Welcome to AM’s Perfect XI - Week 24 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
We’ve set up a Rotoworld PL Private League which allows you to 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 23 was so bad that I can’t bring myself to talk about it. Let’s just say I’m no longer in the Top 100.
Week 24 is a standard weekend round of fixtures starting with the highlight match-up, Chelsea v Arsenal, at 12:30 GMT on Saturday. It’s important to have your fantasy team locked in ready for the early game 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 avoid 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 4th February
Chelsea v Arsenal
Crystal Palace v Sunderland
Everton v Bournemouth
Hull City v Liverpool
Southampton v West Ham
Watford v Burnley
West Brom v Stoke City
Tottenham v Middlesbrough
Sunday 5th February
Manchester City v Swansea City
Leicester City v Manchester United
Apologies for the lack of analysis. The quick turnaround has caught me out this week. Back to normal next week ...
KEEPERS
Hugo Lloris - Hugo is expected to return in Week 24 after illness kept him out of the Sunderland game. A clean sheet seems likely at home to Middlesbrough.
Honourable Mention: Willy Caballero at home to Swansea, Wayne Hennessey at home to Sunderland
DEFENDERS
Leighton Baines - Everton host an inconsistent Bournemouth side at Goodison with Baines in impressive form in both real life and fantasy, taking set pieces and back on penalties.
Patrick van Aanholt - It’s typical that PvA faces his former club Sunderland in only his second match for Palace. With the Eagles trialling three at the back it means a wing-back role which should bode well for the Dutchman’s fantasy output.
Kyle Walker - With Danny Rose out injured there will be added responsibility on Walker to provide most of the width from right-wing back for the next few weeks. He rarely lets his team or fantasy managers down.
Nicolas Otamendi - The only certainty in Man City’s defence right now is Otamendi and he will have a decent chance of a clean sheet as Swansea visit the Etihad. The Argentine international is also due a goal.
Honourable Mentions: Marcos Alonso at home to Arsenal, Gareth McAuley at home to Stoke, Ryan Bertrand at home to West Ham, Jose Holebas at home to Burnley
MIDFIELDERS
Kevin De Bruyne - Pep Guardiola‘s attacking unit looked mightily impressive at West Ham on Wednesday night and while there’s uncertainty over who will start upfront the excellent De Bruyne is nailed on for a spot in midfield. Swansea beware.
Philippe Coutinho - Ok Philippe; you’ve had a few games to get yourself back up to speed after injury. It’s time to get back to being Liverpool’s match-winner, starting at Hull.
Dele Alli - Middlesbrough are often caught out by midfielders running between the lines and there aren’t many better at it than Dele Alli, who so often finds himself in the right place at the right time.
Wilf Zaha - Zaha’s return from the ACN is vital for Sam Allardyce as his side look to drag themselves out of the relegation battle. Expect pace, tricks, crosses, shots and a bucket full of fantasy points.
Honourable Mentions: Matt Phillips at home to Stoke, Robert Snodgrass away at Southampton, Eden Hazard at home to Arsenal, Paul Pogba away at Leicester
STRIKERS
Romelu Lukaku - Everton’s star man Lukaku often lets me down when I pick him in PXI (or FPL) but he’s difficult to ignore for the home match-up with Bournemouth. It feels like the sort of game he can bag a brace in.
Harry Kane - A horrifying zero against Sunderland will put a lot of people off Kane this week but I’d recommend giving the England striker another chance as Spurs look to dominate Middlesbrough at White Hart Lane.
Honourable Mentions: Christian Benteke at home to Sunderland, Gabriel Jesus or Sergio Aguero at home to Swansea, Andy Carroll away at Southampton, Zlatan Ibrahimovic away at Leicester
That’s it for Week 24. 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.
