After a hectic week of football which saw 16 games being played in the first week of the month, the Premier League is still wide open. This season is shaping up to be one of the best Premier League seasons with every team still having something to play for this season. The title race is heating up between Guardiola’s Manchester City and his disciple Arteta’s Arsenal. Any of the next four teams in the table can earn the remaining two Champions League Positions. Chelsea might be at the bottom of the table but they may still end up playing European Football next season while Crystal Palace who is 12th in the table is just three points better off 18th place Bournemouth and can still find themselves relegated at the end of the season.
Key Takeaways from the Matchday 29
Manchester City came back strongly to win 4-1 against Liverpool after going a goal down in under 20 mins. Arsenal matched City’s tempo to beat Leeds United 4-1 to remain 8 points clear at the top of the table. Crystal Palace won their first game under new manager Roy Hodgson as they beat Leicester City 2-1 in a game that turned out to be Brendan Rodger’s last game as Leicester’s Manager.
Newcastle United has climbed to the third spot after beating both Manchester United (2-0) and West Ham United (5-1) last week. Manchester United did manage to win 1-0 in the midweek game against Brentford, who played a thrilling 3-3 draw against Brighton earlier in the weekend. Chelsea and Liverpool played another goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.
Players to watch out for Matchday 30
The weekend would have a full set of fixtures with no additional fixture in this round. Fantasy managers would be looking to balance their squad to ensure they pick maximum points in the final matches of the season. Let's look into notable absences before going through players which can help you to top the leaderboard:
Notable Absences
While there would be a plethora of talent to choose from in the upcoming fixture, few of the important players would be missing from the action. Crystal Palace might have to play without Wilfried Zaha, who picked up an injury at the end of the first half of the game against Leicester City. Aleksandar Mitrovic would miss the majority of Fulham’s remaining games of the season as he has been given an 8 games ban for pushing the referee in the FA Cup game against Manchester United. Luke Shaw got injured in the last match against Brentford while Manchester United would still be without Casemiro for the tie against Everton.
Forwards
a. Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) scored three goals in the last two games for Newcastle United. The experienced striker has now reached the milestone of scoring 10 goals in a season for the third time in the Premier League.
b. Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal) scored two goals in his first start after coming back from a three-month-long injury. The Brazilian international has an amazing record against Gunner’s next opponent Liverpool, having contributed 4 goals and 3 assists against them in the Premier League.
Tip: For 10.8 credits, Manchester City’s Jack Grealish (711 points) could be a great option for any fantasy squad as the forward has been in his best form since joining Manchester City last season.
Midfielders
a. Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa) has been in tremendous form for Aston Villa this season and his assist for Ollie Watkins’ goal against Leicester City was a prime example of that. The midfielder has developed a strong partnership with Watkins and the duo has helped Villa reach the top half of the table.
b. Jack Harrison (Leeds United) scored the opening goal for his side as they beat Nottingham Forest to pull out of relegation spots. With many sides at the bottom half of the table struggling for goals, Harrison’s healthy goal contribution could be a huge asset for Leeds United.
Tip: For 9.6 credits, Manchester United’s Marcel Sabitzer (290 points) could prove to be a great gamble as the midfielder, who has a great goal-scoring record, is likely to play frequently for United in absence of Casemiro and Eriksen.
Defenders
a. João Palhinha (Fulham) did not have a great game against Bournemouth as Fulham lost 2-1. The versatile player, however, has been contributing significantly this season in both the attacking and defensive aspects of the game for his club.
b. Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspurs) has been consistently good in an otherwise inconsistent season for Spurs. The defender has been solid throughout the season and would likely play a key role in Tottenham’s push for a Champions League spot.
Tip: For 6.2 credits, Chelsea’s Kalidou Koulibaly (829 points) could be a smart transfer for a fantasy side as the talented defender could see his game time increase after the departure of manager Graham Potter.
Goalkeepers
a. Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers) has a great opportunity to add a clean sheet to his name as Wolves would be facing Chelsea in the next game, who are struggling for goals at the moment.
b. Allison Becker (Liverpool) held on to another clean sheet as Liverpool drew 0-0 against Chelsea. Liverpool would expect Allison to be at his very best as they face Leaders Arsenal in the next game.
Tip: For 4.2 credits, Brighton’s Jason Steele (254.4 points) could be an interesting choice for the goalkeeping position. He has been selected in the starting lineup in place of Robert Sanchez for the past 5 matches where he has been able to keep 3 clean sheets.
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