Liverpool entertain second-bottom Crystal Palace at Anfield after brushing aside Sunderland at the Stadium of Light last time out and Tottenham Hotspur welcome West Ham United to White Hart Lane, with the visitors yet to score a single goal on the road this season.
Elsewhere, league leaders Arsenal make their way to in-form West Bromwich Albion, Manchester City play host to unbeaten Everton, while Manchester United will be confident of bouncing back from last Saturday’s home loss to the Baggies as they head to basement-dwellers Sunderland.
Saturday’s home win against Manchester City saw another change of formation for Aston Villa. With Gabby Agbonlahor and Christian Benteke both ruled out by injury, Paul Lambert trialled the third system in as many weeks – this time rolling out a 3-5-2 shape against Manuel Pellegrini’s men. Crucially, this allowed full-back Antonio Luna to move to a more advanced berth on the left of midfield, whilst Leandro Bacuna, who has recently ousted Matthew Lowton from the first XI, was handed the role on the opposite flank and delivered a goal and assist in the 3-2 triumph. Despite the weekend success, it remains to be seen whether the Villa boss will continue with the new system once the like of Agbonlahor returns, though Luna could prove an interesting prospect if Lambert keeps faith in the three-man backline.
Alan Pardew’s decision to drop Papiss Cisse for Newcastle United’s trip to Everton on Monday afforded Loic Remy a change of position. The Frenchman had previously been fielded on the right of a front three and grabbed 2 goals in the Magpies’ Gameweek 5 match against Hull but, with Cisse struggling for form, Remy was shifted into the central role at Goodison Park and vindicated his manager’s decision by scored his third of the season in the 3-2 loss. Pardew’s alterations also affected Hatem Ben Arfa against the Toffees. An unconvincing display saw the wide man hauled off at half-time as his manager spoke of looking for a stronger balance to his side, leaving Ben Arfa’s 21% owners somewhat concerned ahead of a schedule which pits the Tyneside team against Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham in the next five Gameweeks.
An injury to in-form Robbie Brady hands Steve Bruce a midfield dilemma ahead of Aston Villa’s visit this weekend. Brady has scored or assisted 4 of Hull City’s 6 goals so far this term but has been ruled out for four weeks after undergoing hernia surgery – bitter news for the 90,000 Fantasy managers who had drafted him in earlier this week. Bruce moved Ahmed Elmohamady onto the right wing last week as a result of Robert Koren’s injury and may choose to hand Stephen Quinn the left midfield role or even move the versatile Sone Aluko to the flank.
The previous Gameweek saw Luis Suarez and Romelu Lukaku rack up the points for Liverpool and Everton respectively. Both players headed into the weekend with low ownership – Suarez’ 10-match suspension and Lukaku’s peripheral role at Chelsea, which resulted in a loan move to the Toffees, ensured the strike duo were lesser-owned picks in Gameweek 6. With this in mind, the Scout takes a look at the 10 in-form “differential” players so far, with each of our protagonists currently sitting in no more than 7% of Fantasy teams.
Dejan Lovren has mainly been overlooked due to the cheaper options amongst his fellow Southampton defenders. Priced at 5.1, the centre-half has delivered a goal, 7 bonus points and 4 clean sheets in six appearances – with an ownership of just 5%, he sits joint-third for defenders, with only six players bettering his score of 41 points so far.
Swansea City’s Ben Davies has already doubled his goal tally from last term. The 5.0 priced left-back has scored twice and, with 7 bonus points and a couple of clean sheets also thrown in, leads team-mate Michu by 34 points to 29 as the top scorer for Michael Laudrup’s side.
Tottenham supply us with a trio of overlooked contenders. Both Jan Vertonghen and Hugo Lloris are costly acquisitions at the back, with price tags of 7.0 and 6.0 respectively, but with 4 clean sheets already, Andre Villas-Boas’ side have been superb in defence. Lloris has earned an extra save points in five of his appearances, whilst Vertonghen has collected at least 1 bonus point every time his side have kept out their opponents.
Gylfi Sigurdsson is the only midfielder in our rundown. The Icelandic star has started each of the last three Gameweeks on the Tottenham left flank and seems to have established a regular role at the expense of new boys Nacer Chadli and Erik Lamela, having racked up 3 goals and 5 bonus points over those matches.
A couple of left-backs also make the cut. West Brom’s Liam Ridgewell has produced a goal, 3 bonus points and a couple of clean sheets yet has less than 1% ownership, while Chelsea’s Ashley Cole has remained under the radar so far. He has 5 bonus points and 3 clean sheets in the opening six Gameweeks - a total of 29 points mirrors team-mate Branislav Ivanovic, though Cole has a mere 5% ownership compared to the Serbian’s 30%.
Mamadou Sakho – a home clash against struggling Crystal Palace affords Liverpool the chance of a fourth clean sheet of the season. Brendan Rodgers’ side have conceded just once in front of their own fans, whilst the Eagles have managed a single strike on their travels – the marquee signing from Paris Saint-Germain has started each of the last three for the Merseysiders and looks a strong bet for further defensive returns.
Peter Whittingham – the Cardiff playmaker has been one of the most consistent performers in the budget bracket this term. Coming in at 5.1, Whittingham has scored or assisted in three of the Bluebirds’ six matches and with just one defeat in five, Malky Mackay’s side are starting to find their top-flight feet as Newcastle come calling.
Roman Amalfitano – West Brom’s on-loan midfielder was instrumental in last weekend’s win at Manchester United. Amalfitano produced a goal and assist in the 2-1 Old Trafford triumph and has now notched in each of his last two – Arsenal may well have their work cut out to keep him quiet as the Baggies go in search of a third straight win this Sunday.
Paulinho – the Brazilian may only have a goal and assist so far but his attacking displays from the Tottenham central midfield have caught The Scout’s eye. Paulinho’s well-timed runs into the box could prove the undoing of West Ham this weekend as Andre Villas-Boas’ side look to return to winning ways after last week’s draw with Chelsea.
Samuel Eto’o – with Fernando Torres suspended for this week’s trip to Norwich, the Cameroon international looks a guaranteed starter for Jose Mourinho’s side. After a slow start to the season, Chelsea are finally starting to gel under their new manager and Eto’o’s eye for goal could come to fruition against a Canaries side that have managed just one clean sheet in front of their own fans so far.
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