The Premier League enters the second half of the season with Gameweek 20 marking the first full set of fixtures in 2025. This round promises exciting clashes, including Newcastle United versus Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton versus Arsenal. However, the spotlight will undoubtedly be on the fierce rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United. While Liverpool leads the table as title favorites, Manchester United, languishing in 14th position, faces the prospect of a relegation battle, as hinted by their manager last week. Another intriguing matchup is between Manchester City and West Ham United, offering insights into whether City's recent win over Leicester City signifies a return to form or merely a temporary respite. With the transfer window now open, fantasy managers face a constant barrage of information, meticulously tracking on-field and off-field developments to optimize their squads.
Key Takeaways from the Gameweek 19
Manchester City returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City, while Nottingham Forest continued their impressive form with a 2-0 win over Everton. There were three thrilling 2-2 draws: Tottenham Hotspur battled to a draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fulham and Bournemouth played out a high-scoring draw, and Aston Villa and Brighton also shared the spoils.
Manchester United suffered a third consecutive defeat, losing 2-0 to Newcastle United. In a major upset, Ipswich Town defeated Chelsea 2-0. Liverpool cruised to a 5-0 victory over an injury-laden West Ham United, while Arsenal handed Brentford their second consecutive home defeat with a 3-1 win.
Players to watch out for Gameweek 20
With Gameweek 19 marking the halfway point of the season, the Premier League enters a new phase. The yellow card count has been reset, meaning players will now receive a one-match ban for five yellow cards accumulated from Gameweek 20 onwards. Players with ten or more yellow cards since the start of the season will face a two-match suspension. Unfortunately, several players have already reached the five-yellow card threshold and will be unavailable for Gameweek 20, alongside those dealing with injuries. This information is crucial for fantasy managers to consider when making strategic transfer decisions and optimizing their squads for the remainder of the season:
Notable Absences
Several key players will be unavailable due to suspensions, Jurrien Timber (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Fabian Schär (Newcastle United), Mateus Fernandes (Southampton), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspurs) for accumulating 5 yellow cards while Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha will serve a two-match suspension after being found guilty of misconduct following their 2-1 defeat by Ipswich Town on 14 December.
In addition to suspensions, both Liverpool and West Ham United suffered injuries to key players in their match last week with injuries to Joe Gomez for Liverpool and Jarrod Bowen to West Ham United. Aston Villa also suffered a huge blow with injury to defender Pau Torres. Crystal Palace would not be able to field Trevoh Chalobah against Chelsea as he could not face his parent club.
Forwards
Ollie Watkins played a crucial role in Aston Villa's recent draw against Brighton, directly contributing to both goals. However, his overall form has been somewhat inconsistent in recent weeks, with limited goal contributions in the past five matches. With Jhon Durán suspended, Watkins will be Villa's primary attacking threat. Given his previous success against Leicester City, where he scored a crucial goal, Villa will be hoping for a repeat performance from Watkins as they face their upcoming opponents.
Dango Ouattara, priced at 10.9 credits, presents an intriguing option for fantasy managers. The Bournemouth forward has been in excellent form recently, contributing two goals and two assists in his last five matches. His impressive performance against Everton, their next opponent, earlier this season further highlights his potential for significant returns.
Midfielders
Bernardo Silva remains a potent attacking threat for Manchester City, making him a valuable asset for fantasy managers. His creativity, passing range, and ability to find space in tight areas make him a constant danger to opposing defenses. Given City's recent resurgence and their upcoming match against a struggling West Ham United, Silva presents an excellent opportunity for fantasy managers to capitalize on his talent and potential for significant goal contributions.
Mathias Jensen, priced at 6.2 credits, offers intriguing value for fantasy managers. While sidelined for a significant portion of the season due to injury, he recently made his return as a substitute against Arsenal. Jensen has proven to be a reliable goal-scoring threat for Brentford in previous seasons. Notably, his only goal contribution this season came against Southampton, their next opponent. This historical performance against their upcoming rival makes him an intriguing option for fantasy managers seeking a budget-friendly midfielder with potential for attacking returns.
Defenders
Lewis Hall has been a consistent performer for Newcastle United, impressing with his solid defensive displays and impressive attacking contributions. The young English full-back has already provided three assists this season, including two in his last four games. As Newcastle United face Tottenham Hotspur, Hall is expected to play a crucial role, particularly in neutralizing the threat of Brennan Johnson.
Rayan Aït-Nouri, priced at 5.9 credits, presents a compelling option for fantasy managers. The Wolverhampton Wanderers full-back boasts impressive attacking statistics (3 goals and 5 assists), rivaling many midfielders in the league. His contributions were instrumental in securing a draw against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. With Wolverhampton Wanderers showing signs of improvement under their new manager, Aït-Nouri is expected to play a key role in helping the team solidify their position and avoid relegation.
Goalkeepers
Priced at 5.0 credits, Crystal Palace's Dean Henderson presents a compelling option for fantasy managers seeking a budget-friendly goalkeeper. Henderson has been a consistent performer for Palace, contributing significantly to their recent upturn in form. Facing Chelsea, who have experienced a dip in form, this match presents an excellent opportunity for Henderson to showcase his goalkeeping prowess and potentially secure a clean sheet, boosting his fantasy value.
What Next?
Compete for a share of the 75,000 USDT prize pool in the Premier League 2024-25 on KridaFans. So far, users have won over 150k USDT worth of rewards. Sign up for free and experience the thrill of winning big on KridaFans. And if you’re into trading, don’t miss out on our $1500 monthly player cards trading competition!
About KridaFans:
KridaFans redefines fantasy football, where performance and strategy reward users through a dynamic skill-based rarity of player cards (NFTs). Elevating the fantasy sports experience, KridaFans combines innovation and fairness to stand out in the digital arena.
Website | Twitter | Discord | Blog
