The excitement of gameweek 31, played entirely on weekdays, quickly gives way to the weekend's fixtures for gameweek 32. While the title race continues to dominate discussions, another intriguing battle is brewing for the coveted fourth spot, which secures Champions League football next season: Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are locked in a tight race. This weekend also offers a chance for redemption for Liverpool, as they return to Old Trafford to face their arch-rivals Manchester United, seeking revenge for their FA Cup quarter-final defeat. As the season enters its final stages, fantasy managers will be keenly focused on maximizing their points potential during these crucial weeks.
Key Takeaways from the Gameweek 31
In a thrilling encounter, Chelsea staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Manchester United 4-3. The title race remained tight as all three contenders secured comfortable victories: Arsenal beat Luton Town 2-0, Manchester City won 4-1 against Aston Villa, and Liverpool defeated Sheffield United 3-1. Everton ended their three-game losing streak with a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United.
Nottingham Forest claimed crucial points with a 3-1 win over Fulham. Bournemouth continued their impressive form, edging Crystal Palace 1-0. The remaining matches ended in draws: West Ham United vs Tottenham Hotspurs (1-1), Burnley vs Wolves (1-1), and Brentford vs Brighton (0-0).
Players to watch out for Gameweek 32
The tight turnaround between gameweeks means FPL managers need to make strategic transfers that maximize points without compromising their core squad for the future. Injuries and suspensions add another wrinkle, making this a critical period where access to the right information is vital:
Notable Absences
Manchester United might not be able to use the services of Raphael Varane and Casemiro as both are doubtful for the game against Liverpool due to injuries. Liverpool have similar doubts for the midfielder Wataru Endō, who missed the game against Sheffield United.
Forwards
a. Phil Foden (Manchester City) scored his second hat-trick of the season as he helped Manchester City beat Aston Villa 4-1. The English forward is crucial for City as he has scored important goals for them in big matches as Erling Haaland is currently not enjoying his best form.
b. Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) is enjoying his best season in the Premier League having scored 15 goals already so far. Hammers travel to Molineux stadium to play Wolverhampton Wanderers, they would be relying on their top scorer to help them close their gap on sixth place Manchester United.
Tip: For 11.7 credits (1677 points), Tottenham Hotspurs’s Dejan Kulusevski could be an interesting choice. The Swedish forward who had a hand in both goals during Spurs' 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest earlier this season, will face them again next time.
Midfielders
a. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal), after a quiet spell in mid-season, has rediscovered the form. The ex-Real Madrid star netted the crucial opener against Luton Town and will be looking to control the midfield again when Arsenal face Brighton next.
b. Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) has been quiet for the last four games as Aston Villa had mixed form in those games. With uncertainty around the fitness of Ollie Watkins, the onus lies on Douglas Luiz to help Villa bounce from defeat against City as Villa face Brentford next.
Tip: For 10 credits (1433 points), Luton Town’s Alfie Doughty can be a good gamble. The midfielder has shown he belongs to the Premier League, having already registered 7 assists in his first season in the top flight. Luton would need him to perform his best as they face an in-form Bournemouth next.
Defenders
a. Malo Gusto (Chelsea) has established himself in the Chelsea squad in the absence of Reece James. He's not just solid defensively, but his attacking contributions are undeniable – 5 assists already showcase his talent.
b. Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) made an impressive return after injury to help his side with an assist in the last game. The left-back has played only 16 games this season due to injury but he remains a critical part of the team as they look to win the title in Klopp’s final season for Liverpool.
Tip: For 6.8 credits (1040.6 points), Wolverhampton Wanderer’s Rayan Aït-Nouri is a popular choice among fantasy managers due to his great form lately. The left-back often plays in the midfield and has scored 2 goals along with one assist in the last 5 games making him a good pick for the Wolves' game against West Ham United.
Goalkeepers
a. André Onana (Manchester United) made important saves against Liverpool in United’s FA Cup win over their next opponent. He would hope he could restrict Liverpool from scoring, as he did in the previous encounter between the two sides in the Premier League.
b. Bernd Leno (Fulham) is among the top 5 goalkeepers in terms of most saves this season. The veteran German goalkeeper would be eyeing another clean sheet as Fulham faces Newcastle United, who are missing several attacking options due to injuries.
Tip: For 4.9 credits (156 points), Burnley’s Arijanet Muric presents a good choice under 5 credits for fantasy managers who are looking to change their goalkeeper. While James Trafford replaced Muric as Burnley's first-choice goalkeeper at the start of the season, their fortune has improved significantly since he regained his spot as they are undefeated in the last three games.
What Next?
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