The next seven days present an interesting fixture structure in the Premier League. Seven matches from gameweek 34 will be played over the weekends, while the other three fixtures are postponed due to teams' involvement in the FA Cup Semi Final. Additionally, six fixtures postponed from gameweek 26 will be played midweek. This condensed schedule means some teams will play twice, while Tottenham Hotspur will be absent from this round.
Manchester City, despite their Champions League exit, gained an advantage in the title race last week and will be looking to extend it. Their rivals, Arsenal and Liverpool, suffered similar disappointments in European competitions. However, with two matches this week, both teams have the opportunity to temporarily reclaim the lead if they win both games.
With only five weeks remaining in the season, the title race and fantasy football are dominating conversations. Fantasy managers are also vying for medals for their efforts this season.
Key Takeaways from the Gameweek 33
Premier League title hopefuls Liverpool and Arsenal slumped this weekend, falling 1-0 and 2-0 to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa respectively. Manchester City, on the other hand, cruised to a comfortable 5-1 victory over Luton Town. Newcastle United and Chelsea secured comprehensive wins, defeating Tottenham Hotspur (4-0) and Everton (6-0) respectively.
The Premier League saw several draws this weekend, with Bournemouth and Manchester United (2-2), Brighton and Burnley (1-1), and Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers (2-2) all playing to stalemates. Meanwhile, Brentford secured a convincing 2-0 victory against Sheffield United, while Fulham mirrored that result with a 2-0 win over West Ham United.
Players to watch out for Gameweek 34
With a whopping 13 games spread across weekends and midweek, fantasy managers have plenty of choices at their disposal. However, navigating this condensed schedule requires close attention to detail to craft an effective squad. The relentless pace of the Premier League often leads to player absences due to injury or suspension. Gathering intel on such news is crucial for fantasy managers, and the following information highlights some key absentees for the upcoming round:
Notable Absences
Liverpool will be without young defender Conor Bradley, while Aston Villa must cope with the absence of Alex Moreno for their upcoming match. Bournemouth faces a major injury concern in forward Luis Sinisterra, who is likely out for the next few weeks. West Ham United's defensive worries deepened as Nayef Aguerd was subbed off with an injury scare during their Europa League encounter.
Forwards
a. Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth) has been in great form lately, scoring 2 goals and an assist in the last three games. Bournemouth would be facing Aston Villa and Wolves in the upcoming rounds and Kluivert could be a great support for Dominic Solanke.
b. Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton Wanderers) scored two goals for his side in their 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest. Cunha has now scored 11 goals this season, most for Wolves and they would hope he could add a few more to his tally as they face Arsenal and Bournemouth next.
Tip: For 11.7 credits (1222.8 points), Liverpool’s Diogo Jota could be an interesting transfer choice. While Liverpool have options like Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo for their third forward, Jota has proven to be more prolific having scored 9 goals in only 13 starts this season.
Midfielders
a. Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) has been struggling with fitness this season, having only played 13 games so far. But whenever he gets on the pitch, he immediately shows his immense quality as a footballer, and his presence could alleviate any relegation fears for Palace fans.
b. Kai Havertz (Arsenal) is in the midst of perhaps the hottest spell of his career, contributing a remarkable 5 goals and 4 assists in his last 8 games. Arsenal will be desperate for the German international to maintain this red-hot form as they look to bounce back from their Premier League defeat and Champions League exit.
Tip: For 10.2 credits (1503.6 points), Sheffield United's Gustavo Hamer could be a risky but potentially rewarding gamble for fantasy managers. While his team is expected to struggle in their upcoming matches, having not won in their last eight games, Hamer has crucially contributed in each of Sheffield United's three draws during this period.
Defenders
a. Vitaliy Mykolenko (Everton) has emerged as a consistent performer at left-back for Everton. The Ukrainian defender will be crucial for his side's relegation battle as they face key matchups against Nottingham Forest, a fellow relegation contender, and then their Merseyside rivals, Liverpool, in a single week that could define their season.
b. Thiago Silva (Chelsea) reclaims his starting spot after a brief stint on the bench. Despite his veteran status, the defender remains one of the league's most reliable. Chelsea will be hoping his experience proves valuable against Arsenal.
Tip: At just 6.7 credits (1716.8 points), Fabian Schär of Newcastle United presents a reliable option for your fantasy defense. He impressed at both ends of the pitch in their 4-0 win over Spurs, contributing to a clean sheet and even adding a goal. With a favorable matchup against Crystal Palace next, Schär will be looking to replicate his stellar performance.
Goalkeepers
a. Ederson (Manchester City) returns between the posts for City after a three-game absence. While his heroics couldn't secure victory in the Champions League penalty shootout against Real Madrid (he saved a penalty and even scored one himself), Ederson will be looking to bounce back and help City secure their fourth consecutive Premier League title.
b. In stark contrast to Ederson, Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa) emerged as the penalty shootout hero for Villa, securing their Conference League victory over Lille. The Argentine shot-stopper continued his impressive form with a stellar performance against his former club Arsenal in Villa's 2-0 win last week. He'll be vital once again as they look to maintain their momentum against Bournemouth.
Tip: Fantasy managers looking for a budget-friendly goalkeeper switch should consider Fulham's Bernd Leno (5.5 credits, 1518.8 points). The experienced shot-stopper sits among the Premier League's top three in saves this season and will likely face a barrage of shots from Liverpool in their upcoming clash. This presents a golden opportunity for Leno to add to his tally and potentially rack up valuable save points.
What Next?
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