The Watchlist – Saints Alive

The tempting offer of six fixtures over the final four Gameweeks means Southampton’s budget-friendly regulars are among the main beneficiaries of our latest Watchlist refresh.

The impending Double Gameweek 37 also plays a part as we start to fine-tune our plans for the second Wildcards over the run-in.

Southampton’s pair of Double Gameweeks 36 and 37 elevate both Fraser Forster and Maya Yoshida to the top of the keeper and defender standings respectively.

At 4.4 to Forster’s 5.0, Yoshida – who has a goal, two clean sheets and seven bonus points in his last four outings – offers potential at both ends of the pitch, which should come in handy bearing in mind that the Saints take on Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United (as well as Middlesbrough) across their two doubles.

Between the posts, Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford faces Bournemouth, Hull City and Swansea City (as the first of his Double Gameweek 37) in the next three rounds of fixtures.

Coming in at a mere 4.1, he’s chalked up 11 save points in seven appearances since returning from injury and is sure to be kept busy regardless of whether his side concede. Pickford looks tailor-made as a Bench Boost option in Double Gameweek 37 for those eyeing up Forster as their first choice option.

Similar to Southampton, six matches in the remaining four Gameweeks helps Arsenal duo Petr Cech and Laurent Koscielny move up our ladder, though a single clean sheet in six is a worry.

Nacho Monreal could also profit in his new stint as a wing-back – as evidenced by his goal against Man City at Wembley – yet Arsene Wenger’s switch to a three-man defence could also promote Gabriel as a cheaper option at just 4.8. We continue to monitor both.

Chelsea wing-back Marcos Alonso and Leicester City’s Robert Huth both have five matches in the remaining four Gameweeks and boast a considerable goal threat.

From Gameweek 36 in particular, Alonso’s schedule (MID, wba & WAT, SUN) looks very encouraging for returns, as he looks to strengthen his grip as the top-scoring defender in FPL.

Huth, meanwhile, has delivered two goals, an assist and a pair of clean sheets in his last six. Owned by just 2%, he could be an effective differential with home encounters against Watford and Bournemouth on either side of a Double Gameweek 37.

Since Craig Shakespeare took the helm in Gameweek 26, the Foxes’ centre-half leads all defenders for attempts, efforts in the area and shots on target.

West Brom’s six-goal man Gareth McAuley also returns in our latest update, ahead of clashes with Leicester, Burnley and Swansea, in addition to a Double Gameweek 37.

Manolo Gabbiadini is the major climber among the forwards in light of Southampton’s upcoming six matches.

Four goals in his first three appearances serve as a reminder of the Italian’s potential. With his fitness now hopefully up to scratch after returning from injury, the January signing – having dropped to just 6.4 – is staking a claim as a third forward option for Wildcard teams over those back-to-back doubles.

As highlighted by his 16-point haul in Gameweek 27, Dusan Tadic is capable of posting huge hauls for the Saints, yet a single assist in the subsequent five also underlines the Serbian’s inconsistency.

Given that Tadic sets you back 6.9, though, we’ll also be monitoring James Ward-Prowse (5.0) and Nathan Redmond (5.9) as cheaper routes into Claude Puel’s attack.

As the only team to offer a pair of home matches in Double Gameweek 37 – against Leicester and West Brom – investment in the Manchester City attack could pay off.

Leroy Sane has to be our pick from the centre of the park. The German international has started each of his side’s last 12 league matches, chalking up four goals and a pair of assists over that period. Priced at just 7.6 and owned by only 5%, Sane squares up to Middlesbrough, Palace and Watford from next week onwards.

Gabriel Jesus‘ return to training stalls Sergio Aguero in the forward standings. Having found the net in five successive Gameweeks – and scoring in the FA Cup loss to Arsenal – the Argentine has found his best form of the season in recent weeks.

But Aguero limped off at Wembley, so if Jesus can return to contention, a price of just 8.6 to his team-mate’s 12.8 would have significant repercussions on our end of season plans.

Bournemouth’s Josh King keeps his spot among the top five midfield options after netting for the eighth time in nine outings in Saturday’s rout of Middlesbrough. He may not have a Double Gameweek to offer but a trip to Sunderland, followed by home clashes with Stoke and Burnley, could barely be kinder for the 6.1-priced midfielder. Those without Wildcards will surely be clinging on.

Wilfried Zaha slips a little this time around ahead of his home encounter with Spurs on Wednesday. Palace have a kind home fixture against Burnley next weekend but, with trips to City and United in Gameweeks 36 and 38 respectively, will his owners look to hold for a Gameweek 37 visit from Hull when the Eagles are one of ten teams without a double?

Elsewhere for Palace, Christian Benteke owners will be holding tight, for now at least, – double-figure hauls against Chelsea and Liverpool in the last five Gameweeks suggest he could continue to deliver returns.

Meanwhile, Leicester’s Jamie Vardy looks an assured starter for the five-match run-in. He’s hardly cheap at 9.9, but the front man’s transformation under Craig Shakespeare has been remarkable.

Vardy has racked up six goals, three assists and 12 bonus points in seven appearances since the change of manager, producing points on each of those occasions.

Having netted eight of his 11 goals at the King Power Stadium, you’d fancy Vardy to benefit from those home clashes with Watford and Bournemouth (either side of his Double Gameweek 37) to flirt with selection in our squads. Those with Wildcards and in need of a combustible end of season differential will surely be considering the Foxes striker.

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