We might be near the end of January but this premier league season has just started to move toward its defining phase. This round of fixtures would be the last action before the January transfer window closes and hence, the results this weekend could determine how the teams approach the deadline day. A victory could instill confidence in the current squad while a defeat might force a club into panic buying. In either case, fans would definitely have something to be excited about.
Key Takeaways from the last round
The gap between the top two increased over the weekend following Arsenal's victory over Tottenham Hotspurs in the North London derby and Manchester City’s defeat against Manchester United in the Manchester derby. Manchester City, however, reduced the deficit again with their 4-2 victory against Tottenham Hotspurs on Thursday this week but Arsenal still has a game in hand.
Chelsea redeemed themselves with a 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace over the weekend after having to suffer a defeat against Fulham in the midweek. On the other hand, Liverpool finds themselves further away from the Champions League Position after suffering a 3-0 defeat against Brighton, who are now above Liverpool in the league table too.
Players to watch out for
Fantasy managers have their plates full, having to track all the information pertaining to injuries, suspensions, transfers, and most importantly the players' form. Hopefully, the following insights will help them in making a wise choice:
Notable Absences
While there would be a plethora of talent to choose from in the upcoming fixture, few of the important players would be missing from the action. Chelsea would be without injured forward Raheem Sterling and suspended midfielder Joao Felix. Casemiro would be suspended for Manchester United’s game against Arsenal while Liverpool is still unsure of Darwin Nunez’s availability against Chelsea in the next game.
Forwards
a. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) continued his great form by scoring the winner against Manchester City in the derby. Manchester United would be playing against Arsenal in this round and they would be hoping Rashford could repeat his performance (a goal and 2 assists) from their last meeting.
b. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) came to the rescue of his team, with his two goals helping Manchester City overcome a two-goal deficit to win 4-2 against Tottenham Hotspurs.
Tip: For 9.1 credits, Chelsea’s Kai Havertz (803 points) could be a great choice for any forward line as he is expected to be Chelsea's main source of goals in absence of a traditional striker.
Midfielders
a. Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) dominated the midfield for the gunners against the local rivals Tottenham Hotspurs. His goal in the North London derby took his tally of goal contributions to 13 (8 goals and 5 assists).
b. James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) further enhanced his reputation as the free-kick specialist by scoring another direct free kick for his second goal against Everton in the last round. He has now scored 16 times from the direct free kick, just two behind David Beckham’s premier league record (18).
Tip: For 10 credits, Brighton’s Solly March (974 points) could be an exciting midfield inclusion. With Brighton scoring freely under the manager De Zerbi, March remains their chief goal-scoring option.
Defenders
a. Luke Shaw (Manchester United) has been impressive as a makeshift center-back in absence of his defensive partners. His grit and intelligence helped Manchester United to keep Erling Haaland away from the score sheet in the Manchester derby.
b. Dan Burn (Newcastle United) is enjoying the best season of his career for his boyhood club Newcastle United. He helped his team register another clean sheet against Fulham in the last match.
Tip: For 5.3 credits, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Max Kilman (688 points) could be an astute choice for any defense. Wolves have conceded only 5 goals in the last 5 fixtures and Kilman has played a significant role in solidifying their defense.
Goalkeepers
a. Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) was at his best against rivals Tottenham Hotspurs making crucial saves to maintain the clean sheet. Ramsdale has now 9 clean sheets to his name, which is the second-highest in the league this season.
b. David Raya (Brentford) had one of his easier outings against Bournemouth in the last match. The goalkeeper, however, has been tremendous throughout the season, having the most number of saves this season so far.
Tip: For 4.2 credits, Nottingham Forest’s Dean Henderson (861 points) is easily the best value for money (credit in this case) goalkeeping option. He has been phenomenal for Forest so far and would surely be called upon to make many saves to help them maintain their premier league status.
What Next?
So there you have it, a comprehensive preview of the quality players who are set to light up the English Premier League. Now all that is left to do, is to pick your team and make sure you win the Krida Fans fantasy game!
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