Dugout Discussion – Saturday

Saturday’s four fixtures mean that Gameweek 31 will come and go in just a matter of hours.

Despite the reduced schedule, Fantasy interest in today’s events will reach fever pitch as Free Hit managers and the chipless scrap over the goals, assists and clean sheets on offer.

While the late kick-off at Anfield is expected to provide the bulk of the points, there is still hope and expectation that the trio of afternoon matches can step up.

Bournemouth’s home meeting with bottom club West Brom is perhaps the most likely to show profit.

Callum Wilson heads into this match as the second most popular signing ahead of today’s 2pm deadline – some 180,000 managers have swooped for the striker, this despite his recent run of five matches without a goal or an assist.

Cherries winger Junior Stanislas has also proved a popular target – he’s attracted over 87,000 new owners having fired 22 shots over the last six Gameweeks, more than any other FPL midfielder.

The remaining two matches appears far more difficult to predict.

Huddersfield Town and Crystal Palace collide at the John Smith’s Stadium with an array of differentials on show. Wilfried Zaha’s return to fitness may just give the visitors the edge and hand Free Hit managers an effective differential, though he’s been signed by over 80,000 ahead of today’s clash.

Meanwhile, Everton make the trip to take on Stoke City in a bid to vanquish their recent dire away form. They will be without injured playmaker Gyfli Sigurdsson, with Fantasy attention turning instead to fit-again full-backs Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines.

For the Potters, Xherdan Shaqiri’s fitness was the concern heading into this match. Despite a scare involving a potential calf injury and his withdrawal from Switzerland’s squad ahead of their forthcoming friendlies, he is named in Paul Lambert’s much-changed line-up. The midfielder was signed by over 100,000 managers prior to the deadline.