With ten teams featuring twice this week, we’re well stocked up on double Gameweek options for the 15 scheduled fixtures. Liverpool and City supply us with three players apiece, while a couple of Hammers also make the starting line-up as we roll out a 4-3-3:
We hand West Ham’s Adrian the keeper’s jersey ahead of two home games. United and Hull both roll up to Upton Park, where Sam Allardyce’s side have conceded just once in their last three – if those fixtures fail to deliver a clean sheet, the Spaniard’s save points should come to the rescue; he has earned 14 over 11 appearances.
A sixth goal of the season in last weekend’s win over Cardiff sums up Seamus Coleman’s attacking potential ahead of his pair of fixtures. The Toffees look a decent shout for defensive points, too – they’ve conceded just twice in their last four at Goodison, as Swansea pay visit tomorrow, whilst a midweek visit to Newcastle will hold little fear, given the Magpies have failed to score in any of the last four without the injured Loic Remy.
With Vincent Kompany suspended for the first game of City’s double and doubts continuing over the left-back berth, Pablo Zabaleta offers a secure option amongst Manuel Pellegrini’s defenders. City have registered three successive clean sheets and entertain struggling Fulham before paying visit to United in midweek – a shut-out against the Cottagers looks the likeliest, though Kompany’s return in time for the Manchester derby could prove crucial. In terms of attacking potential, Zabaleta already has five assists to his name thus far.
Arsenal’s pair of fixtures brings Laurent Koscielny into the reckoning. Certainly, a trip to Chelsea is no easy task, but with so much at stake, it’s likely to be a cagey affair – it is worth noting that both sides played out a goalless draw at the Emirates earlier this season. Following that one, the Gunners’ home clash with Swansea bodes well for defensive returns given that Arsene Wenger’s side have conceded just once in their last six in front of their own fans. Koscielny gets the nod over Per Mertesacker, given that he’s outscored the German by 13 to eight for bonus points over Arsenal’s last six clean sheets.
We opt for Martin Skrtel as Liverpool prepare for a couple of enticing encounters. Having registered back-to-back shout-outs, the Reds pay visit to a Cardiff side that have failed to score in six of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 10 matches in charge before hosting Sunderland on Wednesday evening – the Black Cats have netted once in their last three. Skrtel’s threat in the opposition box has already seen him score four times for the Merseysiders – only Coleman has notched more amongst defenders.
Yaya Toure is our City midfielder of choice for the double Gameweek. A move to the role in “the hole” last week merely boosts his appeal, whilst Sergio Aguero’s continued absence ensures the Ivorian remains on spot-kicks, in addition to set-pieces. Toure has already scored against both Fulham and United this season, and with an ownership level of 43%, heading into this week without his services looks a brave tactic.
A goal or assist in 16 of his 19 starts since Luis Suarez returned from suspension sums up the consistency of Steven Gerrard. Despite his deep-lying role, the Liverpool skipper continues to serve up the Fantasy returns time after time – bearing in mind that Cardiff have conceded an average of two goals per game under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Liverpool have notched three per home match ahead of Sunderland’s visit, it’s no real surprise Gerrard has earned his biggest bandwagon of the season this week, with over 70,000 Fantasy Premier League managers snapping up his services.
Three double-figure hauls in his last four home games is enough to bring Kevin Nolan into this week’s Picks. The midweek visit of Hull is perhaps the most likeliest to bear returns, but with United’s central defence hampered by injury and suspension, the Hammers skipper will be confident of delivering from Andy Carroll’s knock-downs in and around the box tomorrow.
Briefly outscored by Daniel Sturridge last month, Luis Suarez is once again Liverpool’s leading light up front. Brendan Rodgers’ decision to move to a midfield diamond behind a front two has seen the South American better his team-mate by 26 points to six over the last two Gameweeks and, having racked up 16 and 13 points against Cardiff and Sunderland respectively earlier in the season, it’s little wonder he’s received almost 75% of the votes cast in this week’s Captain Poll so far.
With Sergio Aguero injured, Edin Dzeko looks likely to retain his starting berth for City’s games against Fulham and United. The Bosnian’s goal against Hull last Saturday was his fourth in his last seven appearances and suggests he’s the one forward capable of finding the net for Manuel Pellegrini’s side right now – Alvaro Negredo has notched once in his last seven by comparison. Chelsea’s loss at Villa last weekend may have seen City installed as title favourites but the Etihad side still need to pick up the points in their pursuit of Jose Mourinho’s table-toppers – priced at 6.7, Dzeko could do enough damage at home to Fulham tomorrow to make his acquisition worthwhile.
With Robin van Persie ruled out for four-to-six weeks with a knee injury earlier this evening, Wayne Rooney is called upon as out third forward. The England international will now be on spot-kicks in the Dutchman’s absence and could even be shifted to a more advanced berth with Juan Mata tucked in behind, if David Moyes chooses to overlook Danny Welbeck for a central position. Two goals, an assist and five bonus points in the last three Gameweeks suggest Rooney is finding his form at the perfect time for the champions.
Paul Dummett is our cut-price defender of choice for Newcastle’s two home games. The Magpies’ chances of clean-sheet returns look decent against Palace (one goal in five away games) and Everton (one in four road trips), and with Davide Santon still sidelined, the young Welshman’s set-pieces and corners could see him make a mockery of his 3.9 price tag.
Back-to-back road trips to Norwich and Liverpool ensures Adam Johnson only makes the bench. Nonetheless, the Black Cats’ wide man cannot be overlooked completely – he’s delivered six goals and a pair of assists in his last seven league appearances and is still priced at just 6.5 heading into tomorrow’s deadline.
A home game with Swansea and trip to Newcastle ensures Romelu Lukaku comes into contention. Having blanked against Cardiff last weekend, expectations are perhaps a little low – the big Belgian has scored in two of the Toffees’ last three in all competitions, though, and remains the man most likely to produce for Roberto Martinez’ men.
