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EPL Game-Week 25 Fantrax Fantasy Player Picks

We’re back to a single game week. Who looks good?

By PPQ
Sergio Aguero - Manchester City - Premier League
Having Kun in our fantasy teams makes us smile, too.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Last week, plenty of fantasy managers loaded up on Liverpool and West Ham players. Which ones from those sides do we drop now, and whom do we look to add in?

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THE FIXTURES

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

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We can count on very few certainties right now in this EPL season. Liverpool will win (22-1-0). Sergio Aguero will score (16 goals in 18 games). An English striker will get hurt (Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Tammy Abraham, Sadio Mane and Jamie Vardy are all currently struggling with injuries. Please stay safe Raheem Sterling and Danny Ings!). And the Gunners and/or Man United will have a defensive lapse (obviously with those back lines). Beyond that, each game seems up for grabs. This makes for an exciting weekend, but an infuriating one for fantasy purposes.

There are some huge 6 pointers this weekend at both ends of the table:

Bournemouth v Aston Villa: Bournemouth broke its 4 game losing streak with a solid and much needed win. Another win here sees them jump over Villa and out of the drop zone. On the road, Villa have given up a league-worst 24 goals.

This is a massively important weekend for places 2 through 7 in the table, who all play each other.

  • Manchester United v Wolves: Tied on 34 points. Wolves are fearless. United are injured.
  • Spurs v City: Pep vs Jose is always fun. Spurs have struggled without Kane.
  • Leicester v Chelsea: Leicester needs the win to keep up with Man City. Chelsea needs it if they are going to have a chance to catch Leicester.

These could be fun, and I expect the unexpected.

[NOTE: Prices listed below are NMA Fantrax 11 league barn door costs; YMMV.]

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Goalkeepers

Alisson ($10.74, LIV vs SOU): Liverpool is just so good at home, 12-0. Especially if you had him for the double week, no need to overthink this.

Dean Henderson ($10.98, CRY vs SHU): Crystal Palace have 10 goals at Selhurst Park, the worst home scoring record in the EPL.

Hugo Lloris ($4.44, TOT vs MCI): Maybe not the week to pick him as Spurs host Man City. Spurs at home aren’t terrible and you have to think there are some saves in the game. But also potentially a lot of City goals. Proceed with caution but keep him on your barn-door wtchlist if you don’t bite before the deadline.

Pepe Reina ($1.00, BOU vs AVL): There isn’t much out there if you are looking to save money at keeper to spend elsewhere. This is one of those hope and pray that there are saves and that Bournemouth return to their usual no scoring ways (3 last game, but no goals the previous 4!). Our prayers go with you if you make this choice.

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Defenders

Trent Alexander-Arnold ($20.83, LIV vs SOU): The obvious choice if you can afford him, but there is some rotation risk after a heavy schedule. He did come off a little early mid-week, so maybe that means he’ll be set to play. It’s a heavy price if you are buying premium, but can you really afford not to have him? Andrew Robertson and Virgl Van Dijk are both available for less, with Van Dijk being the most certain starter.

Lucas Digne ($14.21, WAT vs EVE): Since the managerial change, Gylfi Sigurdsson has taken away some of Digne’s set piece opportunities. But his fantasy production remains steady, and the Toffees are playing less horribly. For $8.72 Djibril Sidibe is another option with good upside against Watford.

Willy Boly ($3.39, WOL vs MAN): Boly will bolster Wolves when they need it most. He’s consistent and capable of points. It’s a big game, and he’s a big player. For a little over $3, he’s a safe bet with a good upside. Also he’s a potential player for the rest of the season.

Matt Ritchie ($2.42, NEW vs NOR): Ritchie is back and taking set pieces for Newcastle. Plus he’s a midfielder who can you use as defender. Add to that a home fixture vs Norwich who have scored only 6 away goals...

Aymeric Laporte ($1.13, TOT vs MCI): He makes City’s back line better, and Spurs are struggling to score (even more so) without Kane, with 2 goals in their last 4, and those were against Norwich. And look again at his price!

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Midfielders

Kevin De Bruyne ($23.09, TOT vs MCI): The most consistent player in the game. He should always be in the conversation.

Jack Grealish ($20.74, BOU vs AVL): Grealish produces week in and week out. Add a decent matchup and he is worth the price this week.

Ryan Fraser ($9.44, BOU vs AVL):. Fraser has put in a few solid fantasy performances recently with 9, 4, 9 in his last 3 games. We know what he is capable of, even though he has yet to show it this season fully.

Ryan Fraser - Bournemouth - Premier League
Is Ryan Fraser finally finding his form again?
Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images

Allan Saint-Maximin ($5.57, NEW vs. NOR): The injury set him back, but the match up is good and he did finally grab his first goal before the setback. He is a potential game changer, and Norwich have given up 25 away goals this year.

Aaron Mooy ($5.33 WHU vs BHA): You can’t expect an explosion like last game, but he is on set pieces and does a little bit of everything for Brighton.

Ondrej Duda ($1.00, NEW vs NOR): The new signing for Norwich has put up 8 and 10 points in his first two games. He won’t stay this cheap for long.

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Forwards

Mo Salah ($18.65, LIV vs SOU): He is due a big game and it’s the best match-up of the week.

Sergio Aguero ($16.14, TOT vs MCI): The guy just scores goals. He has 7 goals in his last 5 games, including the game winner off the bench last game. He should start, and the goals should continue.

Callum Wilson ($6.94, BOU vs AVL): Last week Wilson scored his first goal since September. Bournemouth need a win. Wilson can score in bunches. Is this the goal that gets him going?

Troy Deeney ($5.73, WAT vs EVE): Deeney has scored 4 in the last 5, and would be 5 in 5 except for a missed PK. He’s a good value pick up.

Kelechi Iheanacho ($4.36, LEI vs CHE): Vardy made an appearance mid week, so we have to think if he’s healthy then he’s playing for such a big game. Iheahnacho has looked dangerous recently. Did he do enough to keep a spot alongside Vardy? Watch the updates on Vardy and the early lineup news.

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Which Liverpool and West Ham players are you holding onto, and who are you being sure to add in? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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