Saturday’s mid-afternoon Premier League action serves up six three o’clock kick offs for Fantasy managers to dissect. Burnley and Leicester City scrap for points at Turf Moor, with both clubs currently occupying relegation berths. Elsewhere, QPR host a floundering West Ham team as they, too, strive to climb out of the bottom three. Manchester City face a home clash against Aston Villa in the evening encounter, with Manuel Pellegrini’s side seeking to secure their Champions League place.
Leicester’s trip to Burnley is undoubtedly the key clash of the day, with the Foxes hunting a fourth successive win which could propel them out of the relegation zone. Nigel Pearson’s side have been subject to heavy investment this week, with the likes of Esteban Cambiasso and Jamie Vardy looking to continue their recent fine form. Given that their hosts have scored just a single goal in seven, Kasper Schmeichel’s new owners will also be hoping for a second successive clean sheet. The team news from Turf Moor is significant: David Nugent’s calf injury keeps him out again, whilst Jeffrey Schlupp is also a surprise omission for Leicester with a knock – presumably sustained in training. Paul Konchesky and Danny Drinkwater come in to the starting XI as Andrej Kramarić drops to the bench.
Crystal Palace play host to Hull City in the wake of a shock 2-0 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion last weekend. Glenn Murray has bagged three goals and four assists in his last four starts and remains the Eagles’ principal threat, while Yannick Bolasie’s hat-trick against Sunderland underlined the winger’s attacking menace. The Tigers search for their first victory in six, having netted just four goals across that timeframe. Steve Bruce looks to have opted to a four-man defence today, dropping his son Alex as Robbie Brady earns a recall in midfield. Palace make two changes as Martin Kelly and Pape Souare come in at full-back for Joel Ward and Joe Ledley.
Newcastle attempt to arrest a run of six straight defeats when they welcome Swansea City to St James’ Park. The Magpies have struggled at both ends of the pitch in their last eight outings, scoring three and conceding 17 goals. The Swans compete without Neil Taylor as he serves the last match of his ban, while Gylfi Sigurdsson looks to deliver attacking returns for only the third time in 11 starts. The Swans make two changes to their teamsheet as Nathan Dyer and Jefferson Motero come in for the injured Wayne Routledge and the benched Ki Sung-yueng. As for Newcastle, they bring in Jonas Gutierrez for Mehdi Abeid in midfield, while Emmanuel Riviere replaces Yoan Gouffran.
Queens Park Rangers entertain a West Ham United outfit that’s recorded a solitary win in 11 Gameweeks. The R’s notched seven goals in two matches prior to their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea last time out, with Charlie Austin (two in three) central to their success. Matty Phillips, with two goals and seven assists in the last nine, also looks likely to pose Big Sam problems. The Hammers need Enner Valencia – who’s tallied one goal since Gameweek 11 – to find some form in light of their dismal recent scoring record, with just seven strikes in the last 11 matches. Allardyce makes three changes to his lineup, introducing young Reece Burke for Winston Reid in defence – he misses out with a reported hamstring problem. Elsewhere, Kevin Nolan and Matt Jarvis also come in with Alex Song out of the squad and Carlton Cole benched. The R’s make just one change as Richard Dunne replaces Mauricio Isla, who drops to the bench.
Stoke City go head-to-head with Sunderland in search of back-to-back wins. Mame Biram Diouf has scored in each of his last three home appearances and will fancy his chances against a Blacks Cats defence that’s shipped 12 in their previous six. The visitors are highly unfavoured to spring an upset at the Britannia Stadium, given that Sunderland’s last road win arrived in the Tyne-Wear derby in Gameweek 17. Mark Hughes makes just one change to his starting XI, recalling Charlie Adam after his winner against Southampton as Glenn Whelan drops out. As for Sunderland, they make a pair of changes as Sebastian Coates and Will Buckley come in for Santiago Vergini and the injured Steven Fletcher.
Having been breached seven times in their last two home ties, West Brom lock horns with Liverpool at The Hawthorns. Strike duo Brown Ideye and Saido Berahino are without a goal in four Gameweeks, forcing Craig Gardener (two in two) to shoulder that responsibility. All eyes are on Raheem Sterling in the absence of Daniel Sturridge, with the Reds winger hoping to build upon his goal against Newcastle last Gameweek. Jordan Henderson has produced attacking returns in five of his previous six starts, whilst Philippe Coutinho, with two goals in the last three in all competitions, looks a real differential for the double, with his ownership under 9%. Brendan Rodgers makes three changes to his Liverpool lineup, as Mario Balotelli, Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson all earn starts – Jordan Ibe is also recalled having been cup-tied for the Wembley semi-final defeat to Aston Villa. Lazar Markovic and Joe Allen drop to the bench, while Alberto Moreno is out of the squad.
Manchester City aim to cement a Champions League spot when they invite Aston Villa to the Etihad in the late kick off. Sergio Aguero dispelled his barren run and looks in ominous form, netting three goals in two matches, whilst David Silva will be looking to wreak havoc after been given the all-clear from last week’s cheekbone scare. The Villains’ Christian Benteke is the form striker in this encounter, though, having notched eight goals in six appearances.
