Welcome to AM’s Perfect XI - Week 7 player picks. This column focuses on Togga’s Perfect XI game which you can play via their IOS and Android app. Download the apps via the link below and make sure you update regularly to take advantage of the constant enhancements:
Once downloaded, open the app and register an account. Once registered, click the Fantasy tab at the bottom of the app screen. Then from the Fantasy screen, click the arrow at the top of the app screen to select Perfect XI.
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 of Premier League fixtures, recommending 11 players to consider along with some honourable mentions for each position. The main 11 players listed won’t necessarily be the exact players 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 to get you thinking. Hopefully you’ll find the advice useful, whether you’re playing Togga’s game or looking at potential transfers for your official Fantasy Premier League team.
Follow the Rotoworld.com PL team on Twitter: Neal | Steve | Andrew | Sean | Stag | Ben | Galin | Nik |
Thanks to Neal for covering this column last week. Unfortunately I dropped my iPhone and smashed the screen on holiday so while I was just-about able to use the Togga app to pick my PXI team the phone is now being repaired. That means I’m currently unable to check to see how I did in Week 6. That may not be such a bad thing given my start to the season. I’ll provide an update in Week 8’s column.
Week 7 begins with a standard Saturday 12:30 BST (British Summer Time) kick off and it should be an interesting clash as Huddersfield host Tottenham. It’s important to have your fantasy team locked in ready for this game but remember in Perfect XI you can swap out a player from your squad 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 wonderful flexibility allows you to avoid the pain of a surprise benching or unreported last minute injury and a big fat ZERO. Just make sure you keep an eye on the starting line-ups as kick off approaches each week by following the Rotoworld PL Twitter account.
Here are your Week 7 fixtures:
Saturday 30 September
Huddersfield v Spurs
Bournemouth v Leicester
Man Utd v Crystal Palace
Stoke v Southampton
West Brom v Watford
West Ham v Swansea
Chelsea v Man City
Sunday 01 October
Arsenal v Brighton
Everton v Burnley
Newcastle v Liverpool
As always we want to focus on the players from teams with the most winnable match ups. Manchester United have the stand-out fixture by far as rock-bottom, goal-less, point-less Crystal Palace visit Old Trafford, while Arsenal hosting Brighton and Everton at home to Burnley should present some fantasy value. Spurs players will be of interest for that early trip to Huddersfield, as will Liverpool attackers as they travel to Newcastle. Chelsea v Man City should be a cracker but it’s difficult to call the match in either teams favour and so I’ll probably avoid it for fantasy purposes. Bournemouth v Leicester, Stoke v Southampton, West Brom v Watford and West Ham v Swansea could very easily all end as low scoring draws, although one side always seems to spring a surprise. I just wish I knew who!
Anyway, with that in mind, here are the picks:
KEEPERS
David De Gea - It’s five clean sheets from six games so far for De Gea and the United defence. It’s zero goals in six game for Crystal Palace. It’s a nailed on clean sheet, right? Well the Eagles will score eventually but I’m pretty confident it won’t be this weekend.
Honourable Mentions: Jordan Pickford at home to Burnley, Petr Cech at home to Brighton, Hugo Lloris away at Huddersfield
DEFENDERS
Sead Kolasinac - As a Spurs fan I generally find it difficult to like Arsenal players but there is something about the way Kolasinac plays the game which is really enjoyable to watch - and it’s why he’s already a fan favourite down at the Emirates. The Bosnian is an absolute powerhouse, charging down the flank with energy and flattening anyone who dares get in his way, all while showing plenty of skill and intelligence in both defence and offence. Expect another strong display against Brighton, with a potential clean sheet on the cards and the possibility of attacking points with the Gunners set to dominate possesion.
Antonio Valencia - Even if you plan to pick De Gea it still makes sense to include a Man United defender to provide double-coverage for the likely clean sheet against Palace, and Valencia is currently top of my list. Reports suggest he hasn’t travelled to Russia for the Champions League clash with CSKA which will allow the 32-year old to recharge his batteries before providing that regular attacking outlet on United’s right-hand side on Saturday afternoon.
Kieran Trippier - With Serge Aurier suspended after his brain-fart against West Ham we can be certain that Trippier will start as the right-wing back against Huddersfield, and he’ll be fully aware that he needs to put in a strong performance to ensure he keeps his place when the Frenchman returns. Tripps (his nickname apparently) was excellent against Apoel Nicosia on Tuesday night, showing pace down the left and right flank and creating the third goal. He also offers a bit of differential for Week 7 as most managers are drawn to Ben Davies.
Kiko Femenia - Marco Silva‘s Watford have been excellent so far this season and new right-back Femenia has been one of the star performers both on the pitch and in fantasy terms. The former Barcelona and Real Madrid reserve has returned double-digit PXI points in his last four appearances thanks to a combination of attacking and defensive contributions and can put on another strong show at the Hawthorns this weekend.
Honourable Mentions: Marcos Alonso at home to Manchester City, Harry Maguire away at Bournemouth, Craig Dawson at home to Watford, Leighton Baines at home to Burnley, Aaron Cresswell at home to Swansea
MIDFIELDERS
Henrik Mkhitaryan - Five assists and one goal in six Premier League games is impressive stuff and Mkhitaryan has shown no sign of slowing down as his guile and creativity in midfield continues to cushion the loss of Paul Pogba. He should be in your side for the visit of Palace.
Dele Alli - Regular readers of this column will know Christian Eriksen is my usual go-to Spurs midfielder but he’s currently doubtful for Saturday’s clash with Huddersfield after being struck down with illness on Monday and not travelling to Cyprus. Even if he recovers the Dane is unlikely to be 100% and could find himself subbed early or even starting on the bench. So let’s turn our attention to Alli, who - after a relatively quiet start to the 2017/18 season - scored the winner in the League Cup tie with Barnsley last week and sprung in to life against West Ham with numerous trademark runs alongside and in front of Harry Kane, creating two goals in the process. He’ll also be well rested after missing the Apoel match through suspension. Terriers beware.
Gylfi Sigurdsson - Everything started so well for Sigurdsson at Everton, scoring a wonder-goal from the halfway line on his debut in the Europa League. But the Icelander has had very little impact in the Premier League since then with no goals, no assists and just one shot on target in five appearances as his side have struggled badly for form. So why would I pick him? Well, I feel the comeback win over Bournemouth may spark the Toffees back in to life and they can dominate against a Burnley side that average just over 30% possession on the road. More of the ball should mean more free kicks, more corners, more chances to cross, more chances to shoot and more opportunities to score fantasy points. Don’t let me down Siggy.
Sadio Mane - Back from suspension and refreshed after playing just 70 minutes in midweek, Mane’s pace and power can cause Newcastle’s defenders all sorts of problems at St James Park this weekend. Philippe Coutinho is also extremely tempting given his form since returning to the fold but one Liverpool midfielder is probably enough for Week 7 and right now the Senegal star is taking that spot.
Honourable Mentions: Philippe Coutinho away at Newcastle, Aaron Ramsey at home to Brighton, David Silva away at Chelsea, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting at home to Southampton, Riyad Mahrez away at Bournemouth
STRIKERS
Romelu Lukaku - A dull, unimaginative selection that will be made by at least 80% of PXI managers; and for good reason. Six goals in six Premier League games so far and facing Palace at home. Lukaku is a no brainer.
Harry Kane - When I started writing this column yesterday Jamie Vardy was going to take the final spot in my XI. I felt his electric pace will trouble Bournemouth’s pedestrian defence and potentially lead to him bagging a couple goals. And I still believe that to be a possibility. But then I watched Kane score the perfect hattrick with three perfect finishes from his only three clear chances against Apoel and discovered he’s now scored 14 goals in his last six away matches. Suddenly the fear of going without Tottenham’s talisman away at Huddersfield took over. He’s now edged ahead of the Vardy, but my final decision will be made on Saturday morning.
Honourable Mentions: Jamie Vardy away at Bournemouth, Alexandre Lacazette at home to Brighton, Mohammed Salah away at Newcastle, Chicharito at home to Swansea, Oumar Niasse at home to Burnley
That’s it for Week 7. Check out our Rotoworld Features page to access a host of fantastic content to get you ready for the weekend ahead. If you have any questions about the Perfect XI game or general questions about a player or your own team then feel free to post them below or ping me on Twitter (@nikarg) and I promise to get back to you.
Thanks for reading - good luck to all managers this weekend.
