We brace ourselves for the third Gameweek in seven days as the festive schedule picks up pace. Once again, we turn our attentions to the Mondogoal player list and roll out our likely targets for the upcoming set of matches in the quest for contest prize money.
Mondogoal is a brand new daily and weekly Fantasy Football game which, in addition to the Premier League, covers all the major top-flight leagues – Serie A, La Liga, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Major League Soccer (MLS). You can play games for each one, or even global contests that span across all the leagues. Mondogoal also supports contests for Champions League and Europa League in midweek.
We’ve laid on a full strategy guide, offering tips to help you get started. Read on for our breakdown of those players we’ve lined up for this weekend’s contests..
Saturday’s Picks
Jose Mourinho will welcome Diego Costa back into his starting XI for the trip to Newcastle, and, priced at a reasonable 11.5 million and boasting 11.99 points per game (ppg), Mondogoal managers will be thinking of doing the same. Certainly, with Eden Hazard priced at 17.4 million, Costa’s value looks a good option as Chelsea look to maintain a run of four wins in their last five league outings. With Nemanja Matic suspended as Chelsea’s defensive shield in midfield, we’re going to pass on Mourinho’s back four this time around, despite three consecutive clean sheets.
City’s Etihad meeting with Everton offers another obvious candidate for our forward lines, although with Sergio Aguero pushed out at 18.6 million, there could be some merit in assessing Edin Dzeko. With Stevan Jovetic ruled out, the Bosnian could be in line to start alongside Aguero and offers value at 8.9 million ahead of a meeting with an Everton defence that’s without a clean sheet in their last four.
West Brom’s visit to the KC Stadium has us considering the Hull City back four – particularly after Steve Bruce’s side battled for a point at Everton in midweek. The Baggies have scored just twice in their last five league outings, with the likes of Michael Dawson (5.6m), Curtis Davies (6.0m) and Andrew Robertson out at 6.6 million – we’d expect the latter two to earn recalls to the starting XI in this one, despite being benched at Goodison. Certainly, Allan McGregor, at just 3.6 million this week, takes some beating as a cheap option between the sticks.
Liverpool’s 3-1 win at Leicester could well provide Brendan Rodgers’ side with a platform to kick-on and take advantage of a home encounter against Sunderland this weekend. We’re still cautious when it comes to the Mondogoal assets on show, however, with Raheem Sterling (9.3) limited to assist returns since September. The back four, with Martin Skrtel valued at a tempting 6.0 million, looks an option against a Black Cats attack that has notched just a couple of goals in their last four.
Both QPR and Spurs look more reliable home bankers. Charlie Austin’s (12.1m) record at Loftus Road demands our attention – the R’s striker has plundered four goals and two assists in his last four outings in front of his own fans and has to be backed to bolster that tally against fellow strugglers Burnley. Leroy Fer, at 7.9 million, looks a viable midfield differential, while, if you’re bold enough to back Harry Redknapp’s side for a clean sheet, Richard Dunne presents a strong budget option at just 4.4 million.
Despite the taxing midweek defeat at the Bridge, Tottenham’s attack has to be backed against a Palace defence that has failed to earn a shutout in their last eight league matches. Christian Eriksen (11.4m) continues to pull the strings in midfield and has fetched an impressive 8.20 ppg, courtesy of two goals and an assist in his last three outings. Equally, Harry Kane, even at an inflated 12.4 million, has to be in the mix for our forward lines – the Spurs starlet has become increasingly influential of late and looks assured of a start against the Palace rearguard.
Arsenal’s trip to Stoke looks far more difficult to call, with Alexis Sanchez (15.1m) remaining the key attacking asset on show. Defensively, Arsenal have tightened up as a result of Laurent Koscielny’s return but, unless you’re willing to gamble on Kieran Gibbs’ (7.6m) fitness, you’ll need to shell out over 8 million to cover the Gunners defence. Damian Martinez could be an option in goal at 7.1 million, if Wojciech Szczesny fails to recover from his hip injury.
Sunday’s Picks
West Ham’s home clash with Swansea brings Winston Reid onto our radars. Big Sam’s side have conceded just once in their last four at home, whilst the Swans have scored just two goals in their previous four road trips. At a price of 6.1 million, Reid is far cheaper than the more attack-minded Aaron Cresswell (9.3m), though the latter has served up a goal and assist in his last three at Upton Park. Playmakers Stewart Downing (11.0m) and Gylfi Sigurdsson (12.4m) go head-to-head in this one, though the former – who has averaged 9.25 ppg – could be the better bet here if the hosts maintain their resilience.
We have to consider Christian Benteke for Aston Villa’s home clash with Leicester. Available for just 7.6 million, the Belgian opened his account in midweek and his confidence will be on the high against a defence with one shut out in ten. Ciaran Clark (4.6m) looks a great budget option in the heart of the hosts defence if the likes of Ron Vlaar and Philippe Senderos remain sidelined as expected.
Monday’s Picks
Manchester United make their way to St Mary’s in search of a fifth straight win in the final match of the Gameweek. With the home side hit by injuries and a slump in form, it’s difficult to back the Saints here and we’ll be looking to Louis van Gaal’s side to heap further misery on their hosts. With Juan Mata coming in at 13.2 million, fellow midweek goal scorer Marouane Fellaini (7.7m) looks a more budget-friendly option, whilst Robin van Persie – priced at 10.7m – could also be worth a flutter. If you’re looking for a punt, young James Wilson started the midweek match at home to Stoke and sets you back just 6.1m, though it remains to be seen if he’ll keep his berth if skipper Wayne Rooney (14.4m) returns in time from a knee problem.
