EPL Starting XI - Matchweek 35
If it wasn’t for DFS, it would be tough to get excited for the Premier League from now until the end of the season (unless you have a sick obsession with football like yours truly) as most of the main prizes are all but locked up. Chelsea can put the seal on their championship campaign this weekend and the top four looks pretty solidified behind them with Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United comfortable in their positions. The battle to avoid relegation is still very much open, but it’s hardly something to get excited over.
Luckily, we do have a full slate on DraftKings available from Saturday through Monday and a tasty matchup featuring Tottenham and Manchester City that should yield a fair number of goals.
Ernestiko will take a look at eleven from this week’s slate (2 GK, 3 DEF, 3 MF, 3 FW) to consider and also has some thoughts for those taking advantage of Mondogoal’s European league offerings.
GK Kasper Schmeichel $4,100 Leicester City
Leicester were in the papers for all the wrong reasons this week thanks to manager Nigel Pearson’s bizarre rant following their 3-1 loss to Chelsea. It’s unfortunate because for five and a half games, Leicester were brilliant having won four in a row and leading Chelsea at the half on Wednesday. The Foxes should be able to get back to winning ways this weekend against a dreadful Newcastle, currently on a losing run of seven games and dangerously flirting with the relegation zone. Before the Chelsea match, Schmeichel had FPTS performances of 18 and 22.
GK David Ospina $5,200 Arsenal
Looking at the Sunday/Monday slate, we like the thought of Ospina against a Hull side that have scored more goals than only three clubs in the league this season. The Chelsea duo of Cech/Courtois are certainly worthy starts as well, but Arsenal have been the best team in the league for several weeks now and we like the thought of sticking with the hot hand.
DEF Kieran Trippier $5,600 Burnley
Tripper dealt another ten crosses in the Burnley loss to Leicester last weekend bringing his total over 300 for the year. Burnley face a West Ham side struggling for goals as of late, so as usual, Trippier should be one of the most played players this weekend.
DEF Hector Bellerin $4,700 Arsenal
Bellerin has remarkably become a staple in Arsenal’s starting XI in 2015 and for good reason. Only 20-years-old, Bellerin’s last three games have all seen FPTs output in or around double digits and he should be able to get forward against a Hull City side trying to stave off relegation.
DEF Aleksandar Kolarov $5,000 Manchester City
Sunday’s showcase match against Spurs should be an up and down affair and that will be music to DFS players ears as Kolarov has been excellent in City’s last two games. His sensational effort from a free kick against Aston Villa last weekend was Goal of the Week worthy but even without it, Kolarov has been a virtual lock for double digit FPTS ever since Gael Clichy went down injured.
MF Philippe Coutinho $6,300 Liverpool
Daniel Sturridge is likely done for the year and it’s probably safe to assume that the Mario Balotelli experiment at Liverpool was a failed one. With that, Brendan Rodgers will be forced to turn back to his false nine rotation of Coutinho and Raheem Sterling leading the attack. Coutinho has certainly had an eye for goal the past month or so and his goal in the FA Cup semifinal and nine shots against West Brom last weekend are good indicators that he’s in line for another good outing.
MF David Silva $7,500 Manchester City
Not that someone of Silva’s quality should ever need explaining, but surprisingly Silva is listed $900 cheaper than Mesut Ozil and also cheaper than Cesc Fabregas. While Silva has had a tough run of games as of late, Tottenham have a leaky defense prone to letting in goals (only four clubs in the league have let in more) and Silva should be in line for a bounce back performance.
MF Matt Phillips $4,300 Queens Park Rangers
Everyone’s favorite midfield value play, Phillips and QPR head to Anfield fighting for their Premier League lives but will face a Liverpool side that will have played three games in seven days (two of which were away). Phillips is rarely held to single digit FPTs thanks to the abundance of crosses he delivers and occasionally assists as a result.
FW Christian Benteke $7,900 Aston Villa
The Saturday forward slate is somewhat light (although Robin Van Persie could make his first start in months) but Benteke feels like a solid selection given his recent output that has helped Villa escape the danger zone…at least for now. While Everton have been in a great run of form as of late, thanks in some part to an improving defense, Benteke should be able to find some space to create a few chances as he leads the Villa attack.
FW Alexis Sanchez $9,400 Arsenal
After a bit of a drop off in late February and early March, Sanchez is back to being the player Gunner fans hoped he’d be when he was signed from Barcelona. Sanchez was arguably Arsenal’s best player in the 0-0 stalemate with Chelsea last weekend and was still able to notch 12 FPTs thanks to delivering crosses and drawing fouls.
FW Sergio Aguero $10,300 Manchester City
We’ll go ahead and repeat that Spurs possess one of the shakiest back lines in the Premier League while City boast arguably the most clinical finisher in the world in Aguero. El Kun leads the league in goals and his scored four in his last three games so leave him out at your own risk.
SUBSTITUTE BENCH
Thibaut Courtois $5,000 Chelsea
Ryan Bertrand $4,600 Southampton
Eden Hazard $9,800 Chelsea
Angel Di Maria $8,200 Manchester United
Jamie Vardy $6,700 Leicester City
Robin Van Persie $8,400 Manchester United
EUROPEAN FREE KICKS
● Bayern Munich, having already sealed the Bundesliga, go to Bayer Leverkusen this weekend with one thing in mind – leave the game with everyone in one piece. Pep Guardiola was rocked by injuries to Arjen Robben and Robert Lewandowski in their German Cup semifinal defeat to Dortmund on Tuesday and his main concern will be having as full strength of a squad possible when they face Barcelona in the semifinals of the Champions League next week. That opens up value plays on the Bayern side (Pizarro, Gaudino and Javi Martinez to name a few) but Bayer Leverkusen is unbeaten in their last nine and should come in with a ton of confidence in a crucial game for them.
● In Spain, the biggest match of the weekend sees Real Madrid travel to the Sanchez Pizjuan to face Sevilla. Sevilla hasn’t been beaten at home in over a year and if that trend continues, it could spell the end of Real Madrid’s league title challenge (and possibly Carlo Ancelotti’s job this summer). Like Bayern, Real have a Champions League test next week against Juventus that will also be lingering in their minds.
● Barcelona, on the other hand, face bottom side Cordoba and if their midweek game against Getafe (6-0 win) is any indication, the goals should pour in on Saturday. Fading Real and heavying up on Barca should yield nice results.
● Atletico welcome Athletic Bilbao this weekend and have the second best defense in the league, only trailing Barcelona. Having kept four clean sheets in their last six games, expect good output from anyone on the Atletico back line.