GW5 kicks off with another Friday night game featuring Chelsea playing at home against Liverpool. It is undoubtedly the fixture of the week as Antonio Conte will get a taste of a titanic clash between both title contenders. Arsenal will travel to Hull looking to capitalise against the Tigers’ leaky defence, with Arsene Wenger trying to rally his side after salvaging a point against PSG in the Champions League on midweek.
Meanwhile, UCL debutants Leicester City will be eager to host Burnley at the King Power Stadium after getting a boost from their 3-0 away win against Club Brugge. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side is set to maintain their magnificent start to the season when they host Bournemouth on Saturday, with their city rivals Manchester United travelling to Vicarage Road to play Watford in a bid to bounce back from last week’s derby defeat.
Without further ado, here are the 5 players that should be on your radar for the week:
Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) vs Burnley
The Englishman entered the limelight last season with his incredible form for the Foxes, culminating in a record-breaking goal-scoring run. He was considered as a must-have in every FPL manager’s team and most of us were banking on him to deliver this season as well, but expectations were not met. Blank returns in the first 2 GWs resulted in a mass clearance for Vardy, but he is back in contention by notching back-to-back goals against Swansea and Liverpool. He was also heavily involved in Leicester’s 3-0 win against Club Brugge in midweek as his pace drew fouls to set up both Mahrez’s goals.
Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City) vs Bournemouth
Sergio Aguero’s three-match ban looked to be a huge problem for Pep Guardiola as he prepared his side for last week’s derby against United. Up step Iheanacho and he certainly delivered with an assist and a goal to secure all 3 points for the Cityzens. The Nigerian might be only 19 years of age, but his predatory instincts are clear to be seen as he tops the chart for minutes per goal (scoring one every 91.22 minutes), despite playing way less than his compatriots. He scored a goal in a late substitute appearance against Borussia Mönchengladbach on midweek and he looks set to lead the City attack against an unfancied Bournemouth side at the Etihad.
Etienne Capoue (Watford) vs Manchester United
The Frenchman’s rise to the top of the FPL standings has been remarkable. He only managed a goal and an assist in last 3 seasons, but the Watford midfielder has scored thrice in the first four GWs and he also notched an assist along the way. It might be a risk for managers to acquire him since Manchester United is travelling to Vicarage Road this weekend, but the Hornets have shown they are more than capable of breaching the top teams’ defence with goals against Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham. Capoue will also be a huge bargain with a price tag of 4.8 million, considering Watford’s promising run-in fixtures from GW6-GW10.
Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) vs Stoke City
The young winger used to be a huge prospect as he played an important role in Crystal Palace’s return to the Premier League. Manchester United came calling but his chances were limited at Old Trafford and Zaha reunited with his old club last season. Having produced only six goals and seven assists across the previous two seasons, most managers will be forgiven for writing him off despite his 5.4 million price tag. With that said, the Englishman should be considered as a bargain after his performance against Middlesbrough last week (1 goal, 1 assist) as he looks set to benefit from the arrival of Christian Benteke, coupled with back-to-back encounters against bottom dwellers Stoke City and Sunderland.
Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) vs Sunderland
Finding a reliable defender to provide consistent points have proven to be a challenging task for most FPL managers, but it should be a no-brainer to include the English right-back in your teams based on his current form. Walker has been an integral part of Spurs’ defensive set-up so far, earning bonus points in all of his 90-minute appearances. A clean sheet might not be guaranteed all the time, but you can definitely count on him to provide an assist or two to make up for the lost points with easy fixtures in the next five GWs.
Other posts by Kin Boon Ah
