Fantasy Premier League tips gameweek 31: Raheem Sterling, Diogo Jota, Marcos Alonso and more
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Leeds have conceded 20 goals away from home against the rest of the so-called top six ahead of their trip to the Etihad. Fresh legs are the priority for Manchester City. Sterling played no part against Dortmund, with his last start coming before the international break.
Bernd Leno
Arsenal’s defensive prospects between now and the end of the season are promising but Europa League rotation makes selecting one of the back four difficult. With Emi Martinez’s appeal diminishing, Leno could be a solid pick for the run-in.
Marcos Alonso
Last week’s stand-out fixture at home to West Bromwich Albion didn’t exactly go to plan, to say the least, but Alonso still picked up an assist and should return to the starting line-up against a poor Crystal Palace side after sitting out against Porto.
Matej Vydra
It’s not often that we tip a Burnley forward but Vydra has started the last six, scoring twice, and comes up against a Newcastle side that has generally performed poorly on their travels, despite showing some fight at home to Tottenham last weekend.
Diogo Jota
Tread carefully here, as Jota started against Real Madrid and may be rested or only feature as a substitute ahead of Tuesday’s return leg, but he is a cheap, long-term option who will be in many teams between now and the end of the season.
Captaincy
There’s no doubt that City vs Leeds is the outstanding fixture this week from a captaincy perspective but actually picking a City attacking player who is nailed-on to start is difficult, if not impossible.
Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero all carry a degree of jeopardy, despite all three of them not starting against Dortmund. Sterling is probably the best bet and will be wearing our armband.
Otherwise, either Mohamed Salah or Diogo Jota could do well against a Villa defence which has tailed off in recent weeks.
Best XI
Leno; Alonso, Alexander-Arnold, Holding; Sterling, Salah, Jota, Mount; Kane, Jesus, Vydra.
Future planning
Next week is a double gameweek. Try to keep hold of your Tottenham players as they face Everton away and Southampton at home.
Otherwise, there’s something of a fixture swing this week, with several teams embarking on favourable runs between now and the end of the season.
Liverpool undoubtedly have the best, with Leeds, Newcastle, Southampton and West Brom in their next six as well as Burnley and Palace to close the campaign out.
Watch out for Champions League rotation, though that may no longer be a factor this time next week.
Clean sheet points look likely from Wolves’ defence so long as they return to the solid, stable 3-4-3 formation that has served them well.
Arsenal, as mentioned, are also worth investment. David Luiz’s injury makes Rob Holding a long-term pick, rotation permitting.
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