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It’s been a grim few weeks in Fantasy Premier League. Gameweek 27 was an unmitigated disaster, 28 offered some respite but 29 was cruel again with an average score of just 40 points.
The good news is, if you’ve had a bad run, this was a good time for it – but chin up now, it’s time to hunt down those big hauls again.
Arsenal host Manchester United in the clash of the weekend but the rest of the top six enjoy favourable fixtures. Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea host Watford, Burnley and Wolves respectively while Tottenham travel to Southampton.
Here are a few tips ahead of GW30.
CAPTAIN – SERGIO AGUERO | MANCHESTER CITY | 11.8M
Mohamed Salah faces Burnley at home and normally that would make him the obvious choice but the Liverpool talisman has let himself – and all his FPL owners – down in recent weeks.
As such, it’s prudent to turn to a player and team who have the bit between their teeth. After wrestling back the advantage in their race to the title with Liverpool, City look like the real deal. Against Bournemouth last week, they enjoyed 82 per cent of possession away from home, mustering 23 shots to none but luck was not on their side.
They wouldn’t be denied though and forced a win anyway through a solitary Riyad Mahrez goal. Sergio Aguero had a game-high five efforts and on another day would’ve scored from at least one of them.
The Argentine still looks sharp and has delivered in eight of his last 10 starts. Meanwhile, he’s yet to blank this season when he’s started at home. Watford were humiliated 5-0 at Anfield in GW28 and City will hope to enjoy an emphatic victory over them as well.
Sergio Aguero
ALTERNATIVES
MOHAMED SALAH (13.4m) has now blanked in five of the last six GWs. He is still getting chances though and perhaps should’ve scored twice against Everton last week. That’s equal parts frustrating and encouraging for his FPL owners. He’s being wasteful in front of goal but on the other hand, he could burst into life with a brace or hat-trick at any point. Will Burnley at home on Sunday be that fixture?
RAHEEM STERLING (11.4m) has looked sharp in recent weeks and is another players bursting at the seams with FPL points. In fact, he’s already had three double-figure hauls in his last five starts. With 12 goals and 13 assists, he’s the second-highest scoring player in FPL this season.
BOLD CHOICE
ROMELU LUKAKU (10.7m) is on a stunning scoring streak after following up his two braces in the Premier League with another couple of strikes in United’s dramatic Champions League win over Paris-Saint Germain on Wednesday night. He’s sharper than he’s been all season and with the number of injuries in the squad, must start on Sunday. He’ll have to face Arsenal away though but did bag two assists at the Emirates five weeks ago in the FA Cup.
Romelu Lukaku
TWO TO WATCH
BERNARDO SILVA | MANCHESTER CITY | 7.5M
With Kevin De Bruyne sidelined with a hamstring injury, Bernardo Silva is likely going to be central to City’s plans once more. For his price, he represents great value and a cheap way into City’s midfield. However, he only really makes sense if you have enough players to carry you through Blank Gameweek 31 unless you plan to use your Free Hit chip then.
WILFRIED ZAHA | CRYSTAL PALACE | 6.9M
Again, if you plan to Free Hit in GW31, Wilfried Zaha should be on your radar. The tricky winger is starting to look dangerous again, scoring four times in the last four GWs. Brighton at home is certainly an appealing fixture for Palace before they entertain Huddersfield in GW32.
TWO TO AVOID
SON HEUNG-MIN | TOTTENHAM | 8.8M
As good as he’s been, Harry Kane’s return coupled with Spurs seemingly starting to run out of steam again at this stage of the season doesn’t bode well for Son Heung-min. The South Korean has blanked in the last three GWs and worringly, hasn’t really threatened the goal either with Kane resuming as the main focal point in attack.
ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC | FULHAM | 6.5M
Still owned by almost 13 per cent, Aleksandar Mitrovic has delivered returns in just one of the last nine GWs. Meanwhile, Fulham have managed just one win in that period as well. With Claudio Ranieri shown the door, things look bleak for the Londoners.