CHELSEA are the only team that won’t be pulling double duty in Game Week 31.
That’s because of Manchester United, Brighton and Manchester City are all in action in the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend before a full allotment of Premier League fixtures in midweek.
Needless to say, it’s a bad week to own Stamford Bridge assets (a bad season if truth be told) but which players are well placed to bag plentiful points in GW31?
Allow us to suggest some short-term options…
Eberechi Eze (£3m)
Even experienced Dream Team gaffers can be caught out by how quickly things change in the world of football.
One moment Crystal Palace are a turgid outfit without a win in months and then suddenly they’re a swaggering side stringing wins together with artistic flourishes.
The Eagles’ No10 has been the primary beneficiary of the Roy Hodgson revolution having claimed two Star Man awards in three outings since the septuagenarian’s return to Selhurst Park.
Eze has taken 33 points from Leicester, Leeds and Southampton since Game Week 28 and this Saturday he’s got a home fixture against a struggling Everton side before a trip to Wolves on Tuesday night.
Palace have scored nine goals in their last three games with Eze and Michael Olise (£3.1m) being the chief threats – a double header against teams below them in the league should yield more healthy returns.
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The ex-QPR midfielder features in just 0.7% of teams so he’s an ultra differential, an appealing factor for those who can’t afford to have an identical team to their mate above them in the mini-league.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5m)
Liverpool are finished. Liverpool are back! Liverpool are finished. And repeat.
That’s been the cycle in the recent months and Dream Team bosses will know by now not to get carried away by a convincing win for the Reds, like the one they registered at Elland Road on Monday night.
Saying that, Jurgen Klopp’s men outplayed Arsenal prior to their mauling of Leeds (albeit for in a 2-2 draw) and in both games fans were treated to lengthy glimpses of Alexander-Arnold the midfielder.
The 24-year-old has looked vulnerable defensively this season but his creative powers have never been in doubt and three assists in his last two outings have underlined his positive attributes.
And Game Week 31 looks ripe for points for those keen on Liverpool assets with a home game against Nottingham Forest followed by a trip to West Ham.
In fact, the Reds’ fixtures appear relatively friendly for the remainder of the campaign.
Alexander Isak (£4.1m)
Most Dream Team managers will have a settled forward line at this late stage of the season but those in need of making a move could opt for someone in the mould of Newcastle’s record signing.
Isak averages a goal every 113.4 minutes in the Premier League this season and he’ll fancy his chances of maintaining that impressive record with Eddie Howe’s side set to take on a dejected Tottenham, Everton and Southampton before the end of the month.
Granted, the Magpies produced an uncharacteristically poor display away to Aston Villa last weekend but they had won five in a row before that in a run that featured 13 goals.
The Sweden international has been limited to just 14 league appearances this term because of injury setbacks but his strike rate when available makes him a viable option.
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For much of the campaign it made sense to back Newcastle defenders to the hilt while mostly staying clear of their forwards but there’s been something of a reversal in recent weeks.
Although Kieran Trippier (£5.8m) remains an immensely popular choice with good reason.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
