting option up top. Murray has now delivered 12-point hauls in both of his last two outings, with his tally of five goals since Gameweek 26 only bettered by Olivier Giroud and Harry Kane, and, at 5.1, the striker looks the perfect enabler for those planning on bulking up their sides elsewhere.
Chelsea
A double Gameweek 34 looms ever closer for Jose Mourinho’s side, ensuring that managers are circling round their assets at this current point in the season. A trip to relegation strugglers QPR is next up for the Blues, and those planning to stock up for the double-header will resultantly be tempted to have their pieces in place prior to this weekend’s deadline, though the proceeding encounter with Man United may make those managers think twice. However, with three home fixtures in their final four (CPL, LIV, SUN), there’s no doubt that Chelsea are offered a generous schedule with which to secure their first title in five years.
Branislav Ivanovic continues to ride high at the summit of our defensive Watchlist, with two clean sheets complemented by as many goals and an assist in his last seven league displays. True, the Blues haven’t convinced at the back in their last three, conceding as many big chances as they had in the previous six Gameweeks, but even if they fail to rediscover their resilience, the 7.6-rated Ivanovic’s attacking output seems likely to make up for it. In midfield, it’s a similarly straightforward situation for those with budget to spare; Eden Hazard’s 13-point showing at the weekend took his tally to 12 strikes and eight assists for the campaign, and the Belgian now sits just six points short of the 200 mark with eight matches left to go. Cesc Fabregas has registered an assist in each of his previous two and is the main contender for a midfield double-up with Hazard ahead of the double. Up top, however, the situation is rather more awkward, with Diego Costa’s hamstring setback against Stoke ruling him out for at least a couple of weeks. It’s likely that Loic Remy will be the man to benefit and, having struck the winners in Chelsea’s last two outings, the 7.1-valued Frenchman has found his form to appear on our radars.
Liverpool
The Reds’ drive for a top four finish has suffered something of a derailment in the last few weeks, with defeats in crucial clashes against United and Arsenal leaving them seven points adrift of the Champions League places. Depending upon the result of their FA Cup replay against Blackburn tomorrow night, their upcoming schedule could be subject to change, but their remaining fixtures nonetheless afford Brendan Rodgers reason for optimism – Newcastle make their way to Anfield this weekend before the Reds face successive encounters with three of the league’s relegation contenders in Hull, West Brom and QPR. Further ahead, meetings with Crystal Palace and Stoke see their season to a close, meaning that managers looking to invest in Liverpool’s men now may well retain their picks for the remainder of the campaign.
Having earned seven clean sheets in nine outings between Gameweeks 21-29, it has been something of a shock to see Rodgers’ rearguard concede six goals in their last two, and rediscovering that defensive form now appears key to restoring their top four hopes. Should they indeed do so, Alberto Moreno’s position on the left flank and increasing influence in the final third ensures that the Spaniard is the most tempting option in their ranks, whilst Martin Skrtel will come back into contention when he returns from suspension in Gameweek 33.
In the middle of the park, Philippe Coutinho was one of the few players to impress against United and Arsenal and looks odds on to produce from here on in. That said, the 6.6-valued Jordan Henderson has emerged as the standout option after finding the net in four of his last five appearances, taking his tally for the season to just two points short of team-mate Raheem Sterling. The latter was shifted to a central forward position against Arsenal, though should drop back to the right side of the Reds’ back five if Daniel Sturridge is back to full fitness for next Monday night. Despite registering returns in his last three starts, Sturridge still has his work cut out to justify forking out 11.1 for his services, though the schedule certainly offers the England international the chance to do so, and owners of the injured Costa and out-of-sorts Sergio Aguero may well consider the Liverpool striker in their three-man frontline if the Reds get past Blackburn and earn themselves a double Gameweek further down the line.
Swansea
The Swans have made full use of their current run of strong fixtures with wins over Hull and Aston Villa in the last two Gameweeks, and now prepare for another four promising match-ups before the schedule turns nasty. A home clash with Everton is up next, before eye-catching trips to bottom-placed Leicester and a Newcastle side who have tasted defeat in each of their last four. Stoke then travel to the Liberty Stadium in the Swans’ penultimate home fixture of the campaign in Gameweek 35 in what completes a neat looking next four for Garry Monk’s men and is sure to demand plenty of Fantasy attention.
A red card for Hull’s David Meyler would rarely have much impact on Fantasy matters, but the victim of the midfielder’s lunge, Swans right back Kyle Naughton, will now sit out the rest of the season with ankle ligament damage, relieving managers of a popular budget route into the Welsh outfit’s rearguard. With the former Spurs man out of the picture, interest is likely to shift towards Lukasz Fabianski in net, though for those looking at Neil Taylor, it’s worth bearing in mind that he would serve a two-match ban if he earns a booking against the Toffees this weekend.
Further forward, Gylfi Sigurdsson has now notched a goal and an assist in the last four Gameweeks and looks a strong contender for a midfield spot over the coming weeks, though Ki Sung-Yueng’s strike against the Tigers was his fourth in his previous eight appearances and, at 5.2, there are few other players offering a similar level of value to the Korean right now. Meanwhile, Bafetimbi Gomis seems to have finally settled at the Liberty after grabbing three goals in his last two, and with a current ownership of just 0.5%, now offers managers an intriguing differential for our frontlines.
Also Consider
Leicester
A 2-1 victory over West Ham last Saturday suggested that all is not yet lost for Nigel Pearson’s men. A home encounter with Swansea is sandwiched between visits to West Brom and Burnley, whilst Newcastle’s venture to the King Power Stadium in Gameweek 35 also looks promising. Fantasy wise, even those fixtures would normally do little to tempt us to take an interest in the Foxes’ assets, but a double Gameweek 34, which pairs their meeting with Burnley with a home date against Chelsea, changes the landscape somewhat. Kasper Schmeichel and Jeffrey Schlupp are set to be monitored at the back over the next three, whilst in midfield, Riyad Mahrez and Esteban Cambiasso look the prime candidates for investment, with the latter having now notched twice in his last five appearances. In attack, Jamie Vardy and David Nugent may be worth a gamble for the double after firing a goal and assist apiece against Spurs in Gameweek 30, though managers are likely to wait and assess whether both can maintain their recent run of starts in what has proven a highly unsettled attack.
Southampton
Many have finally written off the Saints’ hopes of Champions League football after their weekend loss to Everton, though the run-in suggests that they are still unlikely to finish far short of the much-coveted fourth place. A home clash with Hull is next on the agenda, with three immensely encouraging fixtures to come between Gameweeks 35-37 (sun, lei, AVL) and Ronald Koeman will be optimistic that his side can finish the season strongly. Owners of Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand are expected to keep faith with the duo for the remainder of the campaign, then, whilst the 4.8-priced Toby Alderweireld offers a budget alternative for those keen to invest in a backline who have conceded just twice in their last four. Kelvin Davis, at just 4.4, is another option between the posts for those looking to double-up on the Saints defence. With Graziano Pelle still off the pace and Dusan Tadic struggling for minutes, Saido Mane looks the one viable option in the Saints’ attack right now, though his shift to the bench on Saturday is a concern. However, with the Saints failing to find a breakthrough against the Toffees, the Senegal international is primed for an instant recall, and will be eager to add to a tally of five goals and two assists in his previous nine league starts.
West Ham
The defeat to Leicester was the Hammers’ fourth loss in their last five league outings, and though Premier League safety appears assured, the heat is now on for Sam Allardyce to prove he’s worthy of his place at the helm for next season. Fortunately, the fixture list smiles kindly, with three strong home fixtures (STK, BUR, EVE) and trips to QPR and Villa coming up in the east Londoners’ next six. That could see Aaron Cresswell perform a U-turn in our Watchlist as he, along with Adrian between the sticks, may be set for an upturn in defensive returns. Whilst Stewart Downing continues to stutter with just a single assist to show for his last nine league displays, Cheikhou Kouyate has now bagged four goals in ten league starts, and is a snip at only 4.9 for those needing to free up budget in midfield. Meanwhile, with injuries still plaguing the majority of the Hammers’ frontline, Diafra Sakho’s role as the spearhead in attack looks assured, and the Senegal striker will be keen to press on after notching twice in the last six Gameweeks.
