Looking ahead to Fantasy Football Gameweek 28, FantasyYIRMA.com have frisked the fixtures to try and make sense of where the points are going to come from in this week's games.
OK folks, so Gameweek 28 is here and as I have stressed in previous articles this gameweek is a bit like trying to build that Lego Deathstar you always dreamed about only with more than half the pieces missing.
Due to the FA Cup there are only 4 Premier League matches meaning only 8 teams (I've checked the math) are in action and eligible for those sweet, those oh so sweet, sweet FPL points.
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What does this mean? Well for most it means you're up shit creek without a paddle in terms of fielding 11 players without taking some kind of points hit and the question really becomes how much of a points hit is worth it for this week?
If you are going to take a hit for a player this week, make it for one you won't be looking to ditch straight away next week and at least you can sleep soundly in the knowledge that you are not trying to flog multiple Hull defenders next week.
Up front Fernando Llorente has proved over the past two games that he is capable of scoring goals and taking some of the pressure off Gylfi Sigurdsson in this admittedly improving Swansea City side.
We spoke last week about Siggy and he duly delivered with another assist making his form look almost reminiscent of a Swansea 2012/13 Miguel Pérez Cuesta. (Or Michu to you and me! That really should be a pub quiz question)
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Siggy now has attacking returns in each of his last 7 fixtures with 3 goals and 4 assists. You should already have him in your team though so we turn to the big man up front Llorente who after scoring 3 goals in his last 2 games means that suddenly doubling up on Swansea no longer feels like the Fantasy Football equivalent of trying to fill your diesel engine up without of date hot sauce.
In addition, the upcoming Swansea fixtures are somewhat favourable (Hull, Bournemouth and Middlesbrough) meaning that if you do bring him in you won't necessarily be scrambling to return him cap in hand like the empty pint glass that was "Full when I bought it 20 minutes ago"
And he's like a smooth faced Olivier Giroud, So there's that!
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In midfield I'm picking a Liverpool midfielder. WHICH ONE I hear you cry?! The reality of this Liverpool team is that any of Mane (20.6% owned), Coutinho (17.9% owned) or Firmino (12% owned) would be viable options this week.
I love the idea of picking Sadio Mané simply so I can bang on about the alliterate beauty that would be "My Main Man Mané"
Liverpool take on a 12th place Burnley side with 1 win in their last 6. Based on this season so far Liverpool seem to up their game against the top six and lose their way against the bottom six so it feels like the Claret's mid table position and form should lean towards a comfortable home win this week.
Sean Dyche in fact managed to upset Liverpool earlier this season with a 2-0 win at Turf Moor. This game is not at Turf Moor so the chances of them winning are reduced massively.
I've said this before and it remains true. Burnley would be challenging for a Champions League place if they only played at home sitting in 5th place in the mythical home league table. However, put this squad on a 50 seater coach with dodgy wifi and a petrol station pit stop for an absolute mank looking egg mayo sandwich and they do not perform! Their away record this season reads Played 13, Lost 11, Drew 2, Won 0..zilch, nada, none. You can't argue those statistics although you could probably argue my perception of Premier League squad travel.
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Again with Liverpool's current set up their FPL listed midfielders will get chances being pushed further up front and by the Power of Greyskull I personally am backing some of them to fall to the feet of Mané.
And Joey Barton's been sent off twice at Anfield already, so there's that!
In defence I am not allowed to write about Gareth McAuley for fear of article repetition and an impending restraining order. So as much as I would like to write about Gareth McAuley, I will refrain from writing about Gareth McAuley. Despite the fact that he doesn't follow @FantasyYIRMA on twitter it is my stern belief that Gareth McAuley should be in the running for the next Ballon d'Or. He could still win the Golden Boot this season and in all honesty would my choice for UK-EU Brexit trade negotiations, BUT I am not even going to mention Gareth McAuley.
Everton have conceded 10 goals at home this season equal with Manchester United with only Chelsea and Spurs having a better defensive record at home. With that in mind I'm going for Fantasy old boy favourite Leighton Baines. Always a threat from set pieces and incredibly infuriating if you have Lukaku, he takes and scores penalties. He recently got slated for a new hairstyle but the increased visibility will I feel work in his favour.
Besides, Everton are playing West Brom and it's not as if the Baggies have a 37 year old Northern Ireland defensive Legend/Adonis in their ranks with 6 goals to his name in the league already this season who who could potentially punish them from a set piece and laughs heartily at the thought of home defensive records and.
So, em..yeah.. Pick Leighton Baines
GARETH MCAULEY I LOVE YOU, so there's that!
Written by Ryan @FantasyYIRMA
FantasyYIRMA.com established in 2012, is a niche Fantasy Football site focused on providing news, views and insight for the English Premier League.
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