Fantasy Premier League Pundit Picks: Gameweek 34

The Premier League taught everyone a valuable lesson last week, not to take anything for granted, what with a pulsating Manchester Derby putting Manchester City’s champagne on ice for another two weeks or so.

While the Sky Blues remain favourites to be crowned champions of England’s top-flight, its virtual counterpart—the Fantasy Premier League (FPL)—remains as turbulent as ever.

A double-fixture gameweek is FPL’s equivalent of a bonanza for if you play your cards right, you could shoot up the rankings but as always, it’s a double-edged sword as well.

And while there’s plenty of information available on almost every singe player, it can get a tad bit overwhelming at times but worry not, for The Statesman is at hand to sort sweep aside your dilemmas with a concise article ahead of every Gameweek.

The indicators are:

Teams in BOLD are top 4 contenders.

Prices (in £ million) marked in Green indicates a rise in Base Price.
Prices (in £ million) marked in Red indicates fall in Base Price.

Goalkeepers

David de Gea

Team: Manchester United
Fixtures: West Brom (H)-Bournemouth (A), N/A, Arsenal (H), Brighton (A)-West Ham (A) and Watford (H)
Price: 5.9
Score: 152
Ownership: 44.8%

Why yes: United are odds-on to register two shutouts in Gameweek 34 and their next double fixture Gameweek (37) seems pretty straightforward as well.

Why no: He’s expensive and with United’s attackers returning to form, may get difficult to chose with three players to pick from the Red half of Manchester. The Red Devils don’t play in Gameweek 35 and de Gea isn’t much of a differential.

Kasper Schmeichel

Team: Leicester City
Fixtures: Burnley (A)-Southampton (H), N/A, Crystal Palace (A), West Ham (H)-Arsenal (H) and Spurs (A)
Price: 5.1
Score: 122
Ownership: 5.4%

Why yes: While they did lose unexpectedly to Newcastle last week, the Foxes have otherwise been in pretty decent shape. Gameweek 34 looks like it will bring at least one shutout for Claude Puel’s men.

Why no: Burnley are going great guns and while Southampton may be down in the dumps, expect the Saints to make life difficult for Leicester. Schmeichel may be a fine shot-stopper, but the Foxes don’t really keep too many clean-sheets. Leicester do not have a fixture in Gameweek 35.

Defenders

Virgil van Dijk

Team: Liverpool
Fixtures: Bournemouth (H), West Brom (A), Stoke (H), Chelsea (A) and Brighton (H)
Price: 5.7
Score: 58
Ownership: 7.2%

Why yes: A couple of weeks ago, eyebrows would have been raised at this pick, but no more. Liverpool look like the real deal, even in defence, especially with this guy at the back. Save the Chelsea game, they have ideal fixtures from now till the end of the season and play in every Gameweek.

Why no: No double-fixture gameweeks for Jurgen Klopp’s men and the likes of Dejan Lovren (£5.3 m) and Andy Robertson (£5.1 m) are more cost-effective picks.

Cesar Azpilicueta

Team: Chelsea
Fixtures: Southampton (A)-Burnley (A), N/A, Swansea (A), Liverpool (H)-Huddersfield (H) and Newcastle (A)
Price: 6.9
Score: 154
Ownership: 20.3%

Why yes: It may seem like a risky pick to have a Chelsea defender at this point, but ‘Mr Dependable’ is a good option for his displays on both ends of the pitch.

Why no: The Blues look bereft of confidence and it remains to be seen if they can finish the season on a high. Azpilicueta is expensive and the West Londoners don’t play in the next gameewek, either. Marcos Alonso (£7.2 m) is a worthwhile option as well.

Midfielders

Riyad Mahrez

Team: Leicester City
Fixtures: Burnley (A)-Southampton (H), N/A, Crystal Palace (A), West Ham (H)-Arsenal (H) and Spurs (A)
Price: 9.0
Score: 166
Ownership: 14.0%

Why yes: A no-brainer considering Leicester’s double-fixture gameweek. Expect the Foxes to bounce back to winning ways after their shock defeat against the Magpies last week and Mahrez is their creative fulcrum.

Why no: Jamie Vardy’s in top shape as well and is worth a dekho. Foxes don’t have a tie in Gameweek 35 and their last two fixtures look tough.

Dele Alli

Team: Tottenham Hotspur
Fixtures: Man City (H)-Brighton (A), N/A, Watford (H), West Brom (A)-Newcastle (H) and Leicester (H)
Price: 9.0
Score: 159
Ownership: 14.3%

Why yes: Christian Eriksen may have got all the plaudits in recent weeks and rightly so, but Alli’s not been too shabby either. A tottering Manchester City come visiting and a soaring Spurs side will look to put them to the sword. Harry Kane’s return bodes well for the Lilywhites ahead of the run-in, especially with some routine clashes (And two double-fixture gameweeks!) on the horizon.

Why no: With Kane (£12.9 m), Eriksen (£9.4 m) and Heung-Min Son (£8.4 m) all solid options, who will you go for? And with their frontman gunning for the Golden Boot, Alli’s goals may just dry up.

Forwards

Alvaro Morata

Team: Chelsea
Fixtures: Southampton(A)-Burnley (A), N/A, Swansea (A), Liverpool (H)-Huddersfield (H) and Newcastle (A)
Price: 10.4
Score: 114
Ownership: 8.0%

Why yes: Morata’s back in form and is a great differential option for those who don’t want to go for the likes of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Harry Kane. The Blues may be in a rut, but they do have some inviting fixtures ahead. As mentioned earlier, Antonio Conte’s men have two double fixture gameweeks ahead (35 and 37).

Why no: It’s a punt for sure and Morata isn’t exactly cheap, is he? Chelsea don’t play next Gameweek and may just rest the Spaniard ahead of their FA Cup semi-final.

Romelu Lukaku

Team: Manchester United
Fixtures: West Brom (H)-Bournemouth (A), N/A, Arsenal (H), Brighton (A)-West Ham (A) and Watford (H)
Price: 11.6
Score: 153
Ownership: 29.6%

Why yes: United’s frontman is a safe and reliable bet, especially with the kind of opponents the Red Devils have from now till the end of the season, barring the Gunners of course. Lukaku’s been in great form of late and is a solid option up top, especially with two double-fixture gameweeks on the horizon (34 and 37)

Why no: He’s still quite expensive and while United are on the upswing, the likes of Alexis Sanchez (£11.4 m) and Paul Pogba (£7.8 m) make for compelling arguments as well. United don’t have a match in Gameweek 35.

PS: The Gameweek deadline is 11.30 am GMT/5 pm IST.

Previous articles in this series:

Fantasy Premier League Pundit Picks: Gameweek 34

The final five Gameweeks of the FPL season are upon us, make sure your team is ready for anything and everything!