Teams to target: Liverpool, Manchester City
Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool
Liverpool go into the game on the longest unbeaten streak in the league, whilst only the three promoted sides and Nottingham Forest have collected fewer points in their last 10 than Crystal Palace.
Liverpool rotated the pack slightly in midweek, whilst the likes of Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz were subbed early, which likely guarantees a start here.
Despite a run of just 13 points in his last three games, Salah is a lock in a free hit side this week. Salah also has an excellent record against Saturday’s opponents, with 13 goal contributions in 10 games.
Given the contrasting form of the two teams, I’d like a Liverpool triple up this week and my other options would be Darwin Nunez and Kostas Tsimikas, both of whom were rested against Sheffield United.
Liverpool have a superb recent record against Palace and have scored 26 goals in the last nine meetings between the two.
Luton Town vs. Manchester City
Manchester City are in the middle of a slump by their high standards; however GW16’s opposition means at least a double up is required here.
Despite their form, City are second in the league for xG and they face a Luton Town side who sit bottom of the xGA standings and with just two wins all season.
Erling Haaland is unlikely to get a rest given City’s need for a win and he’ll be in pretty much every team again and will be the popular captain selection.
Defensively we could see some rotation from Manchester City here, but rather than play it safe and go with Ederson, I’ve a slight preference for Kyle Walker.
Jack Grealish will return to the side this week, but his FPL returns have never been amazing. As a result the second attacking option is between Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez, with slight preference for the former.
Opposition to target: Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest
Sheffield United vs. Brentford
Chris Wilder returned as Sheffield United manager at the start of the week and despite a better performance, there was no upturn in results for the Blades.
After 15 games they’ve collected a paltry five points, with their only win coming courtesy of a dubious late penalty award.
Brentford are a consistent Premier League outfit and even without their best two attackers in Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo, you fancy them to get a result.
Sheffield United rank comfortably last for xG this season and Mark Flekken is perhaps the stand out goalkeeper selection this week.
Yoane Wissa was rotated midweek and will almost certainly come into the XI here for the injured Mbeumo. The attacking pick in my spot is between him and Neal Maupay who has looked decent since returning to Brentford.
Wolves vs. Nottingham Forest
The pressure on Steve Cooper is immense with Nottingham Forest with the club dropping to 16th in the division following a horrible run of form.
Only Sheffield United have collected fewer points in their last 10 matches than Forest and they were thrashed 5-0 away at goal shy Fulham in midweek.
Wolves have been better than most envisaged at the start of the campaign and they are comfortably mid-table, despite being on the end of numerous poor refereeing decisions.
Hwang Hee-Chan will be a very popular Mbeumo replacement this week and he’s a lock in a free hit side.
Hwang has eight goals in 15 league matches this season and his record at Molineux is very impressive, with six of his strikes coming in front of his own supporters.
Forest’s away record is poor and I’d be tempted by a Wolves defensive option here too with David Bentley excelling in Jose Sa’s absence midweek. I’ve already selected Flekken though so it’s a spot I’ll probably have to go without.
Other options
Brighton vs. Burnley
After a rock patch, Brighton appearing to be turning the corner slightly with just one loss in their last six matches.
They have one of the more favourable fixtures in GW16 and given Burnley’s inability to keep a clean sheet, you’d fancy some attacking returns from your Seagull assets.
Kaoru Mitoma is carrying an minor issue, but should continue in the team with a rest more likely in the upcoming Europa League match.
As a result he’s who I’d select in a free hit side this week, with the striker role one that’s always rotated by Roberto de Zerbi.
Manchester United vs. Bournemouth
Manchester United put in arguably their best performance of the campaign midweek in a much needed win over Chelsea.
On Saturday they entertain one of the division’s in-form sides in Bournemouth who have won four of their last six league games.
Even if slightly fortuitous Diogo Dalot’s points return have gone under the radar in recent weeks, securing 39 points in his last seven matches.
GW16 Dream Team: Flekken; Tsimikas, Walker, Dalot; Foden, Hwang, Salah, Mitoma; Haaland, Nunez, Wissa
