Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 9 – The Strong

Once again we’re entering a pivotal period in the first half of the season in terms of how the fixtures fall.

All clubs face an equal split of home and away matches over the next six Gameweeks, meaning our assessment is purely based on the quality of opponent.

Nonetheless, there are teams, particularly “mid-table” sides, who have been gifted enviable schedules during this stretch and beyond, suggesting that this is a time to swoop for value assets both at the back and in midfield.

Here’s our analysis of those with the platform to drive Fantasy investment, together with a summary of where the points could come and when the tide turns.

Bournemouth

(stk CHE new HUD swa BUR)
The Prospects – Goals
The Cherries have scored just four goals, but with Chelsea the only stern test in the next eight, they should have the platform to improve on that record.

Stoke City encouragingly rank second for the most big chances conceded over the last four Gameweeks (15), while Newcastle United are without a clean sheet in four.

Following a bright start to the season, Huddersfield Town have shipped six goals over the last two Gameweeks, while Swansea City have only managed one shut-out in four home matches.

Although Burnley have shone on their travels, remaining unbeaten despite a treacherous schedule, they have conceded in three of their four road trips.

Even the Chelsea match-up may not be so unfavourable if N’Golo Kante remains sidelined – they let in two goals against a previously dormant Crystal Palace.

The Prospects – Clean Sheets
Confidence levels in the Bournemouth defence aren’t high, given they have only kept a single clean sheet.

But the forthcoming fixture list looks more conducive to claiming defensive returns.

Stoke have been reasonably impressive as an attacking force of late, though, scoring in six of their last seven.

Keeping Chelsea out may be beyond Eddie Howe’s side, while Newcastle, like Stoke, could also be tricky to nullify – the Magpies have netted nine times over the last six Gameweeks.

The Huddersfield fixture looks by far the most favourable match-up – they have failed to score in five of their last six.

The Swansea clash also looks promising given that they rank joint-last for the fewest goal attempts over the last four Gameweeks, with 27.

Meanwhile, Burnley have scored in four difficult away matches, however, only three teams have managed fewer penalty area shots (18).

The Turning Point
The kind schedule extends to Gameweeks 15 and 16, with an unblemished run away from home.

But Gameweek 17 marks the start of a brutal three-match stretch, where Bournemouth assets look certain to drop out of favour.

Verdict
Given his added attacking threat, Charlie Daniels is the Cherries player most likely to warrant investment during this period.

Josh King has shown some positive flashes in recent weeks, but is unlikely to attract our attention based on the plethora of forward options currently at our disposal.

Crystal Palace

(new WHU tot EVE STK bha)
The Prospects – Goals
The Eagles emerged from their horrific run of matches with a morale-boosting win over Chelsea, and now embark on a great run all the way up to Gameweek 19.

Newcastle present a reasonable match-up, although they haven’t conceded more than two goals in any single fixture.

The West Ham United clash looks promising based on the fact they’ve shipped 11 goals in five away trips, but Tottenham Hotspur have only let in three goals at Wembley, and provide a difficult test.

Stoke and Everton have conceded 11 and eight goals respectively on their travels, so those encounters look good opportunities for Palace to build on the Chelsea win at Selhurst Park.

Brighton & Hove Albion rank joint-second for big chances conceded in home matches with nine, although they have only let in four goals at the Amex Stadium.

The Prospects – Clean Sheets
The Eagles are the only side still searching for their first clean sheet of the season, but should now have a very good opportunity to turn that around.

The home fixtures look their best bet.

West Ham have failed to score in three of their four away matches, while Everton have been limited to just two goals on the road.

Of the three Selhurst Park clashes, Stoke might just about provide the trickiest opposition – they’ve scored on each of their last three away trips.

On the road, the Newcastle clash will be a test, but Brighton have only created two big chances over the last four Gameweeks and provide another decent match-up.

While a shut-out appears unlikely against Spurs, the fact that Mauricio Pochettino’s side have yet to score more than one goal in a home match offers some hope.

The Turning Point
Palace’s run of favourable home opponents extends to their next five at Selhurst Park, before they go through a more testing sequence between Gameweeks 20 and 24.

Verdict
Wilfried Zaha provided a timely reminder of his talents on his return from injury last weekend, and owned by just 2.9% of Fantasy Premier League managers, looks a great differential option during this spell.

Providing he comes straight back into the starting XI, Ruben Loftus-Cheek should have the platform to emerge as the leading budget option, while down to 4.7 in FPL, the swing in fixtures could bring Scott Dann back onto the radar due to his added set-piece threat.

Stoke City

(BOU wat LEI bha cry LIV)
The Prospects – Goals
The Potters are another traditional mid-table side that enjoy an extended run of kind fixtures, with even the Liverpool clash in Gameweek 14 not particularly off-putting from an attacking perspective.

There is certainly plenty of promise when assessing their away schedule.

No team has conceded more home goals than Watford (10), while Brighton have allowed plenty of big chances at home.

Palace, meanwhile, have leaked goals against Huddersfield, Swansea and Southampton at home – teams that have all generally struggled for a cutting edge.

Looking at the home fixtures, both Bournemouth and Leicester City provide strong match-ups.

The Cherries are yet to keep a clean sheet on their travels, while Leicester rank joint-fourth for the most shots conceded over the last four Gameweeks, with 62.

Liverpool also have a dismal road record, sitting joint-first for the most goals conceded away from home with 11.

The Prospects – Clean Sheets
Again, the away fixtures look fairly promising – although Watford are currently flying high, and will be difficult to shackle.

But Brighton offer a limited attacking threat at the Amex – they sit bottom for big chances created in home matches with just one.

Palace woke from their slumber against Chelsea, and could well be a different proposition with Zaha now back in their ranks.

Analysing the home fixtures, the Bournemouth meeting looks very favourable given Eddie Howe’s men have only managed one goal on their travels.

Leicester struggled to create in their last away match against the Cherries, and should provide another decent match-up, though Liverpool’s potent forward line will likely breach the Potters rearguard at the bet365 stadium.

The Turning Point
Only matches against the Reds and Spurs look problematic all the way up to Gameweek 20, before away trips to Chelsea and Manchester United provide further stumbling blocks later on.

Verdict
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting remains the standout target, sitting third among midfielders for penalty area shots this season, and priced kindly in FPL.

After being substituted at half-time last weekend, there are concerns over budget option Kevin Wimmer’s start, while, arguably, other goalkeepers provide better value than Jack Butland.

Also consider…

Manchester City
It’s fair to say nobody is “just considering” City assets, but there may be one or two potential problems on the horizon.

They face a trip to Napoli in the UEFA Champions League prior to the Gameweek 11 home meeting with Arsenal – their biggest test during this run.

That could also have a knock-on effect on the Gameweek 10 trip to West Bromwich Albion, with Pep Guardiola likely to manage the minutes of his leading stars. City also struggled to a hard-fought 2-1 win at The Hawthorns in the EFL Cup last month.

But encounters with Burnley, Huddersfield and Southampton provide plenty of potential for City’s star-studded attack to keep plundering the attacking points.

Everton
Their fixtures (ARS lei WAT cry sot WHU) remain very favourable, but Fantasy managers remain very apathetic.

There is a clear lack of standout options, and with the schedule turning mixed from Gameweek 16 onwards, time is running out for an Everton player to come to the fore.

Liverpool
Once Sunday’s trip to Wembley is done and dusted, the outlook for Jurgen Klopp’s side suddenly becomes very rosy.

The Gameweek 13 home meeting with Chelsea is then their only real test all the way up to Gameweek 19.

The home clash against Huddersfield looms large, with the Terriers’ recent drop off in form pointing to an emphatic home victory at the end of the month.

So owning at least one Reds attacker appears a sensible policy, with Philippe Coutinho and Mohamed Salah the main men.

Chelsea
The Blues face a mixed run over the next six Gameweeks, with the schedule around hard fixtures against Manchester United and Liverpool (WAT bou wba SWA) looking promising.

Newcastle also visit Stamford Bridge in Gameweek 15, adding to the appeal of the upcoming slate of home matches.

Antonio Conte’s men look to have the platform to re-build their title defence, with the fit-again Alvaro Morata and Eden Hazard expected to lead the charge.

Investment in defensive assets is perhaps best left on hold until Kante returns from his hamstring injury, based on the evidence from last weekend.

Brighton & Hove Albion
The Gameweek 13 trip to Old Trafford is a daunting prospect, but other than that, this looks a crucial spell for the Seagulls as they look to build on their solid start.

Their other five opponents (whu SOT swa STK CRY) are all sat in the bottom half of the table, with both defensive and attacking points expected during this stretch.

Pascal Gross remains relentless as the focal point of the attack – the midfielder has been involved in 83% of Brighton’s goals, while with Shane Duffy a slight injury concern due to a groin problem, Lewis Dunk looks the pick of the defenders.

Newcastle United
It’s the next three home matches (CRY BOU WAT) that have really piqued our interest, with Rafa Benitez likely to have earmarked these fixtures as ones to help consolidate the Magpies in mid-table.

Trips to Burnley and West Brom are also reasonable, particularly from a defensive point of view, so Rob Elliot and members of the Newcastle rearguard should remain attractive budget options.

Joselu still looks a viable cheap third forward, but the stock of Matt Ritchie has taken a hit since Jonjo Shelvey took a share of set-piece duties.

The Gameweek 12 trip to Old Trafford is the one major drawback.