Leicester City squandered their opportunity of keeping pressure on Liverpool as they drew to Norwich. Leicester do have the chance of cutting short that gap this week but it won’t be easy as they face ManCity. There’ll be only 9 matches this week as the West Ham vs Liverpool fixture will be postponed since Liverpool will be playing against Flamengo in the Club World Cup (GO FLAMENGO!). Gameweek 18 will be a tough, tough one as there are only 9 games and having 3 Liverpool players could cost you points week, Also, Leicester City face Manchester City and Chelsea play Spurs. Most of players come from these teams which means we’ll have to focus on that 1-2 transfers that you have to make the PERFECT change. And lucky are you if you still have your wildcard. Let’s take a look at some players who could help save your gameweek.
1. AFC Bournemouth
M. Wilson (+)
Vs Burnley (H)
Eddie Howe’s men haven’t been very convincing this season and one their best performing players isn’t even their own but loanee from Liverpool. Burnley’s defence can be pretty solid at times this season and they’ve managed to keep 6 clean sheets this season. Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser are struggling to replicate last season’s form. Fraser has been creating opportunities but they aren’t being converted. Harry Wilson seems to be the most potent threat for the Cherries and he could test Nick Pope from a distance.
I'm so sorry, Harry Wilson won't feature. Took me too long to realise.
2. Arsenal
M. Pepe (9.1), F. Aubameyang (10.8)
Vs Everton (A)
A very difficult one, could be a possible goal-fest. Gameweek 18 has got me on my heels. The Gunners have appointed Mikel Arteta as their manager and how the Arsenal legend line up his first team will be interesting. Will he utilise the tactics that he learnt while under Pep or will crack under pressure… I’m enjoying this. I’d only lean on the clubs top-scorer at this point and observe the rest of the developments. We’re not sure what we will be seeing from Everton’s side too, so yep, Auba’s the safest bet. Pepe could benefit the most if Arteta plays the Pep-way.
3. Aston Vila
M. Grealish (6.2), F. Wesley (5.7)
Vs Southampton (H)
Villa smacked Liverpool’s youth team 5-0 in the League cup quarter-finals. Both Villa and Southampton lost their respective games in GW17. Jack Grealish has hit form and was rested against Liverpool. Wesley made a late appearance and scored in the 92nd minute. The duo could be key to Villa’s chances of bagging 3 points and staying above the relegation zone.
4. Brighton and Hove Albion
F. Maupay (5.8)
Vs Sheffield United (H)
Neal Maupay has notched 7 goals this season for the Seagulls and has a decent record at home. Sheffield are well organised at the back but Brighton are known to give any opposition a hard time at home.
5. Burnley
M. McNeil (6.0), F. Wood (6.2), F. Barnes (6.2)
Vs Bournemouth (A)
Burnley beat Newcastle by a goal last week and whenever the Clarets keep clean sheet, Tarkowski and Pieters have been quite influential at the back. McNeil could terrorize that uncertain Bournemouth defence and Wood, if fit to play, he could cause Bournemouth problems. I don’t know who’s going to win this fixture as the Burnley forward forward is doubtful. If not for Wood I think Barnes could be equally effective as long as the Cherries keep fumbling at the back.
6. Chelsea
M. Pulisic (7.3), M. Mount (6.5), M. Willian (7.0), F. Abraham (7.9)
Vs Spurs (A)
Last week’s loss to Bournemouth has definitely made me reconsider the players that I own from this club. They seem to have lost their mojo but I won’t write them off just yet. Spurs themselves are having a tough time at keeping clean sheets and Pulisic, Mount and Abraham could benefit from this. The players don’t look as sharp as they did but Pulisic is surely one to watch as he will head to head with Aurier.
7. Crystal Palace
M. Zaha (6.8)
Vs Newcastle United (A)
With 3 goals in 5 games Zaha could be making his name on several of our team sheets for GW18. Newcastle away won’t be easy but the Magpies have been very inconsistent this season despite having more wins than Arsenal and Wolves.
8. Everton
M. Richiarlison (7.9)
Vs Arsenal (H)
So I’ve learnt that Duncan Ferguson will be in charge of this game and Ancelotti will take charge the game after. However arsenal line-up, their defence has been poor this season and an in-from Richiarlison could score his 7th goal of the season in this tie.
9. Leicester City
M. Maddison (7.8), F. Vardy (10.1)
Vs Manchester City (A)
Even though I’ve suggested the names of these two attacking minded players, it’ll be Leicester’s back line that will be playing a more important role. Soyuncu, Evans, Chilwell, Pereira and Ndidi will have a huge task at keeping City’s henchmen at bay. City’s defence is still weak and Maddison and Vardy will have to make the most of it and take advantage of City’s situation.
10. Liverpool
Vs West Ham
[POSTPONED]
11. Manchester City
M. Sterling (11.8), M. KDB (10.3), M. B.Silva (7.9), F. Jesus (9.6)
Vs Leicester City (H)
I’m sure De Bruyne will be the hottest transferred-in playing going into GW18 and it might be a good time to invest in him as City have a good run of fixtures until the 1st of Feb. Yes, they do play Wolves next but KDB has been simply phenomenal. Aguero is nearing fitness but Jesus will start this week and Sterling will be searching for his 10th goal of the season.
12. Manchester United
D. AWB (5.3), M. Martial (7.7), M. James (6.2), M. Pogba (8.4), F. Rashford (9.1)
Vs Watford (A)
ManUtd have performed poorly on two conditions a) against clubs that don’t belong to the ‘Top 6’ bracket and b) Away games. But we still expect the Red Devils to win this one and United’s front 3 could be feature in GW18s Dream Team, or at least one of them. This game could also be one where they could bag a clean sheet if they stop conceding absolute worldies or stop making comical errors at the back.
13. Newcastle United
Vs Crystal Palace (H)
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14. Norwich City
F. Pukki (6.6)
Vs Wolves (H)
The fact that the Canaries are playing at home makes them dangerous. This season most of the clubs have fared decently in their home outings. Pukki scored when he didn’t have to last week, preventing Leicester from putting pressure on Liverpool. This week the canaries face Wolves and with 3 goals in his last 4 games, Teamu Pukki could help pull of a shock victory.
15. Sheffield United
D. Lundstram (5.2)
Vs Brighton (A)
Lundstram finally delivered after blanking for 3 straight gameweeks against Aston Villa. He could be vital once again as the Blades will be travelling to AmEx stadium. Brighton have kept only 2 clean sheets in their last 10 games, both coming at home with victories against Spurs and Norwich. Lundstram kept a clean sheet as well as assisted one of Flecks goals last week.
16. Southampton
F. Ings (6.4)
Vs Aston Villa (A)
Danny Ings goal-scoring run came to an end last week as Southampton lost to West Ham by a goal. I’d suggest you’ll to keep him for this round and then ship him ass Southampton have a tough run of fixtures. I have a hunch that’ll he score against Chelsea next week but Joshua King should be fully fit by then and could be in contention for a slot in your team.
17. Tottenham Hotspurs
M. Alli (8.8), M. Son (10.1), F. Kane (10.9)
Vs Chelsea (H)
Alli has scored 4 times since the arrival of Jose Mourinho while Kane and Son have been consistent this season. Chelsea have not kept a clean sheet in their last five games and goals will surely be flying at the back of their net when Spurs in-form attacking-minded players face them.
18. Watford
Vs Manchester United (H)
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19. West Ham United
Vs Liverpool (H)
[POSTPONED]
20. Wolverhampton Wanderers
M. Traore (5.3), F. Jota (6.1)
Vs Norwich City (A)
Traore’s pace and shooting ability makes him a lethal player to defend against. Norwich who sit 19th on the table have won only one their last 5 games while wolves have won 2. Jota has been in form too but I don’t think people have noticed it. Norwich have not kept a clean sheet at home this season and you know what that means against Wolves 😉
