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Gameweek 13 in Fantasy Premier League was not very kind with several of the big-hitters failing to deliver.
Thankfully, there’s little time to dwell with the next two rounds coming in quick succession as the Premier League deals us its first dose of midweek action this season following the weekend’s fixtures.
Tottenham in particular have given FPL managers much to ponder with several of their players emerging as attractive options.
The weekend sees them take on Arsenal in the north London derby though while there’s another feisty affair on Sunday on Merseyside where Liverpool host Everton.
Manchester City and Chelsea’s assets will be looking to deliver big as they play at home to Bournemouth and Fulham respectively.
Here are a few tips ahead of Gameweek 14.
CAPTAIN – SERGIO AGUERO | MANCHESTER CITY | 11.5M
When City dominate, scoring four goals in a match and Sergio Aguero doesn’t get on the scoresheet, owners of the Argentine have every right to feel aggrieved.
However, the striker’s form at home compared to his exploits on the road are like night and day. At the Etihad, Aguero has maintained his remarkable run of delivering attacking returns in every match this season, contributing seven goals and six assists in seven games.
In contrast, he only has one goal on his travels this term from six games. Fortunately, he’s back in Manchester this weekend for Bournemouth’s visit.
His 38 shots at home is more than any other player while his 29 efforts from inside the box and 12 on target are also league-high tallies. With Gabriel Jesus out injured, Aguero should be making his third start in seven days on Saturday.
ALTERNATIVES
EDEN HAZARD (11.1m) has been out of form and out of sorts, perhaps due to a couple of niggling injuries. He missed Chelsea’s 4-0 win over PAOK in the Europa League as well and has just one assist to show from his last four outings. However, Maurizio Sarri has suggested the Belgian will return to the line-up on Saturday and with Fulham visiting, there’s every chance he could get back on track with a big haul.
MOHAMED SALAH (13.0) has a bit of Hazard and Aguero about him. Like the Belgian, people expect more from him while he shares a habit of thriving at home with the City striker. Salah will face Everton at Anfield in what promises to be an entertaining contest and the Egyptian has been on a consistent run of late, delivering in four of his last five GWs.
RAHEEM STERLING (13.0m) is the one who’s threatening to smash Salah’s FPL record points haul from last season. The City midfielder is leading the way with 95 points this term and he’s only played in 11 GWs. With a massive 37 points accumulated in GWs 11 and 13 alone, he’s arguably the most explosive player in the game right now. The only concern is whether he will start against Bournemouth given Pep Guardiola’s rotation policy.
BOLD CHOICE
SON HEUNG-MIN (8.3m) wowed everyone with his solo effort against Chelsea and with another London derby looming, the South Korean could play an integral role again. His industrious nature and direct style of play makes him a supreme goal threat and with an ownership of under two per cent, he is a massive differential pick.
TWO TO WATCH
HARRY KANE | TOTTENHAM | 12.3M
For those of you who were burned by Harry Kane’s early season form, it’s time to put down your pitchforks and let bygones be bygones. The England skipper’s underlying stats have improved dramatically over the last month and he’s starting to look like himself again. His two goals and an assist in the last three GWs confirm that.
He loves a north London derby and beyond that, Spurs face just one ‘big six’ side – and it’s only Manchester United – in the following 13 GWs. He could be crucial for the festive period and worth the 12.3m you’d have to scrape together for him.
WILFRIED ZAHA | EVERTON | 4.8M
Following a brutal run of fixtures that saw Crystal Palace face Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea and United on the bounce, things are easing up again and that means Wilfried Zaha comes back into contention. The Eagles host Burnley this weekend and everyone seems to score against Sean Dyche’s side. Having dropped in value and ownership, now could be a good time to pick up the Palace forward.
TWO TO AVOID
CALLUM WILSON| BOURNEMOUTH | 6.8M
Callum Wilson has served us well, so well in fact that he’s currently the third highest-scoring striker in the game behind only Aguero and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. But the recently capped Englishman now comes up against four of the big six in the next seven GWs.
That’s not to say that Bournemouth can’t score against tough opposition but it’s certainly not worth having more than one of their assets and, currently, David Brooks (5.1m) is the better option.
LUCAS MOURA | TOTTENHAM | 7.1M
As Son rises in the pecking order, Lucas Moura is most probably the one who will see his playing time limited. Erik Lamela has been in sensational form as well while Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen appear to have regained full fitness.
The Brazilian hasn’t done much wrong but he’s just the victim of Spurs’ plethora of attacking options. It’s a shame considering the fixtures to come but he can’t be guaranteed many starts.
