MY ACCOUNT
We are in the home stretch in the Premier League, which means everything is at stake – in the fantasy leagues, that is.
It is that time of the year when fantasy managers start to go over which games matter at opposite ends of the table to maximise points hauls.
Stats Perform has you covered with some Opta-powered recommendations below, so here are our suggestions for a new goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and striker.
EDERSON (Manchester City v Newcastle United)
Following their dramatic Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid, there is a possibility Manchester City players might actually breathe fire on Sunday against Newcastle United.
It will likely mean sporadic and low-quality opportunities for the Toon and, ultimately, light work for Ederson in City’s goal.
Another clean sheet for the Brazil international will see him record at least 20 in a Premier League season for the second time, the last being in 2018-19. The next best to Ederson’s 90 clean sheets since 2017-18 is Liverpool’s Alisson, with 64.
GABRIEL MAGALHAES (Arsenal v Leeds United)
Arsenal’s Champions League hopes could hinge on this weekend, with nearest rivals Tottenham coming up against Liverpool. The Gunners need points against favourable opponents.
Only Chelsea’s Reece James (five) has scored more Premier League goals for defenders this season than Gabriel’s four for Arsenal, with all of them coming from corner situations.
With that in mind, Leeds are one of the five sides in the Premier League this season to have conceded at least 10 goals from corners.
DEJAN KULUSEVSKI (Liverpool v Tottenham)
However, Arsenal’s need to pick up points against Leeds does not mean Tottenham players are off-limits, and Antonio Conte’s side on the counter-attack are a tough proposition for any club in Europe.
Dejan Kulusevski has come to life at Spurs after a middling spell at Juventus, with no player in Europe’s top five leagues providing more assists since his first start in the Premier League.
On top of Kulusevski’s eight assists, only Son Heung-min (15) and Harry Kane (14) have been involved in more Premier League goals than him (11) over the same period.
RICHARLISON (Leicester City v Everton)
Leicester’s struggles in possession once again came to the fore on Thursday against Roma, and on Sunday they will have to back up against one of the Premier League’s most dynamic players in transition.
Richarlison has almost single-handedly propelled Everton’s push for Premier League survival, with six involvements in their last eight goals.
At this rate (12 goal involvements), the Brazil international is on track to match his tally of 16 from the 2019-20 season.
