Dream Team gaffers to target additional FA Cup fixtures in Gameweek 21 – just six teams without double duty

GAMEWEEK 20 rumbles on with four fixtures left to fulfil but it’s certainly not too early for Dream Team managers to start thinking about Gameweek 21.

As always, gaffers should give the schedule due consideration when when formulating their plans.

Gameweek 21 will feature nine relevant FA Cup fourth round games before a full allotment of Premier League fixtures in midweek.

It may be the case that some managers opt to rotate their starting line-ups between competitions but Dream Team bosses should still be able to identify plenty of players set to play at least 120 minutes this upcoming Gameweek.

GAMEWEEK 21 – FA CUP FOURTH ROUND FIXTURES

• Bristol City v Nottingham Forest
• Chelsea v Aston Villa
• Tottenham v Manchester City
• Everton v Luton
• Sheffield United v Brighton
• Fulham v Newcastle
• West Brom v Wolves
• Liverpool v Norwich
• Newport v Manchester United

GAMEWEEK 21 – PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
• Fulham v Everton
• Luton v Brighton
• Crystal Palace v Sheffield United
• Aston Villa v Newcastle
• Manchester City v Burnley
• Tottenham v Brentford
• Liverpool v Chelsea
• West Ham v Bournemouth
• Wolves v Manchester United

It’s worth noting that Bournemouth’s FA Cup fourth round meeting with Swansea falls within the current Gameweek due to a scheduling quirk.

All this means 14 of the 20 top flight clubs are set to pull double duty in Gameweek 21.

The six clubs with just one fixture at their disposal are as follows:

• Arsenal
• Brentford
• West Ham
• Burnley
• Crystal Palace
• Bournemouth

Naturally, the Gunners stand out from that list as Bukayo Saka (£5.9m), William Saliba (£3.4m) and Martin Odegaard (£4.6m) are among the top ten most-popular players in the game with the former topping the tree outright.

James Ward-Prowse (£3.9m) and Jarrod Bowen (£5.6m) are both widely-selected as well.

This does not mean Dream Team managers should necessarily rush to ditch the aforementioned stars.

Mikel Arteta’s side host Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 21 having addressed their recent form with an emphatic 5-0 win over the Eagles, while the Hammers welcome the Cherries to East London.

However, gaffers would be wise to ensure they have suitable representation in the FA Cup fourth round if they are to bank a competitive points total this coming Gameweek.

In terms of which teams to potentially target, Liverpool’s double header of Norwich and Chelsea looks favourable as both games will be held at Anfield – the Reds boast an imperious home record this season.

Brighton players will be popular recruits this week too with the Seagulls due to face Sheffield United then Luton.

Even accounting for consecutive away days, the likes of Joao Pedro (£3.8m), Pascal Gross (£4.2m) and Pervis Estupinan (£3.2m) are expected to provide healthy returns.

Vitaliy Mykolenko (£3.5m), James Tarkowski (£3m) and company will fancy their chances of adding to their extensive clean sheet collection with Luton and Fulham to come in Gameweek 21.

And of course, Manchester City assets are once again in the spotlight with Kevin De Bruyne (£6.4m) by far and away the most-popular recruit ahead of the deadline as it stands.

Pep Guardiola’s troops travel to Spurs on Friday night in what has been something of a bogey fixture for the decorated tactician in recent years but that’s offset with a favourable league game against Burnley at the Etihad five days later.

The deadline for Gameweek 21 is 6:45pm this Friday.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk