The race heats up as the season hurtles towards its final six games, with gameweek 33 kicking off this weekend. Dominating the pre-match discussions is the news of Everton's two-point deduction, their second this season. This penalty leaves them precariously perched just two points clear of the relegation zone, with Nottingham Forest and Luton Town breathing down their necks as they prepare for a daunting trip to Stamford Bridge. The spotlight this week shines on the clash between Aston Villa and Arsenal. A win for Villa keeps their Champions League dreams alive, while a victory for the Gunners would solidify their grip on the title race. Likewise, fantasy managers will be meticulously tweaking their teams, hoping to steer their virtual squads toward a successful conclusion.
Key Takeaways from the Gameweek 32
Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Manchester United gifted Arsenal a significant advantage in the title race, who comfortably dispatched Brighton 3-0. Manchester City remain in the hunt, coming from behind to beat Crystal Palace 4-2. Everton grabbed a crucial 1-0 win against Burnley in the relegation battle, while Luton Town also secured all three points with a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth.
Tottenham Hotspur climbed level on points with Aston Villa after a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest, with Villa held to a 3-3 draw by Brentford. Newcastle United edged a tight contest against Fulham 1-0, while West Ham United edged past Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1. Chelsea's inconsistent season continued with a 2-2 draw against last-placed Sheffield United.
Players to watch out for Gameweek 33
With European Competitions played during the midweek, there would be significant changes by teams involved in those competitions as they look to hunt glory on multiple fronts. These games alongside the fast pace of the Premier League mean teams would be missing key players either due to injury or suspension. For fantasy managers, it remains critical to gather information on such news and the following paragraph could help with a few of the key absentees in the coming round:
Notable Absences
Aston Villa will miss the services of midfielder Douglas Luiz against Arsenal, as he is suspended for picking up 10 yellow cards in the season. West Ham United suffered a major blow as their top scorer Jarrod Bowen is out due to injury. Manchester City played their Champions League Quarter Final first leg against Real Madrid without defender Kyle Walker and the same could be the case for their game against Luton Town. Newcastle United suffered another injury as Joseph Willock got injured in the last match.
Forwards
a. Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace) is in great form having scored 4 goals in the last 6 matches for Crystal Palace. The French forward would be key for Palace particularly in the absence of Olise as they look to secure themselves from the relegation battle.
b. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) missed Villa’s trip to the Etihad but he is crucial for their chances against leaders Arsenal in the next match. He scored a brace in the last match and scored an important goal in the midweek as well in the Conference League match.
Tip: For 11.9 credits (1196.6 points), Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood could be a well-thought-out choice for fantasy managers. As Forest looks to avoid relegation, having an in-form striker like Wood could be a huge advantage. Wood has scored in each of Forest’s last 4 matches.
Midfielders
a. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) might not be in great form but he possesses the ability to produce moments of magic just like his goal against Liverpool that turned the momentum of the game. United’s captain would be hoping he could help them avenge United’s 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth earlier this season.
b. James Ward-Prowse (West Ham United) might not be in the great form he displayed at the start of the season but he has contributed throughout the season including his goal in West Ham United’s win over Wolves. The talented midfielder is always a threat with set-piece and hammers would rely on him to produce the chances that can help them defeat Fulham in the next match.
Tip: For 10.4 credits (1902 points), Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimarães could be a good transfer choice. Newcastle are struggling with injuries this season but their star midfielder has missed only one game due to suspension and proved to be the difference maker on multiple occasions including his goal last week.
Defenders
a. Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspurs) scored his first goal this season adding to his 7 assists already. The fullback has been consistently good for Spurs this season and they rely on him to continue to perform well against Newcastle United.
b. Sergio Reguilón (Brentford) had a great game against Aston Villa last week, assisting two of Brentford’s three goals. The loan signing from Spurs has a point to prove and Brentford would hope he could help stabilise their season in the process.
Tip: For 5.3 credits (530.2 points), Manchester City’s Rico Lewis could be a great gamble for fantasy managers. The young defender is trying to establish himself in this star-studded Manchester City lineup and with Champions Leagues leg two next week, he is expected to extend his run in the starting lineup, particularly after a good display against Crystal Palace.
Goalkeepers
a. Jordan Pickford (Everton) added another clean sheet to his name as his performance helped Everton beat Burnley 1-0. The England international is one of the key strengths of Sean Dyche’s Everton that are looking to stay in the Premier League despite the setback of second point deduction penalty this season.
b. Bart Verbruggen (Brighton) now seems to be De Zerbi's first choice in goal after a season of switching between him and Jason Steele, with Verbruggen starting in the last 4 matches. Brighton’s form has dipped recently and fans would expect Verbruggen to inspire his side against Burnley.
Tip: For 5.4 credits (1209.6 points), Arsenal’s David Raya is a reliable transfer choice. He is currently leading the golden glove table for most clean-sheet this season and with a solid defense in front of him, the Spaniard would be confident to stop any attack in the league.
What Next?
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