After analysing the teams with the strongest upcoming schedules yesterday, our attention this afternoon turns to those sides who face more testing fixtures over the next six Gameweeks. Jurgen Klopp may have got off to a solid start with a goalless draw at Tottenham, but his side face further stiff challenges over the coming weeks, while on the back of that 6-2 battering at Newcastle, Norwich also have to contend with a tricky schedule over the next month or so.
LIVERPOOL
The big positive from Klopp’s first match in charge was the fact his side managed to keep a clean sheet at White Hart Lane. While they only face one team (Man City) who feature in the top seven teams for total goal attempts over the last four Gameweeks, upcoming opponents Southampton, Chelsea and Newcastle have all in good goal scoring form in the last few fixtures. The Crystal Palace and Swansea clashes do, however, offer hope of defensive returns, with both sides struggling in front of goal. Although Alberto Moreno (4.7) holds some appeal because of his attacking threat from left-back and bargain price tag, investment in any other members of the Reds’ backline appears unlikely at this point.
The outlook for the attacking prospects is slightly brighter, with only the trip to the Etihad standing out as a really difficult fixture. Southampton, Palace and Chelsea all feature around halfway up the table for shots conceded inside the box in the last four Gameweeks, and aren’t likely to prove particularly kind match-ups for the likes of Philippe Coutinho (8.1). It’s only come Gameweek 14 where the prospects of Liverpool’s attacking assets start to brighten, with Swansea vulnerable on their travels so far, while Newcastle have only kept one clean sheet this term.
NORWICH
With the Canaries facing Man City and Arsenal, the two highest scoring teams over the last four Gameweeks, it’s hard not to fear the worse after a calamitous display at St James’ Park. Alex Neil’s side are still searching for their first clean sheet of the season, and while West Brom and Swansea both feature in the bottom six teams for shots inside the box over the last four Gameweeks, their prospects for defensive returns look bleak. A trip to Stamford Bridge also appears very unlikely to yield defensive returns, with the champions having scored in all their five home matches so far, although a visit to Watford, who have failed to score in four of their five encounters at Vicarage Road, does offer a ray of hope for those who still own John Ruddy (4.5) or Russell Martin (4.7).
Chelsea, Arsenal, City and West Brom all feature in the bottom six for shots conceded in their own penalty area over the last four Gameweeks, so while Norwich have enjoyed plenty of success going forward so far this season, scoring 14 goals, they may find the going tougher over the coming period. Even Swansea and Watford have only conceded six goals apiece in their last four matches, so while Dieumerci Mbokani has scored in his last two outings, and offers good value at 5.7 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), now does not appear to be the time to invest in Canaries attacking assets.
ASTON VILLA
The Villans have only taken one point from their last eight matches, and with confidence low at Villa Park, the next six fixtures only add to the notion that their Fantasy assets should be left alone at this point. In terms of attacking prospects, the match-ups against Tottenham and City are very difficult, with Spurs conceding just three goals in their last four matches, while Vincent Kompany should be back in action by the Gameweek 12 clash. Villa have scored twice at both Leicester and Liverpool, so their counter-attacking threat may flourish at Everton and Southampton, although neither are particularly weak backlines. The Swansea and Watford fixtures, given both teams feature in the top six for shots conceded from inside their own penalty area over the last four Gameweeks, could be reasonable match-ups, but Tim Sherwood’s side have failed to score in three of their four home matches so far.
At the back, there’s little reason for optimism either, given that Villa have failed to keep a clean sheet since Gameweek 1. With City, Southampton, Tottenham and Everton all among the top eight teams for shots from inside the box in the last four Gameweeks, any defensive returns in those four matches appear unlikely. Even the Watford fixture may not be so straightforward, with the Hornets having scored in three of their four away fixtures so far. It’s only Swansea, who have lost their way in an attacking sense, that may perhaps yield some defensive points for those that are still clinging on to the likes of Micah Richards (4.6).
BE WARY OF…
West Ham
While the Hammers are riding high in fourth place, they do face a testing period over the next month or so (CHE, wat, EVE, tot, WBA, mun). In saying that, West Ham have scored at least twice in all but one of Slaven Bilic’s matches in charges and, having chalked up wins away to Arsenal, Liverpool and City, our faith in their attack remains resolute. Dimitri Payet (8.1) has been pretty fixture proof so far, picking up assists at both Arsenal and City, though the likes of Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini may struggle to convince as differentials.
At the back, Bilic’s men have conceded six goals in their last four matches, and while Chelsea, Man United, Everton and Tottenham don’t feature in the top six teams for shots inside the box over the last four Gameweeks, it’s hard to see Hammers defensive assets accruing too many points from those fixtures. The Watford and West Brom clashes could bring in defensive points, but Aaron Cresswell (5.6), for example, appears unlikely to deliver great value for his 10% ownership over the coming period.
West Brom
The Baggies are the second lowest scorers so far this season with seven goals, and their next six fixtures (nor, LEI, mun, ARS, whm, TOT) suggest that record isn’t going to improve drastically over the next few weeks. Arguably, outside of Saido Berahino (6.2), no West Brom attacker looks worthy of consideration anyway.
It’s at the back where Fantasy managers have been keen to invest in West Brom assets, but with five of their upcoming opponents among the top eight teams for total goal attempts over the last four Gameweeks, we could see some regression in the Baggies backline, which has kept five clean sheets so far. Belief in Tony Pulis may mean many are happy to stick with the likes of Boaz Myhill (4.7) and Craig Dawson (5.1), but for those who have gone without West Brom defensive coverage, now doesn’t appear to be the time to invest.
Bournemouth
With injuries taking hold at the south coast club, and a pretty tricky run of fixtures (TOT, sot, NEW, swa, EVE, che) on the horizon, there are few positives to owning any of the Cherries’ Fantasy assets right now. They have managed to score in all of their last seven matches, and while Glenn Murray (5.6) has netted in his last two appearances, there are certainly stronger budget options available to FPL bosses. Likewise, with so many budget midfield options to choose from, Matt Ritchie (5.7) doesn’t appear worth owning.
Defensively, the outlook is arguably even gloomier, with Tottenham, Southampton and Chelsea all expected to score against Eddie Howe’s men, while Everton, Swansea and Newcastle, based on Sunday’s evidence, will all fancy their chances against the Cherries. While the price tag and attacking potential of Simon Francis (4.5) means the right-back offers solid value, even he may struggle for points over the next six Gameweeks.
