Everton still offering differentials at both ends of the pitch

Everton continue to offer differential options for Fantasy managers in the end-of-season run-in.

They may not have scored at Crystal Palace on Saturday but there were further encouraging signs at both ends of the field.

Meanwhile, there was more confirmation of the Eagles’ struggles at home, Cardiff’s troubles on the road, and Fulham’s resurgence under Scott Parker.

Crystal Palace 0-0 Everton

Goals: None

Assists: None

Despite failing to score, Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.4m) remains a differential option with great potential for the final two Gameweeks of the season. He came into the trip to Crystal Palace ranking joint-third in the league for shots in the box between Gameweeks 32 and 35, and continued his efforts in that area on Saturday afternoon. No player at Selhurst Park managed more shots than Calvert-Lewin, more goal attempts in the box, or more efforts on target. The Everton forward also had the only big chance of the game, which forced a decent save out of Vicente Guaita (£4.3m).

There might be some concern over Calvert-Lewin’s ability to finish chances off, as he probably could have done better with that first-half effort – and Everton were generally quite wasteful at Selhurst Park. However, the budget forward has shown some levels of consistency of late, with assists in each of his last three home games and two goals in the last five away matches.

“No doubt we were the best team on the pitch. If we had been more clinical we would have won, that was clear to me. We started with good chances for Dominic and in the second half had three big opportunities to score. Our players tried everything and we deserved more.” – Marco Silva

Richarlison (£6.4m) was not far behind Calvert-Lewin in terms of threat, perhaps buoyed from scoring against Manchester United the previous week. There had been suggestions that the Brazilian was burned out for the season, and he had been an injury doubt before Gameweek 36. However, against Palace, he had four shots, all of which were in the box – only Calvert-Lewin bettered him in either department.

Of particular note for Fantasy managers is the fact that Everton have recently become one of the best defences in the Premier League. In the last nine matches, the Toffees have kept seven clean sheets, one more than in their first 27 games this season. The options that look the most likely to make use of Everton’s newfound solidity are Seamus Coleman (£5.2m) and Lucas Digne (£5.3m), who were both joint-top for chances created at Selhurst Park. Obviously, Marco Silva has done incredible work to turn around the problems at the back, but Everton were helped against Crystal Palace by their opponents’ poor form in front of goal.

The Eagles have been particularly goal-shy in front of their own supporters this season. Only Huddersfield have scored fewer home goals in 2018/19. The 0-0 draw against Everton was Crystal Palace’s eighth blank of the season at Selhurst Park, the Terriers the only Premier League side with more at home (nine). In fact, Roy Hodgson’s men did not have a single shot on target in Gameweek 36. That could bode well for anyone looking to back a differential Bournemouth defender on the final day of the season, although looking at the Cardiff defence for Gameweek 37 is not advisable given where they will meet Palace.

The Eagles’ away record has been in stark contrast to their Selhurst Park exploits this year. The 26 points they have secured on the road in 2018/19 is the sixth-best in the division, with only five members of the top-six bettering them in that department. In fact, only Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United have scored more than Palace away from home this season too. That was epitomised in their 3-2 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in Double Gameweek 35, highlighting the potential for Wilfried Zaha (£6.9m) to do well. The Ivory Coast international has attacking returns in seven of his last eight away matches.

“I’m a little disappointed that today, after the euphoria of last week’s result, we didn’t come here and put on a splendid show (against Everton). But football gives you this type of game. It wasn’t for lack of trying.” – Roy Hodgson

Considering that Crystal Palace have been hit with injuries in defence recently, it is certainly impressive that they were able to shut Everton out. The 22 shots recorded by the Toffees in Gameweek 36 was the most they had recorded in any away game this season, but the Eagles were able to hold firm. With Mamadou Sakho (£4.9m) and James Tomkins (£4.3m) out, it was another outing for Scott Dann (£4.4m) and Martin Kelly (£3.9m) at centre-back. However, the key individual for Palace was, not surprisingly, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.5m), whose score of 13 for Clearances, Blocks and Interceptions (CBI) was the joint-third best in the whole of Gameweek 36.

“There have been some very good performances over the course of the season. We have had three stalwarts in the team in Mamadou Sakho, James Tomkins and Jeffrey Schlupp out injured, but I must say the two centre backs, Scott Dann and Martin Kelly, have stepped up quite incredibly, and that is nice to see.” – Roy Hodgson

“Not a lot I can say about a 0-0 really other than all defenders and keepers are happy with those FPL points.” – Patrick van Aanholt

Crystal Palace XI (4-4-2): Guaita; van Aanholt, Dann, Kelly, Wan-Bissaka; Meyer (Townsend 72′), Kouyaté, Milivojevic, McArthur; Zaha, Benteke.

Everton XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Digne, Zouma, Keane, Coleman; Gueye, Schneiderlin; Bernard (Lookman 84′), Sigurdsson (Walcott 86′), Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin (Tosun 73′).

Fulham 1-0 Cardiff City

Goals: Ryan Babel (£5.5m)

Assists: Cyrus Christie (£4.2m)

Sergio Rico (£4.4m) continues to surprise Fantasy managers with his efforts in the Fulham goal. His clean sheet against Cardiff on Saturday was his third in a row, and came with an impressive five additional points. Two of them were achieved from eight saves, the other three were from maximum bonus. Since Gameweek 34, no goalkeeper has more shut-outs than Rico, whose total of three is level with Ederson (£5.7m) and Alisson (£5.9m). In that time, only Bernd Leno (£4.9m) has made more saves too. With Wolves (away) and Newcastle (home) the final two matches of Fulham’s latest stay in the Premier League, there is certainly an opportunity for differential defensive points from their options now. Denis Odoi (£4.4m) is certainly worth avoiding though after he was forced off the field with a head injury sustained from his own player.

“Also it was a massive positive for goalkeeper Sergio Rico, he stood up and so did the back four. It has been a tough year, we have conceded a lot of goals but three clean sheets is massive.” – Scott Parker

In terms of goal threat, Fulham did not actually offer a huge amount against Cardiff. Their expected goals (xG) score for the game was below 0.50 and inferior to the Bluebirds. Furthermore, not one of the Cottagers had more than one shot in the penalty box all afternoon.

Despite those statistics, Ryan Babel (£5.5m) continued his scoring run. His impressive curled effort in the second half proved the difference on Saturday afternoon, and was his fifth goal since arriving at Fulham in January. Such is the Dutchman’s form, Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) is the only midfielder with more goals than Babel in their last six matches. After earning a place among our differential suggestions for Gameweek 36, and delivering, there is every chance the former Liverpool man can continue to act as a hidden gem for his 1.1% ownership.

“Ryan Babel has been fantastic for us, and his next move will depend on offers. I completely understand that and won’t be holding him back. But we like him a lot and if there’s a possibility of signing a player of his calibre, he’d be top of the list.” – Scott Parker

Meanwhile, Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.3m) was unable to deliver on promising attacking statistics ahead of Gameweek 36. In the four matches prior to the visit of Cardiff, the Fulham striker was level for shots on target with Mohamed Salah (£13.3m), but managed just one on Saturday.

It was another away match for Cardiff where they created chances but struggled to convert them. Once again, Sean Morrison (£4.7m) was one of their most threatening players as set pieces look to be the only weapon in the Bluebirds’ arsenal on the road. This was the fourth time from their last five Premier League travels that Cardiff failed to score, which bodes well for Manchester United options on the final day of the season.

However, that does not necessarily boost the clean sheet potential of Crystal Palace in Gameweek 37. In their home matches, the Bluebirds have offered a little more than on their travels. They have found the net in four of their last six at the Cardiff City Stadium.

However, we can probably expect some changes from Neil Warnock after he admitted that his team selection was one of the reasons why his side didn’t score at Fulham. That could involve Danny Ward (£4.3m) coming into the starting XI against Crystal Palace, after he made some impact as a second-half substitute in Gameweek 36. Despite playing for just 29 minutes, he finished the match ranked top for shots in the box and shots on target. Given that he is listed as a midfielder in FPL but plays up front, he has an outside chance of delivering difference-making points for anyone looking at a wild end-of-season punt.

“The luck has been against us. On reflection my team selection was wrong, but you can’t fault the lads. Who is to say we are not still in the fight? You see the chances, we should score some of those chances. You pay for your finishers in this league, we have never been blessed with that, Emiliano Sala would have been that and that was a big blow.” – Neil Warnock

Fulham XI (4-2-3-1): Rico; Bryan, Ream, Le Marchand, Odoi (Christie 28′); Zambo Anguissa, Chambers; Babel (Ayité 89′), Cairney, R Sessegnon (Mawson 85′); Mitrovic.

Cardiff City XI (4-2-3-1): Etheridge; Bennett, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Peltier; L Bacuna, Gunnarsson (Reid 87′); Mendez-Laing, Camarasa (Healey 72′), Hoilett; Niasse (D Ward 61′).

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