Newcastle United v Norwich City is one of four Premier League matches which take place this weekend.
This weekend gives a new challenge for fantasy football managers, requiring them to look as far into the future as next Wednesday.
Stick with us, and we’ll do our best to guide you through. Our tip to captain Luis Suarez last week eventually paid off, with the striker providing two assists and two bonus points in Liverpool’s match with Everton.
Fulham v Swansea is one of Saturday’s games, and it is hard to look past Clint Dempsey for a Fulham goal, such is his record at Craven Cottage.
Pavel Pogrebnyak scored a hat-trick last time he played at home, but Swansea will hope to put up a tougher defence than Wolves.
Michel Vorm kept a clean sheet last time these two sides met, even saving a Dempsey penalty, but it will be a tough ask for the club to keep a third clean sheet in a row.
Wigan v West Brom is the second Saturday game, with the home side desperate for a win. Roberto Martinez has said that he is to give Shaun Maloney a chance, with the midfielder providing an assist for Wigan’s equaliser against Norwich last week. He is priced at just 4.5 and could be a good value selection.
For West Brom the biggest value player has to be James Morrison, who has racked up 84 points this season, and is priced as cheaply as 5.4, and could exploit a vulnerable Wigan defence.
Onto Sunday’s games, and Manchester United’s visit to Newcastle.
Wayne Rooney continued his outstanding form with a goal in United’s loss to Bilbao last night, and the club would be silly to leave him out in such a crucial game.
Ashley Young has been in superb form the last fortnight, and with Nani and Valencia not fully fit, expect him to play a key role.
The least said about Wolves right now the better, so let’s move on.
Those who have kept Demba Ba in their sides will be frustrated at his recent poor form, so what better than a home game against Norwich to get him and the Toon Army back on track.
Expect Alan Pardew to play Papiss Cisse in this one too, as he goes all out to get a win. Ryan Taylor will face a late fitness test, so could feature, while Tim Krul represents a good choice of goalkeeper.
Aston Villa v Bolton is Tuesday night, and Wanderers fans will be looking to loan star Ryo Miyaichi for inspiration. Miyaichi scored six points last week, providing an assist, and will be dangerous again here. Andreas Weimann scored last week for Villa and could be in line for a first start. He costs only 5.0, and if you fancy a gamble, this could be the game to do it, with a weak Bolton defence his only obstacle.
Blackburn v Sunderland will be another open game, but not many players appeal, save for in-form Junior Hoilett, who costs just 5.5 and scored 13 points last week.
Man City v Chelsea is the big Wednesday night game- with both sides desperate for a win. David Silva has shown this season he is a man for the big games, so don’t drop him ahead of this one.
Mario Balotelli and Didier Drogba have to be the biggest goalscoring threats, and we can see this one featuring several goals, with 11.7 priced Carlos Tevez having an outside chance of featuring off the bench.
If you have Gary Cahill in your team, may be bench him this week, he did not feature against Napoli, with John Terry returning, and chances of a clean sheet are slim. Vincent Kompany could also make a recovery for City, given Stefan Savic’s poor form, the club may be tempted to rush him back.
Arsenal travel to Everton, and while Robin van Persie always looks good for a goal, Everton will look to keep it tight at the back. Keep the Dutchman in, but have a serious think about captaining somebody with an easier fixture. Theo Walcott is on form, and at 8.9 could be Arsenal’s biggest threat, while goalscoring centre-back Thomas Vermaelen will look to make it two in two.
QPR host Liverpool, coming off the back of their storming Merseyside Derby win. Can Luis Suarez finally get a goal? With Liverpool hosting Wigan next, it is worth hanging onto the striker.
Liverpool may not keep a clean sheet, with QPR duo Djibril Cisse and Bobby Zamora both in good form, and this one could be a famous win for the Rs, so there’s no guarantee over a Liverpool clean sheet.
You have to fancy Gareth Bale to do the business for Spurs at home to Stoke, he is due a good performance, and Stoke do not travel well. Emmanuel Adebayor will plan to get back in the goals, and we also fancy Spurs and Benoit Assou-Ekotto to keep a clean sheet.
Captain tips: Demba Ba, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young, Gareth Bale, Emmanuel Adebayor, and of course, if you must Robin van Persie.
image: © mikebrown59
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