Next up this Friday afternoon, we take time to check out the Premier Punt game as I reveal my plans for the upcoming round of fixtures.
This Week’s Games
There are two big guaranteed pots for this weekend’s matches on PremierPunt – the largest contest has a £350 pot with a £5 entry fee and it’s possible to enter three line-ups. A good entry point game is the £100 guaranteed pot which has just a £2 buy-in, whilst there’s also a £100 pot for a £10 fee.
Meanwhile, for the high-rollers there’s a £50 contest – with the winner taking all the money.
They also offer a unique single-game format for each fixture – these contests are quick to enter with no budget and only five picks are needed with at least one player from each team. This week there’s a free entry contest for the last match of the Gameweek as Chelsea travel to the Emirates. The winner takes the whole £25 pot here and three five-man selections can be entered. Arsenal have won seven of their last eight at home but it could be a tight encounter against Guus Hiddink’s side, who are unbeaten in their previous six league matches.
My Team
Everton players form the spine of my team this week, given that only Man City have scored more goals at home. The Toffees welcome a Swansea side that have shut out their opponents just once away from home all season and have failed to score in three of the last five road trips. Two assists against Chelsea were a reminder of Leighton Baines’ (6.5m) attacking threat and generous pricing makes the full-back the first pick.
Although I considered taking a punt on Gerard Deulofeu (9.2) or Kevin Mirallas (8.2), the former is classed as a forward and the latter has had limited pitch time this season, so I settle instead for Ross Barkley (10.4) here, though the afore-mentioned duo may appear in some of my other line-ups. Romelu Lukaku (12.3) completes the trio – I can’t see many teams not selecting the Belgian so it’s a big risk to go without and the 14-goal frontman is a prime candidate for the captain’s armband.
Hugo Lloris (7.1) gets the keepers’ spot. Spurs have the meanest defence in the league, conceding only 18 goals so far and travel to a Crystal Palace side that have failed to score in five outings. I double up on the Tottenham defence with Toby Alderweireld (7.6) – if it’s a tight match at Selhurst Park, the centre-back’s set-piece threat could deliver a goal. I can’t ignore Patrick Van Aanholt’s (7.6) form after the full-back has scored in three successive matches – the visit of Bournemouth provides a chance for points at both ends of the pitch.
In midfield I’ve gone for Jordan Henderson (7.0), mainly as I didn’t have space for Roberto Firmino in my front line as Liverpool travel to Norwich. The Reds’ captain looks to be approaching full fitness after starting the last two league matches and firing five attempts against United last weekend. Dele Alli (7.4) makes it a full complement of Spurs players. The youngster has netted in three of his last four road trips and offers a cheap route into the Tottenham attack as an alternative to Harry Kane. I’ve gone for a budget option to provide funds for the forwards in the shape of Jesse Lingard (5.0) – for that price tag, any points will be welcome, though the United winger has started the last two and scored against Newcastle, so could provide some good value returns.
Up front, Sergio Aguero’s (16.0) display against Palace, producing a brace and assist, confirmed that the Argentine is back to his undroppable best ahead of a trip to West Ham. The final member of my team is Wayne Rooney (12.8). The United captain has a tendency to score in patches and, with five goals in four, looks to be bang in form as Southampton visit Old Trafford.
The Bottom Line
Another successful week for myself with high-placed finishes in both the big pot (fourth) and £100 game (second) with almost £50 of winnings leaving me on just over £300. John Gordon took the top spot in the £350 guaranteed pot. A triple up of the Bournemouth defence paid off with Charlie Daniels contributing 15 points, whilst in midfield, Georgiano Wijnaldum provided a healthy 10 points and captain Sergio Aguero proved the key ingredient to a total score of 77 points.
This Week’s Stake
I place two teams into the big £350 pot as usual and also enter two line-ups into the £2 game. I’ve also put three line-ups into the free single game.
Stake – £14
Current Balance – £286
If you would like to take me on in that £2 challenge a pundit game or try out PremierPunt’s unique single fixtures game sign up here.
