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Welcome to our game-week 21 FPL picks. We’re still in the midst of a busy football period. We wrap a round of mid-week games with Tottenham hosting Liverpool today to cap game-week 20. This promising fixture should deliver and hopefully give us a good indication of whom to back for this weekend’s game-week 21 starting day after tomorrow. Here are our picks:
Goalkeepers
Sam Johnstone - £4.5Mil - Fulham (H)
It may be foolish to look at bringing in the goalkeeper of a team that has conceded 11 goals in its last three games, but a home fixture against relegation rivals Fulham may be a good time to record a rare clean sheet. Johnstone has alway been busy, racking up plenty of saves. Surely the Allardyce effect will come apparent soon.
Ederson - £6.0Mil - Sheffield United (H)
A mundane pick, but Ederson looks best placed to keep a clean-sheet this weekend. The in-form Citizens face rock-bottom Blades who have scored only twelve league goals this season (though two of those were just yesterday right here in Manchester). You’d fancy Pep’s free-scoring men to be camped in the Blades half with Ederson not having to be called into action.
Defenders
João Cancelo - £5.9Mil - Sheffield United (H)
As mentioned for Ederson above, this game will present Cancelo and the Citizen’s defense a great opportunity to record a clean-sheet. Cancelo also has the advantage of being able to get involved at the business end of the pitch. Man City should be attacking with intent. Cancelo scored and assisted last time out.
Reece James - £5.1Mil - Burnley (H)
James has yet to feature for new Blues boss, Thomas Tuchel; remaining on the bench for the 0-0 draw against Wolves. James did feature recently in the FA Cup for Chelsea, recording an assist, so he should have a chance to prove himself. He has had a rest and faces Burnley, so he has an opportunity to record points at both ends of the pitch.
Tyrick Mitchell - £3.9Mil - Wolves (H)
The Eagles left-back looks set to continue his run in the side after having recently impressed. He offers tremendous value as an enabler worth bringing into any squad. Next up is a Wolves side that blanked last time out and still miss decorated striker, Raul Jiménez.
Midfielders
İlkay Gündoğan - £5.7Mil - Sheffield United (H)
Gündoğan has been playing in a more advanced role in recent weeks, which has certainly made an impact. He now has an impressive seven goals in his last eight games, including a brace last time out. With Kevin De Bruyne out for a few weeks yet, Gündoğan should continue to feature and chip in with the goals. He’s tremendous value. Get him in quick, as his stock continues to rise!
Raphinha - £5.4Mil - Leicester (A)
With Patrick Bamford having neither scored nor assisted in the last three games, Raphinha has stepped up as the go-to-guy in the Leeds side. The Brazilian winger impressed last time out, picking up a goal and assist. Leeds games usually deliver on goals, so hopefully Raphinha builds on his form from midweek. At 1.5% ownership currently, he’s a great differential.
James Rodriguez - £7.7Mil - Newcastle (H)
After spending a few weeks out with an injury, the Toffees playmaker has been a forgotten man in FPL recently. “Hot-mess” looks to have put his recent injury troubles behind him after following up a successful FA Cup performance with a goal in GW-20. Next up is a Newcastle side that has lost its last five games.
Forwards
Michail Antonio - £6.4Mil - Liverpool (H)
A little while ago, a fixture against Liverpool would’ve made you run a mile from owning any West Ham United assets, but the table has turned in recent weeks. The Hammers are flying high at the moment, battling it out for a Champions League spot, whilst Liverpool has slipped to the back of the peloton (pending the result of today’s match). Antonio has two goals plus an assist in his last three matches, so he should give the makeshift Liverpool defense a hard time.
Ollie Watkins - £6.1Mil - Southampton (A)
After a long while without scoring in the League, Watkins now has back-to-back goals and looks much more of an appealing option up top. Aston Villa is usually good value in front of goal, and now Watkins faces the Saints who have conceded five goals in their last two games.
Danny Ings - £8.4Mil - Aston Villa (H)
Ings has featured on and off for a while now after picking up an injury back in November. His minutes have slowly been increasing, so he will hope to reestablish his earlier goal-scoring form. A fixture against Villa could present him with a decent opportunity to get back in amongst the goals, with the Villians having conceded three goals against Burnley last time out.
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What do you think of our selections this week? Any hot tips? Are you playing safe or going for differentials? Please let us know in the comments!
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