Matt Nesbitt has queued up all night, survived a shop doorway stampede and had an in-store fistfight over a flat-screen TV to bring you his Black Friday rundown…
Thank flip for Fantasy League. It’s a somewhat less than inspiring fixture list, aside from perhaps Newcastle United v Man City – and that’s being generous.
If it wasn’t for the FPL points on offer, you could be forgiven for ditching the Premier League results in favour of a five-episode binge of Come Dine With Me on Saturday afternoon.
That’s what Pochettino will be doing.
Anyway, eyes down…
Tap ins…
It hasn’t been the season for clean sheets – roughly four a week so far. But we could be treated to some laundry this weekend.
Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Leicester look handy. And I can see another couple too – but we’ll come on to them in Long Shots.
So, round up the usual suspects – your Robertson’s, your Alexander-Arnold’s; your Pereira’s, your Chilwell’s, and your Soyuncu’s.
Plus, you might even get some value out of those so-far overpriced Chelsea and Tottenham Defenders. At the Bridge, Tomori is the cheapest and best value option. With Azpilicueta up next.
And based on what we’ve seen at Spurs under Jose, I’m going to change tack. I’d already filed Aurier in the ‘Liability’ section – and thought Mourinho would do the same. But I’m wrong.
He’s been relieved of his defensive duties (we agree on that, at least) but instead, he has played in a very advanced right wing-back role, racking up a goal and an assist in his last two (all comps).
Jose likes Alderweireld too.
Long Shots…
I have an inkling there might be another one or two sheets to be snaffled up this weekend too. I could see one at St Mary’s. Watford have failed to score in over half their matches this season, and I don’t think Southampton are as bad as their record suggests. Almost. But not quite.
And I’m not the only one among you. Vestergaard features in more teams than Burnley’s Tarkowski – one of the Top Six defensive performers this season – or any Sheffield United defenders (Lundstram aside. Who’s a midfielder in real life).
Speaking of which, I could see clean sheets at both ends in Wolves v Blades. Patricio and Doherty have not yet hit the heights of last season, but are good value at £5.2m and £6.0m.
Wolves are gathering pace. Beaten just once in 14 (all comps), 15pts from a possible 21pts puts them in the Top Four of the form tables. And their quality players are starting to fizz.
And don’t be put off by Sheffield United conceding three last week. They have a tidy run of fixtures betwixt now and Xmas. Cash in on the likes of Henderson, Stevens and – obvs – Lundstram while you can.
Worth a punt…
If you’re looking for goals this weekend, I’m thinking Leicester’s Vardy, Tottenham’s Kane, Burnley’s Barnes and Wood, VAR’s Salah and Mane, Saints’ Ings.
And City’s Jesus has hit seven in his last 8 PL starts. Thankfully, for the Magpies Aguero is out. 15 in 14 v Newcastle.
These are not so obvious: Manchester United’s Martial is due one. Without Tammy pressure mounts on, erm, Mount and Pulisic at Chelsea.
And how about Norwich’s Pukki to end an 8-match barren run – the Finnish finisher has hit 5 in his last 3 for his country, so it’s not like he has lost his scoring touch completely.
