By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
The most recent international break is over and that means
that domestic action returns this weekend. Excitement will build for football
fans up and down the land and there are some intriguing match-ups this weekend.
Matchday 8’s main encounters include a return to Stamford
Bridge for Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri, the two winless Premier League
sides clashing in Staffordshire as Stoke City host Sunderland and the
eagerly-anticipated duel on Monday night between Liverpool FC and Manchester
United.
Many of us have Fantasy Premier League teams too, so whether
you are competing in a work league, having a battle with college and University
friends or even looking for family bragging rights, here are 5 bargain buys to
consider for the next few rounds of Premier League fixtures.
Goalkeepers:
Artur Boruc (AFC Bournemouth) – Current Price: £4.5m
Most teams will have expensive goalkeepers like David de Gea
and Petr Cech. If you are looking for a bargain buy between the sticks, then
look no further than Artur Boruc.
The AFC Bournemouth shot-stopper has shown already this
season his ability to pull off some excellent performances, notably in games
against Crystal Palace and Everton where the Cherries picked up four useful
points. Boruc is currently the second highest points scorer for goalkeepers in
the game.
Saturday sees Eddie Howe’s side face a goal-shy Hull City
side. Even though high-flying Tottenham Hotspur visit the Vitality Stadium next
weekend, Bournemouth have fixtures coming up against Middlesbrough, Sunderland
and Stoke City – all fixtures where they should pick up points.
You can do a lot worse than Boruc at the moment as your
first-choice goalkeeper.
Other
Contenders:
Fraser Forster (Southampton)
£5.0m – Forster is part of a Saints’ backline that hasn’t conceded a
Premier League goal since a Santi Cazorla spot-kick in early September.
Jordan Pickford
(Sunderland) £4.0m – Pickford has put himself forward to be Sunderland’s
main no.1 even when Vito Mannone returns from injury. His defence often leaks
goals but always a busy goalkeeper, so likely to collect bonus points at any
stage.
Who to
Drop:
Ben Foster (West
Bromwich Albion) £4.7m – With only two clean sheets this season, West
Bromwich Albion doesn’t have the watertight defence they often demonstrate.
Their upcoming fixtures are not kind either.
Simon Mignolet
(Liverpool FC) £5.0m – The Belgian no.2 goalkeeper has recently become
Liverpool’s no.2 goalkeeper too. Mignolet is unlikely to win back his place any
time soon either with Loris Karius already looking a more assured presence.
Defenders:
Patrick van Aanholt (Sunderland) – Current Price: £5.0m
When it comes to defenders, you want to strike the perfect
balance between keeping goals out at your end and showing some attacking
instinct and Patrick van Aanholt definitely fits into the latter category.
Van Aanholt has made the headlines already this season after
a late withdrawal from a match last month at Tottenham Hotspur for medical
reasons. However, he has two goals already this season for Sunderland. Only
Jermain Defoe has scored more for David Moyes’ struggling outfit.
He made a telling contribution last time out against West
Bromwich Albion, coming off the bench to score a priceless equaliser. He does
often start games and Moyes would look silly if he didn’t figure against a
Stoke side that seems to have forgotten the art of keeping shutouts.
Van Aanholt’s defensive qualities have been questioned in
the past but there isn’t many better getting forward from the back than Van
Aanholt.
Other
Contenders:
Charlie Daniels (AFC
Bournemouth) £4.9m – He is AFC Bournemouth’s penalty-taker, and loves
getting forward to supply the crosses for the Cherries’ forward line. Daniels
would be a useful addition.
Virgil van Dijk (Southampton)
£5.4m – Dutchman Virgil van Dijk has been a huge presence in the
Southampton backline since moving from Celtic last August. Often pops up with a
goal and the Saints will be disappointed not to keep a clean sheet against
Burnley on Sunday.
Who to
Drop:
Luke Shaw (Manchester
United) £5.5m – Recently criticised by manager Jose Mourinho for his
performance in defeat against Watford, injury has kept Luke Shaw out of
Manchester United’s last three matches in all competitions. He is still a major
doubt ahead of Monday’s night’s showdown at Anfield and it is time to consider
alternative options.
Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea)
£5.9m – Dropped for the recent win at Hull, Branislav Ivanovic is no longer
an automatic Chelsea selection, especially when John Terry returns form injury.
He is one of the game’s more expensive defenders, so you would be wise to think
long and hard about Ivanovic’s claims to a place in your team.
Midfielders:
James Milner (Liverpool FC) – Current Price: £6.6m
Having integrated into a left-back role, it seems silly to
think James Milner is a midfielder nowadays. However, he has always shown his
versatility as a footballer and it is being demonstrated again this season.
 |
| Milner has become a key figure in the Jurgen Klopp evolution at LFC |
Milner (pictured) has 43 points already in the current game and that’s
more than other LFC midfielders in Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, who cost a
lot more in terms of price.
The former England international is Liverpool’s main
penalty-taker and rarely lets you down from 12 yards either. He has already
converted four spot-kicks this season.
Milner is a solid scorer of points and every team needs a
decent penalty taker. Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures also offer a good chance
for bonus points.
Other
Contenders:
Robert Snodgrass (Hull
City) £5.7m – Hull’s top scorer this season has the opportunity to add to
his points tally in upcoming fixtures with favourable match-ups against AFC
Bournemouth, Stoke City and Sunderland in the next month. The Scottish
international is the only Hull offensive player you should be considering and
offers strong value for money.
Joe Allen (Stoke City)
£4.8m – Joe Allen has carried on where he left off at EURO 2016 and scored
in his last two matches, including an equalising goal at Old Trafford a
fortnight ago. He is an injury doubt for this weekend’s match with Sunderland
but should figure prominently in upcoming matches as the Potters’ look to surge
up the table. Allen could be a surprise FPL scorer as the season progresses.
Who to
Drop:
Ross Barkley (Everton)
£7.4m – Everton might be looking good under Ronald Koeman but Ross Barkley
is failing to sparkle so far. Despite an opening day goal against Tottenham
Hotspur, Barkley has been careless in possession and wasteful in terms of
creating chances. There are better options out there at the moment.
Riyad Mahrez (Leicester
City) £9.2m – It might seem daft to have Mahrez in the ‘drop’ selection.
However, his performances this season haven’t been as consistent as they were
last season. Mahrez always has the potential to create the spark for Leicester
but with tough away games coming up at Chelsea and Tottenham, it might be worth
thinking about sacrificing him until Ranieri’s side find more consistent form.
Forwards: Marcus
Rashford (Manchester United) – Current Price: £6.9m
Any doubts about Marcus Rashford earlier on this season and
whether he would play on a regular basis seem to have diminished.
Impressive cameos off the bench against Watford and Hull
City forced Mourinho’s hand. Wayne Rooney has had to step aside and Rashford’s
knack of finding the target and boundless energy levels make him a contender
for any FPL team.
In an area where Sergio Aguero and Zlatan Ibrahimovic dominate
most teams, Rashford is a strong contender for striking berth no.3 in your
teams.
Other
Contenders:
Charlie Austin (Southampton)
£6.3m – Charlie Austin seems to have rediscovered the form he showed in a
QPR side that got relegated from the Premier League in 2014/2015. He is a
proven goalscorer and looks set to be the regular in attack for the Saints.
Burnley at home this weekend means he is a points banker.
Troy Deeney (Watford)
£7.1m – Watford’s talisman and lynchpin has carried on with his good form
and was very unlucky to not receive international recognition last time out
from Gareth Southgate and England. He is penalty-taker for the Hornets and with
Middlesbrough, Swansea and Hull on the horizon, Deeney looks set to grab a
hateful of points.
Who to
Drop:
Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool
FC) £9.9m – This one is a no-brainer. Sturridge is no longer an automatic
pick at Liverpool FC as the form of Mane/Firmino and his injury record means he
is not properly trusted by Jurgen Klopp. He has only managed an average of two
points per game so far. He must be sacrificed if you want to win leagues and
battles this season.
Odion Ighalo (Watford)
£7.3m – Whilst Deeney continues to be Watford’s main target man, the form
of Ighalo continues to baffle. He couldn’t stop scoring in 2015 but it has been
a very different story in 2016. The Nigerian has only netted three league goals
in this calendar year and the tactical system now employed doesn’t seem to suit
him. He is short on confidence and should be considered a risky player to have
in your team.
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