Frisking the Fixtures continues by looking at the teams and players with unattractive medium-term fixture runs from Gameweek 16. The most appealing ones are featured in a separate piece here.
- READ MORE: Best FPL fixture runs for all 20 Premier League sides
- READ MORE: How AFCON and the Asian Cup will affect FPL
- READ MORE: When are the FPL Blank and Double Gameweeks in 2023/24?
- COMING NEXT: Scout Notes on Wednesday’s matches
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SEASON TICKER OVERVIEW
CRYSTAL PALACE
Only two teams have more clean sheets than Crystal Palace (five).
But the fixtures are about to turn nasty for owners of Joachim Andersen (£5.1m), Marc Guehi (£4.7m), Tyrick Mitchell (£4.7m) and goalkeeper Sam Johnstone (£4.7m). It may be time to get rid.
Not only that, Roy Hodgson’s troops have scored the second-fewest goals. Their 14 ranks below the likes of Burnley, Luton Town and Nottingham Forest. Odsonne Edouard (£5.5m) has accumulated a respectable six goals at a bargain price and Michael Olise (£5.8m) is back from a long-term injury but prospects will hinge on how quickly Eberechi Eze (£6.0m) can recover from his ankle problem.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Elsewhere, Newcastle actually have a superb-looking sequence of Fulham, Luton and Nottingham Forest in Gameweeks 17-19. But it’s bookended by meetings with Spurs, Liverpool and Man City.
The option of Martin Dubravka (£4.0m) arrives at a great time for those wanting to cover one of the best defences. The Magpies have the joint-most clean sheets alongside Arsenal, conceding the fewest big chances (12) by quite some distance.
So Nick Pope‘s (£5.5m) big shoulder injury allows nailed-on cheap coverage for those who can’t afford Kieran Trippier‘s (£7.0m) consistent quality.
As Callum Wilson (£7.8m) and Sven Botman (£4.5m) are expected back soon, it puts Jamaal Lascelles (£4.2m) and Alexander Isak (£7.6m) in rotation jeopardy.
Gameweek 12 already told us that Tino Livramento (£4.3m) isn’t a 100% safe pick but in-form Anthony Gordon (£6.0m) should be for now – a player who has delivered a return in every home game. He too has a positional rival in Harvey Barnes (£6.2m) who will be back soon but it may not be till after New Year when he’s seriously challenging for starts.
Although Newcastle entered Gameweek 15 with the most big chances (50), they were down in tenth for attempts (193). They’re clinical but will begin 2024 with a tough set of opponents.
EVERTON
Typically, the Magpies’ Thursday night opponents Everton started to keep clean sheets once Jordan Pickford (£4.4m) had been given up on by the masses. Three from seven matches, adding great value to cheap centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite (£4.1m).
His partner James Tarkowski (£4.4m) starts Gameweek 15 as the top defender for penalty area touches (33), whilst left-back Vitalii Mykolenko (£4.4m) recently netted in successive outings. But any appeal is dented by their tough-looking fixtures until Gameweek 24.
Perhaps the trips to Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers could bring returns at the back but even then, Wolves have scored in each of their last 14 matches.
Avoiding midfielders and forwards is advised, especially with Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.8m) being so injury-prone.
ALSO CONSIDER
Bournemouth’s ranking may also feel harsh, facing the same good trio as Newcastle between Gameweeks 17 and 19 but in a different order. Dominic Solanke (£6.5m) has seven goals and is the third-best forward for attempts (43) and shots inside the box (39).
There’s even Antoine Semenyo (£4.6m) getting regular starts. Unlike Sheffield United’s popular cheap forward Cameron Archer (£4.6m), Semenyo has a good fixture during Blank Gameweek 18 – although he’s likely off to AFCON with Ghana in January.
Archer and George Baldock (£3.9m) are the only Blades players with any real FPL ownership, chosen solely for their prices. Chris Wilder may bring a new manager bounce upon his return but they’re the lowest-scoring team with 11 goals.
As for Spurs, Son is probably fixture-proof but will soon be off to the Asian Cup. Maybe Dejan Kulusevski (£7.0m) – second throughout the league for touches in the box (114) – can follow up his haul at Man City by maintaining some form. Right-back Pedro Porro (£5.3m) is gaining popularity but mostly for his attacking potential and not because of any faith in keeping clean sheets.
