Frisking the Fixtures

Which teams have the best and worst fixtures over Christmas?

We Fantasy managers currently find ourselves in a midweek limbo, with eight Gameweek 15 fixtures still to contest before we turn our attention to the weekend’s games.

With the matches coming thick and fast throughout December and into the New Year, we are due a “frisk” of the Premier League fixture list.

In this feature, we assess the top-flight clubs with the strongest and weakest runs of league matches over the coming weeks.

Our primary focus will be on a six-Gameweek lookahead here, which takes us up to the final set of games before FA Cup third round weekend – although we will scrutinise the long-term fixtures beyond that point where relevant.

We’ll be using our Season Ticker to help – Members using this tool can sort by difficulty and teams that rotate well, filter home and away fixtures, and separate attack and defence.

THE STRONG

Crystal Palace

Next six: wat | BHA | new | WHU | sou | nor

Palace’s victory over Bournemouth last night was the second of eight matches that the Eagles enjoy against sides currently in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Quite simply, there isn’t a run as good as this over the next six Gameweeks and Roy Hodgson’s side sit top of our Season Ticker over this period as a result.

The omens are particularly good from a defensive perspective: in their six games against bottom-half teams this season, they have kept five clean sheets and conceded just one goal.

All six of their next opponents are in the bottom half for goals scored, too.

The Eagles aren’t renowned for their own goalscoring exploits and have created fewer big chances than any other top-flight team this season.

Only Watford and Newcastle, their opponents in Gameweeks 16 and 18, have scored fewer goals than the Eagles.

Even against bottom-half teams, Hodgson’s side have only scored at a rate of 1.33 goals per game.

However, the Eagles’ next six opponents lie in the bottom seven for big chances conceded in 2019/20.

Tottenham Hotspur

Next six: BUR | wol | CHE | BHA | nor | sou

Son on the rise as Mourinho's Tottenham triumph over West Ham

With a new manager at the helm and goals flowing at the business end of the pitch, Tottenham Hotspur’s FPL assets are suddenly back under consideration.

We looked at how Jose Mourinho had put his stamp on Spurs’ set-up in our Gameweek 14 review, while Tom Freeman (aka avfc82) also discussed the Lilywhites in his latest Pro Pundits piece.

Spurs have scored ten goals in three competitive matches going into Wednesday’s clash with Manchester United and there are some appealing matches ahead for Mourinho’s troops, particularly in Gameweeks 19-24: Spurs enjoy four fixtures against sides currently in the relegation zone, with a double-header against Norwich City among them.

Before that, games against Burnley, Wolves and Chelsea will perhaps pose more of a test: those three clubs are in the top half for fewest big chances and shots in the box conceded.

That trio are also among the ten best clubs for big chances created at the other end of the pitch.

The good thing is that the games against Burnley and Chelsea come at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: those two clubs have kept only one clean sheet between them on the road in 2019/20.

Aston Villa

Next six: LEI | shu | SOU | WAT | nor | bur

Two tough tests against high-flying Leicester City and Sheffield United await Aston Villa in Gameweeks 16 and 17.

No club had kept as many clean sheets as Leicester (six) heading into Wednesday night’s games, with the Blades just one behind on five shut-outs.

The two sides have conceded just 22 goals between them this season, as many as Villa have shipped themselves.

Beyond that, though, there are some really appealing fixtures.

The Villans faces all three sides currently in the relegation zone from Gameweeks 18-20, with a return match against 20th-placed Watford to come in Gameweek 24.

That trio of Premier League strugglers also languish in the bottom three for goals conceded, which will be of interest to those eyeing up Jack Grealish (£5.9m) et al.

Trips to bottom-half Burnley and Brighton and Hove Albion also await Dean Smith’s troops in Gameweeks 21 and 23.

The Seagulls, Watford, Norwich and Southampton are in the bottom five for big chances conceded this season.

Sheffield United

Next six: nor | AVL | bha | WAT | mci | liv

We have slightly tweaked the rules to include Sheffield United in this piece, as their double-header against Manchester City and Liverpool in Gameweeks 20 and 21 is obviously off-putting.

Over the preceding four Gameweeks, however, Chris Wilder’s side enjoy some particularly favourable fixtures.

Two of the bottom three in Norwich and Watford await, along with two sides currently hovering just above the relegation zone: Aston Villa and Brighton.

Many of us are predominantly interested in the Blades’ defence, with John Lundstram‘s (£5.1m) FPL ownership soaring to over 46%.

Villa will pose a challenge to their defensive solidity but Norwich, Brighton and Watford are in the bottom seven for goals scored this season – even if the Canaries have perked up slightly over the last fortnight.

That trio of clubs are also in the bottom eight for big chances created.

There is hope for Lys Mousset (£5.1m) at the other end of the pitch, too, with their Gameweek 16-19 opponents all having shipped at least 21 goals in their 14 league fixtures contested so far.

Leicester City

Next six: avl | NOR | mci | LIV | whu | new

Much like Sheffield United, the Foxes have a looming double-header against Liverpool and Manchester City that dents their assets’ appeal a little.

However, their seven other fixtures in Gameweeks 16-24 are all against sides currently in the bottom half of the table.

Factoring in their recent matches against Everton and Watford, Leicester will have faced all eight sides who have conceded the most amount of league goals this season in Gameweeks 14-24 – great news for owners of Jamie Vardy (£9.9m) and co.

West Ham, Norwich and Southampton, who Leicester enjoy four fixtures against between now and mid-January, are also in the bottom three for big chances conceded.

At the other end, those three clubs plus Newcastle are in the bottom half for goals scored.

Also Consider

Favourable fixtures still may not be enough for managers to invest heavily in Southampton (new | WHU | avl | che | CRY | TOT) and Newcastle United (SOU | bur | CRY | mun | EVE | LEI) assets in December but the two sides do enjoy some more appealing games in the next three Gameweeks, before things get trickier from Boxing Day onwards.

Danny Ings (£6.2m) is the most-owned Southampton asset by some distance and from his perspective, the prospects look good over the next trio of games: Newcastle, West Ham and Aston Villa are all in the bottom eight for goals conceded at the time of writing.

The Hammers have allowed more big chances than any club, while Villa are bottom for shots in the box conceded.

From a Newcastle point of view, our interests are perhaps more in their defenders.

In Southampton and Palace, the Magpies will be facing two clubs who – like themselves – are in the bottom three for shots in the box.

Chelsea (eve | BOU | tot | SOU | ars | bha) have a couple of tricky-looking games in north London in Gameweeks 18 and 20, although a trip to Goodison Park isn’t the daunting test it was towards the back-end of last season.

Home fixtures against Bournemouth and Southampton are particularly appealing at both ends of the pitch.

Manchester United‘s (mci | EVE | wat | NEW| bur | ars) six-Gameweek lookahead is also bookended by two away tests at City and Arsenal but there are some appealing games sandwiched within that, with a trip to Watford in Gameweek 18 – when several other clubs either blank or have a tough match-up – one to consider.

The Weak

Everton

Next six: CHE | mun | ARS | BUR | new | mci

Out of form, low on confidence and with a manager teetering on the brink of the sack: who would back Everton’s Fantasy assets at present?

To compound their misery, the Toffees sit bottom of our Season Ticker over the next six Gameweeks.

Clean sheets have been in short supply (just one from Gameweeks 3-14) and there don’t look to be many in the offing between now and the New Year, with all bar Newcastle of their next six opponents currently in the top half for goals scored.

The Toffees had a decent record against the ‘big six’ in 2018/19 and, with the caveat being that this is written before the Merseyside derby, weren’t disgraced in matches against City, Leicester and Spurs this season.

That said, many of their most-popular FPL assets don’t come cheap and there is no question that better options exist in the low-premium price brackets over the festive period.

Manchester City

Next six: MUN | ars | LEI | wol | SHU | EVE

Unlike Everton’s players, many of us still retain faith – misplaced or otherwise – in Manchester City assets.

Pep Guardiola’s side have almost been completely fixture-proof in the last two seasons but they haven’t quite hit full throttle in 2019/20.

They have already dropped 13 points so far this season, having lost only 16 in the whole of 2018/19.

So long as their attacking assets are scoring, however, we Fantasy managers can overlook the results themselves.

A forthcoming double-header against United and Arsenal may look tricky on paper but those two clubs are without a clean sheet since Gameweeks 5 and 8 respectively, which should provide encouragement to owners of Raheem Sterling (£11.9m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£10.3m).

It is arguably the three matches that follow that are tougher tests: Leicester, Wolves and Sheffield United are, like the two Manchester clubs, in the top six for fewest goals conceded this season and have 14 clean sheets between them at the time of writing.

Bournemouth

Next six: LIV| che | BUR | ARS | bha | whu

A Bournemouth side struggling for form and goals languish near the bottom of our Season Ticker over the next four Gameweeks before things improve drastically after Boxing Day.

Games against Liverpool and Chelsea should see plenty of benchings for Diego Rico (£4.3m).

With Eddie Howe’s injury-hit side on a run of five goals in the last eight games, there seems little incentive to invest in attacking assets, either, although the visit of a leaky Arsenal defence and the subsequent fixture swing in Gameweek 20 will perhaps increase their appeal.

Also Consider

Wolves (bha | TOT | nor | MCI | liv | wat) and Arsenal (whu | MCI | eve | bou | CHE | MUN) are in similar boats over the next six Gameweeks, with three meetings apiece against so-called ‘big six’ clubs interspersed by more ‘winnable’ games.

The problem for Arsenal is that their three more favourable fixtures, against West Ham, Everton and Bournemouth, all come away from home, where the Gunners have struggled this season and last.

Freddie Ljungberg’s side have won just once on the road in 2019/20 and are only scoring at a rate of one goal per game on their travels.

Wolves’ fixture run might not be enough for owners of Raul Jimenez (£7.7m) to offload, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s troops – and the Mexican striker himself – excelled against the big six sides in 2018/19.

Jimenez registered four goals and five assists against these ‘elite’ teams last season.

Barring a brief dalliance with their defenders under the pragmatic Quique Sanchez Flores, Fantasy managers have largely given Watford (CRY | liv | MUN | shu | AVL | WOL) a wide berth this season.

The uncertainty over their next managerial appointment and their fixture run from Gameweeks 17-19 especially will likely see that trend continue for the time being.

The Blank Gameweekers

A special mention to two sides we haven’t discussed yet: Liverpool (bou | WAT | – | lei | WOL | SHU) and West Ham United (ARS | sou | – | cry | LEI | BOU).

There won’t be many Fantasy managers who aren’t aware that these two sides blank in Gameweek 18. with Liverpool’s Club World Cup commitments forcing a postponement of their scheduled league clash with the Hammers to an as-yet-unconfirmed later date.

Interest in West Ham’s players will be in short supply but many of us still own Liverpool assets and will be loath to ditch before the blank given that a double-header against out-of-form Bournemouth and bottom-of-the-table Watford precedes Gameweek 18.

Many Fantasy managers will perhaps bench their Liverpool assets for one Gameweek only but a tricky trip to Leicester in Gameweek 19, followed by the far-from-straightforward visits of Wolves and Sheffield United, may have some of us pondering whether to ditch a player or two from Jurgen Klopp’s side in the short-term.

As we mentioned in our Manchester City entry, those three clubs are in the top six for fewest goals conceded this season.


814 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rotation's Alter Ego
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Local press reporting that Chilwell's groin problem is a "slight knock", "thought to be not serious" and "is expected to feature... on Sunday"

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Do you really think he has an injury or is just an excuse to rest him?

      1. Rotation's Alter Ego
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Probably a bit of both. Got to take them on face value though.

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nice, thanks

  2. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I knew it Tammy is gonna start...come on lad

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Get a red card Tammy boy.

      1. Zenith UK
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Savage

      2. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        hehe

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Morpheus you took the right pill.

    3. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Hopefully a Villa player gives him a knee to the hip. Test him out and see if he really has recovered.

  3. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which combo

    A) Abraham + Cantwell (requires 2FT)
    B) Pulisic + Connolly (1FT)

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

  4. Aftermath
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Chilwell absent from the squad 🙁

    Tomori first on my bench, if he doesn't play too then who comes in?
    2nd sub Cantwell or 3rd Kelly or does Tomori?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      2nd sub

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I think the 3rd defender comes

        1. iL PiStOlErO
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Sorry, meant in general but in this vase yes.

          1. iL PiStOlErO
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            *case

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kelly

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kelly.

    4. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      New to this?
      2nd sub.

      1. Zenith UK
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Just realised you've three at the back. Kelly will come in, sorry lad. My bad!

      2. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Sarcastic AND wrong

        1. Zenith UK
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          It's called a jibe, chill out lad. Triggered much?

    5. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kelly

    6. SH
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kelly

    7. Aftermath
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      That's good, hoping for a Tomori no show then, thanks guys!

    8. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kelly. You have to play at least 3 defenders.

      Chilwell out, Tomori out, then Kelly becomes your third defender.

  5. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Guys, Chelsea has been found out, yall gon be disappointed.

  6. @persecuted_by_mods
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tammy hasn't exactly been pulling up trees at home has he

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Easy to get rid of their players if that's the case

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Oops reply fail

    • Arse Craic
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Benched Tammy for Ward-Prowse

      Eeek...

      1. zotter
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Jwp got a nice fixture too

    • Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mings the type to target Tammy.

      1. Team Cruel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Mings would never do that, has never been that type

      2. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Good lad, Tyrone.

      3. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Never been the type and struggled with Injuries himself.

    • Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      If Greenwood has a chance of starting GW18, things will shake up significantly

      1. zotter
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Captain ?

    • Kane-harry Island
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Is there a chance Tammy still drops price?

      1. Maddamotha
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        If he blanks tonight

      2. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Low now unless he comes off injured

    • Grounderz
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      So, Abraham starts and Martial out. Just when I thought am going to miss out on Rico 9 points from the second sub/ bench...

      And then came Chilwell news...

      Happy for this GW with the guaranteed 9 points (Cantwell on first sub).

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Nice one

        1. Kane-harry Island
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          But but he already sold by 420k. I pray to the seven gods he blanks then

    • Atimis
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You recon Tomori dropped for longer or just casual rotation?

      1. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Think zouma has got edge on him. With rudiger back I expect him second choice.

      2. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Rotation.

      3. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Funny thing is that Rudiger isn't even back yet

        They haven't been keeping many clean sheets, so Lampard's "Tomori is 1st or 2nd choice" quote may have expired since it's still not a winning CS formula with him in there. He's probably still the most nailed in Chelsea, but not as nailed as others in FPL, I guess

        1. Atimis
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Makes sense, cheers 😉

    • 03farmboy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Who’s the better option?

      Ali or Lucas moura

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Alli

    • Tower Bridge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I dare say this may have well been discussed already, but is there anyone that can explain how in just one week Abraham can go from 50% ownership to 30% that’s 1.3 million managers selling him and yet his price only dropped 0.1. It makes the game a bit of a joke, according to FPLstatistics he should have dropped all of last 3 nights. But mysteriously didn’t. I shipped him out thinking he would drop to the point where I could get him back at around the 7.6 I sold him for. Yes I am annoyed.

      1. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        It's happened multiple times this season with certain players.

      2. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Flags alter the algorithms supposedly. I think in this instance he was underpriced by FPL Towers initially and was therefore price protected, much the same as KDB and Martial earlier in the season and to a lesser extent, Connolly

        1. Ze_Austin
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I think so too

      3. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Price control by FPL.

        Personally think the flags and price protection are stupid. If you are injured, why should you be price protected? You are not a good asset in FPL and your price should drop to reflect that.

    • Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      56 bench points for me and lundstram ,i am cured ,plays every time now

    • Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tammy taken off on how many minutes?

      1. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        75 after his hatty.

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          *brace

      2. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        59 haha

    • Calvin Valance
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Think Wolves will destroy Watford

      1. Calvin Valance
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        *Leicester

        1. twoplustwo
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Yeah, pray for Everton too

    • FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Waiting for liverpool news.

      Anyone to guess the lineup?

      1. Slam
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I bet you Firmino starts

        1. Slam
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Awkward

          1. FPL Daniel
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Firminho benched?

          2. FPL Daniel
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Really awkward

        2. Free Hat
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          And Alisson doesnt

    • twoplustwo
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mo and Mane double up hasn't done much yet since I brought the former in a couple of weeks ago

      Potentially ship to Son for the weekend or keep vs Muff?

      1. twoplustwo
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Well there you go...

    • Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No salah

      1. JammySprat
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        and no firminho or allison!

    • Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Salahhhh

    • Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No firmino

    • diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Hope Salah and Firmino come on for a 1pt cameos.

      1. twoplustwo
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Rico 9 points for me...

      2. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Me2

    • Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Don't own any but didn't see that coming

    • diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mane > Salah.

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Second half of season I am getting him

    • FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Is TAA rested?

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Nope. Starting.

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Sorry Rico

    • Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Hope Salah gets some minutes

    • Kane-harry Island
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      To be frank, Lampard is to be blamed for this Tammy situation. He said dude was still in pains so we thought he wasn't gon play. I'm pissed

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Lampard is quite Frank tbh.

    • Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Salah you are making it difficult to hold on to you.
      Expect trolling vs bou next game.

      1. Sreeraj (TKF 15)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        he scored 3 vs BOU last season

        1. Cok3y5murf
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          We're in this season

        2. Free Hat
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Just what im afraid of! But like sterling, for 12mil he hasnt lived up to his price last months.

    • DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      That Pieters duck egg at third sub will come in handy