As the English Premier League nears the finish line, the stakes go even higher as teams give it their all to end the season on a high.
With almost every side charged up, it can be a nightmare for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers as they rack their brains to pick the best players for their sides.
To ease the selection dilemma, The Statesman delivers a comprehensive article on who to buy for the coming gameweek.
The indicators are:
Teams in BOLD are top 4 contenders.
Prices marked with a (+) indicate an increase in Base Price.
Prices marked with a (-) indicate a decrease in Base Price.
Goalkeepers
Hugo Lloris
Team: Tottenham Hotspur
Fixtures: Watford (H), Bournemouth (H), Crystal Palace (A), Arsenal (H) and West Ham (A)
Price: 5.5
Score: 106
Ownership: 7.6%
Why yes: Spurs are in serious form at present and with some easy fixtures up ahead, Lloris should return from illness to keep a few clean sheets.
Why no: No official confirmation over his participation against Watford has been made, so there is a chance Michel Vorm will continue to deputise between the sticks.
Defenders
Antonio Valencia
Team: Manchester United
Fixtures: Sunderland (A), Chelsea (H), Burnley (A)-Man City (A), Swansea (H) and Arsenal (A)
Price: 6.0 (+)
Score: 106
Ownership: 17.4%
Why yes: Among United’s finest players this season, Valencia is quite consistent when he plays. The Red Devils have a decent defence and should be able to keep a clean sheet at struggling Sunderland. Valencia has a double fixture in Gameweek 34.
Why no: Games after Sunderland are extremely tough and Valencia’s price point is on the higher side (All other United defenders are at least 0.5 cheaper). Should you have David de Gea as your FPL keeper, Valencia can be skipped.
Pablo Zabaleta
Team: Manchester City
Fixtures: Hull (H), Southampton (A), Man Utd (H), Middlesbrough (A) and Crystal Palace (H)
Price: 4.7 (-)
Score: 31
Ownership: 1.2%
Why yes: Expect City to bounce back from their defeat at Chelsea against Hull at home and with Zabaleta fit to start, the right-back is a decent option for a side that will finish in the top four. The next few games are quite easy overall (except for the United game ).
Why no: He certainly isn't the player he was and while City may well beat Hull at home, expecting them to keep clean sheets is like asking for trouble!
Midfielders
Raheem Sterling
Team: Manchester City
Fixtures: Hull (H), Southampton (A), Man Utd (H), Middlesbrough (A) and Crystal Palace (H)
Price: 7.6 (-)
Score: 126
Ownership: 11.7%
Why yes: Sterling didn't get much playing time in the last two games, which means he is guaranteed to start against lowly Hull. The young winger has been in fine form this season and alongside Leroy Sane, is an excellent mid-price option. Overall fixtures are quite decent too.
Why no: Sane is in better form arguably and should you already have him or Kevin De Bruyne/Sergio Aguero, picking Sterling would mean you are spending a major chunk of your budge on one team.
Mesut Ozil
Team: Arsenal
Fixtures: Crystal Palace (A), Middlesrbrough (A), Leicester (H), Spurs (A) and Man Utd (H)
Price: 9.4 (-)
Score: 122
Ownership: 5.8%
Why yes: Arsenal and Ozil roared back into form against West Ham and they should continue in the same vein against Crystal Palace. When on song, as he is right now, he is a delight to watch and will definitely reward any FPL manager who picks him.
Why no: If you already have Alexis Sanchez or Theo Walcott ( Who is considerably cheaper than Ozil), then the German shouldn't be bought. Palace are no pushovers and Ozil is notorious for going missing when things aren't going his way.
Forwards
Romelu Lukaku
Team: Everton
Fixtures: Leicester (H), Burnley (H), West Ham (A), Chelsea (H) and Swansea (H)
Price: 10.4 (+)
Score: 186
Ownership: 45.5%
Why yes: Two games without scoring, the Premier League’s top-scorer is bound to score against Leicester. Is still cheaper than the likes of Sergio Aguero and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the only consistent attacking player in Everton’s line-up.
Why no: Half of the FPL managers have him, so he has zero differential potential. His price is quite high and with Everton more or less out of the race for the Champions League spots, he may not be as motivated as before.
Divock Origi
Team: Liverpool
Fixtures: Stoke (A), West Brom (A), Crystal Palace (H), Watford (A) and Southampton (H)
Price: 6.2 (-)
Score: 79
Ownership: 5.7%
Why yes: The biggest gainer from Sadio Mane’s injury, the Belgian forward is on a real hot-streak at the moment. A confirmed starter till the end of the season (seems unlikely Mane will be back before May). A must-have, especially if you factor the price and Liverpool's upcoming fixtures.
Why no: If you already have Philippe Coutinho or Roberto Firmino, then Origi should be avoided.
PS: The Gameweek deadline is 11.30 am GMT/4 pm IST.