With only 4 games taking place in Gameweek 28 due to Premier League involvement the FA Cup Quarter Finals, read on as we analyse the clean sheet and anytime goalscorer odds for the reduced fixture list this weekend…

Defensive odds

Team Best clean sheet odds Implied chance of a clean sheet Liverpool 1.87 53% Everton 2.15 47% Hull 3.05 33% Swansea 3.5 29% Bournemouth 3.9 26% West Ham 4.25 24% West Brom 5.2 19% Burnley 12 8%

Liverpool top the bookies’ defensive rankings for Gameweek 28 with a 53% chance of keeping a clean sheet against Burnley at Anfield. The Reds have registered 2 shutouts in their last 5 on home turf, and with the Clarets only mustering 8 goals in 13 games on their travels this season, things look bright for Jurgen Klopp’s men. It should, however, be noted that Burnley have scored in each of their last 6 away games. Still, Nathaniel Clyne is nailed on and his raids from right back secure his spot in our starting XI.

Merseyside rivals Everton (47%) rank second ahead of their home meeting with West Brom. A trio of clean sheets in their last 4 at Goodison Park, combined with the Baggies blanking in 3 of their last 6 on their travels, sees Seamus Coleman, who has 4 goals to his name in the top flight this term, make our XI.

Hull (33%) and Swansea (29%) face each other on Saturday at The KC Stadium and complete the top 4 defensive fantasy prospects for the weekend. With neither side particularly resolute from a defensive standpoint, the save point and goalscoring potential of Eldin Jakupovic and Alfie Mawson respectively mean we draft the pair into our starting XI.

To fill the remainder of our defensive slots, we opt for West Ham’s shot stopper Darren Randolph (£4.5m – 24%) as our backup keeper, with Bournemouth’s Adam Smith (£4.5m – 26%) and WBA’s OOP prospect Chris Brunt (£5.0m – 19%) taking the second and third spots on our bench respectively.

Before moving onto our analysis of the bookmakers attacking odds, a quick look at the bottom rungs of the clean sheet ladder tells us that defensive assets from West Ham (24% – away to Bournemouth), West Brom (19% – away to Everton) and Burnley (8% – away to Liverpool) should be avoided, if possible, this weekend.

Attacking odds

Player Best anytime goalscorer odds Implied chance of scoring Romelu Lukaku 2 50% Sadio Mane 2.15 47% Roberto Firmino 2.23 45% Philippe Coutinho 2.3 43% Andy Carroll 2.88 35% Benik Afobe 3 33% Joshua King 3 33% Adam Lallana 3.1 32% Abel Hernandez 3.25 31% Fernando Llorente 3.3 30% Kevin Mirallas 3.5 29% Oumar Niasse 3.5 29% Robert Snodgrass 3.75 27% Michail Antonio 3.75 27% Salomon Rondon 4 25% Gylfi Sigurdsson 4 25% James Milner 4 25% Ross Barkley 4 25% Andre Ayew 4 25% Ademola Lookman 4 25% Adama Diomande 4.1 24% Manuel Lanzini 4.5 22% Junior Stanislas 4.5 22% Nacer Chadli 5.8 17% Sam Vokes 6.5 15% Matt Phillips 7.5 13% Tom Davies 7.5 13% Scott Arfield 11 9% Tom Carroll 17 6%

Hot on the heels of Harry Kane in the race for the Golden Boot, Romelu Lukaku tops the bookies’ attacking rankings with a 50% chance of finding the net against West Brom on Saturday. The big Belgian, who dons our captain’s armband this weekend, has scored 6 times in his last 4 outings, with his old club without an away clean sheet since the opening day of the season.

Lukaku is joined up front by Andy Carroll (35%) and Fernando Llorente (30%). The Hammers’ frontman returned from injury last time out against Chelsea, and has notched 4 goals in his last 5 starts. Llorente, meanwhile, was at the double against Burnley to take his tally to 11 for the season, including 5 in his last 6. The pair have away games against Bournemouth (third worst defence in the division) and Hull (second worst) respectively this weekend. Benik Afobe (33%) is omitted due to doubts over his starting security.

In midfield, Liverpool duo Sadio Mane (47%) and Roberto Firmino (45%) court our attention ahead of their home clash against Burnley after both players registered a goal and an assist apiece last time out against Arsenal. Their opponents have conceded 28 goals in 13 on their travels – only Swansea, Hull and Bournemouth have worse away defences.

Bournemouth’s OOP midfielder Josh King (33%) and West Ham’s returning Michail Antonio (27%) complete our midfield and starting XI. King, playing up front of late and with penalty duties in his locker, has bagged 5 goals in his last 6 outings, and faces a West Ham defence without an away clean sheet since October. Antonio, like King, has scored 8 goals this season, and will fancy his chances against a side that has conceded 12 times in their last 5 games at home. Gylfi Sigurdsson (25%) takes the first spot on our bench this weekend ahead of his trip to The KC.

The bookies also fancy the chances of Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Robert Snodgrass and Kevin Mirallas, but we have already maxed out our allocation of 3 players from Liverpool and West Ham, whilst Mirallas’ starting spot in the Everton XI is in doubt.