Opta data suggests Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be a valuable fantasy team assets ahead of this week’s London derby against Crystal Palace
The Premier League kicks back into action on Saturday with two huge games bookending a tantalising list of fixtures.
Ninth-placed Crystal Palace entertain 10th-placed Arsenal in a lunchtime London derby with far more than just pride at stake, while the evening kick-off sees runaway leaders Liverpool head to the capital to face an out-of-sorts Tottenham team.
Using Opta data to inform our selections, we have picked out the players most likely to shine in these games and the rest of the weekend’s matches so that you can optimise your fantasy team for a maximum points haul.
Vicente Guaita of Crystal Palace
Goalkeeper:
Vicente Guaita, Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace go into their home game against Arsenal with a better defensive record than the Gunners in the Premier League this season, having conceded 23 goals compared to the visitors’ 30.
Eagles goalkeeper Vicente Guaita can take some of the credit for his side’s solidity, with a save percentage of 74.3 putting him ahead of any other keeper in the division to have faced 40 shots or more this season.
Defenders:
Lucas Digne, Everton
Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton revival has stuttered in recent matches but he will be hoping for a display full of confidence and creativity against Brighton and Hove Albion at Goodison Park.
The Italian coach must aim to bring the best out of Lucas Digne, who has created more chances since the start of last season (117) and made more assists (7) in the Premier League than any other Everton player.
Joe Gomez, Liverpool
Joe Gomez has started Liverpool’s last five Premier League matches and looks set to line-up for the Reds at Tottenham on Saturday.
The 22-year-old has started six league games in total this season, keeping five clean sheets and conceding just one goal to make himself an indispensable part of Jurgen Klopp’s back four.
Midfielders:
Sadio Mane, Liverpool
The newly crowned African Player of the Year has been in unstoppable form of late, registering 11 goal involvements in his last nine Premier League appearances.
Sadio Mane has scored six goals and assisted five during that period and only in one of those nine games – Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Brighton – did he fail to rack up a goal involvement.
Joao Moutinho, Wolverhampton
Wolves could go fifth if they beat Newcastle United at Molineux, where Joao Moutinho will be hoping to add to his handsome tally of Premier League assists.
The Portugal international has 14 assists to his name this season, more than any other Wolves player, and only Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has registered more (6) than Moutinho (5).
Marcus Rashford of Manchester United
Forwards:
Marcus Rashford, Manchester United
While Manchester United might have struggled at times, this has been Marcus Rashford’s best season to date and the England forward has scored 12 Premier League goals.
Add to that his four assists and it makes this season Rashford’s joint-best for goal involvements (also 16 last season), and he will be hopeful of extending his good form against bottom club Norwich City on Saturday.
Pierre Aubameyang, Arsenal
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be relishing the prospect of a London derby against Crystal Palace given his excellent record against sides from the capital.
Aubameyang has scored against all five London teams he has played against in the Premier League, including two goals against Palace, and he averages a goal or an assist every 88 minutes in London derbies.
