The Hard Tackle brings you all the key tips for the upcoming gameweek.
The North-West derby is arguably the biggest match of gameweek 21, and a number of FPL managers will be watching this one keenly as their fate will be riding on the outcome of this age-old rivalry.
For Liverpool, £9.2 million rated Sadio Mane will not be available as he has joined the Senegal squad for the African Cup of Nations, and a number of managers have chosen to offload the former Southampton man for a certain Tottenham Hotspur magician.
At over 400,000 transfers in this week, Dele Alli is one of FPL’s most popular players for gameweek 21. After a relatively slow start to the season, the English midfielder has burst into life to become a key figure for Spurs.
Available for £8.6 million and with a decent set of fixtures in the coming weeks, Alli may be the right man to spend your free transfer on. The player’s price is only expected to shoot up, and it may be wise to quickly snap up the industrious 20-year-old.
Liverpool saw Philippe Coutinho return to action in the EFL Cup in mid-week, and while he is one the game’s top earners, it is not advisable to bring the Brazilian in as a replacement for Mane.
For starters, an away trip against United is a daunting task, and Coutinho may not be at his prolific best for the match. The 24-year-old is not expected to play the full course of the game, and may be substituted come the hour mark.
The news of Chelsea striker Diego Costa having a falling out with manager Antonio Conte is certainly disheartening for a number of FPL managers. The Spain international is the most-owned Chelsea player and costs a staggering £10.7 million.
If you have him in your side, the best bet is to put him on the bench rather than letting go of him altogether. Costa has been known for altercations with the hierarchy in the past, and it could be a dispute that will be resolved within a week’s time.
Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin is a popular pick among FPL managers and despite his price of £6.1 million, he continues to be owned by 16.2 percent managers. The Spaniard is set to miss this weekend’s game against Swansea, and it might be the the right time to cash in on him and get in a cheaper alternative.
In the last eleven gameweeks, Arsenal have just kept a clean sheet twice, making Bellerin more of a liability. The Spaniard has provided just a solitary assist in that period, and is no longer worth a punt.
If like for like full-back replacements are to be considered, Danny Rose or Charlie Daniels may be the players that can make the cut. Rose is the costlier option at £6.0m, but is worth the investment due to Spurs’ solidity at the back.
At £5.2 million, Daniels is quickly being snapped up by FPL managers as his showings for Bournemouth this season have been nothing short of spectacular. In his last six games, the defender has picked up double-numbered points on three occasions – owing to his phenomenal goal-scoring and assisting prowess.
Speaking about bargains, Hull City’s Robert Snodgrass provides great value at £5.8 million. A low-cut price for a midfielder, the Hull offensive maverick can reap high rewards when he gets his game going.
The Scot has scored in his last two matches, and will be fancying his luck against Bournemouth. However, with an intimidating set of matches against Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal in consecutive weeks, Snodgrass is likely to be one of FPL’s forgotten men come the end of gameweek 26.
Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has carried his golden touch to England and has braced the Premier League with his prolific goal-scoring prowess. The 35-year-old is United’s leading scorer this season, and is arguably a must have in most FPL teams.
At £11.6 million, there is a huge risk in signing the Swede. As the Old Trafford faithful know, the 35-year-old went through a bit of a dry spell between gameweeks 6 and 10, but in his last five matches, he has at least scored a goal or provided an assist.
While Liverpool may not be the easiest of sides to play against, Ibrahimovic will be geared up to the set the markings straight and fire United to victory. There is a 25 percent chance that he will not feature, but he is expected to fight off the minor injury to begin the game for the Red Devils.
THT’s Team of the Week
Goalkeeper: Lee Grant (Stoke)
Defenders: Laurent Kosicleny (Arsenal), Danny Rose (Spurs), Marcos Alonso (Chelsea), Winston Reid (West Ham)
Midfielders: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Matt Philipps (West Brom), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)
Strikers: Troy Deeney (Watford), Diego Costa (Chelsea), Romelu Lukaku (Everton)
Bench: Jordan Pickford (Sunderland), Stephen Ward (Burnley), Joe Allen (Stoke), James Milner (Liverpool)
