The transfer window might have shut down but it surely has played its part in the changing dynamics of the league. Many teams featured new faces in their lineup for the last round. Still, the week served the wonderful old tale of this super competitive league - on their day a relegation candidate premier league team can beat the table toppers too.
Key Takeaways from the MatchDay 22
The first round of fixtures for this month produced perhaps the biggest shock of the season yet as Everton beat Arsenal. Manchester City, however, were unable to gain from the leader slip-up as they were beaten by top-four contenders Tottenham Hotspurs.
Liverpool's decline continued as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat against rejuvenated Wolverhampton Wanderers. Chelsea too couldn't break Fulham's defense as the match between the sides ended in a goalless draw. Brentford and Brighton won their respective matches to make their claims for the European competition spots stronger.
Players to watch out for Matchday 23
With premier league managers now settling with the new additions from the winter transfer window, fantasy managers would have also established their favored lineup. However, it is always great to make a few changes to your squad based on the player’s 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. Manchester United would be without injured forward Christian Eriksen, Scott McTominay, and suspended midfielder Casemiro. Leeds United would be missing the services of their top goal scorer Rodrigo Moreno for the next couple of months. Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United also remains suspended till the carabao cup final on 26th February.
Forwards
a. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) is enjoying the form of his life as he scored against both Crystal Palace and Leeds United. Rashford has scored in all but one of Manchester United's matches, post the World Cup.
b. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspurs) scored a crucial goal against Manchester City that helped the spurs win a hard-fought match against the current premier league champions. The goal was particularly special for Kane as he has now scored the most goals for the spurs, overtaking Jimmy Greaves’ 266 goals for the club.
Tip: For 9.2 credits, Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson(889 points) could be a great choice for any forward lineup, having already helped Newcastle United in their champions league race with 7 goals and 3 assists.
Midfielders
a. James Maddison (Leicester City) is considered the most important player in Leicester's pursuit to stay in the premier league. The midfielder proved exactly that by scoring the opening goal in Leicester’s exciting 4-2 victory over Aston Villa.
b. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) might not be enjoying the best of his seasons as he could not prevent Manchester City’s defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. The midfielder holds the key to unlock the opponents’ defense as he still remains the player with the most assists in the league this season.
Tip: For 10.5 credits, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Ruben Neves (1263 points) is easily one of the best central midfielders in the league and could be on the radar for many fantasy managers.
Defenders
a. Ben Mee (Brentford) scored his third goal of the season in Brentford’s 3-0 win against Southampton as the defender continued being effective on both ends of the pitch.
b. James Tarkowski (Everton) scored perhaps the most memorable goal of his life as he helped struggling Everton to win 1-0 against mighty Arsenal. The defender has reunited with his former manager Sean Dyche and would be crucial in Everton's quest to remain a premier league side at the end of the season.
Tip: For 5.6 credits, Fulham’s Tim Ream (933 points) could be an astute choice for any defense. The 35-year-old veteran defender has been the heart of this much-improved Fulham defense all season.
Goalkeepers
a. Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea) was part of the second consecutive goalless draw for Chelsea as the goalkeeper kept Fulham’s attack at bay. He now has 7 clean sheets to his name having played in only 13 games so far.
b. Robert Sanchez (Brighton) had one of his easier outings against Bournemouth in the last match. The goalkeeper, however, has been great throughout the season and is entering the peak of his career.
Tip: For 3.5 credits, Nottingham Forest’s new signing Keylor Navas (0 points) is surely the most decorated goalkeeper in the league, having won the champions league thrice with Real Madrid. His selection for any fantasy team could translate into impressive points as the Costa Rican is known for making crucial saves.
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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