Gameweek 26 in the Premier League promises an exciting round of fixtures. The legendary rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United is the highlight of the week, with both teams vying for a win. Manchester United leads the table with a 10-point advantage, while Liverpool is chasing a top-four finish. It's a must-watch showdown that could have a significant impact on the race.
Key Takeaways from the Matchday 25
Arsenal's title hopes were given a boost as they claimed two victories last week, defeating Leicester City 1-0 and thrashing Everton 4-0. Manchester City also kept their title ambitions alive with a comfortable 4-1 win over relegation-threatened Bournemouth.
Meanwhile, Tottenham secured a 2-0 victory over Chelsea and Liverpool beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 to stay in the top-four race. West Ham and Leeds both secured crucial wins to move out of the relegation zone, while Everton and Bournemouth find themselves in the drop zone alongside bottom-placed Southampton
Players to watch out for Matchday 26
Following Manchester United's victory against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final, they, along with Brentford, Newcastle United, and Brighton, are all set to return to Premier League action this week. For fantasy football managers, it's time to strategize and balance their squad for optimal point returns in the upcoming fixtures.
Notable Absences
Despite a wealth of talent available in the upcoming fixtures, some key players may be missing from action. Chelsea's Thiago Silva suffered a knee injury against Spurs and is expected to be out for up to six weeks, while N'golo Kante and Christian Pulisic's return from injury remains uncertain. Fulham's Joao Palhina will miss the next two games due to suspension, having picked up his 10th yellow card this season. Additionally, Nick Pope is serving a three-game suspension, and Newcastle United may be without midfielder Bruno Guimaraes due to an ankle injury sustained in the Carabao Cup final.
Forwards
a. Phil Foden (Manchester City) scored a goal against Bournemouth last weekend as well as two goals against Bristol City in the FA Cup midweek. The forward has now scored 8 goals and assisted 4 more in the premier league this season.
b. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) scored the winning goal for Arsenal against Leicester City before scoring a brace against Everton in midweek. The Brazilian forward has scored 11 goals this season, making him the joint-top scorer for the gunners alongside Bukayo Saka.
Tip: For 8.9 credits, West Ham United’s Danny Ings (720 points) could be a bargain buy as the forward is one of the best options under 9 credits considering his impressive scoring statistics in the premier league.
Midfielders
a. Fred (Manchester United) has forged a formidable midfield partnership with compatriot Casemiro as he played a vital role in United’s recent success in domestic and European competitions. With Manchester United still in the title race, his energetic performance could help his side win the midfield battle in the game against Liverpool.
b. Oliver Skipp (Tottenham Hotspurs) scored his first goal in the premier league as well as his first goal for the spurs in his team’s 2-0 victory against Chelsea last week. The midfielder has been important for the spur's top-four hopes as they are struggling with injuries in midfield, particularly to Rodrigo Bentancur.
Tip: For 10.2 credits, Brighton’s Moises Caicedo (1011 points) could be an inspired midfield choice as the 21-year-old midfielder has been impressive in the recent matches for Brighton, who are eyeing European competition next season.
Defenders
a. Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool) scored the opening goal for Liverpool to help them win 2-0 against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the midweek game. The ever-reliable Dutch defender has struggled with injury this season but has played an important part in Liverpool keeping clean sheets in the past few matches.
b. Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) enjoyed a wonderful game against Everton as he made an amazing goal-line clearance to keep Neil Maupay’s header out as well as started the move for Villa’s second goal that sealed the game for them.
Tip: For 5.7 credits, Fulham’s Antonee Robinson (745 points) could be an impressive defensive inclusion for a fantasy team that is looking for a fullback that can provide an attacking threat.
Goalkeepers
a. David Raya (Brentford) has been impressive for Brentford all season and would be key in helping them overcome Fulham as they fight for a top-half finish. The Spanish Goalkeeper has made 100 saves so far, the most by any goalkeeper in the league.
b. Vicente Guaita (Crystal Palace) ensured that Palace did not concede against Liverpool as they earned a crucial point against the Reds. Crystal Palace would expect a similar display from their goalkeeper as they face Aston Villa who is just above them in the table.
Tip: For 4.1 credits, Leed United’s Illan Meslier (760 points) could be an interesting choice for the goalkeeping position. He would be looking to keep a second consecutive clean sheet as Leeds United plays Chelsea next, who have scored just once in the last five matches.
What Next?
So there you have it, a comprehensive preview of the quality players who are set to light up the English Premier League. Now all that is left to do, is to pick your team and make sure you win the Krida Fans fantasy game!
Join us and compete to win as there is a guaranteed $11000 tournament prize pool for the 2022-23 English Premier League Season. If you want to test it out, then you can join the KridaFans platform for free too.
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