Incredibly, the forthcoming six Gameweeks are played out over the next 25 days.
This will compound matters for those teams with testing schedules, who will face the task of managing their resources against opposition with superior squad depth as well as talent.
Difficult fixtures around this period are arguably even more daunting, then, particularly when injuries and suspensions are added to the mix.
So following our assessment of the teams who stand to benefit during this congested spell, we now focus on those sides who have been dealt a less favourable hand.
Brighton & Hove Albion
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The Prospects – Goals
The promoted side have started strongly and achieved a foothold, but we now have to wonder how their squad will adapt to a gruelling schedule. They are used to quick turnarounds from their days in the Championship, but not against this standard of opposition.
The fixture list over the next five Gameweeks does little to aid their cause, with Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford certainly unfavourable from an attacking perspective.
The pair of home fixtures against Crystal Palace and Liverpool in Gameweeks 14 and 15 could provide some reward, though, given that the Eagles are yet to keep a clean sheet, while Jurgen Klopp’s side have conceded more goals on the road (16) than any other team.
Away trips to Huddersfield Town and Spurs in Gameweeks 16 and 17 look tough, however.
The Terriers have been resolute at home apart from the 4-0 defeat to Spurs, while the north London club have recorded shut-outs in three of their last four at Wembley Stadium.
Brighton’s six-match run concludes with a home meeting against Burnley in Gameweek 18, which again looks set to limit the potential of Seagulls attackers, given that the Clarets have kept three consecutive clean sheets.
The Prospects – Clean Sheets
Brighton have not looked like taking a beating from any team this season, though they have lost 2-0 to both Arsenal and Manchester City. However, with the schedule intensifying, we need to be wary.
The way Manchester United dispatched Newcastle United last weekend suggests Chris Hughton’s men have little chance of keeping the home side out this weekend.
The back-to-back home encounters with Palace and Liverpool in Gameweeks 14 and 15 also don’t look great for potential defensive returns.
The Eagles are gradually improving in attack, though they are still yet to register on the road, while Liverpool have netted 10 goals in their last three encounters and will be backed to score at the Amex Stadium.
There’s also little optimism regarding the trips to Huddersfield and Spurs in Gameweeks 16 and 17. The Terriers have only failed to score in two of their six home matches, and despite their goalscoring struggles at Wembley, Spurs present a very difficult challenge.
Having scored in five of their six away matches, in-form Burnley will also provide a stern test when they visit the Amex in Gameweek 18.
The Turning Point
The Burnley fixture does signal the start of a kinder run over the festive period, with only two clashes against Chelsea interrupting a favourable stretch all the way to Gameweek 28.
The Verdict
Holding Brighton defensive assets will surely call for having viable rotation partners, although Pascal Gross can arguably be retained even against a tougher opponent given his role on set-pieces. Glenn Murray, like the defenders, will likely have to be worked in rotation.
Southampton
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The Prospects – Goals
Saints have only managed nine goals through a soft early-season schedule, so the outlook is very gloomy from an attacking perspective as the fixture list continues to stiffen.
Sunday’s home meeting with Everton is reasonable – no side has conceded more goals (11) than the Toffees over the last four Gameweeks.
But the trips to Manchester City and Bournemouth that follow in Gameweeks 14 and 15 are difficult. The Citizens have kept clean sheets in six of their last nine, while south coast rivals Bournemouth have recorded back-to-back shut-outs.
Arsenal and Leicester City then visit St Mary’s in Gameweeks 16 and 17, where chances could be at a premium.
Only three teams have conceded fewer shots than the Gunners (34) over the last four Gameweeks, while the Foxes have given up just five big chances over that spell, bettered by only three other clubs.
This six-match stretch concludes with a daunting trip to Chelsea, who haven’t conceded in their last three encounters.
The Prospects – Clean Sheets
Saints have only managed one clean sheet in their last seven, and now face a brutal run of opponents.
Everton have scored five goals over the last two Gameweeks and are improving as an attacking force under caretaker manager David Unsworth.
The trips to Man City and Bournemouth in Gameweeks 14 and 15 do even less to raise hopes, with the league leaders rampant under Pep Guardiola this season and the Cherries buoyed by their 4-0 home win over Huddersfield.
Arsenal and Leicester City then visit St Mary’s in Gameweeks 16 and 17, where defensive points again appear unlikely.
The Gunners have scored ten goals in their last four and are second to only Man City (18) for big chances over that period, with 14.
Leicester, meanwhile, have scored two goals in each of their last two away matches and always pose a threat on the counter-attack.
Gameweek 18 opponents Chelsea have blanked just twice in 12 matches and have been revived as an attacking force with Eden Hazard playing just off Alvaro Morata.
The Turning Point
The schedule remains bleak for quite some time, with things only gradually picking up from Gameweek 25 onwards.
The Verdict
Saints hardly have the form to navigate this spell, while their squad depth is also questionable – outside of the first XI, Mauricio Pellegrino has options at centre-back but lacks compelling alternatives in other positions.
Southampton assets hold very little appeal during this window, and could be off our radars for quite some time.
West Ham United
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The Prospects – Goals
David Moyes’ tenure didn’t get off to a good start at Watford, and life isn’t about to get any easier for the new Hammers boss.
Tonight’s home match-up against Leicester is reasonable, although as already touched upon, the Foxes backline has been fairly solid since Claude Puel took charge at the King Power Stadium.
Trips to Everton and Man City follow in Gameweeks 14 and 15, with the Toffees clash looking vital given the difficult fixtures that follow.
It’s tough to see West Ham creating many chances against Man City, and also in the home clashes against Chelsea and Arsenal that follow.
Those three clubs are among the seven teams who have conceded the fewest shots inside the box over the last four Gameweeks.
This spell concludes with a trip to Stoke City in Gameweek 18. Only Everton have conceded more home goals (12) than the Potters (11), suggesting that the Hammers may be able to enjoy some success at the bet365 Stadium.
The Prospects – Clean Sheets
The next six are arguably even more unfavourable from a defensive standpoint.
Tomorrow night’s opponents Leicester have scored in four of their six away encounters, while the Gameweek 14 and 15 trips to Everton and Man City offer little hope of clean sheets.
The Hammers return home for back-to-back London derbies against Chelsea and Arsenal in Gameweeks 16 and 17, but with both teams among the goals of late, it’s difficult to foresee defensive returns in either clash.
Again, much importance will be placed on the Gameweek 18 trip to Stoke, but Mark Hughes’ men have scored in each of their last six outings.
The Turning Point
From Gameweek 18 to 27, a visit to Spurs represents the only major test for the Hammers as they enter a period that offers them the opportunity to scramble to safety.
Moyes will be looking to navigate the next five matches with this in mind.
The Verdict
Fantasy managers can afford to sit back and assess what impact Moyes will have during this difficult five-match stretch, before deciding whether it will be worth investing in any mid-price Hammers assets when the fixture list begins to ease.
Also be wary of…
Huddersfield Town
Like Brighton, their resources will be stretched over this period and their fixtures do little to ease their passage.
The defence is beginning to leak goals, conceding 13 in their last six compared to just three over the opening six Gameweeks, and the heavy defeats could continue with matches against Man City, Arsenal and Chelsea in the next five.
There’s little reason to hold or invest in the Terriers at this stage, although from Gameweek 18, we can assess them again ahead of an improving schedule.
Burnley
The Clarets have been a mainstay of our Fantasy investment of late and still have short-term fixtures to provide the potential for points, facing just one of the top six over the next six Gameweeks.
However, their home form has been key to recent defensive hauls and, looking ahead, the Turf Moor schedule is about to stiffen considerably. Arsenal provide a first test, before “favourable” match-ups with Watford and Stoke.
But a procession of title contenders then pay visit over the next four, with a trip to Man United thrown in. Exit plans may well be required from Gameweek 19 onwards.
