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Happy holidays friends! The games are coming at a brisk pace so a few quick reminders then let’s jump right into the picks for game weeks 21 & 22. First note is that the second wildcard of the season will now be available, many of us will find this to be the exact thing we need to revitalize our squads (New Year, new squad right). The second note is that West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur have a blank game week 21 but return with the always alluring double week in game week 22.
Game week 21
Keepers
Jonas Lossl (£4.6, Huddersfield v. Burnley)
Had a clean sheet in the reverse fixture when the Terriers were in good early season form. More of the same is required.
Robert Elliot ((£4.1, Newcastle v. Brighton)
Allowed the terrifying Manchester City attack only one goal, look for Elliot to go one better.
David de Gea (£5.9, Manchester United v. Southampton)
No clean sheets in the last three will be infuriating to Jose Mourinho. The importance of a clean sheet will be stressed ahead of this one.
Defenders
Eliaquim Mangala (£5.0, Manchester City at Crystal Palace)
Cheap way into the City back line, certain to start after Vincent Kompany went off injured for the 1000th time.
Hector Bellerin (£5.9, Arsenal at West Bromwich Albion)
West Brom never look threatening from open play, lately they don’t even look scary from set pieces as they used to do.
Marcos Alonso (£7.1, Chelsea v. Stoke)
Man on fire.
Molla Wague (£4.5, Watford v. Swansea)
Came out of nowhere to score in the previous game, should get another chance.
Midfielders
Jesse Lingard (£6.1, Manchester United v. Southampton)
Rescued a point with a well taken brace in the last game. Expect to see him in the starting eleven this time out.
Leroy Sane (£8.6, Manchester City at Crystal Palace)
Should return after only seeing seven minutes against Newcastle.
Sadio Mane (£9.3, Liverpool v. Leicester)
Another player who should return, his teammates have been doing well he will want to deliver.
Christian Atsu (£4.8, Newcastle v. Brighton)
Had a spark in a brief cameo against Man City, plus a goal in the game prior to that.
Richarlison (£6.5, Watford v. Swansea)
The perfect game to add to his five league goals.
Strikers
Callum Wilson (£5.7, Bournemouth v. Everton)
This will be a difficult game for the Cherries, I’m picking Wilson mainly because after his controversial Boxing Day goal I think he will want to show he can score proper goals as well.
Alvaro Morata (£10.6, Chelsea v. Stoke)
Possibly my captain this week.
Laurent Depoitre (£5.4, Huddersfield v. Burnley)
Another budget striker like Wilson, also facing a tough fixture. In the type of form to give him a chance against the strong Burnley defence.
Romelu Lukaku (£11.4, Manchester United v. Southampton)
Scored in the away fixture, will be expecting more with Virgil Van Dijk gone.
Game week 22
Keepers
Mathew Ryan (£4.5, Brighton v. Bournemouth)
Clean sheets in the last two games at the Amex are a good omen for this one.
Jack Butland (£5.0, Stoke v. Newcastle)
Stoke have conceded an enormous amount of goals, but should hold firm against a weak Newcastle attack.
Ederson (£5.5, Manchester City v. Watford)
Leads the league in clean sheets.
Defenders
Jan Vertonghen (£6.0, Tottenham at Swansea, Tottenham v. West Ham)
Who else do you trust to start both fixtures?
Harry Maguire (£5.3, Leicester v. Huddersfield)
A player I’m very impressed with every time I watch Leicester, he makes at least one attacking run with the ball to the opponents 18 yard box.
Angelo Ogbonna (£4.4, West Ham v. West Brom, West Ham at Tottenham)
Done well since David Moyes has been in charge.
Maya Yoshida (£4.8, Southampton v. Crystal Palace)
The leader at the back with Van Dijk gone?
Midfielders
Marko Arnautovic (£6.9, West Ham v. West Brom, West Ham at Tottenham)
In the form of his life, will be transferred in by many.
Kevin De Bruyne (£10.3, Manchester City v. Watford)
We can include Sterling here, I picked a name out of a hat.
Dele Alli (£9.0, Tottenham at Swansea, Tottenham v. West Ham)
Get a Spurs midfielder in, Eriksen and Son are cheaper if Alli is too expensive.
Pascal Groβ (£5.9, Brighton v. Bournemouth)
Brighton will be allowed space to play, which is good news for a man who doesn’t need much help finding a pass.
Riyad Mahrez (£8.5, Leicester v. Huddersfield)
If you already have Spurs coverage Mahrez is not a bad place to go looking for points.
Strikers
Sergio Aguero (£11.6, Manchester City v. Watford)
In goal scoring form, near impossible for owners to afford him this week along with the man up next.
Harry Kane (£12.9, Tottenham at Swansea, Tottenham v. West Ham)
Our easiest captain choice of the season. Expect the triple captain chip to be used in abundance.
Roberto Firmino (£8.9, Liverpool at Burnley)
Difficult game for Liverpool, the in form striker may be able to sneak in for a goal.
Different strategies will be at play over these two gameweeks. Will Kane be on your bench for week 21, do you plan on using the free hit chip? How many West Ham and Tottenham players will be in your squad? Let me know in the comments.