The Starting XI - EPL Matchweek 31
The Premier League returns this weekend after after an International break consisting of EURO 2016 Qualifiers and Friendlies around the world. The slate on DraftKings is undoubtedly better on Saturday with seven matches to choose from, highlighted by the early Arsenal vs. Liverpool kick off, compared to the three matches being played on Sunday/Monday.
In addition to the usual stats and trends to keep an eye on, International fixtures often see players return to their clubs fighting a knock or carrying travel fatigue after competing in big money friendlies around the globe (for example, Argentina playing two friendlies in a matter of days in Washington DC and New England).
Here is a “Starting XI” of who to consider for this weekend’s action (2 GK, 3 DEF, 3 MF, 3 FW).
GK Boaz Myhill – West Bromwich Albion – $5,000
With Ben Foster out with a long-term injury, Myhill will find himself between the sticks for the third straight game against QPR. QPR has a dreadful away record this year having only won once in fourteen away matches and scoring only 10 goals. Myhill had 13 saves last time out against Manchester City, and while QPR likely won’t threaten the WBA goal as much as City did, they are in the PL top-five for shots per game.
GK Kelvin Davis – Southampton – $4,300
Davis will be a hot play this weekend given his price and Fraser Forster’s season-ending injury. In his first game in goal, he was able to keep a clean sheet further improving Southampton’s league leading defensive record (only 21 goals conceded this season).
DEF Ryan Bertrand – Southampton – $4,400
Bertrand has been one of the best performers this season from the back and should find success on the flank against Everton if the game is played end-to-end, as expected.
DEF Branislav Ivanovic – Chelsea – $5,200
Ivanovic hasn’t had one of his high scoring outputs in a few weeks now but we know how strong of a side Chelsea are at home and won’t risk leaving him out of our lineups because of a couple below average performances.
DEF Kieran Trippier – Burnley – $5,600
Only Stewart Downing has sent in more successful crosses than Trippier this season, and with only three games to choose from in the Sunday/Monday slate, Trippier will be a fixture in most lineups.
MF Eden Hazard – Chelsea – $9,500
Hazard is the highest priced at his position but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a reason why he shouldn’t be. Surely on the shortlist for Player of the Year, Hazard (11 goals, 6 assists in the PL) has been involved in approximately 28% of Chelsea’s league goals this season.
MF Marouane Fellaini – Manchester United – $5,400
We preached in this column on Fellaini’s role in Louis Van Gaal’s new system for weeks and come up with nothing. As soon as we moved on, the big-haired man turned up with a goal in the 3-0 win against Spurs and it appears he may be rounding into a good bit of form to close the season. Fellaini scored twice for Belgium in the 5-0 friendly win over Cyrpus and also knocked in the only goal in their latest qualifier against Israel. Even with a sizzling Juan Mata, Van Gaal stated “When he is playing like he is now, I cannot change him,” so we’re back on the Fellaini train for the time being.
MF Stewart Downing – West Ham United – $6,900
Nobody in the league has whipped in more accurate crosses than Downing (according to WhoScored.com) and even with West Ham in spotty form as of late, facing off this weekend against bottom side Leicester City should set the stage for a solid Downing performance.
FW Diego Costa – Chelsea – $10,400
Costa pulled out of the Spanish side with another hamstring worry but he should be fresh and ready to face Stoke City at home in the late game on Saturday. Costa has scored in his last two matches and still holds the top spot among the league’s leading scorers (tied with Harry Kane at 19 goals). If Costa needs more time to heal, eyes immediately shift to Loic Remy, who only needed 12 minutes to score the winner against Hull last time out.
FW Glenn Murray – Crystal Palace – $3,000
Who you say? Quietly, Murray has scored four goals in his last four games and looks to lead the line for Palace against Manchester City on Monday. At this price point and given his recent run of form, he provides tremendous flexibility for lineups should he continue his good play.
FW Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspur – $10,500
“HurriKane” Harry had a dream debut in the England shirt, scoring a matter of seconds after entering the game against Lithuania. In the PL, Kane has sandwiched his 5 FPTS dud against Manchester United with outings of 31 FPTS and 39 FPTS with the latter including a hat trick. Burnley can be tough to break down but for the Sunday/Monday slate it’s all about making the right choice between Kane and Sergio Aguero in the FW slot.
SUBSTITUTE BENCH
GK Tim Krul $3,900
DEF Danny Rose $4,200
DEF Gael Clichy $3,500
MF Juan Mata $6,300
FW Wayne Rooney $10,000
FW Sergio Aguero $10,300