FPL Fixtures Gameweek 8

How time flies, eh? Just over a year ago, I remember my Gameweek 9 article reflecting on numerous FPL accounts hacked and the ‘Wagatha Christie’ famous tussle between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy, around the same time as the latter’s husband was contributing with three goals in the 9-0 rout of Southampton. Fast forward to now and the positive is that I now have a kitten trying to walk over the keyboard as I type this, though it gets dark at 5pm, it’s raining and howling a gale, it looks like there’s more time to spend at home and there’s longer to wait until any fans are allowed back in stadia. Still, all good things come to those who wait, huh? That reminds me, I must enjoy a pint of the black stuff in a pub before Thursday.

So, as we look forward to the fixtures ahead in what can easily be nicknamed the Covid season, we have to remember the fact that the international break looms. I say this as, in passing conversation, our very own Matt raised a very important point – remember the last time the Premier League lads went and played for their country? Four Liverpool players were then ruled out, not to mention the uncertainty as you heard of others like Christiano Ronaldo also testing positive. So that’s something to look forward to!

Anyway, conscious of the word count and not wanting to recreate the experience of getting locked in a cupboard with Father Austin Purcell – Father Ted reference, don’t worry – let’s press ahead to the fixtures article.

FPL FIXTURE TRACKER
But first up that all important Fixture Tracker itself…

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FIXTURE TRACKER 2020/21

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Chelsea – Sheffield United (H), Newcastle (A), Spurs (H)

Chelsea go into the next three games on the back of another rout at Turf Moor, as last Saturday’s 3-0 victory was almost exactly a year on from the time that they won 4-2. Sheffield United, however, may not be so easy to score against, as their 18th position in the league is more from the fact they have scored just thrice across seven matches, with a more respectable figure of 10 conceded. They’re not leaking them in like Fulham, West Brom or Brighton, put it that way. You have to fancy Frank’s men to keep looking up the table with a win, even if it won’t be pretty, before they then travel to Newcastle – a team the Blues have beaten eight times in the last 12 meetings. Over that time, it’s been an aggregate score of 24-12 in the Londoners’ favour – even with a 1-0 loss in the last visit to St James’ Park.

With fond memories of the grudge match between Chelsea and Spurs back in 2016 which finished 2-2 and, with it, Spurs’ chances of winning the title to secure the glory for Leicester, it’s been a varied set of results since. There have been seven triumphs for west London over the north in the dozen games and, looking to now, Frank’s men will be against a side that has no hesitation in finding the back of the net – having scored the most of any Premier League team at the time of writing, with 18 from seven matches. However, clean sheets are much harder to come across for them, with just the one against Burnley, so this could be quite a high scoring game!

West Ham – Fulham (H), Sheffield United (A), Aston Villa (H)

And now for a team you just can’t predict the fortunes of – so good job I’ve given myself the task of writing about their fixtures, eh?! Well, theoretically, at least, you would think the next three games should be easier affairs for them – or ‘even’ easier, when you look at the Hammers’ recent results. Whilst they went down 2-1 to Liverpool in what was a very spirited affair at Anfield, that followed a stubborn 1-1 draw with Man City, a fantastic comeback to draw 3-3 versus Spurs and those crazy 3-0 and 4-0 triumphs over Leicester and Wolves respectively. Seventeenth-placed Fulham have four points from seven, at the time of writing, with just seven scored and a shocking 14 conceded and so it’s no wonder they are in such a precarious position. Even before this game, the Cottagers haven’t had the best record when they’ve faced their rivals from across the capital, having lost five in the last seven – shipping in 16 and scoring eight in the process.

After that, Moyes and co make the trip up the M1 to South Yorkshire in what could be a tight encounter – especially when you consider the last three meetings have been 1-1, 1-1 and, most recently, 1-0 in the Blades’ favour. Just don’t mention Mascherano or Tevez when they do meet each other! As for Villa’s visit come Gameweek 10, that’ll be the first time the two sides have met since the tie that secured the Midlanders’ Premier League survival last season and it’ll be interesting to see where both squads will be in the league by that time. Whilst those three late goals against Southampton in the 4-3 defeat showed Villa do still know where the goal is after the 3-0 loss to Leeds, their defence has suddenly become leaky conceding seven in just a duo of ties. The Hammers, meanwhile, are sixth place in the ‘goals for’ table with 13 and so, whilst they have conceded 10, this game also suggests goals.

Arsenal – Aston Villa (H), Leeds (A), Wolves (H)

Arsenal have been a bit off the radar when it comes to FPL, especially after Aubameyang failed to repay the faith so many managers had put in him at the very start. However, the next three games may just change the minds of many, with the aforementioned sudden leaky defence Dean Smith needs to get his head around. Whilst the Villains won 1-0 the last time the two teams met, as they were fighting to still be a Premier League outfit next season, that was on the back of seven straight defeats against the same team, shipping 23 in the rough ride from 2014 to 2020. Just three goals were put past the Gunners in that time, too.

A trip to Elland Road in a league tie for the first time since Eamon achieved the number one spot with a song that had more profanities than any other hit single – April 2004 – then beckons for Arteta’s men which, like the following game back at home against Wolves, will be a tough affair but could well work in their favour. In the case of the Black Country side’s record against the north Londoners, it’s been a mixed affair since the last time they were promoted to the Premier League – two draws, one victory and, in the case of the most recent time, a 2-0 loss as Saka and Lacazette found the back of the net.

Man United – Everton (A), West Brom (H), Southampton (A)

Whilst there was all the fanfare of the match against Arsenal, as we all remember the times of Vieira versus Keane, Keown against Van Nistelrooy and Pizzagate among others, in reality it’s now a damp squib of a fixture with the latest time a poor performance by the Red Devils. Now languishing in 15th place, Man United need to pick up from just two wins in their first six games, as their fortunes in Europe aren’t being translated into the domestic campaign.

So, first up will be an Everton side that has been particularly hit by injuries, as the Toffees will be hoping Rodriguez is going to be back in the starting XI following the lack of creativity in the 2-1 loss to Newcastle. An Ancelotti side isn’t going to be easy to beat, but the lack of personnel could make a difference, especially as the likes of Fernandes and Rashford tend to play better on the road. Next up for Solskjaer’s side will be West Brom, which doesn’t particularly need more said about it, before another away day to a Southampton side that has conceded 12 goals in seven – of the top 14, only Liverpool have conceded more.

The Ones to Avoid

West Brom – Spurs (H), Man United (A), Sheffield United (A)

Monday evenings loss at Fulham confirms what many had suggested when promotion was confirmed – it’s going to be a challenge to avoid becoming a Championship club next year for the Baggies. Kane and Son are two major concerns of their tie against Spurs, whilst trips to Man United and Sheffield United won’t be easy either.

Liverpool – Man City (A), Leicester (H), Brighton (A)

Liverpool now have two tough games ahead of them, where their top place in the league could be – albeit temporarily – challenged. Whilst the match against Brighton will allow for the Reds to pick themselves up, as games against Wolves and Fulham follow shortly after, put it this way: Alexander-Arnold is on his way out of my team and it’s unlikely Salah will be my captain pick in that duo of fixtures!

Southampton – Newcastle (H), Wolves (A), Man United (H)

Though the Saints have made their way to an impressive fourth place on the back of four wins and a draw in their last five, the potential loss of Danny Ings will reduce their attacking fire power. You also have to look back to 2016 for the last time they were victorious against Newcastle, having lost four and drawn two since. A trip to Molineux is then awkward for any Premier League squad and, as previously mentioned, Man United seem to be better when they are on the road.

Thanks for reading FPL Fixtures Gameweek 8. This article was written by Swirly.

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