Teams to target: Liverpool & Manchester City
Burnley vs. Liverpool
At least a double up of Liverpool assets is a must this week with their trip to Burnley arguably the stand out game of GW19.
Liverpool have only suffered one loss on the road all campaign and travel to a Burnley side with the worst home record in the division.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been in superb form of late and even a £8.3m price tag isn’t putting managers off at the moment.
58 points in his last seven matches has seen Alexander-Arnold become the highest scoring defender and he will be a popular transfer in this week.
Liverpool will look to maximise their use of Mohamed Salah before he leaves for the African Cup of Nations and he’ll be the most popular captaincy pick this week.
Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez have both struggled for form of late and I wouldn’t be looking to pick either in a free hit side this week.
Everton vs. Manchester City
Results fell in Manchester City’s favour since their departure for the Club World Cup, with the majority of their rivals dropping points in GW18.
They return with a trip to Goodison Park, a ground they’ve had a lot of success at in recent years, with six consecutive league wins.
Erling Haaland appears unlikely to be risked here, with the Norwegian international not yet back in full training.
As a result options lay elsewhere in the side and Phil Foden would be my first bet, with the Englishman in good form at the CWC.
Julian Alvarez is another excellent pick, but his form, domestically at least, hasn’t been great in recent weeks and there are other striker options.
Manchester City have struggled for clean sheets recently, but with decent funds available this week, I’ve opted for Ederson between the sticks.
Opposition to target: Nottingham Forest & Brighton
Newcastle United vs. Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest are rock bottom of the form guide, claiming just one win from their last 10 matches and just five points in the process.
Their poor run of results brought an end to Steve Cooper’s reign at the City Ground, with the former Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo named as his successor last week.
He was beaten at home by Bournemouth in his first game in charge; however they were on the end of a horrible referee decision which saw Wily Boly sent off.
On Boxing Day they travel to face Newcastle United, who themselves aren’t in great form, but their record in front of their own fans is excellent.
No side have claimed more points at home than Newcastle and despite their injury hit squad, you’d fancy them to record a ninth home win of the campaign.
Kieran Trippier is out of form and the much cheaper Tino Livramento was given a rest in GW18 and he’s my lone Newcastle selection in a free hit side this week.
Brighton vs. Tottenham
Brighton are enduring a club record run without a clean sheet and they are yet to keep one in the Premier League this season, shipping 31 goals in 18 matches.
A combination of European football and an injury hit squad has hampered Brighton of late and they’ve only two wins in their last 10 league games.
In GW19 they host a Tottenham side who’ve won three on the spin and have the best away record in the Premier League this season.
Son Heung-Min doesn’t have the best of records against Brighton; however you’d fancy him to be among the points at the Amex.
I fancy Brighton to score, but the form of Pedro Porro makes him an excellent pick here. Porro has four assists in his last seven games and is one of the in-form defenders in the league.
Other options
Bourenmouth vs. Fulham
Bournemouth are the in-form side in the division, with five wins and a draw in their last six matches.
Dominic Solanke is the third highest scoring striker this season, with only Erling Haaland and Ollie Watkins returning more points than him.
Solanke scored a superb hat-trick in GW18 and he’ll be a hugely popular pick this week.
In 19 they host Fulham, who’ve just the one away win this season and that came back on the opening day of the season.
Manchester United vs. Aston Villa
Aston Villa missed the chance to go top at Christmas when they failed to beat Sheffield United in GW19, but they will have no fears over a trip to Old Trafford.
Manchester United have been poor all season and stats suggest they are fortunate to have the paltry 28 points they’ve accumulated so far.
Ollie Watkins has enjoyed a superb campaign and his last four attacking returns have come on the road.
He’ll be confident of extending that run here and he’s the Villa selection in my free hit side.
Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace
The final pick in my free hit side is a very low owned asset who could well be worth a risk in GW19.
Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling will both miss out for Chelsea next GW through suspension, which only increases the chances of Christopher Nkunku starting.
Nkunku has looked good in two cameo performances since recovering from injury and a home game with Crystal Palace is a nice fixture.
Gw19 Dream Team: Ederson; Porro, Livramento, Alexander-Arnold; Almiron, Salah, Foden, Son; Solanke, Watkins, Nkunku
