By
Jack Woodfield
There's a sense of oddness writing a Gameweek 29 preview with GW28 still yet to conclude, particularly when the two teams yet to play are giants Manchester City and Arsenal, but to quote John Stones after Man City's FA Cup defeat to Wigan, "Strange things happen in football." Indeed, John. Also I don't have the time to write this on Friday.
City and the Gunners' Thursday evening clash � should it go ahead, a decision will be made by the Premier League on Thursday morning and if postponed will be moved to GW31 - will resolve a quite bizarre gameweek where defences disappointed, surprise goalscorers stole the headlines and Mo Salah continued to be Mo Salah.
https://twitter.com/AFCFixtureNews/status/968835554585530369
With just Watford and Tottenham (minus Jan Vertonghen) keeping clean sheets, there was agony in abundance. Late goals for Southampton and Swansea respectively crushed Burnley and Brighton clean sheet points, while Virgil Van Dijk, a popular purchase prior to GW28, could only recoup two points. Kudos to those who opted for Van Dijk's cheaper teammate Andy Robertson however who returned an assist and a bonus point.
https://twitter.com/FPLPriceChanges/status/967446073311719424
It was at the other end of the pitch where Liverpool more than compensated, with Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane all scoring in a 4-1 romp over West Ham. The trio are in superb form, with a decent fixture run-in and, importantly, a fixture in the blank gameweek in GW31.
https://twitter.com/LivEchoLFC/status/967441707938799618
Meanwhile, Fantasy Footy Fix was quick to highlight the more atypical GW28 goalscorers, particularly on Saturday, with nine finishers owned by less than 0.5% of active managers.
https://twitter.com/FantasyFootyFix/status/967660454414880768
One of these scorers, Steve Mounie, was among my differentials pick last week, and his resurgence is worth monitoring. Owned by less than 1.5%, the Huddersfield striker has racked up 23 points in two games, and after Spurs in GW29, embarks on a brilliant fixture run (including GW31).
In terms of a like-for-like swap, Mounie is an optimal replacement for Callum Wilson. Similarly priced, but in better form, Mounie is keeping out Laurent Depoitre while the return from injury of Jermain Defoe at Bournemouth puts the limp Wilson's place in jeopardy. His three successive blanks have been a major blow for those enthralled by his previous return of four goals and two assists in six.
https://twitter.com/FPLHints/status/967446825509761024
Premium predicaments
A striker in better form however is Romelu Lukaku. His 12-point return against Chelsea was only his third double-figure haul of the season, and his first since GW5, but three goals and two assists in five is consistent enough to merit a plump on the Man Utd striker.
Another reason you may look to Lukaku is because of events on the other side of Manchester: namely, the return of Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian will be eased back into first team duties at Man City, but in light of City's fixture congestion (four games in 12 days, including Thursday's league game) Pep Guardiola will hope Jesus can ease the workload of Sergio Aguero.
https://twitter.com/gabrieljesus33/status/967891821908123648?s=19
Aguero's form has been so imperious it seems facetious advocating ousting him from your team, thus I won't. But keeping in mind Pep's penchant for rotation when Jesus was fit, Lukaku is a logical swap should you consider an Aguero exit.
Sticking in the premium band, Eden Hazard is making a late albeit unlikely stake for player of the year. His recent electric performances have yielded five goals and an assist in five games, and while many of us have been stung by the talismanic Chelsea forward before, those brave enough to give Hazard their hearts again may just be Eden for further big point hauls (first, last and only bad pun).
Embed from Getty Images
Who should Hazard replace in your team?
Raheem Sterling, like Aguero, has been in such dynamic form all season that removing him is far from a straightforward decision, but doubts over his fitness and a rubbish fixture run for Man City lessen his appeal. However, as many will have purchased Sterling at around £7.8-8m, and gained steady incremental value, it's a risk to remove Sterling should his unreasonably good form continue even in troubling games.
A player in contrastingly feeble form is Alexis Sanchez. With just one league goal in four for Man United - a rebound from a missed penalty - the Chilean is, relative to this season, grossly overpriced at £11.8m. But a return to Crystal Palace may offer his owners reprieve. Sanchez scored twice at Selhurst Park for Arsenal earlier in the season, although given his recent uninspired performances many will likely be manoeuvring the United forward towards the exit door.
Those pondering a Sanchez retreat may be tempted by Christian Eriksen. The Dane set up Harry Kane's winner at Palace in GW28 and has found the net twice in his last three games at Wembley. Moreover, Spurs are unbeaten in 10 league games (13 at Wembley), and GW29 opponents Huddersfield are far from commanding on their travels, losing nine of 14.
Swerving the strugglers
Away woes are an all too common recurrence for fellow relegation strugglers West Brom. The Baggies' last away triumph came in August at Burnley, and no team is offering less FPL value as they plummet into the Championship. Yet, somehow, Ahmed Hegazi is still in 21% of FPL teams. Of course attributable to inactive team ownership in the majority, Hegazi and West Brom's days of staunch defensive organisation are far gone, and ahead of their trip to Watford, owners of Hegazi and Foster would be wise to jump ship.
Crystal Palace also fit this synopsis. After an admittedly remarkable winter revival where Roy Hodgson's troops lost once in 12 league games, the wheels have come off the Palace recovery wagon. Winless in five and without creative architect-in-chief Wilfried Zaha the Eagles face an arduous few weeks, particularly with the imminent GW29 arrival of Man Utd.
So, armed with an exhaustive list of duds, is there anyone worth backing in GW29? Of course there is. The aforementioned Eriksen, Kane and Lukaku fit the top-end bill, as does the Liverpool attacking trifecta. Ben Davies, subject of a price rise this week, can be backed to help Spurs towards a fourth consecutive home clean sheet; the full-back also has two assists in five.
https://twitter.com/OfficialFPL/status/968413993516896256
From a budget prospective, Andy Robertson remains alluring given his attacking propensity, while Watford's Adrian Mariappa, fresh off a clean sheet and bonus points against Everton, welcomes a West Brom side with just seven away goals all season.
Best of luck, and let me know how you get on!
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