Team Talk Fantasy Football Gameweek 24

Team Talk Fantasy Football GW24

It is North London Derby week and for Arsenal fans this week will have been circled on the calendar since the schedule was released. Gooners around the world will meet up for a pint at their watering hole to watch the match. In the not-too-distant past, this game took the place of competing for a trophy; beat Tot’num and the season was not a total loss. While recent arrivals to the club have raised the bar, the importance of this game has not diminished. Win the game and it could inspire a good finish to the season. Lose it, and they will probably make a DVD.

The past week saw the January transfer window close while Manchester United, Sunderland and Liverpool all escaped midweek FA Cup ties without picking up any injuries.

The gameweek kicks off Saturday lunchtime with the North London Derby as Arsenal travel to White Hart Lane to beat smash annihilate the Spurs. The latest chapter in the Merseyside Derby will be written Saturday evening with Liverpool looking to extend a run in this fixture that has not seen them lose since October of 2010. There are other matches involving other teams on Saturday and Sunday, but you will need to save your strength to watch these derby matches.

Spurs vs Arsenal (Sat 7 Feb 12.45)
Both teams come into this fixture in great form: they both boast 6-1-1 records in their last eight matches. Spurs have just one victory in the last six NLD’s and have kept just one clean sheet in their last 32 league matches against Arsenal. Arsene Wenger will celebrate his 700th EPL match in charge of Arsenal by beating dismantling carpet-bombing Spurs. Need someone to replace Alexis Sanchez in your team? Theo Walcott has four goals and three assists in his last six EPL matches against Spurs.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has declared his team completely healthy heading into their defeat this weekend.

For Arsenal it is a mixed bag of news. Danny Welbeck is healthy once again while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been ruled out. Alexis Sanchez is out but he will train today with the team. Is this Wenger engaging in cloak and dagger stuff ahead of a derby match? The Chilean is apparently eager to play… Jack Wilshere is eyeing a Leicester return as well. If he can see through the haze.

[divider_1px]

Aston Villa vs Chelsea (Sat 7 Feb 15.00)
Aston Villa are winless in their last eight matches and have not netted a league goal in 612 minutes. Jose Mourinho has never won an EPL match at Villa Park; the Chelsea manager has drawn three and lost twice. Branislav Ivanovic has scored four goals in his last five matches against Villa.

Paul Lambert says Ron Vlaar and Joe Cole are in contention for a weekend return. Philippe Senderos will miss out but could return against Hull City next week. New arrival Scott Sinclair is available and Gaby Agbonlahor is fit again.

Chelsea’s heavyweight prize fighter Diego “Stomp” Costa remains suspended but Cesc Fabregas and Willian are fully fit and available. New arrival Juan Cuadrado will likely miss the weekend as Jose Mourinho says the winger “will need time to settle.” Felipe Luis has been ruled out.

[divider_1px]

Leicester vs Crystal Palace (Sat 7 Feb 15.00)
Leicester are just not that good. Ownership didn’t exactly help in the transfer window, adding a free goalkeeper (Schwarzer), past-his-prime defender (Huth) and a striker whose top level of competition has been top-flight Croatian football. They’ve lost three of their last four at home and five of their last eight. Crystal Palace will come in rejuvenated after a busy January that saw the additions of Yaya Sanogo, Jordon Mutch, Shola Ameobi and Wilfried Zaha.

For Leicester, Robert Huth serves the final game of his social media suspension (modern day footbal, huh) while Riyad Mahrez has returned from ACON fatigued and will be given a rest. Liam Moore is set to return and Chris Wood has been ruled out.

Palace striker Mile Jedinak has returned from the Asian Cup but will miss out with a knock to his ankle. Marouane Chamakh is out with a broken nose, while Jonathan Williams and Jerome Thomas miss out with injuries which frankly no one cares about.

[divider_1px]

Man City vs Hull (Sat 7 Feb 15.00)
Manchester City have won five and lost just once in their last eight league matches against Hull, who have won just twice in their last 16 matches. Pint-sized pipsqueak David Silva has scored seven diminutive goals this season, equally his tiny career best.

Manchester City have been declared fully fit with Samir Nasri and Eliaquim Mangala back in the squad and available for the weekend. Wilfried Bony and Yaya Toure are still away at ACON.

Steve Bruce reports Nikica Jelavic will face a late test while Mohamed Diame is out at least two more weeks. James Chester, Liam Rosenior and Robert Snodgrass remain out with long-term injuries.

[divider_1px]

QPR vs Southampton (Sat 7 Feb 15.00)
QPR’s last won on the 20th December and have lost their last three. Southampton have won five of their last eight and their last three on the road. QPR have allowed a league-high 128 shots on goal against them; the Saints have allowed the fewest (62).

QPR caretaker Chris Ramsey has picked up where Redknapp left off, stating “[m]ost of the players are fit. Almost everyone will be available.” Let’s be honest: the only QPR player you care about is Charlie Austin, and he is fine.

Good news for the Saints as Victor Wanyama and Morgan Schneiderlin are expected back. Ryan Bertrand is suspended and Toby Alderweield continues to eye a 22 February return. Shane Long is out until March while Jay Rodriguez may be lost for the season.

[divider_1px]

Swansea vs Sunderland (Sat 7 Feb 15.00)
These teams have played seven EPL matches against each other: Swansea has won twice, Sunderland once and there have been four draws. Swansea holds a 9-5 scoring advantage in those matches. Sunderland have lost two of their last three on the road.

For the Swans, Kyle Bartley returns from suspension while Gylfi Sigurdsson serves the second of a three-match ban. Midfielders Leon Britton, Ki Sung-Yueng Ki and new-signing Jack Cork are all available for selection. Wayne Routledge is eyeing a 21 February return.

Seb Larsson returns for Sunderland while Adam Johnson and Jack Rodwell have been given a 50/50 chance to play by manager Gus Poyet. Connor Wickham and Lee Cattermole are out.

[divider_1px]

Everton vs Liverpool (Sat 7 Feb 15.00)
Liverpool enter this match as the hottest team in the Premier League, boasting five wins during a seven-game unbeaten streak, and have won their last three on the road. They have lost just one of their last 16 Merseyside Derbies in the league, winning eight and drawing seven. Saturday will mark Steven Gerrard’s 33rd and final derby and he will be looking to add to the 10 goals he has scored against Everton.

For Everton, Tim Howard has returned to training with a targeted return for gameweek 25. Aaron Lennon will be in the squad this weekend with Roberto Martinez stating Lennon will play “a massive role” in the team. James McCarthy faces a late test but Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar will miss out.

Raheem Sterling scored a goal and hit the post with another shot in Liverpool’s midweek FA Cup match against Bolton. Daniel Sturridge scored a goal in the 23 minutes he played last weekend and played 20 minutes midweek but Brendan Rodgers has confirmed Sturridge will start the match on the bench. Lazar Markovic is a doubt while Jon Flanagan remains out long-term.

[divider_1px]

Burnley vs West Brom (Sun 8 Feb 12.00)
Both sides enter this match with identical 2-2-4 records in their last eight. Burnley has conceded at least one goal in their last seven. Bet on the home team: the last seven matches against these two has resulted in seven wins for the home team and two draws.

Sean Dyche will name an unchanged side for the tenth consecutive league match as his side enjoys a healthy stretch. Kevin Long and Stephan Ward remain out with long-term injuries.

For West Brom, James Morrison will miss Sunday’s match, meaning new signing Darren Fletcher could make his debut. Saido Berahino will remain a starter despite recent comments to the press. Joleon Lescott is fit again.

[divider_1px]

Newcastle vs Stoke (Sun 8 Feb 14.05)

Newcastle have allowed a goal in each of their last five home games and have lost five of their last eight overall. Stoke have stomped their way to wins in four of their last six as they continue their search for the One Ring.

John Carver has reported Paul Dummett is fit but the weekend comes too soon for Siem de Jong to be involved.

King Orc Shawcross will miss the next two matches having used his head to hammer in a nail during home repairs. Having finally trained him to kick the circle into the rectangle, it appears Sauron’s men may be without Jonathan Walters as he has not trained all week and remains a doubt. Erik Pieters is out with a knock to his head after passing out whilst attempting to tie his shoes.

[divider_1px]

West Ham vs Man Utd (Sun 8 Feb 16.15)

Manchester United have won 11 of their last 12 matches against West Ham, with one draw and seven clean sheets during that time. Pick to click: Wayne Rooney 10 goals in his last nine EPL matches against the Hammers.

Big Sam has declared Diafra Sakho available. James Tomkins and Carl Jenkinson face late fitness tests. Andy Carroll, James Collins and Winston Reid all remain doubts for the weekend.

Louis van Gaal has declared that only Michael Carrick is unavailable for the trip to Upton Park.

[divider_1px]

Thanks for reading Team Talk Fantasy Football GW24. This article was written by Lawdogg

Follow @PlanoGooner

[divider_1px]

WooFBet
WooFBet is back! We are delighted to announce that our official partners, WooFBet, are again running a whole host of prize competitions, which will please many of you who are slowly building a lovely retirement nest egg, while others continue to persevere in the hope that this week will be their week! We published an article earlier today to explain the tournaments in more detail and we recommend you get yourselves over to WooFBet.com as this week they have over €650 in free entry prizes and the start of February’s Manager of the Month competition, which has a total payout of a whopping €1000. You also have the option to create your own tournaments and head-to-head challenges. Choose your rules and buy-in fee, and invite friends or leave it open for the public to challenge you.

[divider_1px]

Don’t forget to vote on the Captain Poll

[polldaddy poll=8519142]