The Premier League plunges into its busiest period, navigating through the bustling month of December. Teams face a daunting challenge with up to 7 league games, coupled with fixtures in the League Cup and European competitions. Amidst widespread injury concerns, this demanding schedule is set to test the resilience of many squads, potentially creating openings in the fiercely contested league, where just 4 points separate the top 5 teams. The highlight of this week features a high-profile clash between Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester City—a pivotal moment for Spurs to halt their recent slide and for City to regain momentum and reclaim the league's summit. The congested fixture list underscores the importance for fantasy managers to craft meticulous plans, aiming to maximize points returns during the holiday period while relishing the exhilarating spectacle of Premier League football.
Key Takeaways from the Gameweek 13
Arsenal capitalized on the 1-1 draw between Manchester City and Liverpool, securing a 1-0 victory over Brentford to reclaim the top spot in the Premier League table. Newcastle United overcame their injury woes with an impressive 4-1 win against Chelsea at St James' Park. Brighton managed to fend off a late challenge from Nottingham Forest, securing a 3-2 victory.
In a memorable match, Manchester United emerged victorious with a 3-0 win against Everton, highlighted by Garnacho's bicycle kick—an early contender for the goal of the season. Aston Villa, Luton Town, and West Ham United secured 2-1 victories against Tottenham Hotspurs, Crystal Palace, and Burnley, respectively. Fulham secured a 3-2 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers, sealed by a late penalty converted by Willian.
Players to watch out for Gameweek 14
Before exploring potential game-changers for your fantasy team, it's essential to remain vigilant about any significant absences from the starting lineups. These exclusions can wield a considerable impact on your team's performance in the fantasy league, underscoring the necessity of staying well-informed and adaptable in the ever-evolving landscape of fantasy sports:
Notable Absences
Brighton will be without several key players in their upcoming match, either due to injury, including Tariq Lamptey and Ansu Fati, or suspension, with Lewis Dunk and Mahmoud Dahoud ruled out. Chelsea, their opponents, will also miss Reece James and Marc Cucurella due to suspension. Multiple teams are set to miss crucial midfielders due to injuries, including Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Amadou Onana (Everton), and Rodrigo Bentacur (Tottenham Hotspurs). Liverpool is dealing with the absence of their goalkeeper Alisson Becker for the next few rounds of matches due to injury.
Forwards
a. João Pedro (Brighton) scored a brace against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and the winning goal against AEK Athens in the Europa League last week for Brighton. His form has been impressive and his goals have been crucial for Brighton who are missing forwards such as Danny Welbeck and Solly March.
b. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) is enjoying another stellar season for Arsenal having made 9 goal contributions (4 goals and 5 assists) in the Premier League. He was instrumental in Arsenal’s win over Brentford as he assisted Kai Havertz’s winning goal and his team would be looking towards him whenever they needed such magical moments on the field.
Tip: For 11.7 credits (400.8 points), Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho could be a great choice as a forward considering his recent goal-scoring form. Garnacho produced an amazing goal that established the momentum for Manchester United in the game against Everton and followed it up with a goal in the Champions League too. He has been playing consistently this season for United and has been the brightest among forwards at his club.
Midfielders
a. Tomáš Souček (West Ham United) scored a dramatic late goal for West Ham United as they beat Burnley 1-0 having trailed in the game till 86th minute. Jarrod Bowen and James Ward-Prowse have been praised for West Ham United's good performances this season but Souček also has been consistent this season and would be crucial as hammers would be pushing to move further up in the table.
b. Idrissa Gueye (Everton) would be a crucial player for Everton particularly in the absence of Amadou Onana. The former PSG star has enormous experience in the game and Everton will rely on his defensive capabilities to ensure they get out of the relegation battle.
Tip: For 10 credits (588.2 points), Burnley’s Josh Brownhill can prove to be a great gamble for a fantasy manager. As Burnley face Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the next two matches, Brownhill could inspire them to gain maximum points of these matches and provide a spark to their otherwise difficult season.
Defenders
a. Nathan Aké (Manchester City) tends to be overlooked amidst a team filled with exceptional talent, but his performances for City this season have been outstanding. The versatile defender has not only fulfilled his defensive duties effectively but has also made significant contributions to the team's attacking efforts.
b. Pau Torres (Aston Villa) delivered a crucial goal for Aston Villa just before halftime, shifting the momentum of the game that initially favoured Spurs but ultimately turned in Aston Villa's favour in the second half. The defender has consistently impressed throughout the season for Villa, contributing to their strong position, just two points behind the league leaders.
Tip: For 6.6 credits (626.4 points), Chelsea’s Thiago Silva offers significant value to fantasy managers looking for proven choices. The veteran defender had an uncharacteristically bad game against Newcastle United but is still Chelsea’s most reliable defender and leader, particularly in the absence of Reece James.
Goalkeepers
a. Nick Pope (Newcastle United) showcased an outstanding performance for Newcastle United in their Champions League game against PSG, making multiple crucial saves. The English goalkeeper is set to play a crucial role for the Magpies in the upcoming games, as they depend on him to secure clean sheets and mitigate the impact of injuries during this busy month of December.
b. Mark Flekken (Brentford) had a decent performance against Arsenal and almost secured a point for his side only to be beaten by Havertz's effort late in the game. The goalkeeper has been good for his side in the Premier League having enjoyed a great last season with Frieburg in the Bundesliga where he had the most clean sheets in a season.
Tip: For 3.5 credits (0 points), Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher could prove to be an interesting strategic transfer for fantasy teams. The goalkeeper is expected to feature in the next three fixtures for third-placed Liverpool, as he did in the Europa League, in the absence of Allison Becker. Considering the strong performances by Liverpool this season, these features against Fulham, Sheffield United, and Crystal Palace could be a good opportunity for Kelleher to showcase his abilities.
What Next?
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