Gameweek 15 Preview of Fantasy Premier League, courtesy of Bet365.
This week’s early kick-off is an intriguing clash between Stoke and Manchester City. City returned to the top of the Premier League last week with a 3-1 win over Southampton, and followed that up with a 4-1 victory in the Capital One Cup against Hull. They won 4-1 away to Stoke last season too and haven’t lost a league game at the Britannia since the Potters’ first season in the Premier League (2008-09). Plenty of reasons to side with the visitors here, and lots of potential points-winners. Sergio Agüero (£13.1m) is expected to play on Saturday despite coming off injured in last weekend’s match and subsequently missing the midweek game against Hull. He scored two in this fixture last season and has 7 goals and an assist in his 10 appearances so far this campaign. David Silva (£9.9m) is also back in contention, and would be a great addition to your midfield. He has 6 assists this season despite missing 8 games through injury and only playing 433 league minutes. City have only won 3 of the 8 matches that he’s missed in the league, so Pellegrini will understandably be keen to get him back into the starting line up as quickly as possible. It’s impossible to ignore Kevin De Bruyne (£10.7m) at the moment too. The Belgian has 4 goals and 6 assists in his 10 Premier League appearances for City so far, and had a hand in all 3 goals last weekend.
Arsenal’s home game against Sunderland looks to be a chance for the Gunners to get their season back on track. They’ve won only 2 of their last 7 matches in all competitions and have a lengthy injury list, but haven’t lost at home to Sunderland in over 22 years. Mesut Özil (£9.3m) continued his fine form with a goal last week, taking his total to 2 goals and 11 assists from his 13 league matches this season. With Alexis Sánchez potentially missing the weekend’s clash Özi is the man to look to for your Fantasy Football points.
Leicester’s trip to Swansea gives Jamie Vardy (£7.5m) the chance to extend his record-breaking goalscoring run. The two teams could not be further apart in the form table, with the Swans winning just 1 of their last 10 Premier League matches and the Foxes unbeaten in their last 7 (and losing only 1 of their last 18). It would take a brave man to back against Vardy finding the net for the twelfth successive league match and adding to his 102-point haul in Fantasy Football this season. With Swansea scoring only once in their last 4 league games perhaps this could be a week for Leicester to get a rare clean sheet too. Plenty of cheap defensive options here, including Danny Simpson (£4.0m), Wes Morgan (£4.3m) and Robert Huth (£4.3m).
In the late kick-off, Chelsea host Bournemouth in a game that gives the Blues a good chance to continue their revival. They’ve now lost just once in their last 5 matches in all competitions and have kept 4 clean sheets in that run. Thibaut Courtois (£5.2m) could make his return in goal after a lengthy injury lay-off, and Bournemouth should pose little threat so he could be a good addition before his value increases. In the attacking third for the Blues, Diego Costa (£10.8m) was dropped to the bench last time out against Tottenham but he could well return to the starting line-up after they failed to score. If this does happen he can expect plenty of chances and potentially a goal or two.
There’s just one game on Sunday as Jürgen Klopp takes his Liverpool side to St James’ Park for a clash with Newcastle. Liverpool have lost just once in 10 matches away from home in all competitions this season, and after scoring 6 on Wednesday night at Southampton in the Capital One Cup they’re in good goalscoring form. Daniel Sturridge (£10.1m) grabbed a brace in that game and he has scored on each of his last two visits to St James’ Park. His manager’s ringing endorsement will have surely given him a confidence boost ahead of this match, so expect him to rack up a decent points total on Sunday against a team that have conceded 8 goals in their last 2 matches. Divock Origi is much cheaper at £5.5m, but after scoring a hat trick in midweek it may be tough for Klopp to leave him out of the side.
Saturday
Stoke v Man City
(12.45pm BT Sport 1)
Watford v Norwich
West Brom v Tottenham
Arsenal v Sunderland
Man Utd v West Ham
Southampton v Aston Villa
Swansea v Leicester
Chelsea v Bournemouth
(5.30pm Sky Sports 1)
Sunday
Newcastle v Liverpool
(4.00pm Sky Sports 1)
Monday
Everton v Crystal Palace
(8.00pm Sky Sports 1)