True to form, 2020 ended in chaos for many Fantasy Premier League managers.
Mo Salah followed up a blank against West Brom with another poor showing against Newcastle, bringing an end to the Liverpool forward’s run of five goals in his last four league outings.
To make matters worse, Harry Kane and Son Heung-min weren’t in action due to Tottenham’s game against Fulham being postponed due to an outbreak of coronavirus in the Cottagers’ squad. Everton’s clash with Manchester City suffered the same fate, preventing Kevin de Bruyne or Gabriel Jesus from picking up any points this round.
On that note, there is still uncertainty surrounding City’s game against Chelsea on Sunday. A fixture that should guarantee goals under normal circumstances, picks from either side could be a risky strategy until there is confirmation that Pep Guardiola’s men have recovered – though the City training ground has now reopened.
Elsewhere, there are a number of more promising meetings in Gameweek 17. Manchester United host Aston Villa with 16 goals scored between the two clubs in the last 11 days. Everton, on a run of four consecutive league victories, take on West Ham, while Jose Mourinho and Marcelo Bielsa’s contrasting philosophies meet one another when Leeds travel to Tottenham on Saturday lunchtime.
With all that in mind, here are i‘s five players to sign ahead of the latest round of fixtures.
Karl Darlow (Newcastle)
Karl Darlow may only be 14th for clean sheets in the Premier League this term, but that doesn’t do justice to his individual performances. The goalkeeper produced another impressive display as he kept Liverpool at bay on Wednesday night and he has now saved 71.76 per cent of shots this season.
Only Burnley’s Nick Pope has a better record when it comes to preventing expected goals.
Price: £5m Points: 60
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Saka is expected to overcome the minor knock he suffered against Brighton and return to action in Arsenal’s trip to West Brom on Sunday. The 19-year-old has been one of the few bright points of the Gunners’ season so far, but he has been particularly influential in their two recent wins over Chelsea and the Seagulls.
The winger earned two successive man-of-the-match awards for his role in those post-Christmas victories and set up Alexandre Lacazette’s winner at The Amex.
Price: £5.2m Points: 48
Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
No Crystal Palace player has earned more FPL points than Zaha this season. The Eagles take on (still winless) Sheffield United and the Ivorian will be confident of adding to his eight goals and two assists against the side with the second worst goal difference (-19) in the top flight.
Zaha scored three goals in December and he’s particularly formidable against sides in and around the relegation zone – in fact, 50 per cent of his goals this season have come against the current bottom four.
Price: £7.4m Points: 86
Harvey Barnes (Leicester City)
With five goals in his last 10 appearances, there’s never been a better time to draft in Barnes.
The 23-year-old has scored twice since Boxing Day – once against Manchester United and once against Crystal Palace – and is even being talked about as an outside contender for England’s Euro squad next year. Leicester face Newcastle on Sunday at 2.15pm.
Price: £6.7m Points: 63
Anwar El Ghazi (Aston Villa)
The 25-year-old’s goal in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea was a little contentious, with Jack Grealish coming together with Andreas Christensen in the build-up. Nevertheless, it was El Ghazi’s fourth in his last three games following a brace against West Brom and another strike against Crystal Palace.
Villa travel to Old Trafford to face a United side buoyed by a late 1-0 victory over Wolves. Yet it was all the more morale-raising for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer precisely because the Red Devils had conceded six goals in their previous three league games, keeping just two clean sheets from their last seven matches.
Price: £5.8m Points: 45
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