Each week, Sport360 will bring you tips for the English Premier League’s official fantasy football game. Fancy pitting your wits against us? You can join “Sport360 Fans League” using the code: zj04s8
Fantasy Premier League returns for Gameweek 13 after the international break and there’s plenty to consider following the events of the previous round.
Leicester City furthered their status as Premier League title contenders with a convincing 2-0 win over Arsenal while Liverpool are clearly the ones to beat following a 3-1 victory over defending champions Manchester City. Meanwhile, Manchester United finally look capable of scoring multiple goals in games again as Brighton were on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline at Old Trafford.
The Seagulls have another tough match-up this time around with Leicester paying them a visit while Crystal Palace and Sheffield United have Liverpool and United to deal with respectively.
Arsenal host Southampton at the Emirates and the match of the weekend sees City looking to bounce back when an in-form Chelsea side come to town.
Here are a few tips to help guide you through GW13.
CAPTAIN – JAMIE VARDY | LEICESTER CITY | 9.6M
This is one of those GWs in which it’s exceedingly difficult to pick out a player who seems destined for a big haul. On paper, Arsenal at home to the Saints looks like an attractive fixture but the Gunners are faltering at the moment and talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is enduring a rough patch as well with only one goal in the last five games.
It makes sense then to turn to the most trusted source of points at the moment and Jamie Vardy’s consistency of late makes him a prime candidate. The striker has blanked in just one of the last six GWs and that was at Anfield. He’s bagged eight goals and two assists during that time.
Vardy does have potential for a double figure haul having managed the feat four times already this season but Brighton have looked defensively strong at the back, especially at home. That said, the 32-year-old should still be in line for at least one attacking return with the Seagulls missing a defensive stalwart in Lewis Dunk through suspension.
ALTERNATIVES
SADIO MANE (12.1m) plays at Selhurst Park this weekend but is one of those who could still have a big week. He’s the highest-scoring midfielder in FPL this season and second overall. With three goals and three assists in the last five GWs, he has form on his side as well.
KEVIN DE BRUYNE (10.2m) has blanked in three of his last four games but it’s difficult to bet against a player creating the volume of chances he is. Defence is still an area of concern for Chelsea and they’ll be up against the leading assist provider in the league who is averaging a staggering 4.4 key passes per 90 minutes according to whoscored.com.
BOLD CHOICE
LUCAS DIGNE (5.9m) has reemerged as an FPL option with a couple of good performances even though his own goal in GW10 is still pretty fresh in the memory. He’s behind only Trent Alexander-Arnold for expected assists among defenders according to Wyscout and is delivering 3.5 crosses per game. Everton have underachieved in terms of clean sheets as only City have conceded fewer shots. It bodes well that Norwich have scored just once in the last seven GWs.
ONE TO GET
RAUL JIMENEZ | WOLVES | 7.3M
It’s all about the Vardy party at the moment but make room for a little Mexican jig as well because Raul Jimenez has popped up with three goals and two assists in the last five GWs. Having had a phenomenal season in fantasy last time around, he disappointed with a slow start but is finally hitting his stride and is now 0.2m cheaper. He ranks fourth for xG (expected goals) this season and only Son Heung-min has hit the post more times (3/2).
ONE TO AVOID
HARRY MAGUIRE | MANCHESTER UNITED | 5.3M
Like Everton, United should really be keeping more clean sheets as well but just can’t help but let in that one goal. The Red Devils have kept three clean sheets this season and have leaked a single goal on eight occasions.
Even if half of those had been prevented, Harry Maguire would likely be a top-10 defender. But, they can’t be trusted and with the England international dropping in price, it’s time to cut your losses or steer clear for now especially with his former employers Leicester offering up some attractive defensive options.
BARGAIN BUY
DWIGHT MCNEIL | BURNLEY | 6.0M
Only De Bruyne has more than Dwight McNeil’s five FPL assists this season. With 1.8 crosses per game, he’s also among the most frequent crosses, putting him seventh in the league. He also has two good targets in Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood to aim for in the middle. He’s only 0.2m more expensive than popular budget midfielder John McGinn and is only a point behind the Aston Villa man. Meanwhile, his one per cent ownership makes him a huge differential.
For the very latest news, analysis and opinion download the Sport360 app