The Premier League enters Gameweek 27 following a week of captivating cup action. Liverpool secured their first trophy of the season with a Carabao Cup triumph, but a string of injuries throws their league form into question. This opens the door for both Manchester City and Arsenal to capitalize, although City faces a significant challenge in the form of their fierce rivals, Manchester United. Everton, with their points deduction reduced, can breathe a sigh of relief and refocus on solidifying their mid-table position. With all ten fixtures set for this week, fantasy managers have their hands full shaping their teams for the season's final stretch, just a few months away.
Key Takeaways from the Gameweek 26
Liverpool maintained their top spot with a dominant 4-1 victory against Luton Town, mirroring Arsenal's identical scoreline against Newcastle United. Manchester City, however, needed a narrow 1-0 win over Bournemouth to stay in the title race. Meanwhile, Manchester United's inconsistencies continued as they surprisingly lost 2-1 to Fulham at home.
Beyond the title race, West Ham United returned to form with Jarrod Bowen's hat-trick leading them to a 4-2 win over Brentford. Crystal Palace also celebrated a fresh start under their new manager, defeating Burnley 3-0. Aston Villa continued their unlikely title push, adding another win to their campaign with a 4-2 victory over Nottingham Forest.
Players to watch out for Gameweek 27
With all ten fixtures set for this crucial Gameweek 27, fantasy managers face the delicate task of reshaping their strategies as teams push towards the final third of the season. Striking the right balance between maximizing points for this week and maintaining a consistent strategy for the coming months becomes a challenging act. Every decision carries significant weight, further complicated by a wave of injuries across the league
Don't despair, fantasy managers! The next paragraph will shed light on these key injury concerns, empowering you to navigate this intriguing gameweek with confidence and make informed decisions that can elevate your team's performance:
Notable Absences
Liverpool's attack remains shrouded in uncertainty with long-term absentees like Jota and potential short-term concerns for Nunez and Salah. Manchester United's woes deepen with Harry Maguire's injury, while both Brighton and Chelsea must cope with the absences of key players Kaoru Mitoma and Christopher Nkunku, respectively
Forwards
a. Edward Nketiah (Arsenal) might not start every game for Arsenal but he remains an important part of their plan to succeed this season. The forward has contributed with 5 goals and 4 assists this season including a hatrick against Arsenal’s next opponent Sheffield United.
b. Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United) has made an impact in this Newcastle United side, very few expected him at the start of the season. The young Englishman has already scored 8 goals (and assisted 6 more) this season and would be crucial for them as they face Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Tip: For 11.3 credits (1008.8 points), Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo could be a good transfer choice. The Dutch forward is perhaps the only fully fit forward for the leaders and could play an important part in keeping the title hopes alive.
Midfielders
a. John McGinn (Aston Villa) has proven his worth as captain of the Aston Villa side with his consistent performance throughout the season. The midfielder remains critical for Villa as they face Luton Town against whom he scored in their previous encounter.
b. Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) remains one of the consistent performers despite the inconsistent results of his club. The Chelsea academy graduate has picked up in scoring too recently and would be important for them in the upcoming games.
Tip: For 10.2 credits (1353.4 points), Wolves’ Mario Lemina could be an inspired choice for fantasy teams looking for midfielders who can contribute with goals. The midfielder helped his side move to the Quarterfinals of the FA Cup by scoring against Brighton and would hope he can make a similar contribution in the League as well.
Defenders
a. Manuel Akanji (Manchester City) does not look out of place in the star-studded Manchester City lineup and continues delivering decent performances in the center-back and left-back roles. With Manchester City facing a young Manchester United attack, Akanji would be confident to deal with them effectively.
b. Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth) has been a key player for Bournemouth this season as they aim to finish mid-table. The talented defender has often come up with attacking rewards as well for his team as proved by his tally of 3 goals and 2 assists so far this season.
Tip: For 6.5 credits (610.8 points), Crystal Palaces’s Chris Richards could be a good gamble for fantasy sides. The young defender might not have started the season as the first choice but has slowly cemented his place in the palace side and now has a goal to his name as well. Palace would hope he continues to develop further this season, making him a great long-term option for the club.
Goalkeepers
a. Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham Hotspurs) would be important for Spurs’ aim to bounce back from defeat against Wolves two weeks back. The Italian goalkeeper was good against Palace in the previous encounter and would hope for the same fate this time too.
b. André Onana's (Manchester United) form has been better in recent weeks and United would hope he produces his best performance as United visit neighbor Manchester City in the next game. The Cameroon international had a great game for Inter Milan against City in the Champions League final last season and would hope to repeat the same for United this time.
Tip: For 5.3 credits (1149.8 points), Fulham’s Bernd Leno enjoyed another great game against Manchester United last week and could be great for fantasy managers who intend to include the veteran goalkeeper in their squad.
What Next?
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