Welcome to AM’s Perfect XI - Week 14 player picks. This column focuses on Togga’s Perfect XI game, which you can play via their IOS and Android app. Find the apps here and make sure you update regularly to take advantage of the constant enhancements: https://www.playtogga.com
In case you missed it we’ve set up a Rotoworld PL Private League where you can challenge myself and the rest of the RW PL team over the course of the season. To join it download the app and then click the below link from your device, or find us from the Featured Leagues tab:
Each week I provide a Perfect XI of my own for the upcoming gameweek, recommending 11 players to consider along with some honourable mentions. The players listed won’t necessarily be the exact 11 selected for my own Perfect XI fantasy side. The point of this column isn’t to tell you exactly who to pick; it’s to present some ideas and get your brain whirring. I’ll be listing a combination of the must-haves and slightly riskier options, alongside the odd hunch. Hopefully you’ll find this useful whether you’re playing Togga’s game or looking at potential transfers for your official Fantasy Premier League team.
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Week 13 was a low scoring week across the board but my own PXI team did ok. The line-up:
Karius, Valencia, Alonso, Lovren, Koscielny, Coutinho, Sigurdsson, Mane, Hazard, Firmino, Aguero
A few players were disappointed including the unfortunate Philippe Coutinho, but there were solid contributions from my keeper and defence, as well as Siggy, Mane and Aguero. 130 points for the week was enough to move back in to the Top 70 in the overall standings. I’ve decided it’s time to take some risks in an effort to get back in to the top 50, so this will be reflected in my picks for the next few weeks.
Week 14 begins with a standard Saturday 12:30 GMT kick off and it’s a mouth-watering match-up as Manchester City host Chelsea at the Etihad. As always it’s important to have your fantasy team locked in ready for this match, but remember in Perfect XI you can swap out a player right up to one minute before their match kicks off and bring in an alternative player whose match is also yet to kick off. This flexibility will allow you to prevent the pain of a surprise benching or unreported last minute injury and a big fat zero. Ensure you keep your eyes on the RW PL Twitter account for line-ups one hour prior to matches.
Here are your fixtures ...
SATURDAY
Manchester City v Chelsea
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Stoke City v Burnley
Sunderland v Leicester City
Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea City
West Bromwich Albion v Watford
West Ham United v Arsenal
SUNDAY
Bournemouth v Liverpool
Everton v Manchester United
MONDAY
Middlesbrough v Hull City
And the picks ...
KEEPERS
Hugo Lloris - We have a few teams in with a decent shout of a clean sheet this week, but Spurs at home to Swansea appears to be the pick of the bunch. The Swans scored five in a crazy game in Week 13 but it’s extremely unlikely that this scoring spree will continue at White Hart Lane. Enter Hugo Lloris, who’ll almost certainly have a few Siggy efforts to deal with but should feel confident of recording a shutout.
Honourable Mentions: Lee Grant at home to Burnley, Ben Foster at home to Watford
DEFENDERS
Danny Rose - The suspension of Danny Rose for the Chelsea game proved costly with the covering Kevin Wimmer caught completely out of position for Victor Moses’ winner. There’s no doubt Rose will return to the starting line-up for the Swansea game and he’ll be looking to make amends with one of his typical all-action display down the left flank. The England man should get plenty of joy up against ex-team mate Kyle Naughton.
Gareth McAuley - Now the top scoring defender in the Premier League with three goals for the season already, McAuley has a knack of being in the right place at the right time for most set pieces and he’ll fancy his chances of adding to this tally against Watford at the Hawthorns. The Baggie will be in my PXI team and I’ve also made him my free transfer in FPL (replacing Aaron Cresswell.)
Patrick van Aanholt - Sunderland have been much improved in recent weeks and will be feeling confident of picking up at least a point against struggling champions Leicester at the Stadium of Light, with van Aanholt often the man to launch Black Cats attacks from left-back. The Dutchman has pace and energy a plenty, can deliver a decent cross and isn’t shy to take a pop at goal, so I’m tipping him to return big points in Week 14.
Cedric Soares - Southampton’s right-back Cedric has flown under the radar so far this season but he performed superbly against Everton last weekend and it has come to many people’s attention that the Saints have kept clean sheets in each of the Frenchman’s past five Premier League starts. A match-up with Palace is winnable and so there could be a stream of attacking and defensive points coming his way.
Honourable Mentions: Marco Alonso away at Man City, Glen Johnson at home to Burnley, Laurent Koscielny away at West Ham, Nicolas Otamendi at home to Chelsea
MIDFIELDERS
Dele Alli - Last season’s young player of the year Dele Alli has struggled for form this season, looking understandably jaded after a difficult end to 2015/16 and a shocking European Championships. Injuries haven’t helped the 20-year old either but he’s back to fitness now and looks on the verge of creating something every time he has the ball in the final third. Alli should be feeling excited about facing Swansea this weekend and I expect him to grab himself a goal and a bucket full of fantasy points.
Joe Allen - We’ve seen a complete turnaround in Joe Allen‘s fortunes this season, with Mark Hughes moving his fellow Welshman from a deep-lying sideways passer to a number 10. The transformation has been remarkable with Allen putting in a string of excellent performances, chipping in with four goals, two assist and forming a vital part of Stoke’s attacking unit. Expect more good things for the Potters’ home clash with Burnley.
Nacer Chadli - Tottenham’s decision to sell Nacer Chadli for £13million and buy Moussa Sissoko for £30million remains one of the most baffling transfer decisions of recent times. Chadli has been excellent since moving to West Brom and returned from minor knee surgery to feature off the bench in Week 13, so he should be ready to start this weekend’s clash with Watford. If he’s not in the starting XI then make a quick switch to team-mate Matt Phillips.
Sadio Mane - With Philippe Coutinho injured, Adam Lallana still a doubt and Roberto Firmino nursing a knock it could be down to Sadio Mane to drive his Liverpool side forward in their tricky visit to Bournemouth. Mane has had a promising start to his Anfield career but there’s always that nagging feeling that he could be doing more given his talent. My gut says the Senegalese star will put on a big display for his side this weekend.
Honourable Mentions: Juan Mata away at Everton, Nathan Redmond away at Palace, Robert Snodgrass away at Middlesbrough, Eden Hazard away at Man City
STRIKERS
Harry Kane - This may just be Kane’s first appearance in the column this season and it comes with good reason. The England striker is looking fitter and sharper as each game passes and he faces a Swansea side who really aren’t defending very well, which should mean plenty of goal-scoring chances. Spurs need a win after their defeats at Monaco and Chelsea, and Captain Harry - on penalty duty - usually rises to the occasion at White Hart Lane.
Charlie Austin - When Austin joined Southampton last season he struggled with nagging injuries and couldn’t get a start but the former QPR man has turned it around to becomes first choice striker under Claude Puel. Its nine goals for the season in all competitions so far and he’ll have the opportunity to pass double figures as improving the Saints visit a Palace side without a clean sheet in their past 19 matches. Remember, he’s also on penalties.
Honourable Mentions: Alexis Sanchez away at West Ham, Jermain Defoe at home to Leicester, Salomon Rondon at home to Watford, Sergio Aguero at home to Chelsea
That’s it for Week 14. Check out the Rotoworld Features page to see a whole bunch of great content to get you ready for the weekend ahead. Feel free to comment below to us know how you’re getting on so far. And of course, good luck to all managers this week.
