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EPL game-week 21 is over, and boy, it was a tough one. Consistent fantasy assets such as Bruno Fernandes and Heung-min Son were not able to deliver their usual returns, and players such as Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Kevin de Bruyne are still sidelined.
All twenty Premier League feature again this week, so whether you’re free-hitting, using your wildcard, or just spending a free transfer, let’s discuss the players that can deliver points!
Goalkeeper
Bernd Leno — £5.0m – Wolves (A)
Leno has been excellent since the loss to Chelsea in GW-15. With five clean sheets in their previous six matches, including a crucial nil-nil point against Manchester United, Mikel Arteta may have finally found his grip on his defensive players. Arsenal’s recent run of form comes at a bad time for Wolves, who without Raul Jimenez have just not been themselves moving forward.
Ederson - £6.0m – Burnley (A)
Even with Pep Guardiola looking to rotate his defense, Ederson is still a guaranteed starter and is likely to provide clean sheet points. Burnley has been finding difficulty scoring up-front, especially with Ashley Barnes still absent via injury (even though Sean Dyche has confirmed it’s minor). If Ederson does hold Burnley scoreless, it will be the Brazilian’s thirteenth clean sheet of the season.
Defenders
James Justin - £5.0m – Fulham (A)
Justin has been tremendous for Leicester this term, playing every single minute and looking like a threat bombing forward with his clinical crosses. At a price-tag of just £5.0, the youngster is a clear bargain who is set for a decent run of games. Relegation-zone Fulham is actually looking tough to break down lately, but the Cottagers lack quality when it comes to putting the ball in the net.
Marcos Alonso - £5.6m – Tottenham (A)
There is no reason why Alonso should not start the next game against Spurs; the left-back finally got to play his first full shift in the EPL since GW-2. Frozen out under Lampard, Thomas Tuchel’s arrival may breathe new life into Alonso’s career at Chelsea. And his comeback could not have been more stylish, scoring a stunning volley against Burnley to seal the three points. Ben Chilwell will push to be reinstalled against Spurs, but many believe Alonso deserves to start in the next tough game given an impressive performance that also included a clean sheet.
Ruben Dias — £6.0m – Burnley (A)
One can say with confidence that Ruben Dias is the only Manchester City outfield player (mostly) guaranteed to start, as he has played almost every minute in this campaign and seems to be immune from Pep roulette. His contribution has been massive, leading City to the top of the table and racking up more clean sheets than any other outfield player (twelve).
Midfielders
Wilfried Zaha - £7.3m – Newcastle (A)
Zaha looks like the only player in a Palace shirt who can be a game-changer for his side. Despite not being able to find his scoring form against Wolves, Zaha will view the game against struggling Newcastle as the perfect opportunity to add to his tally of nine goals in the league so far.
James Maddison - £7.3m – Fulham (A)
With Vardy sidelined, expect James Maddison to take charge and create goal-scoring chances for the likes of Harvey Barnes, Marc Albrighton and Ayoze Perez. The English playmaker provided one to Barnes against Leeds and looked impressive in the first-half despite a 3-1 loss. He has six goals and five assists to his name this term.
Bruno Fernandes - £11.4m – Southampton (H)
Fernandes failed to deliver against Arsenal and has had difficulty finding the net against ‘Big Six’ sides this season. But nothing can take away his contributions toward turning Manchester United into potential title-challengers this season. The Portuguese has collected 145 points in total so far, with 35 FPL points in his previous four home games. It’ll be no surprise if he continues this kind of productivity against a team like Southampton.
Forwards
Michail Antonio - £6.5m – Aston Villa (A)
Since returning to West Ham after his injury spell, Antonio has been averaging more than 11 points per week, playing a vital role in the Hammers’ ascent to 5th in the table. The striker has been scoring goals and delivering on the pitch with impressive performances. Following a loss to Liverpool he now has a decent run of fixtures coming up with Aston Villa, Fulham and Sheffield United in the next three games.
Patrick Bamford — £6.6m – Everton (H)
Bamford was excellent against Leicester, scoring once and helping twice, and now has eleven goals and seven assists to his name. The striker’s price tag makes him a bargain, and despite suffering a dead leg against the Foxes, the Englishman says he is fine.
Edinson Cavani - £7.9 – Southampton (H)
It’s just a matter of time before Cavani finds the net. Whenever he plays a full 90 minutes, his work-rate and ability to find space in the opposition box makes him a danger. And after failing to finish two clear chances against Arsenal, the Uruguay international will be hungry to score against the Saints..
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What do you think of our picks this week? On which players are you taking a chance? Whom do you favor to the win the Chelsea-Spurs match? Which player will shine in the spotlight this week? Please let us know in the comments section below!
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