Earlier today, we broke down the teams that are braced for strong fixtures over the next six Gameweeks.
Now it’s the turn of the clubs who appear to face a far tougher month ahead.
The upcoming period sees the fixture list balance out, with all 20 teams facing three home fixtures and three away, but that doesn’t necessarily lessen the severity of schedule that some are about to experience.
Huddersfield Town
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The Prospects – Goals
The Terriers have failed to score in their last two matches and goals could remain hard to come by during this tough spell.
Leicester City have conceded eight goals, but were granted a gruelling start to the season, while Burnley have only conceded once across their first two home fixtures.
Spurs are yet to ship on their travels, with the Swansea City match-up in Gameweek 8 looking the best chance for goals.
Manchester United have allowed the second fewest number of penalty area shots (20) this season, while Liverpool are yet to concede at Anfield.
But with Steve Mounie a doubt and Kasey Palmer ruled out “for months” with a hamstring injury earlier today, David Wagner’s side are disrupted and could continue to struggle for a cutting edge.
The Prospects – Clean Sheets
Despite the tough start, Leicester have netted in three of their four matches and present a tricky match-up this weekend.
Burnley have only scored once at home and provide a slightly better fixture, although defensive returns certainly appear unlikely against Spurs a week later.
Swansea are still awaiting their first home goal, so that again could be a decent fixture, but with Man United and Liverpool scoring 12 and eight goals respectively, we aren’t expecting clean sheets in those matches.
Wagner’s side have been solid defensively, though, so those trips to Burnley and Swansea certainly offer the prospect of further shutouts.
The Turning Point
The outlook looks pretty bleak for Huddersfield until Gameweek 18, when they enter a run of seven matches where they avoid all of last season’s top seven.
Verdict
While they’ve started the season very well, there is a feeling that the honeymoon period may gradually come to an end. Goals could certainly be in short supply, which dents the appeal of Aaron Mooy and Mounie. It’s also difficult to expect much from the defence over this spell, although as rotation options, their defenders may still be worth retaining.
Crystal Palace
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The Prospects – Goals
The Eagles have yet to score and have a testing set of fixtures over the coming period.
The Southampton fixture this weekend looks crucial for new boss Roy Hodgson given what is to come, but Saints have kept two clean sheets and remain solid defensively.
The attacking prospects appear very grim, with Manchester City, Man United and Chelsea all strong at the back – City and Chelsea lead the way for the fewest big chances conceded with two apiece.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United have recorded back-to-back clean sheets and West Ham United appeared far more solid on Monday night after switching to a three-man defence.
The Prospects – Clean Sheets
The Eagles have yet to register a shutout, and it’s at the back where Hodgson’s focus is likely to be, at least initially, in order to start grinding out results. But the fixtures do them few favours.
Saints have failed to score in three of their four matches, so Saturday’s encounter offers a reasonable opportunity for a clean sheet.
However, Man City, Man United and Chelsea are the three highest scoring teams, however, and all have to be backed to breach the Palace rearguard.
Despite having only scored four goals, Newcastle’s attacking numbers are fairly reasonable, so that match may also see Hodgson’s side concede, while West Ham’s injuries and suspensions are clearing up, suggesting that they should continue to kick on as an attacking force.
The Turning Point
Palace have a nice run of fixtures between Gameweeks 12 and 19, and, providing Hodgson can instill some degree of confidence between now and then, investment looks possible by the time those matches come around.
Verdict
Given the lack of form and the difficulty of the fixtures, Palace appear to be a no-go area for the time being. If Ruben Loftus-Cheek is available following a groin injury, he remains a more than viable 4.5 solution, although with a new manager in charge, it remains to be seen where he fits into Hodgson’s plans. But the tough fixtures mean he could struggle in any case – and possibly fall in value.
Watford
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The Prospects – Goals
The Hornets have been an impressive attacking force under Marco Silva, scoring seven goals, but they face tougher opposition over the next six Gameweeks.
Man City will offer a stern test on Saturday, although the expected absence of Vincent Kompany could provide some encouragement.
Swansea, meanwhile, have yet to keep a clean sheet at home, but a trip to West Bromwich Albion will likely offer up fewer opportunities.
Arsenal’s struggles at Stoke City and Liverpool suggest that Watford could well find the net against the Gunners, but the trip to Stamford Bridge will be a far tougher proposition. Although Stoke have appeared solid at the back, that should be viewed as a reasonable match-up for Silva’s side.
The Prospects – Clean Sheets
With three successive clean sheets, we are already looking at Silva’s defence through new eyes. However, the tests ahead look set to stretch their recent resilience.
Man City have scored nine goals in their last two matches in all competitions and after winning 5-0 in the corresponding fixture last season, all things point to more goals this weekend.
The trips to West Bromwich Albion and Swansea look far more favourable and, given the attacking prowess of both sides, the Watford defence could be worth backing over those matches.
But two unfavourable fixtures follow – at home to Arsenal in Gameweek 8 and then a trip to Chelsea.
Stoke at Vicarage Road gets things back on track, although Hughes’ side are another enjoying a rennaisace as an attacking force.
The Turning Point
The Hornets face a decent four-match spell between Gameweeks 10 and 13, but a more prolonged run of favourable fixtures comes from Gameweek 16 onwards.
Verdict
Watford generally represent a form versus fixtures conundrum during this period. The likes of Richarlison, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Kiko Femenia (providing he recovers from a head injury) could all be worth retaining, although now may not be the time to invest.
Also be wary of…
Manchester United
Testing clashes against Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea loom over the next seven Gameweeks, potentially slowing the momentum of Man United’s leading Fantasy options.
Sunday’s home encounter with Everton could be made more straightforward due to the Toffees playing in Italy on Thursday night – they were poor following their last away match in Europe at Chelsea in Gameweek 3.
But with the UEFA Champions League now up and running, and with the absence of Paul Pogba to contend with, this is shaping up to be a vital and testing period.
Faith in Romelu Lukaku is already waivering despite his run of goals, while the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Phil Jones may struggle to match their early-season output.
Chelsea
The Blues’ three away fixtures (stk cpl bou) look promising for both attacking and defensive prospects.
But for those considering Eden Hazard, upcoming clashes with Arsenal, Man City and Man United in three of their next four at home is a worry. The winger has predominantly relied on his Stamford Bridge form for goals – 12 of his 16 strikes arrived at home last term.
Those testing home fixtures could also limit their clean sheet potential, meaning that Marcos Alonso may have to keep producing goals and assists to justify his lofty price tag.
Bournemouth
The lack of form immediately dents the appeal of Cherries assets, while they face trips to Everton and Spurs, along with a home clash against Chelsea, in the next six.
Tomorrow’s home meeting with Brighton is crucial to restoring confidence, with Josh King potentially a nice short-term differential.
Otherwise, it’s only Charlie Daniels who is really offering any appeal among the Bournemouth squad – and even he will have to produce against the Seagulls to prevent further sales.
Burnley
The Clarets’ upcoming fixture list (liv HUD eve WHU mci NEW) continues to switch between favourable home matches and difficult away trips.
So should you own a Burnley defender, such as Ben Mee, a rotation option is certainly needed to cover those away fixtures.
Their appeal may be lessened by the absence of Tom Heaton. The goalkeeper has undergone surgery after dislocating his shoulder last weekend and is likely to be out for a few months.
Nick Pope looks set to deputise and while he impressed last Sunday, it remains to be seen whether he can prove an able replacement for Heaton, who made more saves than any keeper in the previous campaign.
