Manchester United and Southampton’s meeting in the EFL Cup final means that the two will miss their fixtures and ensure that Manchester City and Arsenal who were to play them respectively, will also not be a part of Gameweek 26.
Chelsea suffered a minor setback against Burnley last gameweek as the Blues drew the match which ended 1-1. Unfortunately, for Spurs they could not capitalise on the situation and lost to Liverpool with a fine performance from Sadio Mane. Manchester City, meanwhile, continued their resurgence with a fine performance but lost Gabriel Jesus to an injury.
Elsewhere, Arsenal beat Hull City by 2 goals at home. The gap between 2nd and 6th is now down to a mere four points.
FA Cup fixtures ensured that there was a long wait between Gameweek 25 and 26, but here we are, ready for the next set of fixtures of the Barclays Premier League.
Let’s take a look at 5 players to pick in Fantasy Premier League for the next gameweek:
#1 Romelu Lukaku – 9.9
The Belgian forward looks like an enticing prospect considering that Everton’s next game is to be played at Goodison Park. The player has scored six goals in his last three home games and is a great contender for the armband this week. Although there was an injury issue, manager Ronald Koeman has insisted that the player will be fit for the next game. Lukaku’s inconsistency is a big flaw, however, that should not deter us from picking a player of his calibre.
Everton host Sunderland this gameweek and will be looking to ensure that they get all 3 points at home. The Black Cats have a defence that has fallen apart multiple times this season and there is a good chance that Everton will run riot against them.
Next 3 fixtures: Sunderland(H), Spurs(A), West Brom(H)
#2 Sadio Mane – 9.3
Liverpool winger Sadio Mane has been one of the most impactful players in the league till now. The Senegalese player has been one of the driving forces behind the Red’s assault and they clearly struggled when he was away from the team due to the AFCON. Despite missing out on almost three fixtures, the player has been among the top five midfielders in the FPL and his owners have received great returns. Mane’s stock is rising fast and it is important to get him while we still can.
Another option for this week’s captaincy role, Mane will be playing against Leicester City who have been shambolic, to say the least. The Foxes have been in a downward spiral for quite some time and Liverpool could hit them hard with their blistering attack. Leicester have conceded 13 goals in their last five Premier League fixtures.
Next 3 fixtures: Leicester(A), Arsenal(H), Burnley(H)
#3 Eldin Jakupovic – 4.1
The arrival of Marcos Silva at the club has been a massive boost for the Tigers who have been impressive of late. Eldin Jakupovic has become their mainstay at the back. The keeper has been extremely reliable between the sticks and is at the moment the cheapest starting keeper in the game. For the price that he commands, Jakupovic has offered great returns with 26 points in five games.
Hull City have a string of favourable fixtures coming up and someone from their backline could help your team a lot. This week they face Burnley at home who have had a tough time away from home. The Tigers with superb defensive performances against Manchester United and Liverpool have ensured that their defence can be trusted once again.
Next 3 fixtures: Burnley(H), Leicester(A), Swansea(H)
#4 Marcos Alonso – 6.7
Despite commanding a high price tag, the defender has hardly failed to disappoint. In fact, Alonso has been more consistent than several forwards and midfielders who are priced in a similar bracket and this makes Marcos Alonso a huge asset to your team. The player commands a 15% pick percentage rate which could shoot up further if his performances do not drop. Alonso has been immense while going forward and has ensured that the team is resolute defensively.
With most of their difficult fixtures over, Chelsea have now got a favourable run of fixtures. The team has been easily the best defensive unit in the game and Chelsea defenders have ensured that they give consistent returns. Their next fixture is against a resurgent Swansea who have improved a lot under Clement. However, a fixture at Stamford Bridge may very well mean that the Blues will take all 3 points along with a valuable clean sheet.
Next 3 fixtures: Swansea(H), West Ham(A), Stoke(A)
#5 James Morrison – 4.7
The attacking midfielder has been impeccable the past few weeks. Despite West Brom being an extremely defensive team, the Baggies score their share of goals and a budget midfielder like Morrison can be extremely useful if you’re planning on bolstering your front trio. The player has two goals and an assist in his last three games and seems to be the next budget midfielder on whom we can count.
Under Tony Pulis, West Brom’s season till now has been great by their standards. The club sits at 8th, comfortably away from the lower rung teams who are now fighting relegation. Their next match is against AFC Bournemouth at The Hawthorns. The Cherries have been exploited in their last few games due to their poor defence and this game could be no different. Bournemouth have conceded 15 goals in their last five games and West Brom will surely try their level best to exploit this weakness.
Next 3 fixtures: Bournemouth(H), Crystal Palace(H), Everton(A)
