Manchester City and Manchester United face Wolves and Everton ahead of their huge crunch clash next weekend. Who will be the star performers ahead of the showdown?
We asked ahead of Gameweek 31 if it was ‘Tevez Time’? It appears we got our timing slightly out, with the Argentine going goal crazy against Norwich, banging in a hat-trick and providing an assist.
Sergio Aguero also bagged two, confirming their pair’s blossoming partnership, and they have to be odds on again to net against bottom club Wolves at Molineux on Sunday.
The price of both strikers has increased over the past week, with Tevez now costing 11.9 and Aguero 11.1 after dipping into the 10s.
They are not the only City players to be fancied. David Silva has a goal and an assist in his last two games and costs 9.6 after being over 10 for the much of the season.
Considering the poor standard of the opposition and City’s determination to win and win well, that price could be a bargain, while City also would have to be fancied to keep a clean sheet.
Rivals Manchester United face Everton, who will be without the injured Leighton Baines. Wayne Rooney got a scalding from his manager last week for a poor performance is which he scored two goals, and will want to improve against his former club, who he does not have the best record against.
Antonio Valencia remains the model of consistency down the right, while United have to be strongly fancied for a clean sheet here, so back Jonny Evans and co to bag your back line some points.
Arsenal v Chelsea is a tough one to call. At the Bridge Arsenal pulled off a magic 5-3 win courtesy of standout performances from Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott. Both were big let downs against Wigan on Monday, and are tough to read.
It would be foolhardy to take them out of your side, but may be give captaining Van Persie a miss- famous last words we know.
Chelsea will be full of confidence after beating Barcelona, although how much that took out of them we don’t know. Didier Drogba has been a thorn in Arsenal’s side over the years, and despite a poor away record in the league this year, he will fancy his chances of following up his goals against Barca and Tottenham.
A word of caution on Drogba, is that rotation-happy Di Matteo may rest him and start Torres, so it is a bit of a gamble. With Chelsea playing twice next week any players brought in, will have extra value. Juan Mata is in form and due a goal, costing 9.5 and scored past Arsenal in the 5-3 loss last Autumn.
To the rest of the games, and can Fulham halt Wigan’s stunning revival? All eyes will be on super-consistent Clint Dempsey, and whether he can put on another super-show. We say he is well worth bringing in.
Another who will be desperate to score is Blackburn striker Yakubu. The Rovers forward has been on-fire at times this season, but the club have lost their last five, and desperately need a result against Norwich City. If they do, Yakubu will be the man to score the goals, and given the magnitude of the game, we recommend him.
He is nursing a slight knee injury, so think carefully and listen to late fitness announcements, but it is more than likely he will play.
Liverpool v West Brom is an interesting fixture, as is QPR v Tottenham, but all four clubs have been madly inconsistent this season and for Spurs and Liverpool especially this could be the turning point, but FA Cup and league form can be deceiving.
We can’t recommend bringing in any of their players though. We say sit tight, look elsewhere, and see how they perform this week and who is in form, ahead of the double gameweek for both teams next weekend.
One extra note- Djibril Cisse is back for QPR this weekend from suspension. He has got either a goal or a red card each game this season for his club, so if you fancy an ultimate gamble, this guy is your man.
Our tips in summary: Van Persie, Tevez, Mata, Yakubu, Evans, Silva, Aguero, De Gea, Cisse, Mata, Dempsey.
images: © psflannery, © Ronnie Macdonald
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