Our attentions now turn to the upcoming schedules as we cast an eye over the next four-to-six rounds of fixtures. There’s no surprise to see the double Gameweek sides dominate our thinking, with Merseyside pair Liverpool and Everton bracing themselves for nine fixtures apiece over the final seven Gameweeks.
Liverpool
The home fixtures against Newcastle and Watford in particular look favourable for defensive returns, with Newcastle having only scored two goals and created two big chances over the last four matches, while the Hornets have failed to net in four of their last five on the road. Bournemouth and Swansea, meanwhile, rank among the bottom six for shots from inside the box over the last four matches. Tottenham, Everton and Chelsea do represent tougher match-ups, though, with those three teams all among the top four for total goal attempts over the last four matches. Those extra fixtures mean that Liverpool defenders should see plenty of investment ahead of double Gameweek 34, with Mamadou Sakho (4.7) looking the most nailed on member of the back-four. Simon Mignolet is likely to find his way into many of our 15-man squads, given his 4.9 price tag.
Newcastle’s improved defensive performances in Rafael Benitez’s first two matches against Leicester and Sunderland suggest that fixture perhaps won’t be as easy as expected. With Everton facing an FA Cup semi-final three days after the Merseyside derby, and having conceded seven goals in their last four matches, that match-up looks pretty favourable for the Reds attack, while Bournemouth have conceded seven goals in their last four home matches. The fixtures against Stoke, Swansea, Watford and Chelsea should also offer up fairly decent scoring opportunities, although all of those sides have been defending fairly resolutely over the past month or so. Goals could be tougher to come by against Tottenham, though, with Mauricio Pochettino’s team allowing the second fewest number of shots from inside the box over the past four matches. Roberto Firmino (8.3) is expected to shrug off a minor hamstring problem and seems the best route into the Reds attack, although Philippe Coutinho (8.1) also looks a strong option, while for those happy to gamble on his fitness, Daniel Sturridge (9.9) could come into the reckoning for our three-man frontlines. Adam Lallana, with three goals and as many assists in six, could be a real under the radar option.
Man City
Manuel Pellegrini’s men may not be in good form in front of goal but their schedule from now until Gameweek 35 (bou, WBA, che & new, STO), including that double in Gameweek 34, should provide them with the platform to recover. Whilst the Bournemouth and West Brom clashes look the most favourable, Chelsea have let in 10 goals in their last six home matches, while Newcastle have only kept one clean sheet in their last seven at St James’ Park, so those match-ups also appear pretty kind. Stoke, meanwhile, have conceded 14 goals in their last seven matches on their travels, so Sergio Aguero (13.6) should certainly be fancied to be among the goals over the coming weeks. Kevin de Bruyne (10.2) could be back up and running shortly, so the Belgian may be the pick from the midfield, with Yaya Toure (8.5) the cheaper option providing he can shake off a niggling heel injury. The fixtures in Gameweeks 36 and 37 (sot, ARS) are tougher, although both sides have been fairly leaky of late, conceding six and seven goals respectively over the last four matches.
Only the trip to Chelsea looks a tricky fixture from a defensive standpoint, with the Blues second for total goal attempts over the last four matches. Bournemouth, West Brom and Stoke all feature among the bottom six teams for shots from inside the box over the last four matches, while already mentioned, Newcastle have been short of goals over the last month or so. With City so poor at the back in the absence of Vincent Kompany, it’s debateable whether they’ll be able to keep many clean sheets despite the favourable fixture list. Nicolas Otamendi (6.5) looks the most nailed on option, but is probably too expensive for many of us to consider, leaving Eliaquim Mangala (5.3) as perhaps a more viable option. With Joe Hart’s calf injury not as bad as first feared, he could provide the best option at 5.7 in FPL.
Arsenal
The Gunners’ prospects of clean sheets look promising over the coming period. Their double Gameweek 34 (CPL & WBA) offers up fixtures against two sides who generally struggle to score goals, whilst Watford and Norwich have netted one and two goals respectively over their last four matches, and Sunderland have only created three big chances during the same period. Only the trip to West Ham looks difficult until the Gameweek 37 clash at Man City, then, with both clubs fancied to score on home soil. Hector Bellerin (6.3) and Laurent Koscielny (6.2) should see plenty of investment ahead of DGW34 then, with Gabriel (4.3) perhaps worth taking a gamble on given he’s started six of the last seven league matches.
It’s Gameweek 34 that stands out from an attacking perspective, with Palace having conceded eight goals and allowed 10 big chances over the last four matches, while West Brom have allowed seven big chances over the same period. Sunderland and Norwich have surprisingly defended fairly well over the past four matches, conceding five and three goals respectively, but the likes of Alexis Sanchez (10.8), Mesut Ozil (9.7) and Danny Welbeck (7.3) still have to be fancied to flourish against those sides. Likewise, a home clash against Watford may well yield a goal or two, leaving only two tougher match-ups away to West Ham and City. Arsenal’s fixtures perhaps look stronger from a defensive standpoint, though, so it could be that many FPL bosses will look to own one of either Sanchez or Ozil, with both looking nailed on, whereas Welbeck may be utilised off the bench on occasion, with Olivier Giroud a viable alternative to lead the line, particularly when the Gunners face three matches in seven days during Gameweeks 34 and 35.
Everton
Yesterday’s confirmation of a double Gameweek 33 brings the Toffees’ main men into contention. Roberto Martinez’ men now prepare for three doubles in the next six rounds of fixtures, with a blank Gameweek 35 also to factor in. Keeper Joel Robles (4.3) is far kinder on the budget than his costlier defensive team-mates, whilst the return to fitness of John Stones places too many question marks over Ramiro Funes Mori’s pitch time. Phil Jagielka (5.1) looks a secure pick by comparison, though the Toffees record of three clean sheets in 11 is hardly convincing.
Up front, Romelu Lukaku is bound to earn major investment in light of the fixture reschedule. At 8.9, the Belgian has already netted 18 times – his best ever top-flight tally – with nine strikes arriving home and away. In midfield, Ross Barkley (7.1) is the most secure option, though he’s struggled for consistency of late and has produced points in only two of his last 12 league appearances. Aaron Lennon (5.6) is the form option, with five goals and an assist in his previous eight, though the hectic schedule, allied with Martinez’ penchant for rotation on the flanks, suggests there’d be no surprise to see him on the bench once or twice from this point onwards.
Also Consider…
Newcastle
The fact the Magpies face a DGW34 (SWA & MCI), followed by a fixture in Gameweek 35, away to Liverpool, brings their Fantasy assets firmly into focus. Georginio Wijnaldum (6.8) once again provided the goods on home turf last weekend with an eight-point haul, and looks one of the main contenders for our five-man midfields. Favourable fixtures at home to Crystal Palace and away to Aston Villa follow in Gameweeks 36 and 37, so Aleksandar Mitrovic (6.2) could also see some investment as a differential, with his ownership standing at just 0.9% in FPL.
The Magpies have only managed one clean sheet in their last 15 matches, so their defenders probably don’t hold as much appeal, though it’s worth noting that they have conceded no big chances in their two matches under new manager Rafa Benitez. For those utilising their wildcard ahead of DGW34 and using the bench boost in Gameweek 34, Rob Elliot could come into consideration given his bargain 4.0 price tag, with Daryl Janmaat (4.8) perhaps the pick of the defenders given his attacking potential, providing he shakes of a knee injury.
West Ham
The Hammers have doubles in Gameweek 34 (lei & WAT) and Gameweek 37 (SWA & MUN), with a blank in Gameweek 35 and trip to West Brom in Gameweek 36. Dimitri Payet (8.3) looks a near certainty to feature in the majority of our five-man midfields, then, while Michail Antonio (5.4) and Manuel Lanzini (4.9) could come onto our radars as cheaper enablers. Rotation is a slight concern, though, with the FA Cup quarter-final against Man United taking place between Gameweeks 33 and 34.
Those fixtures from Gameweek 34 onwards, along with the fact West Ham host Arsenal in Gameweek 33 mean Aaron Cresswell (5.7) perhaps won’t be worth that extra outlay, with clean sheets likely to be in short supply.
Crystal Palace
Alan Pardew’s troops have doubles in both Gameweek 33 (NOR & EVE) and Gameweek 34 (ars & mun) but three draws and ten defeats in the last 13 outings, could barely be in worse form. The likes of Joel Ward (4.3) and Wayne Hennessey (4.2) could act as budget enablers, whilst the 5.8-priced Scott Dann has justified his loftier price tag with five goals already.
Certainly, Pardew will be desperate for Connor Wickham to recover from injury to bolster his side’s attack. The 5.5-priced frontman has racked up 30 points in his last three appearances, bagging a brace twice, though it remains to be seen if he’ll be ready in time. The return of Yannick Bolasie (6.0) seems to have improved Palace’s output in the final third and some may be willing to gamble on the DR Congo over Gameweek 33-34 before plotting an exit route.
Norwich
The schedule for Alex Neil’s side remains very favourable in the short-term (NEW, cpl, SUN), with the prospects for Canaries defenders appearing particularly bright following successive shut-outs, with all three of those teams are struggling for goals at the moment. Timm Klose (4.2) looks the pick of the bunch, having registered five bonus points in the last two matches, although it’s worth bearing in mind that Norwich face a blank in Gameweek 35, with their double coming in Gameweek 37 (MUN & WAT).
Although the fixtures are also very favourable from an attacking perspective over the next three Gameweeks, it’s fair to say that the Canaries have no standout option in the final third. With rotation also making the likes of Wes Hoolahan (4.7) far from assured of a starting berth, few will be considering their attackers.
