Last updated on April 29th, 2021
Written by @IamtheMarkus. Follow him on twitter for regular FPL insights!
A successful week as Iheanacho wrapped a decent performance with a goal, an assist and three bonus on Monday night against an unfortunate Crystal Palace side. Our vice from last week could feel hard done by as Liverpool’s inability to finish their chances was their undoing for the second week in a row, as any number of the front three could have walked away with a brace.
Largely speaking it was a relatively quiet week for most household names in #FPL, aside from our © Iheanacho, Pereira continued to do his part in trying to keep WBA afloat, Salah knocked in his 20th goal, Chilwell and AWB made an appearance after claiming maximal baps after keeping a clean sheet. Undoubtedly though, the star man was Chris Wood who turned on the peak Aguero setting in his locker and came away with 20pts (3g + 1A+ 3baps) for his 2.6% owners. Burnely’s fixtures could be considered mixed in the next few weeks but has this boat already sailed?
We have a pretty regular gameweek up ahead, a Liverpool vs Manchester United game means a number of big-name players will face off and a bit of a benching headache will no doubt follow for those with two or more from each side. Leicester get a chance to put the pressure on their rivals at Southampton, Spurs have the chance to bounce back after another cup defeat with the visit of Sheffield United who finally got a goal and a victory in the gameweek prior. Chelsea / Man City may still have one eye on their semi-final clashes in the CL as they take on Fulham and Crystal Palace this weekend. Leeds worked their way through the top order of the PL rather impressively and will be well fancied against Brighton. Villa are seemingly uninterested in keeping clean sheets anymore so Everton will fancy their chances again and Newcastle will seek to take on an Arsenal side that’s having as bad a time as anyone can remember. West Brom will continue their arduous task of staying in the PL with Wolves visit.
TLDR
My © will be Son
Vice – Iheanacho.
Leicester’s form + fixture means we should continue with our Leicester man as © however you get the sense a Spurs pick will do nicely this week but since I don’t own Kane I’ll take a chance with Son as my ©
The Champions League ties stop me from considering Chelsea / Man City’s assets in earnest, whilst I think both will treat the games with respect I don’t think they will be at full tilt. Bamford is one who just missed out on consideration below but could be worth an alternative punt.
Iheanacho -TSB ~ 23% – Southampton
Now up to 10 goals & 1 assist in his last 7 PL games. Currently, another new ~6% owners at the time of writing but another double-digit haul could be looming here. Whilst I don’t envisage any repeat of a certain 9-0 for Southampton, it certainly doesn’t seem like the best time to play Leicester with confidence and momentum high as the results keep going their way.
Southampton have been defensively patchy at best this year and whilst they do hurt teams with their goals it always seems like they are resigned to conceding 2 per game.
Vardy too has looked sharper in recent weeks, perhaps the pendulum could swing his way but I think Iheanacho still edges it here with the formation being used suiting him better. I never tend to favour the first fixture of the week so I’m a bit hesitant despite his ominous form.
Richarlison – TSB ~ 8.2% – Aston Villa
His assist last week was fortuitous at best but thanks to Leno, the points were added to the Brazilians account. DCL is yet to quite hit his early-season form so I’m backing Richarlison to be the matchwinner here.
Villa just have not been the same without Grealish in the side and whilst that shouldn’t have affected their ability to keep a clean sheet, the number since his injury is remarkably low.
James / Siggy look to have found their creativity again but since DCL seems to have gone missing too so I think the game will be decided by Richy.
Son -TSB ~ 46% – Sheffield United
After a pretty lackluster cup final, I’m backing Son to help Spurs back to winning ways. Kane still seemed a little out of sorts on his return and whilst I’m certain his owners will be happy to roll the dice here, I don’t own Kane so he features a little less in my thoughts.
After their first victory in what feels like an age, Sheffield United will no doubt be encouraged to play in a style that reminds their fans that they are indeed a PL side if not for much longer.
Spurs will be keen to set the record straight after yet another goalless final. I’d expect both Son and Kane to be heavily backed into this weekend and Ryan Mason to get his first managerial victory here.
Salah – TSB ~ 32.3% – Man Utd
Salah has knocked in 20 goals this year but captaining him this year has proven a fraught affair with bonus points often heading elsewhere. Plenty are shipping Bruno out despite only being a few goals back on 16 after a number of individually quieter weeks but Ole typically tries to play these kinds of fixtures quite tight. At this stage of the season, a victory is Liverpool’s only real chance of taking a European berth after dropping four points in the previous two. Liverpool’s forward play has been good so I almost expect him to notch/decide this game again. Surely they can’t be anywhere near as wasteful for a third week running.
