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Sunday sees only two matches on the docket, but they are very good ones with a lot of fantasy impact. The early kickoff sees Everton host Manchester City, and both sides may see a big change to their lineup. The Toffees will likely run out Morgan Schneiderlin for his debut, after his twenty-million pound transfer from Manchester United. While his fantasy value will be quite limited in Official FPL, he has value in Fantrax. In fact, yours truly threw him into his lineup for this week for the bargain basement price of one dollar.
On the other side, “Vincent Kompany is back,” according to Pep Guardiola. With John Stones struggling a bit recently, it might be a good time to give him a rest and take some pressure off of him. The captain has only featured three times this season, so the Citizens will be happy to get him back on the pitch.
Of course, everyone will be looking to the big guns to perform today. Romelu Lukaku and Sergio Aguero are sure to have high ownership, and we could very well see large fantasy impact from the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley, and David Silva.
Of course, this is just the appetizer of the slate. The main course is Manchester United against Liverpool. The biggest rivalry in England sees Jose against Jurgen, as both teams will look to gain more than just a point as they did in a 0-0 draw at Anfield. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba are in phenomenal form for the hosts, and many fantasy owners will be looking to them for big points. It will be interesting to see which of Henrik Mkhitaryan, Anthony Martial, and Juan Mata occupy the wide roles, although the return to fitness of Wayne Rooney threatens to throw into turmoil a lineup that has been clicking as of late, winning nine matches in a row.
Liverpool, on the other hand, come into the match in a bit of a crisis. Sadio Mane is off to the African Cup of Nations, and it couldn’t come at a worse time for the Reds. Jordan Henderson, Philippe Coutinho, and Joel Matip are not fully healthy, and it will likely be a match-time decision on their inclusion. To top it off, they have two keepers who seem to not want the starting job any more than the other. Liverpool are known for attacking, but they could be walking into a trap if they push too hard at Old Trafford.
Who do you think will have the biggest impact on Sunday’s matches, and what players will you be keeping an eye on? Join us in the comments section below!