Spurs, Palace, Liverpool and More Liverpool

Apr 26

Fantasy Football – Gameweek 36 Preview – Written by @NiallHawthorne

As the season end approaches, I found myself perusing through the Bang Average YIRMA league to see what kind of a standard this preview has helped (stop giggling) to engender. I must say loyal readers, you have very, very high standards (although why you continue to read my ramblings is beyond me). The team leading the way is Norwegian (naturally) and currently sits 47^th in the world!

As I marvelled at this team, I noticed that they were in quite a few mini-leagues, and one in particular caught my eye…because this person is ninth in a mini-league.

NINTH.

So, it goes to show ladies and gents, that the words of wisdom first uttered by Homer J Simpson ring true now more than ever: “You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try”.

So on with the preview so you can try even harder!

Defender: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool

The most in-form Liverpool player in FPL, a stalwart of the best defence in England, with 8 assists and a goal to his name this season, taker of loads of set-pieces, who plays higher up the pitch than many wingers, at home to a team who have failed to score in 4 of their last 5 away games.

Do I need to draw you a fricking map?

Midfielder: Christian Eriksen, Tottenham Hotspur

West Ham are the latest visitors to White Hart Lane (I’ve annexed the ‘new’ or any other name for that stadium) with a recent defensive record that is, to put it bluntly, a bit sh*t. They’ve conceded at least two goals in each of their last four games including three to Huddersfield Town (!).

With Spurs pushing for that coveted Top-4 trophy, Christian Eriksen is leading the charge from midfield, as highlighted by his late winner against Brighton. Oh, the irony of somebody swooping in to rob something from the Seagulls. Anyway, I fancy Spurs to keep Fabianski busy this weekend, with their mercurial Dane pulling the strings from midfield.

Forward: Jamie Vardy, Leicester City

While the remaining fixtures for Leicester City look extremely daunting, you need to delve a bit deeper into things to see that all is not what it seems. For a start, Leicester are scoring for fun (the Rafa Benitez defensive masterclass aside), and they face an Arsenal defence that conceded a goal to Christian Benteke this week. Yes, that Christian Benteke (who also got an assist!!!).

They also face Chelsea on the last day, who aren’t exactly water-tight, and they have a nice easy away game against a jittery Manchester City sandwiched in between. Honestly, if Vardy doesn’t notch at least two in these remaining games, I’ll be surprised.

Go on, I dare you…

Captain: Mohammed Salah, Liverpool

The easiest home game of the season (on paper) for a striker desperate to keep his ‘Golden Boot’ award.

Liverpool have a 6-goal inferior goal difference to Manchester City right now, and while it’s unlikely that GD will come into play at the end of the season, there couldn’t be a better opportunity for Klopp’s men to close that gap. With Salah revealing his eagerness to finish top scorer this season, as evidenced by his desire to take the penalty against Cardiff (until Jimmy Milner took the ball and made him sulk), I don’t see him passing very often this Friday night. This has a feeling of Watford at home last season for me, where Mo scored 4.