With the cup games now done and dusted for the foreseeable future, the Premier League makes a welcome return, and so, therefore, does FantasyBet. The standout performers from our squad in a low-scoring Fantasy week were Petr Cech and Yaya Toure, who scored 10 and 9 points respectively. Honorable mentions also go to captain Olivier Giroud and vice-captain Romelu Lukaku, who both contributed an assist to bring home 5 points each. Read on and see why a higher-scoring round is expected in Gameweek 21, and just who you should be looking at to take you to the top of your FantasyBet leagues…

Defence

Team Clean Sheet Odds Implied chance Chelsea 1.83 55% Swansea 2.15 47% Man Utd 2.25 44% Southampton 2.45 41% Tottenham 2.5 40% Stoke 2.5 40% Man City 2.62 38% Bournemouth 2.75 36% Crystal Palace 2.8 36% Aston Villa 3.2 31% Arsenal 3.4 29% Liverpool 3.9 26% Norwich 4 25% Watford 4.2 24% West Ham 4.33 23% Newcastle 4.5 22% Sunderland 4.5 22% Leicester 5.25 19% West Brom 7 14% Everton 9 11%

We start this week’s bookies analysis with a look at defensive options. Chelsea are the team most likely to keep a clean sheet this weekend (54% chance) according to the bookmakers as they welcome West Brom to Stamford Bridge. With 3 clean sheets in a row in all competitions under new boss Guus Hiddink, the Blues look to have regained some of their infamous defensive resolve. Cesar Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic both assisted goals in Chelsea’s 2-0 FA Cup triumph over Scunthorpe on Sunday, and, with West Brom only having scored 6 goals in 9 away league games this season, they look like prime picks this weekend.

Swansea (46%) appear 2nd in the rankings by virtue of 3 clean sheets in 5 since sacking Garry Monk. Their opponents, Sunderland, have scored just 10 in 10 games away from The Stadium of Light and that fact, coupled with the Swans’ recent resilience, means that bonus point magnet Ashley Williams is who you should be looking at in this fixture.

The bookies feel that Manchester United (44%, away to Newcastle), Southampton (41%, at home to Watford), Tottenham (40%, at home to Leicester) and Stoke (40%, at home to Norwich) also deserve attention from a defensive perspective. With United struggling lately at the back (1 clean sheet in 5) and 14 out of Newcastle’s 19 goals coming at home, we aren’t going to advise United picks this time round. In similar fashion, we won’t be recommending any defensive picks from Southampton either. The Saints have also struggled of late (1 clean sheet in 8) and will likely struggle to keep red hot strike duo Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney quiet on Sunday.

Tottenham have the best defence in the league this season, allowing just 16 goals in 20 games so far. Whilst they welcome top away scorers Leicester this weekend (21 goals in 10 games), Toby Alderweireld has proven that, with goals and assists, he can still rack up the points even if Spurs don’t shut their opponents out. With 8 clean sheets this campaign, Stoke, who have kept out the likes of City, United and Chelsea at The Britannia recently, entertain a Norwich side who have blanked on 3 of their last 4 road trips.

Everton (11%), meanwhile, face the unenviable task to travelling to The Etihad on Wednesday evening, where Manchester City have scored an average of 2.9 goals per game in the league this season. With the City attacking juggernaut firing on all cylinders at home, we have to agree with the bookies here and urge you to stay away from the Blues’ back line. Likewise, West Brom (14%) and Leicester (19%) have tough tasks as they respectively attempt to keep a rejuvenated Chelsea and an in-form Tottenham at bay.

Attack

Player Goalscorer Odds Implied chance Sergio Aguero 1.83 55% Diego Costa 2 50% Harry Kane 2.1 48% Olivier Giroud 2.7 37% Bafetimbi Gomis 2.8 36% Wayne Rooney 2.85 35% Anthony Martial 2.85 35% Shane Long 3 33% Bojan 3 33% Andre Ayew 3 33% Glenn Murray 3.1 32% Kevin de Bruyne 3.1 32% Theo Walcott 3.2 31% Romelu Lukaku 3.25 31% Yaya Toure 3.25 31% Daniel Sturridge 3.25 31% Christian Benteke 3.25 31% Willian 3.3 30% Jamie Vardy 3.3 30% Marko Arnautovic 3.5 29% Christian Eriksen 3.5 29% Connor Wickham 3.6 28% Odion Ighalo 3.6 28% Dele Alli 3.6 28% Jordan Ayew 3.75 27% Andy Carroll 3.75 27% Troy Deeney 3.8 26% Dieumerci Mbokani 4 25% Aleksandar Mitrovic 4.5 22% Jermain Defoe 4.5 22% Riyad Mahrez 4.5 22% Aaron Ramsey 4.6 22% Geoginio Wijnaldum 5.4 19% Wilfred Zaha 5.5 18% Michail Antonio 5.5 18% Saido Berahino 6 17%

Sergio Aguero, back in business after 2 goals and an assist in his last 3 games, tops the attacking rankings this gameweek with a 55% chance of scoring. City will need their talisman on form if they are to win the title and with Everton only managing to keep 2 clean sheets in their last 14 Premier League outings, Aguero will be the first name on the teamsheet for many FantasyBet managers this weekend. In the same fixture, Kevin de Bruyne (32%) enjoys playing at The Etihad, where he has scored 2 in his last 3, whilst Yaya Toure (31%) is currently the form player in City’s midfield, with 3 goals and an assist in his last 4.

Another big name back amongst the goals lately is Diego Costa (50%). With 4 goals in his last 3 games, the controversial striker will be relishing a home clash with a West Brom side who have kept just 1 clean sheet in 10. Teammate Willian (30%) looks to be the best route into Chelsea’s midfield following 4 assists and a goal in his 4 most recent league appearances.

Having played out a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane on Sunday in the FA Cup, Tottenham and Leicester lock horns again in North London on Wednesday. With Jamie Vardy (30%) expected to be fit following a groin operation last week, he and Riyad Mahrez (22%) will be looking to help the Foxes continue their exciting title challenge. For the home side, Harry Kane (48%) will be looking for his 12th league goal of the campaign, whilst Christian Eriksen (29%) scored in Sunday’s stalemate.

Current form shows Stoke to be best attacking side in the division, with the Potters scoring 7 goals over their last 3 games. They host Norwich next, who haven’t kept an away clean sheet in the league this season, so the likes of Bojan (33%) and Marko Arnautovic (29%), both with 2 in 4, will be eagerly awaiting the game against the Canaries.

Other intriguing options this gameweek include Golden Boot contender Odion Ighalo (28%) who, having notched 14 goals to date, faces a Southampton side in poor defensive form as mentioned above, and Andy Carroll (27%) who has 2 goals in 2 games and also registered an assist in the FA Cup at the weekend.

After taking into account all of the above information, our recommended squad for this gameweek is…

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland and Lukasz Fabianski

Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta, Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Williams, Toby Alderweireld and Hector Bellerin.

Midfielders: Yaya Toure, Willian, Dimitri Payet, Marko Arnautovic and Dele Alli.

Forwards: Sergio Aguero, Diego Costa and Odion Ighalo.

Captain: Sergio Aguero

Vice-captain: Willian

New to weekly fantasy? Why not give our free gameweek 21 league a go? Enter here